Union Versus Union

While I was on the road today I heard a curious story on NPR:  the 109 non-management employees of the Ohio Education Association, which is Ohio’s largest teachers union, may go on strike if they don’t get a new contract to replace the contract that is expiring.  The OEA’s non-management employees are members of the Professional Staff Union.  The Professional Staff Union’s president says the possibility of a strike against a fellow union is embarrassing, but the OEA is “behaving as badly as the worst school boards and school administrators in negotiations with teachers.”

When one union guy says that about another union guy, that’s got to hurt — but at least he didn’t call him a “scab.”

Traficant’s Return

Jim Traficant apparently will be back on the ballot in November, running for the seat in Ohio’s 17th Congressional District as an independent.  Elections officials had previously ruled that Traficant lacked enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but reversed that decision on reconsideration.

Traficant formerly was a Democrat who served 17 years in Congress.  In 2002, he was convicted on racketeering, bribery and tax evasion charges, and then was expelled from Congress.  During his years in Congress he became a well-known figure for his odd yet colorful speeches, his erratic behavior, and his bizarre, gravity-defying, bird’s nest hairstyle.

It’s hard to believe that Traficant, who got out of prison just last year, could actually be elected — but there is no doubt that he will make the election more interesting and unpredictable.

Mean Mean Pride

 

I saw RUSH in concert at Nationwide Arena on Sunday night and it was the best concert I have ever seen in person. I happened to see them years ago when I was younger, but I felt like this time around they were wayyyyyyy better. 

I loved the fact that they pretty much played all of their hit songs during the three hours they were on stage and really gave everyone their money’s worth. Looks like this Columbus Dispatch concert reviewer agreed with me.

Our seats at Nationwide Arena were in the first row of the upper deck straight back from the stage so we had full view of the amazing light show, shooting fire and fireworks. Of course it wouldn’t have been a concert if I didn’t have a rather rotund gentleman sitting next to me spill water on me.

Their second set started with Tom Sawyer and they followed that up with Limelight followed by all of the songs on their 1981 Moving Pictures album. The thing I always liked about RUSH was not only the beat, but the words to their songs.

Man oh man that Geddy Lee can still hit the high notes. Not to mention Alex Lifeson’s unbelievable guitar work and Neil Peart’s drum solo. The concert was well worth it and I highly recommend going to see RUSH if they are coming to an arena near you !