So when do internationally recognized labor standards get superseded? When union agreements are involved! Next time you find a place where employees work in excess of 60 hours per week, or even 72, or even 80... take a careful look at the collective bargaining agreement. Often times the collective bargaining agreements will even supersede written law, depending on the topic.
Joshua's Journal
My Podcast Link
11/16/2009 16:39 #50324
Tidbit11/09/2009 23:41 #50261
Jason the ChefHe's like a leopard, prowling up the side of a mountain. That mountain is called French cuisine and Jason the leopard is conquering this mountain a recipe at a time. Not to brag, but my brother is getting his shit together in the kitchen and it's about time someone gave him some damn recognition for it.
I feel so bad about that journal entry where I compared his picture to a picture of Shaggy!
(If you missed it -
- really only I can get away with this)
I feel so bad about that journal entry where I compared his picture to a picture of Shaggy!
(If you missed it -
- really only I can get away with this)metalpeter - 11/10/09 13:46
I forgot about that post it was funny
I forgot about that post it was funny
joshua - 11/10/09 11:16
There's nothing malicious in this and never has been - if anybody called you Shaggy I'd headbutt their fucking nose off, don't worry. =p
There's nothing malicious in this and never has been - if anybody called you Shaggy I'd headbutt their fucking nose off, don't worry. =p
jason - 11/10/09 11:14
God dammit Josh!~~ Now I'm getting all kinds of peanut gallery comments!!
God dammit Josh!~~ Now I'm getting all kinds of peanut gallery comments!!
james - 11/10/09 06:20
Leopards are known for their knife skillz
Leopards are known for their knife skillz
11/05/2009 10:34 #50220
La LunaHas anybody been here recently - say, the past couple of months and can tell me about the atmosphere, vibe, etc.? I haven't been to La Luna in many, many years and I've been recruited into going at the end of the month. Just want to make sure my latin lady friends will have a good time and will not be exposed to some sort of bad night. Any info would be helpful!
ladycroft - 11/10/09 08:57
Not living there anymore I can't say if they are open, but they aren't always 'latino' music. I think they only did salsa etc. 2 nights a week. The rest was ordinary 80's/modern stuff. It was a clean place and they had black rum, so I was happy enough.
Not living there anymore I can't say if they are open, but they aren't always 'latino' music. I think they only did salsa etc. 2 nights a week. The rest was ordinary 80's/modern stuff. It was a clean place and they had black rum, so I was happy enough.
joshua - 11/09/09 23:58
Man I don't know but I can tell you for sure I'm going to be there at the end of the month, celebrating my co-workers birthday with a bunch of latinas. I'll be the only gringo, which is fine, because *this* guy with a table full of latinas is in good shape. Nobody except for you has responded to my La Luna inquiry, which makes me suspicious.
Man I don't know but I can tell you for sure I'm going to be there at the end of the month, celebrating my co-workers birthday with a bunch of latinas. I'll be the only gringo, which is fine, because *this* guy with a table full of latinas is in good shape. Nobody except for you has responded to my La Luna inquiry, which makes me suspicious.
libertad - 11/06/09 10:42
I'm totally out of touch. Are they still open?
I'm totally out of touch. Are they still open?
11/02/2009 15:22 #50201
Minor alteration to A Vincent PictureJust had to make a minor alteration to the picture -
I don't recall the last time I drank so much but we hung close with the Brits - we were in fact the last Americans standing and there was no way in hell that I could allow anyone else to have that honor. I am proud to say that we got props on a few occasions during the night from our out of town guests for the Larson sticktoitiveness.
We had a great time and it was a pleasure to get to meet and hang out with (e:rory)'s close friends. Each were great guys who I'd buy a beer (or three) for any day and their respective ladies were really nice gals. The fellas from the UK have friends in the Larson bros. I was pleased with how everything came off with the wedding and it was an honor to have the opportunity to serve as an usher for two wonderful friends.
I have a lot of friends who have wonderful spouses - genuinely fantastic people. However, there was something different about this event that I can't really put into words or express in the way that I'm really feeling about it. I think the best approximation I can come up with is that it is cliche and not always correct to suggest that fate intervenes in people's lives in this way. I've never been convinced of this anyway, at least until this weekend. If you think about the spectacular odds of having a lad from Essex meet a lass from Buffalo in Qatar and having it result in a perfect union of two people who couldn't be more right for each other, it's a bit amazing to consider. It really did bring me joy to actually see this happen in front of my eyes. Today I think about the day that Timika told us that she was moving to Qatar and I can't think of a more consequential decision that any of my friends have ever made.
I don't recall the last time I drank so much but we hung close with the Brits - we were in fact the last Americans standing and there was no way in hell that I could allow anyone else to have that honor. I am proud to say that we got props on a few occasions during the night from our out of town guests for the Larson sticktoitiveness.
We had a great time and it was a pleasure to get to meet and hang out with (e:rory)'s close friends. Each were great guys who I'd buy a beer (or three) for any day and their respective ladies were really nice gals. The fellas from the UK have friends in the Larson bros. I was pleased with how everything came off with the wedding and it was an honor to have the opportunity to serve as an usher for two wonderful friends.
I have a lot of friends who have wonderful spouses - genuinely fantastic people. However, there was something different about this event that I can't really put into words or express in the way that I'm really feeling about it. I think the best approximation I can come up with is that it is cliche and not always correct to suggest that fate intervenes in people's lives in this way. I've never been convinced of this anyway, at least until this weekend. If you think about the spectacular odds of having a lad from Essex meet a lass from Buffalo in Qatar and having it result in a perfect union of two people who couldn't be more right for each other, it's a bit amazing to consider. It really did bring me joy to actually see this happen in front of my eyes. Today I think about the day that Timika told us that she was moving to Qatar and I can't think of a more consequential decision that any of my friends have ever made.
metalpeter - 11/03/09 17:26
I don't know what to say really other then good post.
I don't know what to say really other then good post.
jason - 11/03/09 08:42
One thing that was different from a lot of weddings was that immediately after the ceremony he was BEAMING....and maybe even getting a little teary? I don't know too many guys who express it so vividly. I thought that was cool.
One thing that was different from a lot of weddings was that immediately after the ceremony he was BEAMING....and maybe even getting a little teary? I don't know too many guys who express it so vividly. I thought that was cool.
jason - 11/03/09 08:40
Oh my GOD, disgraceful is right!!! That's what the brits call "bleary eyed" correct?
Oh my GOD, disgraceful is right!!! That's what the brits call "bleary eyed" correct?
lilho - 11/02/09 22:32
this made me laugh! im glad you all had fun, wish i could have come!
this made me laugh! im glad you all had fun, wish i could have come!
libertad - 11/02/09 21:00
Very nice. I also want to add that (e:vincent) has got a nice camera. I wanted to tell vincent on his own journal but I didn't log in to do it. It was very dark in there and my camera just sucks in darkness. Don't get me wrong mine takes beautiful pictures but just not with the flash.
Anyways, I truly conked out at the reception but still had a good time. I'm glad the photo booth was there too. All in all, the Webber wedding was pretty awesome. I really enjoyed doing the photography. I'm glad that you guys got to hang out until the end with the awesome brits. They fascinated me, real genuinely good people.
Very nice. I also want to add that (e:vincent) has got a nice camera. I wanted to tell vincent on his own journal but I didn't log in to do it. It was very dark in there and my camera just sucks in darkness. Don't get me wrong mine takes beautiful pictures but just not with the flash.
Anyways, I truly conked out at the reception but still had a good time. I'm glad the photo booth was there too. All in all, the Webber wedding was pretty awesome. I really enjoyed doing the photography. I'm glad that you guys got to hang out until the end with the awesome brits. They fascinated me, real genuinely good people.
jenks - 11/02/09 16:35
Aww, that's touching. :)
Aww, that's touching. :)
09/28/2009 14:53 #49877
Keeping Your ModestyI haven't mentioned the iPhones to Dad yet. He's had a rough time after losing his job and there is something immodest about showing off a new toy to someone who is suffering. It just makes it worse when the suffering person is your father. I know that deep down Dad would never be bothered about it and insists that we occasionally reward ourselves for our hard work. I know that he loves toys and would think it's incredibly cool. However, I still can't bring myself to tell him.
I think that generally this is emblematic of the times we're living in.
I think that generally this is emblematic of the times we're living in.
As much as I rail against unions I'm not closed minded about their existence, or whether or not they still have a relevant role to play. Raise your hand if you grew up in a multigenerational blue collar union family like me - anyone? The fact is that unions have made a lot of mistakes and I'm glad to talk to people honestly about the pros and cons.
For me overall the golden days for unions are long gone... unions did their most important and vital work decades ago, getting labor standards codified. OSHA wouldn't exist without labor union influence over the years. Since these laws protecting workers have been written, unions have become more of a special interest or advocacy group, no different or any less sinister than any other lobbying group on Capitol Hill.
Actually, these days the SEIU is directly involved at the highest level with the formulation of healthcare policy in this country. I'm not seeing anyone complaining like they did when oil executives were meeting with the Bush administration about energy policy. If anyone would like to explain that I'm all ears!
Depends on the day - I'm off the entire last week of the year! :D
PS - Jay told me you cut your hair and I was truly shocked!
I should get you together with my brother sometime. He is a former union organizer and he is more than happy to have an honest discussion on the serious mistakes unions have made. I think he has a pretty interesting union perspective as an organizer. Maybe you can meet him when he is here for Christmas...but you'll probably be in Jamestown, I suppose.