Free to order stuff and have it sent via ups!
I hates you, ex-Comrade Hawkshaw!
The afghanis, turks, and other africans represent a small percentage of the small percentage of migrants to European countries.
My understanding is that immigrants to France from former North African colonies (Morocco, etc.) are traditionally recorded on French census forms as "French" rather than "Immigrants," which tends to invalidate statistics that don't correct for that quirk.
Germany has the third-highest non-native ethnicity percentage in the world -- largely Turks. Malmo, Sweden is 30% immigrant, predominantly from the Middle East (especially Iraq) and former Yugoslavia. And anecdotally, when visiting Vienna last year, I thought I'd unwittingly wandered into the midst of a Jawa convention -- given that the burkhas seemed to outnumber the Western outfits.
However, the higher rates of unemployment and growing call for controls on immigration and greater austerity measures are a pretty strong indication that traditional European socialism is not compatible with large-scale immigration of unskilled workers and non-workers (e.g., very large attendant families).
If Comrade Curtin told the truth he has hidden my thread. :(
On the other hand, if, in fact, he has hidden my thread, we are all free to have flaming arguments with each other again. Yay!
You are all stooges!
The afghanis, turks, and other africans represent a small percentage of the small percentage of migrants to European countries.My understanding is that immigrants to France from former North African colonies (Morocco, etc.) are traditionally recorded on French census forms as "French" rather than "Immigrants," which tends to invalidate statistics that don't correct for that quirk.
Quick fact check : uh, no, they aren't.
Immigrants from Maghreb (that's north africa) have an slightly easier getting here due to treaties, historical links, the fact that they speak french... but ARE recorded as foreigners.
However, the higher rates of unemployment and growing call for controls on immigration and greater austerity measures are a pretty strong indication that traditional European socialism is not compatible with large-scale immigration of unskilled workers and non-workers (e.g., very large attendant families).
"Growing" calls for immigration control are an very old story. In the twenties, they targeted italian immigrants; in the thirties, spanish ones, and so on, and so on... This meme has been used as a electoralist ploy for decades.
The call for greater austerity measures mainly comes from the fact that we are currently saddled with a conservative government which, along with the germans, finds more convenient to "slash" (quite timidly) some spendings than to come back on the multi-billion tax break it gave to our own 1% just last year, as the economic crisis was already in full swing.
The very first thing our glorious president made after his election back in 2007 was to spend two weeks cruising around on a huge yacht belonging to a very rich friend. Curiously, he has been tagged since with the reputation of being a "president for the rich", and never failed to act accordingly. Same story as yours...
As usual, you can activate TWO levers if you really want to reduce deficit : decrease spendings and increase income. Conservative governments are incredibly oblivious of the second one.
Quick fact check : uh, no, they aren't.
Ah! Bien... merci. I have been misinformed.
In 2010, 27.3% of newborns in metropolitan France had at least one foreign-born parent and 23.9% had at least one parent born outside of Europe (parents born in overseas territories are considered as born in France). Although it is illegal for the French state to collect data on ethnicity and race, some surveys, like the TeO ("Trajectories and origins") survey conducted jointly by INED and INSEE in 2008, are allowed to do it. It is currently estimated that 40% of the French population is descended at least partially from the different waves of immigration the country has received.
Certainement, this suggests that discounting immigration, when discussing French demographics, is not entirely reasonable, non?
Oh, I see where you got misled.
"Overseas territories" are adminitrative entities that still belongs to France, the same way Hawaii belongs to the USA. People born and living there ARE french, not immigrants (I won't get into the debate about your president birth in HAwaii, wink wink).
Tahiti is an "oversea territory" (Territoire d'outre-mer, or "TOM") for instance. We have also got "départements d'outre mer" (or "DOM") who have exactly the same status as mainland France.
"Overseas territories" are adminitrative entities that still belongs to France, the same way Hawaii belongs to the USA. People born and living there ARE french, not immigrants (I won't get into the debate about your president birth in HAwaii, wink wink).
Tahiti is an "oversea territory" (Territoire d'outre-mer, or "TOM") for instance. We have also got "départements d'outre mer" (or "DOM") who have exactly the same status as mainland France.
Ah, d'accord. Je comprends maintenant. Merci bien, mon ami.
Happy Capitalistmas!
What an awesome thread!
All hail Grandfather Pei Thought!
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To all Agents of the Galtic Committee of Public Safety:
Be on the lookout for one Citizen HoustonDerek, who is wanted for crimes against the Glorious People's Revolution. He is an inveterate counterrevolutionary and a proven stooge of the plutocracy. He is a male pinkskin in the prime of life, with red hair, freckles, and a wise-ass grin. Female agents are further warned that he is to be considered armed and very charming. Beware for your revolutionary honor, sisters, when coming into close proximity to this vile reactionary lothario!
When this wily agent of Taldan-Chelish imperialism has finally been apprehended, he will be handed over to Comrade Union Thugee for appropriate indoctrination in one of our Fun-Timey Reeducation Supercenters.
Vive le Galt!
Doodlebug Anklebiter,
Commissar of Catching Stooges of the Plutocracy and Agriculture
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Nothing Says Merry Christmas Like the Class War!
So, my local struck a roofing-materials company. Typical story: family-owned business has cordial relationship with the union for two generations, sells company to European firm who comes in and wants to bust us up. Second contract comes around, and they're all like, "we want out of the Health and Welfare fund, we want out of the pension fund, etc., etc." Last, best, offer gets dropped and we hit the streets.
So, the worksite is about 2 hours south of my home, so I haven't been there as often as I should but, two funny stories:
1)
2)
Later, the official Teamsters truck shows up with the sound system, and the business agent walks purposefully over with his ipod. Ten minutes later, a bunch of middle-aged, working-class guys in flannel and boots are walking around yelling at security guards listening to "People Are People"!
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I like coal miner protest songs better than depeche mode, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUVSz7t2P58 and sixteen tonnes etc.
Although there is an okay celtic music cover of depeche mode's personal jesus by lisa hannigan :)
Back to marking exams!
I do like a lot of early eighties synthpop, even some Depeche Mode. Not a huge fan, but they had their moments.
Imho, they are one of those bands that are off-putting because they're not really anywhere as good as their fans seem to think they are. Again, imho.
But their totally over-the-top gay first album with the guy who went on to be in Yaz and Erasure? That album is awesome!
I like coal miner music, too.
EDIT: Link fixed.
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I do like a lot of early eighties synthpop, even some Depeche Mode. Not a huge fan, but they had their moments.
Imho, they are one of those bands that are off-putting because they're not really anywhere as good as their fans seem to think they are. Again, imho.
But their totally over-the-top gay first album with the guy who went on to be in Yaz and Erasure? That album is awesome!
I like coal miner music, too.
That last link isn't working :)
I care nothing for sports.
My father, however, is a Steelers fan, as he grew up in Charleroi. In fact, my grandfather was a supervisor in a Pittsburgh steel plant.
The f!%#ing scab.
Tch! Unhid this and still had to crawl deep into the forum to find! Where is your revolutionary fervor?
Secret dispatch from the Fifth Column:
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http://www.marxists.org/subject/art/literature/children/bib/index.htm#pic
Is this bibliography missing anything important?
Tch! Unhid this and still had to crawl deep into the forum to find! Where is your revolutionary fervor?
Secret dispatch from the Fifth Column: ** spoiler omitted **
Don't tempt me, stooge! I am allowing you reactionaries breathing space before I unleash the juggernaut of Marxian criticism all over your precious OTD!
Seriously, though, I'm having more fun following around Leafar the Loved and helping Gark build the Fawtl Refugee Thread than agitating for international proletarian socialist revolution.
Anyway, re: Totalcon. Thanks for the reminder! For the previous two-three years I have suffered from selective amnesia and have forgotten about it until March or April. My game has been running about once a week and I am now playing in Kirth's PBP, so my itch for MORE GAMING has been pretty much scratched, but, IF YOU are planning to attend, I'll definitely come by. I believe I made a promise earlier (in this very thread IIRC!) that would be a pleasure to fulfill!
When you speak of other local Paizonians, do you mean Gruumash.? Or, should I say, Dorkmash? Because if I'm going to run into him, I'm coming armed. I ain't workin' in no orc packie ever again!
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http://www.marxists.org/subject/art/literature/children/bib/index.htm#pic
Is this bibliography missing anything important?
TL;DNR entirely.
However, I am going to see if the library has a copy of Click Clack Moo!: Cows That Type! Expropriate Farmer Brown!
When you speak of other local Paizonians, do you mean Gruumash.? Or, should I say, Dorkmash? Because if I'm going to run into him, I'm coming armed. I ain't workin' in no orc packie ever again!
Like I said, I am mulling it over. My schedule is tight, and with the logistics of my daughter it can be hard to get free for an evening, but I would like to see.
I haven't checked to see if Lord One Eye is going, but I don't see why not. I was talking a few of those PFS peeps you had mentioned gaming with in the aforementioned post with the [redacted by SOPA] in the parking lot. ;)
I never actually ever got around to playing in PFS--I was busy with Occupy, than UPS Xmas time, life, etc.
But I did publicly call out Gruumash. in the Don't Reply thread.
Anyway, you let me know. I've never actually been to a con and it'd be fun to go and great to meet a comrade in the flesh! And in the parking lot goes without saying!
Let me know your plans!
Never been either, so it would be a fun thing as a dry run to my Seatlle trip in July. I'll let you know what the dealy-o is soon
The Black Goblin snff snff (crying a little) only has half a beer left and doesn't know why the R.B.G aren't back from the second raid yet?
Has anyone figured out a protocol for delivering alcohol via TCP/IP? Man, I could use it now.
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Guards! It is Citizen Houstonderek, notorious defiler of revolutionary purity! He is wanted for murder, theft, blasphemy, being party to counterrevolutionary conspiracies and the seduction of a high priestess of Kali! He is sought for questioning by the Committee of Public Safety in relations to the much-commented-upon "Incident at Isarn," in which 23 young widows were mysteriously impregnated!
No flayleaf for him!
Here, Ms. Slaad, have a drink. On the People's Government.
Ah, it is Comrade Jeff. Welcome, I always appreciate and am amazed at your ability to marshall facts at your fingertips on a wide array of issues and, overall, I give you a thumbs up! and offer you honorary membership in the Commonwealth Party of Galt (M-L). It's too bad you're not a revolutionary, but I guess you can keep Comrade Le Couard company in the Minority Revisionist-Collaborator-Stooge of the Plutocracy faction of the party.
Vive le Galt!
Ah, it is Comrade Jeff. Welcome, I always appreciate and am amazed at your ability to marshall facts at your fingertips on a wide array of issues and, overall, I give you a thumbs up! and offer you honorary membership in the Commonwealth Party of Galt (M-L). It's too bad you're not a revolutionary, but I guess you can keep Comrade Le Couard company in the Minority Revisionist-Collaborator-Stooge of the Plutocracy faction of the party.
Vive le Galt!
"The peasants are revolting?"
Finally, something we agree on!
Revolting against you, Lord Dice.
After him, my brothers and sisters! Ransack his manor! Burn the deeds! Distribute the wine bottles and livestock!
Vive le Galt!
Oh, which "livestock" would that be exactly?
I don't know haw many times I have to say this, Comrade, but the goblin-kennel is well furnished. They're super comfy down there, is it my fault if they prefer sleeping in piles of crumpled up newspaper? And, look, even if I call the vet instead of a doctor, that's still free medical care...
Revolutionary goblins are never satisfied!
I guess this happened at the beginning of the month, but I didn't see it until now: Victory at Longview! Eat it, labor haters!
Also,
Nothing Says Merry Christmas Like the Class War!
So, my local struck a roofing-materials company. Typical story: family-owned business has cordial relationship with the union for two generations, sells company to European firm who comes in and wants to bust us up. Second contract comes around, and they're all like, "we want out of the Health and Welfare fund, we want out of the pension fund, etc., etc." Last, best, offer gets dropped and we hit the streets.
After 40 days and 40 nights, the company caved and agreed to continue paying into the union-controlled Health and Welfare fund. Eat it, Saint-Gobain!
I'm gonna leave this here because it makes me feel extremely nauseous from rage.
Edit: If you wander off that page onto the rest of the MJ site, watch out for some potential malware in their pop-u ads.
It seems like things have gotten worse since I worked in a warehouse back in the 90s. They were bad enough then.
As a current 12 year lifer in the Warehouse System, I can tell you that everything in that article is true.
I'm gonna leave this here because it makes me feel extremely nauseous from rage.
Edit: If you wander off that page onto the rest of the MJ site, watch out for some potential malware in their pop-u ads.
I'm trying to figure out which Ohio warehouse they were referencing. I know Amazon has a distribution center outside of Cincy, but I haven't heard such horror stories. I'm thinking there may be a distribution center SW of Columbus, but the name escapes me at the moment.
Despite my unemployment, I wouldn't subject myself to that.
When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run
There can be no greater power anywhere beneath the sun
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one?
But the union makes us strong!
Solidarity forever!
The great and glorious Teamsters (of which I am but a humble representative) prevents the worst features of the article to ever become present at my workplace, but there's still a chilling resonance. I can only imagine what it's like at, say, a non-union grocery warehouse. Organize the unorganized!
One of my daily duties as a steward is to inform new hires that the reward for working hard at UPS is...more work. Also, the supes can b~%%~ and moan all they like, but they only have the power to get under your skin if you let them. Oh, Johnny X had 17 misloads yesterday and you want to give him a warning letter? I'm sorry, but there is no discipline for poor performance. No. There isn't. Also, we never say "I'll try". When packages are falling on the floor left and right, we just smile and say "I'm doing my best." If management continues to wonder why we failed, we say--"It's your job to make me successful!"
Also, technological unemployment is an excellent argument for socialism. 30--no, make that 20, hours work for 40 hours pay!
Also, solidarity, Comrade Hawkshaw!
Oh, I believe all of it. If you've been there 12 years, has it been getting worse?
Yes and No. The constant overtime and the working off the clock things are virtually non-existant now, but that is probably due to the economy and the various lawsuits that were won against the company. In fact the concern now is actually getting those 40 hours, because we are constantly told to go home early. The never ending demand for productivity has steadily increased, however. Instead of lectures on safety, management can and will constantly badger you on safety, while simultaneously increasing productivity quotas, which in effect forces one to choose between getting in trouble for productivity or safety. The only way that the workers have any say in any decision, (even the word union can get you a big fat target on your back) is to "lay down" and be as unproductive as possible and make the company pay out overtime. We can and do do that quite a bit.
Almost done with my I-hate-my-job-b$&@hfest. My favorite anecdote (and the thing that I am currently fighting for): As a member of my warehouse's first-aid team, every year I am trained, at company expense, in the usage of automated electrical defibrillators (AED's). The company refuses to buy us an AED despite 2 recent heart attacks (1 fatal), because of the expense and legal concerns that we'll somehow use them wrong, yet every year they pay to train us in their use. How does that make sense? /rant
Yes, WhiteKnife, let it out! Hate the bosses, hate them I say!
done
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Solidarity forever!!
Oh, Johnny X had 17 misloads yesterday and you want to give him a warning letter? I'm sorry, but there is no discipline for poor performance. No. There isn't. Also, we never say "I'll try". When packages are falling on the floor left and right, we just smile and say "I'm doing my best." If management continues to wonder why we failed, we say--"It's your job to make me successful!"
Hi, servant of the Plutocracy here. Am I understanding you correctly? That part (not the italicized bit) seems to be what grumpy old men say about why unions are destroying the country.
Is that what you meant? If so, I'm going to stop listening to Billy Bragg and never sing "Bread and Roses" again!
Hee hee! If rigid observance of the UPS contract destroys America, well, as a revolutionary socialist all I have to say is: good riddance!
There is no language in the contract for discipline for putting a package on the wrong truck, a mistake that is easily fixable by not sending drivers home (which they do everyday--in violation of the contract).
We are not expected to do anything other than "our best"--this is not even from the contract, it is from management's own lips.
It is management's job to make us successful--again, from management's own lips.
Despite our surliness, intractability, and general willingness to laugh at our idiot supes, UPS still was able to rake in $5 billion in profits last year. I remain unrepentant.
If that makes you stop listening to Billy Bragg, well, he hasn't put out a decent album since the late '80s anyway.