#sports labor disputes

[creativitytoexplore]

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa taken off the field on stretcher during game against Bengals | CNN

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa taken off the field on stretcher during game against Bengals | CNN

CNN  —  The Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher on Thursday during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, after suffering apparent head and neck injuries – less than a week after being injured in another game. Tagovailoa is conscious, has movement in all his extremities and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, the team said in an…

[defensefilms]

I Don’t Watch College Hoops Because Exploitation Isn’t Entertaining

“Because you don’t learn financial management and budgeting by being broke”

For all intent and purposes, the American college basketball circuit is probably one of the biggest influences that creates the NBA, which I love oh so much.

And I don’t care.

I really wonder, how it is that in a country that values business, enterprise and the ability to earn a living like the United States Of America does, and yet, still does not see the need to garuantee this kind of fairness across the board.

How much money do you think the NCAA makes in a year? Like in one season of college basketball how much do you think the NCAA is worth with it’s live game attendance, ticket sales, merchandise sales, advertising revenue and television broadcasting rights. How much do you think that operation is worth in 1 season?

Whatever you valuation is, it’s wrong, and in all likelihood, lower than what you expect or project because this organization/business does not have to pay it’s labour force.

A quick search on investopedia.com reveals that the NCAA made 1 billion dollars in profits in 2022.

Not a single penny of that goes to the players and I can’t abide it.

This culture of blatant exploitation is not entertaining, or rather it gets in the way of me finding college basketball entertaining.

There is an almost insidious level of intolerance towards the idea of a college athlete being paid any money to represent an institution in a sport, and I don’t understand why, because the pie is more than big enough that players can be compensated right now, and not have to wait until they make it to the NBA.

Stories like Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and The Fab Five, demonstrate firsthand the kind of vitriol that awaits any college athlete that tries to make a buck for themselves, without the stuffed shirts giving them express permission to do so.

I also don’t buy the idea that players are recieving a free education and therefore getting a full ride to study and play for free, is the only incentive they deserve.

That’s nonsense.

Firstly, college athletes are required to study and play/represent thier college in a sport, but they are also being sent in to the modern day job market where are degree or qualification is less advantageous than at any time in history.

And lastly, these colleges have to understand that they are sending a majority of these athletes in to the modern day labor market, and with that should come an adjusting of the rates. College degrees, qualifications, as well as modern hiring practices are not the trump card that they used to be.

The current revenue share between athletes and college institutions, does not reflect this at all.

In the video above posted by CNN, former college basketball player, Cody McDavis explains that paying college basketball and football players, would likely mean college institutions cutting spending on less profitable sports programs altogether, specifically with regards to the smaller schools.

In 2019, former staff writer for Forbes, Chris Smith, posted a video, courtesy of Forbes, which went in to depth to looking at valuations and revenue streams for the most profitable colleges, all of whom would have made at least half a billion dollars in 2018. 

These teams are making money from everything including game tickets, parking tickets, food and concession, merchandise, media rights deals, sponsorships, television rights, advertising revenue, and in regard to the bigger schools, who can also pull in donations from alumni members in the form of contributions/donations.

In the same year of 2019, CNBC did a video in which they broke down som of the financials of the annual March Madness tournament, and the network reports that the latest television deal made the NCAA 857 million dollars in 2018. 

In addition to that the March Madness tournament also brought in 1.32 billion dollars in television ad spending, which is more than the NBA, the MLB and college football.

All of that is outside of other things like the yearly NIT, which is an adjeacent tournament to March Madness, and which together with the NCAA, reportedly brings in upwards of 132 million dollars a year.

This revenue is all collected and essentially redistributed amongst all the competing schools in the tournament, and also helps subsidize alternate sports programs that do not make enought profit on their own, but when you’re dealing with entities this size, with mutliple revenue streams and a nationally televised product, I can tell you, the money is there. What isn’t there is the will to pay it out fairly, on the part of the institutions in question.

The reality is that, I cannot and don’t abide, a multi million dollar company, which continues to grow financially on the backs of unpaid labor.

The concept of basketball players skipping college is a thoroughly unpopular one, in every sphere of the mainstream media.

You have to understand there is an infastructure at play here, with mulitple billion dollar corporations either indirectly benefitting or directly profitting. From media outlets and publications to broadcast and media entities, aside from people that are actually involved with the athletic side of the game like coaches and scouts.

The only one of these entities that could exist no matter where they get thier players from, is the NBA.

When you understand this kind of basketball economy, you understand why those in the national media are reluctant to support any kind of change to this system. 

The issue with accepting this at face value, is the reality of how much college basketball coaches are paid, and that’s where this becomes more apparent as a labor issue.

Above is a video posted by CBS News on the Youtube channel in which Duke University lecturer, Nathan Kahlman-Lamb, details all the ways that the NCAA’s labor practices are a violation of multiple antitrust laws based on the percentage of the profits that actually get paid to the athlete.

Kahlman-Lamb, makes it clear under no uncertain circumstances that the only way that the NCAA is as proftable as it is, is becasue they do not pay thier labor force.

In 2016, PBS News Hour did a report in which former college athletes like Ed O’Bannon, who was the MVP of the 1995 NCAA finals, and he makes it clear that he considers the NCAA to be a cartel, a fact he believes so much, he has filed a lawsuit regarding the matter.

I don’t buy the idea that the players are interchangeable either. 

If anything I believe the NCAA is the replaceable entity. The NBA will always need a feeder system for players, because that’s the nature of thier business. Where they find this talent pool and the rules that govern said aqcuisitions is the interchangeable part.

You can start a league for new/young/developing players, in fact, the NBA wouldn’t even need to do that, they could simply just expand on the existing G-League infastructure.

The NCAA however would have a much harder time convincing kids to play for free if they had a competing entity that was willing to pay players, straight out of high school.

In recent years, the NCAA has relaxed regulations that now allows college athletes to take advantage of brand deals, sponsorships and image rights, but that’s a separate issue to being paid for the revenue they actually help create for the NCAA.

You can call it what you like, but there is absolutely no way, I am going to watch/write about or create content about or concerning, an entity that openly exploits the most important part of thier work force, and subsequently their money machine.

What I would suggest, is a basic minimum for all college basketball players, regardless of which insitution they represent, or whether they go on to be eligible for the draft.

And please don’t give me any of that crap about how college student will waste money they are given, because you don’t learn financial management and budgeting by being broke, so cut the nonsense.

[kellykidd]

Turkey Time, Baby

*Gif belongs to its rightful owner, it is not mine*

Pairing: Matt Casey x reader

Request: Can you do a Matt Casey x reader? Matt Casey is married to Kelly Severide’s sister and she is the PIC at the same firehouse as her husband and brother. It is thanksgiving Casey and his wife are celebrating it at the firehouse with the rest of the guys that works on the same shift. Casey and his wife are having some intimate in his quarters but gets interrupted because Severide is looking for his sister. After the shift was over Casey and y/n was home at there house. Casey was telling his wife about the call that they all had last night and about how Casey saved a new born baby when the victim was in labor. Casey tells y/n how he wants them to have a baby, but y/n isn’t sure if she feels ready to have a baby now even if she wants to have a baby with her husband. Based on season 1 episode 7

Summary: Married to your brother Kelly’s best friend, you get to spend your thanksgiving on shift

Words: 1350

Warnings: Kissing, intimate content (no smut), birth, married couple disputes

Read on Ao3 here

Notes: Happy to be back writing requests! Hope it’s what you were looking for! @caseyandsloan

Join my taglist here

Tags: @caseyandsloan @mrspeacem1nusone

—— “Ready big bro? Boden’s about to carve the turkey,” You asked, leaning on Kelly’s doorframe.

“I’ll be right there, just finishing this run sheet.”

“Better hurry up, you know how Boden likes everyone to watch his magic.”

A small chuckle left your mouth as you walked towards Matt’s quarters.

“Turkey time, Baby,” you smiled, leaning over to give him a secretive peck on the lips.

“I’m ready for another kinda time,” he smirked.

“Not right now baby, Boden’s waiting, something about turkey magic.” You pulled him away from his desk and practicality dragged your husband to the common room.

“Casey, Severide, finally,” Boden groaned, “where’s the other Severide?”

“I told Kelly it was chow time just a m-“

You were cut off by your brother slipping in behind you and taking a seat at the table.

“Let’s eat before these damn bells go off,” Boden announced.

As the firehouse passed around the bowls and platters of the thanksgiving feast truck prepared, Matt couldn’t help, but keep smirking in your direction.

“Severide,” Joe called out.

Both you and Kelly popped your heads up from your plates. 

“Which one?” Kelly joked.

“PIC Severide. Pass the potatoes.”

You passed the potatoes as Matt kept smirking in your direction.

As the firehouse finished their meals, you called out, “squad’s on dish duty, right?”

“Thanksgiving doesn’t count, that’s a team sport,” Capp argued.

“I say it still counts,” Joe smiled, getting up from his seat.

“Works for me,” Herrmann announced, pushing away from the table.

Truck and Engine, along with you and Shay quickly left the common room as to not be recruited to dry what seemed like millions of dishes.

“Got a minute,” you asked Matt, a devilish grin across your face.

“Hell yeah I’ve got a minute.”

Pulling you into his quarters, he closed the blinds and locked the door behind you as you pulled him into a very passionate make out session. Your hands in each others hair giving you flashbacks to you at 16 with the boy down the road.

With you pulling his shirt off and him pulling off yours, you were fully in the not safe for work category. You were unbuttoning your pants as there was a knock on the door. 

You quickly threw your shirt back on and through the blinds, you could tell the shadow on the other side of the door belonged to your brother. 

“Casey, you seen my sister?” He knocked.

Matt panicked and threw on his shirt and opened the door before you could tell him he put it out inside out.

Kelly looked at Matt’s shirt and the flushed look on your face.

“Well aren’t you two celebrating the life of that bird?” He shook his head.

“What’s up Kelly?” You asked, attempting to fix your hair.

“Boden wanted to see you, but it’s not urgent if you want to get back to what you were doing.”

Fixing yourself up, you walked out of Matt’s quarters, only to hear Kelly laugh behind you.

“You’re doing it at the firehouse now?” He chuckled.

“We didn’t do anything, you interrupted us,” Matt fired back.

You were just out of earshot now, so you couldn’t hear them, but when you looked over your shoulder, you could tell they hadn’t changed topics.

Just as you were reaching the bullpen, dispatch announced your next call, “Ambulance 61, Truck 81, Squad 3, car accident, 555 West Halstead.”

You turned around and started your jog towards the app floor. Shay was already in the drivers seat when you got there, pulling 61 into the street before you could even get your seat belt on.

About two minutes before the accident site, you hit traffic. Heavy, After-dinner, thanksgiving traffic. Lights, horns and sirens weren’t enough to make traffic move even an inch.

“61 how far out are you?” Matt called over the radio.

“Two minutes, but we’ve hit stand-still traffic,” you sighed.

“Call for another ambo, we’re in bad shape over here.”

“61 to Main, we’re stuck in traffic and unable to take in the West Halstead call. Requesting another ambo for truck and squad assist,” you radioed into dispatch.

“Ambulance 90 is 20 minutes out,” dispatch replied.

“Casey, did you get that?” You asked.

“Yeah, do what you can to get here quickly. We’ve got a victim in labor,” he replied.

You motioned to Leslie to try the horns and siren again. 

“No luck,” she announced, frustrated and banging on the steering wheel.

“How’s she doing?” You asked Matt.

“Contractions are about two-ish minutes apart.”

“Matt she’s going to need to start pushing. Get all the blankets and the med kit from the truck. You’re going to have to deliver there.”

Leslie looked over to you, shocked at what you just said.

“Are you sure you want him to do that?” She whispered.

“We don’t have much of a choice,” you whispered back, “plus it’s Matt. He’s a natural.”

“We’re ready here,” Casey told you.

“Ok on her next contraction, I need you to tell her to push. Keep her focused on this baby.”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Severide.”

“You have to.”

Several minutes went by without communication from Matt. Finally, over the radio, you could hear screaming from the laboring mother.

“How’s she doing, Matt?” 

“Baby’s about half way. Next contraction is about to start.”

The traffic in front of you started to ease enough so Shay could maneuver around it.

“Casey, we’re on our way. A minute out,” Shay announced.

“I shouldn’t stop right?” He asked.

“Keep going, Casey. We’ll take over when we get there. Once the baby is born, dry it off and hand it to the mother.”

Shay was focused, her knuckles white from the amount of force she was putting on them, trying to make sure you got to this victim.

Pulling up to the accident seen, you saw Matt by the passenger door of a mangled car. 

“Baby is here,” Matt called out over the radio.

Grabbing the jump bag, monitor, oxygen and stretcher, you and Shay rushed to Matt’s side. 

“Casey, we’re gonna load and go,” you informed him.

“We didn’t have anything to cut the cord,” he was breathing heavily.

As you truck helped you with loading the victim, you reassured Matt.

“You did good. Congrats, Casey,” you smiled, shutting the ambulance doors behind you.

——

Arriving back to the house late, you flopped into your bunk and fell right to sleep. You were blessed with no overnight calls to end the shift, so you could actually get a little sleep, a rarity on shift.

When you woke up, you quickly packed your duffel bag and met Matt out front.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Yeah, let’s go,” you smiled, “maybe some uninterrupted time?”

Matt shot you a look.

“Is that a yes?” You asked, getting in his truck.

“Definitely,” he grinned, starting the truck.

As you arrived back at your apartment, Matt had a look on his face.

“What’s on your mind?” You asked, plopping down on the couch.

“That call.”

“The car accident?”

“Yeah. I delivered a baby on a road today,” he rushed.

“I’m so proud of you.”

“I think we should have a baby,” he paced.

“What?”

“Yeah, you and me. We could do it, I know we can.”

“Matt, I-“

“Baby, we’d be so good-“

“Matt!” You yelled, cutting him off mid sentence.

“What?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to have a baby,” you admitted.

“What?”

“I’m finally in a good spot at 51. I finally made PIC. I don’t want to take time off right now. I know you want to have a baby.”

“Yeah, I do,” he said, firmly.

“I don’t know if I can have a baby with you right now.”

He grabbed his duffel off the floor and started walking towards the door.

“Where are you going?” You got up from the couch.

“You can’t drop a bomb like that on me and expect me to just sit here. I’m going to Kelly’s.”

The apartment door shut with a bang. All you could think was “was this a mistake?”

[kairologia]

Houses in traditional astrology.

Instead of making separate posts for each house, I thought it’d be more judicious & practical to compile everything into one singular post for concision’s sake.

Some necessary contextualization before we get to the point:

— Most houses don’t represent personality traits or characteristics. They represent experiences & areas of your life. Your self in the more rudimentary sense of the term is the 1st house. Other houses can be other people, places, or experiences.

— The ascendant/1st house is you, not a “mask”, your “basic self”, a “facade” or a “superficial persona” it’s for the major part everything modern astrology believes the sun to be.

— The ascendant/1H representing you does not mean other placements cannot be relevant or resonant (as explained here), that’s an oversimplification and nothing in life is ever that simple. All elements in a chart matter, but to believe everything is a “me” indicators is far too reductive. This is especially relevant wrt appearance. While the 1H has higher than average chances of coming through when it comes to the visual aspect, there are other things that come into play — namely genetics, the Moon, the 2nd house, the IC, & the Ascendant Lord.

— There are 12 houses and 7 traditional planets. You will most certainly have empty houses — though inactive they are not. Even if there are no planets in a house, there will always be a planet ruling it and its themes will still hold significance to you & your life experiences, there just won’t be as much focus on them as there would be with houses containing planets.

— Signs don’t “naturally” rule houses. Aries does NOT signify the 1H unless you’re an Aries rising. In fact, “rulership” is something only planets can do. Not signs, not houses, just planets! The signs are a celestial system that shows HOW a planet’s energy expresses itself, whereas houses are a terrestial system that shows WHERE that energy is expressed (areas of life). You can read ABC house system debunks online, or wait for me to write one!

🪞 1st House 🪞

— Angular house

— Mercury’s joy

— “The Helm”

— Eastern horizon

— Horoskopos (hour marker)

— Inceptions

— Beginnings

— Life

— Body

— Appearance

— Personality

— Self & Identity

— Self Expression

— Vitality & Health

💰 2nd House 💰

— Succedent house

— “The Gate of Hades”

— Livelihood

— Prospects

— Desires

— Money & assets

— Physical posessions

— End of youth

— Financial affairs

— Time

— Value

— Materiality

— Ownership

— Sustenance

📜 3rd House 📜

— Cadent House

— The Moon’s joy

— “Goddess”

— Siblings

— Extended Relatives

— Short Distance Travel

— Religious sites & rites

— Places of worship

— Neighborhoods

— Small communities

— Communication & Writing

— School

— Learning

— Education

— Everyday life, routines

🪦 4th House 🪦

— Angular house

— Lowest angle of the chart

— “Subterranean”

— Family

— Parents

— Land

— Home & Property

— Privacy

— Secrets

— Roots & lineage

— Ancestry & genealogy

— Place(s) of Origin

— Inheritance

— The “past”

— Generational trauma

— Hidden treasures

— End of life

— Death & rituals surrounding it

— Endings

— Graveyards

— The Underground

🌹 5th House 🌹

— Succedent house

— Venus’ joy

— “Good Fortune”

— Romance

— Relationships

— Desire & Pleasure

— Praise & Worship

— Sexuality/Sex

— Creativity & Creation

— Art & artistic expression

— Children

— Charity

— Diplomacy & diplomats

— Pleasant pursuits & joy

— Gambling

🩸 6th House 🩸

— Cadent house

— Mars’ joy

— “Bad Fortune”

— Illness & Injury

— Health & Sickness

— Servitude

— Employees & subordinates

— Labor

— Work

— Sports

— Fighting

— Physical Harm

— Medical Professionals

— Herbalism & medicine

— Small animals & pets

⚖️ 7th House ⚖️

— Angular house

— “Setting” angle

— Marriage

— Spouse

— Partnerships

— Open enemies

— the “Other” (≠ of the self, the 1H)

— Commitments& agreements

— Confrontation

— Lawsuits

— Legal disputes

— Contracts

— Business

💸 8th House 💸

— Succedent house

— “Idle Place”

— Death & Endings

— Other people’s money & assets

— Debt

— Taxes

— Legacies

— Inheritance

— Grief

— Trauma

— Psychology & shadow work

— Shared resources & belongings

— Stagnation

— Fears

— Secrets

🔮 9th House 🔮

— Cadent house

— Joy of the Sun

— “God”

— Higher education & academic pursuits

— Pursuit of knowledge

— Teachers & professors

— Occult pursuits & faculties

— Religion

— Foreign places

— Long distance travel

— Pilgrimage

— Divination & Astrology

— Philosophy

— Dreams

— Prophecies

💼 10th House 💼

— Angular house

— “Midheaven”

— Highest angle of the chart

— Vocation

— Career

— Mother

— Fame

— Ambition & aspiration

— Recognition

— Influence

— The future

— Goals

— Social status

— Achievements

— Profession

— Public affairs

— Reputation

— Authority figures & leaders

— Government

— Social aspirations

🎉 11th House 🎉

— Succedent house

— Jupiter’s joy

— “Good Spirit”

— Friends

— Alliances

— Trust

— Emancipation

— Community

— Network

— Supporters & patrons

— Organizations

— Groups

— Mutual aid & support

🏥 12th House 🏥

— Cadent house

— Saturn’s joy

— ”Bad Spirit”

— Prior to birth: mother's labor

— Isolation

— Retreat

— Large animals

— Exile

— Rumors

— Misfortunes

— Envy

— Hidden enemies

— Betrayal

— (of Self or otherwise) Sabotage

— Mental health

— Restrictions

— Hospitals

— Incarceration

[kmackatie]

shadowgast fic rec list: the modern au edition - part one

This has been a long time coming, and hopefully the start of a few, but I have been intending to make some fic rec lists for a while. I am time-poor and generally bad at remembering to bookmark fics, but I figured I shouldn't let that stop me.

I have a love for modern au's, I write many of them, and I often see arguments against them when the source material is fantasy based for a number of reasons. But, I wanted to shine a light on some out there that tickle that box for me of being delightful.

Listed below the cut are a bunch of fics I have enjoyed, in no particular order and of varying lengths. I will of course forget some, but I hope to do some more lists in the future as I have more tabs open than I can reasonably fit in a list.

Fundamental Forces Other Than Gravity by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi)/@mllekurtz (1/1 chapters, 40,676 words, E, no warnings)

- A shadowgast college au with great characterisation and weaving of the Nein throughout. This one has chronic pain Essek, and I love how it is handled. As a note, Essek is briefly one of Caleb's professors, however, there is little power imbalance between them.

the fire kept closest (burns most of all) by mousecookie/@ariadne-mouse (3/3 chapters, 21,822 words, M, warnings: MCD)

- The fic that created the vocaleb tag. Essek is scientist on a research team studying a volcano, for which a tragic accident occurred years prior. It's told in a series of present and past, and the slow build of the relationships throughout the fic are gorgeous. For those eyeing the MCD warning, know that it is also tagged with 'angst with a happy ending'.

I've been lost before (and I'm lost again, I guess) by toneofjoy/@fireryn (21/21 chapters, 165,080 words, E, no warnings)

- The boys are rock climbers in this one. I know, it sounds odd, but trust me and read this. It has incredible characterisation and conversations about sexuality and gender (I hold the cafe scene in my hands so gently), as well as some wonderful sexual tension that builds until it bursts. This fic also got me into recreational rock climbing and I owe the author for it big time. As a note, Essek is Caleb's coach in this fic and this is a plot point for the background of their developing relationship.

starting with your heart (bright heart) by 2manyboys/@cluelessheroes (1/1 chapters, 9,914 words, E, no warnings)

- This has the sentence "Have you been taking four legged showers with Essek Thelyss?” in the summary and it has lived rent-free in my head ever since. Modern-wth-magic university au where they are both students with some lovely build-up of sexual tension between them. Hot smut to go along with it.

disputable presumptions by hanap/@callingvoicemail (3/? chapters, 9,606 words, E, no warnings)

- The corporate lawyer au of my dreams where they are friends with benefits and hiding it from the rest of the Nein. This has a delightful background of plot, along with ambiguous not!wizards hiding their true feelings behind an air of casualness, and snappy writing that keeps you reading.

Inside Edge, 3 Turn, and Closed Hold by MithrilWren/@mithrilwren (3/? works, 16,060 combined words, T/G/M respectively, no warnings)

- The shadowgast figure skating au I didn't know I needed until I read it. I've reread this one so many times and keep coming back to the characterisation and the way the story is slowly told across all three fics. There's a richness of the world behind what we see, and I adore coach!Beau in this one. Another with chronic pain Essek, and generally a careful understanding of the risks that go into the sport.

Labor of Love by OMGitsgreen (6/6 chapters, 43,331 words, M, warnings: CNTW)

- Bakery au. It's a classic, and it's done so well here. This is one of the earliest fics I remember reading, and it's a warm hug on a cold day that is great for when you're wanting something nice.

fermata by canyon_wizard/@canyon-wizard (8/8 chapters, 65,403 words, E, no warnings)

- A classical music au (there really needs to be more of these, please) where they are both piano students. The focus of this one is less the music world and more the character dynamics, and they are incredibly well done. The smut is hot, there is delightful miscommunication, and tense dynamics (ha) throughout.

(your face in my hands is) everything good I need by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi)/@mllekurtz (8/8 chapters, 25,884 words, M, no warnings)

- Professor au where they meet at a conference, Caleb a professor of modern history and Essek an expert in Latin. This fic has everything--wizards being nerds in every universe, first kisses, developing feelings, long distance relationship, emotional stakes, and dramatic declarations of love. I adore Mlle's writing (it really should not be a surprise at this point) as they have a way of capturing emotions and turning them into stunning pieces of prose. This one is also a love letter to Paris and Berlin, and please give it a read!

[anarchistmemecollective]

great labour history here

transcript below

I am mildly obsessed with these moments in history - specifically, sports history - when somebody looks at the way everybody is doing something and says, but, wait a second. What if I tried it this totally unexpected other way?

You know, famously, in high jump, a guy named Dick Fosbury started jumping over the bar backwards, and it was so effective that now everyone does it.

Or in baseball - at some point, a very clever player was like, what if instead of swinging at a fast-moving ball - what if I just hold the bat up to where the ball is going to be and (clicks tongue) knock it frustratingly into the infield? And the bunt is born. Love the bunt.

And look, I'm obsessed with these moments because it forces everyone to be like, wait a second. Can they do that? That can't be legal. But yeah, it is, and the game is changed forever.

NICK FOUNTAIN, HOST:

And Kenny, of course, these moments don't just happen in sporting competition. They happen in our world, too - the world of economics and business. And there is an example that has become particularly relevant right now.

MALONE: Yeah, so we're in the middle of what people have been calling hot labor summer. I guess it's turned into, I don't know, unseasonably warm labor fall or whatever.

FOUNTAIN: (Laughter).

MALONE: But yes, we are seeing this spate of labor actions across the country - strikes in Hollywood, at hospitals and schools, at car factories.

FOUNTAIN: And, you know, strikes are not so different from sports. They both have chanting and people holding up punny signs. But more importantly, they also have competing teams employing tactics and countertactics and counter-countertactics.

MALONE: In other words, labor is kind of exactly the right kind of situation for the right person to come along and jump backwards over the way things are supposed to work and change labor disputes forever.

(SOUNDBITE OF ANTOINE BRUNO FREDERIQUE BLANC, JAMES PATRICK KALETH AND MAX BRONCO'S "TAKE ME BACK AGAIN")

MALONE: Hello, and welcome to PLANET MONEY. I'm Kenny Malone.

FOUNTAIN: And I'm Nick Fountain. And if you had to pick a Fosbury flop, bunt moment in labor history, a decent candidate might be what happened 30 years ago when one airline went to war with a group of scrappy flight attendants.

MALONE: Today on the show, the story of what happened when a union figured out how to strike without really going on strike. It seemed too good to be true. There were legal challenges. There were shady flights to Guadalajara. And arguably, it's a case study that is still shaping the labor disputes we see today.

(SOUNDBITE OF ANTOINE BRUNO FREDERIQUE BLANC, JAMES PATRICK KALETH AND MAX BRONCO'S "TAKE ME BACK AGAIN")

MALONE: Before we get into our story, you have to understand this enormous threat that has been hanging over airline unions for the last 3 1/2 decades.

FOUNTAIN: Yeah, we're going to call it the TWA threat because, in 1986, the flight attendants for Trans World Airlines, also known as TWA, were in a labor dispute with their airline. And it was looking like they were going to have to strike.

MALONE: And, you know, the thing about a strike is if you generally follow all the rules and the letter of the law, the government protects that labor action. Like, you are not allowed to be fired when you're striking. That's the deal. So great - the TWA flight attendants went on strike.

FOUNTAIN: But what was so notable about what happened in 1986 is that TWA found a legal workaround - a way to effectively fire all those striking flight attendants without technically firing anyone.

MALONE: Yeah, apparently, when a flight attendant walked off the job - went on strike - it was legal for TWA to fill that newly vacated position. TWA wasn't actually firing anyone, but the flight attendant that went on strike - well, they would have to wait until another position opened up. And, of course, until that happened, that flight attendant was functionally fired. They weren't working. They weren't earning a paycheck.

FOUNTAIN: And the TWA move in 1986 was to do this on a massive scale. When the flight attendants went on strike, the company started replacing them - thousands of people. It would take years before a new TWA job would open up for most of them.

DAVID BORER: And they were all replaced by scabs. The sanitized term for it is permanent replacements.

MALONE: But you're a labor lawyer, so...

BORER: Right.

MALONE: ...You call them scabs, sure.

BORER: That's right.

MALONE: This is longtime labor lawyer David Borer.

BORER: It was horrifying. And, you know, you look at that and you think, oh, my gosh, we can't ever let this happen again.

MALONE: David was watching this TWA fiasco carefully because back then, he was just starting out as the union lawyer for a different group of flight attendants, which included the ones that our story is about today, the flight attendants of Alaska Airlines.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED NARRATOR: At Alaska Airlines, we discount fares, but we never discount service.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

FOUNTAIN: Ba, ba, ba, ba-bum. Ba-bum, ba-bum.

So we pick up a handful of years after the TWA stuff. It's 1993. David was negotiating the new contract for those Alaska Airlines flight attendants.

MALONE: And David says, negotiations were not going very well. And so he and the flight attendants, they had started meeting to discuss what to do next.

BORER: We spent the better part of a week talking about strategy. And we knew the guiding thing behind all of it was, we can't do what the TWA flight attendants did.

MALONE: Right, because now all of the airlines have the TWA playbook. So if your flight attendants go on strike, you just use the old TWA move and replace those pesky strikers.

FOUNTAIN: One of the people David was strategizing with...

GAIL BIGELOW: Good morning, Nick. It's Gail Bigelow.

FOUNTAIN: Gail Bigelow was an Alaska Airlines flight attendant and one of the union's lead negotiators. And she says, this contract negotiation time, it was tense. Alaska Airlines was a small-ish company. And suddenly, not everyone was on the same side.

BIGELOW: And so they had their people who were either married to or friends with or whatever from different departments, and so they were getting information. I'm sure they weren't...

FOUNTAIN: Ooh, there were spies in your ranks.

BIGELOW: There were spies in the ranks. Yes, indeed.

MALONE: To avoid spies, David and Gail had started to hold secret strategy meetings. And really, the focus was trying to find a way around this sort of impossible problem, which was, if the flight attendants go on strike, Alaska Airlines is just going to use the TWA strategy and replace all of the flight attendants. David says they knew they needed a counterstrategy.

BORER: Of course. Sun Tzu says you don't attack your opponents directly, you attack their strategy.

MALONE: Were you literally the guy quoting Sun Tzu's "The Art Of War" at the union organizing meeting?

BORER: Oh, yeah.

MALONE: (Laughter).

BORER: Call me crazy, but, I mean, there's a lot in there. This idea of attacking their strategy was, like, directly applicable.

MALONE: Attack the airline's strategy. Now, remember, the TWA move was to effectively fire everyone without technically firing anyone. Well, David and Gail thought, what if there is a way for us to effectively go on strike without actually going on strike?

FOUNTAIN: In other words, what if they could create the impact of a strike without the risk of a strike? On June 19, 1993, the union calls a press conference.

MARY JO MANZANARES: There's a bunch of chairs. There are people in chairs. There are cameras.

FOUNTAIN: Mary Jo Manzanares was acting as a union spokesperson at that press conference.

MARY JO: There are print reporters, there's television reporters. The big question, of course, was, what were we going to do next?

MALONE: What were they going to do next? And if you were one of the reporters there, it was totally reasonable to expect the big announcement to be the Alaska flight attendants are going on strike. But what happens instead is pretty incredible. Mary Jo walks up to the microphone and basically says, we are not going on strike yet. We will strike, but we aren't telling anyone any of the details.

FOUNTAIN: Here's Mary Jo making the announcement back then.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

MARY JO: So where do we strike, when do we strike, what do we strike? I don't know, and none of you know. And none of management knows. And none of the traveling public knows.

MALONE: The union's thinking was that Alaska Airlines couldn't replace the striking flight attendants if they weren't actually striking yet.

FOUNTAIN: And yet, the announcement made that threat of a strike very real. Mary Jo was at the podium saying that they could strike at any moment on any flight.

MALONE: She told the crowd of reporters that the union was calling this strategy CHAOS, which she was quick to point out was an acronym.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

MARY JO: Create havoc around our system.

MALONE: Create havoc around our system. And you can think of the CHAOS strategy as, like, guerilla warfare. You know, when you're up against a bigger, more powerful opponent, you keep them scrambling. You carefully pick the moment you're going to attack. Hopefully, that forces your opponent to prepare for anything and everything constantly.

FOUNTAIN: And you know who loves a good guerilla warfare, airline chaos story?

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED ANNOUNCER: Now, live at 11 o'clock, KOMO News 4.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: Good evening, everyone. If you fly Alaska Airlines, a labor dispute might affect your travel plans.

FOUNTAIN: The television news.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: Alaska flight attendants are threatening to create chaos this summer for passengers aboard the airline.

MALONE: Yeah. I mean, this was made-for-TV-news stuff. What's a better story than CHAOS in the skies, or pay us or CHAOS?

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #2: We just don't know when this stoppage or slowdown or disruption of service is going to occur, but it could happen literally any moment, David (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #3: And of course, that's the tactic of the flight attendants, is not to let anybody know, that threat that something might happen at some time. Has it had any effect on bookings by the airline?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #2: As a matter of fact, it has. The company wouldn't get into specifics, give us absolute numbers, but they did concede today that, yes, the number of bookings is down because of this.

MALONE: Yes, the bookings were going down, and this was key. The union was basically getting the benefits of a strike without suffering the consequences.

FOUNTAIN: Right 'cause if you think about the way a normal strike works, it's all about inflicting economic harm on your opponent. So, like, the company won't make any money because their workers have walked off the job, but also, those workers aren't getting paid either. Normally, both sides are taking the financial hit.

MALONE: But with the flight attendants here, their airline was losing bookings because of the strike threat. And yet, the Alaska flight attendants weren't actually striking yet, so Alaska still had to pay them. And if CHAOS was the strategy, flight attendant and union negotiator Gail Bigelow says it was working better than she had ever expected.

BIGELOW: I had people calling me at my home saying, oh, I have tickets to take my kids to Disneyland. Please don't strike my flight. I mean, people I barely knew. And...

(LAUGHTER)

BIGELOW: ...So it was working.

FOUNTAIN: CHAOS was working. No one knew what would happen next, says union lawyer David Borer.

BORER: And that was part of the strategy - was to keep them guessing. Sun Tzu - to go back to Sun Tzu - says a confused enemy is easily defeated. I know it's corny and everything, but strikes are so much like warfare that it's actually directly applicable.

FOUNTAIN: Now, this whole not striking but threatening to strike thing - this was just phase one of the CHAOS strategy because the union knew this phase could only last so long. Like, eventually they would become the flight attendants who cried strike over and over, and people would stop taking their threat seriously. Phase two of CHAOS was coming - a real strike somewhere, sometime, just eventually.

MALONE: In the meantime, Alaska Airlines - they were preparing for that moment. Greg Witter was a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines at the time, and he was in the boardroom helping to figure out Alaska's plan, their countermove, for when those strikes finally did begin.

GREG WITTER: In preparation for the fact that there could be a strike, all the management personnel were trained as flight attendants so that if there is...

MALONE: Including you?

WITTER: Including me. Yep. Yeah, I went off to three weeks of flight attendant training.

MALONE: Tell me about going to flight attendant school. Yeah.

WITTER: Oh, very intense.

MALONE: Intense because, of course, being a flight attendant is so much more than safety demos and handing out little bags of pretzels or whatever.

FOUNTAIN: Yeah. Greg says he had to practice for an emergency landing, pass a pretty rigorous swim test, memorize a phonebook-size safety manual.

WITTER: You've got to learn, basically, every inch of every aircraft you fly. You got to know the least-risk bomb location and...

FOUNTAIN: The what?

WITTER: Latches for this - oh, the least-risk bomb location. So if someone on the plane says they've got a bomb in the bag, and you're able to wrest that bag away from them, where can you put that bomb on the aircraft where it would do the least damage if it went off.

FOUNTAIN: That's a thing? What?

WITTER: That is the thing. Absolutely. The least-risk bomb location - absolutely a thing.

MALONE: And what is the least-risk bomb location? I mean, should we even tell people this, Nick? Is this dangerous information?

FOUNTAIN: It's helpful information.

MALONE: OK, OK. Greg says it's usually behind the engine. Least-risk bomb location - behind the engine. There you go.

FOUNTAIN: So Alaska was training people like Greg, the press guy, and hundreds of other manager types not to become full-time replacements, but as stopgap attendants for the moment the union finally started to strike.

MALONE: Yeah, right because Alaska Airlines was worried about the strike starting, like, in the middle of the flight or something. And so they actually started booking seats for Greg and this crew of managers trained to be flight attendants onto as many flights as possible. You know, that way, if the strike did start mid-flight, one of those people could jump up and suddenly become a flight attendant.

FOUNTAIN: Greg says he was assigned to literally just sit on the flight from Seattle to Guadalajara, Mexico, over and over again. At one point, he says, he even got pulled aside by the Mexican authorities.

WITTER: I just - I remember my heart was pounding when they hauled me into the backroom. And I thought, oh, my God, I know exactly what they're thinking here. And I presume they thought I was a drug mule of some kind.

FOUNTAIN: Sure.

WITTER: Like, who's this guy that keeps flying from Seattle to Guadalajara every four days, you know?

MALONE: Now, having Greg and lots of other management people flying around and sitting at airports - this was just a way to temporarily keep flights going when the big strike eventually did happen.

FOUNTAIN: But Alaska's bigger move was going to be the TWA strategy. As soon as the attendants walked off the job, Alaska could replace them with an army of new flight attendants.

MALONE: Of course, Alaska had to hire that army. They had to find a whole new workforce. And so Alaska held a giant job fair - even sent their assistant vice president of employee relations to this thing.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: We are going through the selection process to put people into training for future openings. And, of course...

MALONE: This, by the way, is the weirdest job fair I have ever heard about. For one, remember, Alaska didn't have any jobs to fill yet since no one was striking yet. But also, there are people picketing the job fair, and reporters are asking the job fair attendees basically, like, hey, don't you feel bad signing up to take a job from someone who's going to go on strike?

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: I'm not worried about them. I got a wife and kids to support. You know, that's their problem.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: I don't know them, so - if I knew them personally, it'd probably hurt. But I don't, so it doesn't bother me.

FOUNTAIN: OK, so our two sides have their strategies. The flight attendants have CHAOS, their constant strike threat without actually striking yet.

MALONE: And then, Alaska is preparing for the moment that flight attendants finally do strike, preparing to go full TWA, hiring their army of replacements.

After the break, the strike begins.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MALONE: The CHAOS campaign had two phases - phase one, threaten to strike at any moment and then phase two, actually strike, actually have flight attendants walk off the job.

FOUNTAIN: Two months into the campaign, they decided it was time to move into phase two. Gail Bigelow had been collecting the names of her fellow flight attendants who were willing to walk off the job, and they got put on what she called the Guts List.

BIGELOW: They'd have the guts to do it, yes. It was - that's the Guts List.

FOUNTAIN: 'Cause going on strike as a flight attendant very likely meant getting permanently replaced, you know, because of the looming TWA strategy.

BIGELOW: Well, it was frightening for me because I was in a position to try to encourage the flight attendants to strike.

FOUNTAIN: You were asking them to make a - take a crazy risk. They might all lose their jobs.

BIGELOW: It was a crazy risk, yes.

MALONE: It was also this huge puzzle for the flight attendants. Phase two of CHAOS meant actually going on strike. And yet, the moment a flight attendant walked off the job, Alaska was allowed to replace them, pull the old TWA move.

FOUNTAIN: Gail and the union team thought they just might have discovered a way around this, a way to strike without getting replaced.

MALONE: Yeah, it was a very clever, very chaotic kind of countermove to the entire TWA strategy, but they couldn't be sure that it would work until they actually tried it.

FOUNTAIN: The moment of truth came on August 20, 1993, and the whole thing unfolded like a SEAL Team Six mission or something.

MALONE: The target? A fully booked 6 p.m. flight leaving out of Alaska's hub in Seattle. That flight had a crew who had signed up for the Guts List.

FOUNTAIN: One of those flight attendants was Jennifer Price. She says it was a seemingly normal day. She was at the airport when a union official walked up to her and said...

JENNIFER PRICE: OK, Jennifer, we've chosen your crew. You will be striking your flight.

MALONE: Jennifer calmly gets on the plane, stows her baggage, does the preflight checks.

FOUNTAIN: She's there with her fellow flight attendants, Chris (ph) and Barb (ph).

PRICE: The boarding agent came down to the plane and said, are you ready to board? And Barb said, no, we are not ready to board. On the advice of our union, we're engaging in strike action, and we won't be available to perform our work assignment (laughter). And you could see the agent's eyes getting bigger. And then she said, you're kidding. No, I'm not. And we grabbed our suitcases and walked off the airplane.

MALONE: Jennifer and her crew walked past the passengers who were all ready to board. She says they looked confused. They looked like they were getting worried.

FOUNTAIN: And at this exact moment, Gail Bigelow, who's back at strike headquarters, sends a fax to Alaska Airlines saying, we are writing to inform you that we are striking this one flight, Flight 536 out of Seattle's airport.

MALONE: There it was. The strike had officially begun. Yes, it was just one flight crew on one flight. But this was the moment Alaska Airlines had been preparing for.

FOUNTAIN: Yeah, an emergency team of those managers that were trained to be flight attendants jumps into action to sub in for that striking flight crew.

MALONE: But of course, the bigger Alaska strategy was the TWA strategy. As long as Jennifer and her crew were on strike, Alaska was allowed to permanently fill the positions they just walked out on - to effectively fire Jennifer while she's on strike.

FOUNTAIN: But after just 28 minutes of the strike, Gail Bigelow sends a second fax to Alaska Airlines saying, actually, strike's over now.

MALONE: And here's why that is a genius move. Alaska hadn't actually managed to get the paperwork together or whatever it would take to permanently replace Jennifer's flight crew during that 28-minute strike window. That crew was no longer on strike, and so the union was pretty sure Jennifer's group of attendants was now safe from getting TWAed (ph), from getting replaced. Here's Gail Bigelow again.

BIGELOW: The three of them came back to strike headquarters then. And I can remember the picture of them, and they were all very relieved to be in strike headquarters, knowing that they were going to get their jobs back.

MALONE: Flight attendant Jennifer Price remembers that moment - walking back into headquarters that night.

PRICE: Oh, yeah, they cheered. We were the heroes of the day. It was - you know, that was helpful (laughter).

FOUNTAIN: The kind of strike that happened that night, it has a technical name. It's called intermittent striking.

MALONE: Yeah. You know, the idea is instead of everyone going on strike and then staying on strike, you do a bunch of little strikes. In this case, you strike one flight at a time and just for a tiny window of time. And the union was hoping that this would make it incredibly hard for Alaska to actually catch and permanently replace attendants while they were on strike.

FOUNTAIN: And the flight attendants kept attacking this way. Four days later, they struck a flight out of Vegas, then hit five Bay Area flights on the same day.

MALONE: And it was chaos every time this happened. Alaska had to scramble to get their managers onto these flights as flight attendants. Alaska spokesperson Greg Witter remembers being at Seattle's airport when somebody from his company comes, like, running up to him.

WITTER: We have a walk-off. And it was me and two guys from marketing. We were hailed. You guys got to go work a flight. Oh, my God. All three of us - the blood drained out of our faces.

FOUNTAIN: So Greg rushes to get on the flight, and then he realizes he's going to have to give the iconic safety demo.

WITTER: My heart literally was about coming through my throat while I'm doing this safety demonstration. I had cold sweats. Oh, my God. My palms were all sweaty and clammy. It was terrible.

FOUNTAIN: How many flights do you think you did that day?

WITTER: One, two, three. God, I think probably at least three until we got to fly home.

FOUNTAIN: Greg can't exactly remember because it was a total mess. It was clearly an unsustainable solution for Alaska, and it had been just three weeks of this intermittent striking.

MALONE: In the end, here is how this whole tactic-countertactic battle wound down. In what feels a little like an act of desperation, Alaska Airlines said, you know what? We think this intermittent striking thing - we think it's actually not allowed. So forget being replaced. If you do this, you're going to get straight-up fired. The union took Alaska Airlines to court, and the court sided with the union. They said intermittent striking is protected by law.

FOUNTAIN: And the union's like, OK then. We're going to keep doing these intermittent strikes until we get a decent contract. Less than two weeks later, Alaska proposed what Gail thought was pretty decent contract.

MALONE: Gail had been at this for more than three years, and just like that, it was over.

BIGELOW: I was like, oh, my gosh. I have my life back (laughter). I mean, really, that's how I felt. I have my life back. But I - but in seriousness, I felt really good about it. I felt the contract was a good contract.

MALONE: David Borer, the Sun-Tzu-quoting lawyer, agrees. He says the new contract was phenomenal for the flight attendants.

FOUNTAIN: So it was a great victory in your head.

BORER: Yeah, like the poster on my wall, total victory. No, I mean, we didn't lose a single job. Nobody who struck lost any income. And we got a contract with a 60% raise that we hadn't even asked for.

FOUNTAIN: David thinks it was the most successful labor strike of a generation. And he says the CHAOS strategy has kept working for the union. Since that Alaska flight, not a single flight attendant from David's union has had to strike in the U.S. The mere threat of CHAOS has been enough.

MALONE: And I suppose it is reasonable at this point to then wonder, why doesn't every strike use this exact same CHAOS playbook? It seems like the obvious thing to do.

FOUNTAIN: Well, the answer to that one is a little in the weeds. So airline strikes and, actually, railroad strikes, too, have one set of rules. But most other strikes are governed by a different set of rules. And those rules don't allow for this kind of intermittent on-again, off-again striking.

MALONE: Yeah. So for instance, we've got this United Auto Workers strike happening right now. Once the UAW announces, for example, that the Ford assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., is now on strike, well, those workers are going to need to be on strike until the dispute is over. They're not allowed to 20 minutes later, say, oh, hey, never mind. This plant's strike is over.

FOUNTAIN: But what has been really interesting to watch are the ways that the UAW and their president, Shawn Fain, do really seem to be introducing CHAOS where they're allowed to. Attorney David Borer has noticed this too.

BORER: Nobody's asking Shawn Fain, oh, how long do you think you can hold out? They're all saying, oh, when are you going to strike the next plant? And that's exactly how it was with Alaska.

FOUNTAIN: Right. Because what the UAW has done is start by striking at three auto factories, and then it has added a strike at a factory somewhere else, and then at somewhere else and then somewhere else. The rhythm of this UAW strike is sounding a lot like the CHAOS strike from 30 years ago.

MALONE: Yeah, it's funny. I was driving to work the other day and heard a report from our colleague Camila Domonoske about the UAW strike. Here, we'll play a little bit of it for you.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

CAMILA DOMONOSKE: No one knows how long these strikes will last or what kinds of locations could be targeted next or even which companies. The union has said...

MALONE: So, yeah, I heard that. And I just thought, like, wow, that sounds so similar to that wild press conference 30 years ago when the Alaska flight attendants first introduced CHAOS to the world of labor.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: So where do we strike? When do we strike? What do we strike? I don't know, and none of you know, and none of management knows and none of the traveling public knows.

(SOUNDBITE OF LUNA CITIES' "BELIEVE")

FOUNTAIN: You can email us at planetmoney@npr.org, or you can find us on TikTok, Facebook or Instagram. We're @planetmoney.

MALONE: Our show today was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler with help from Dave Blanchard and Willa Rubin. It was edited by Jess Jiang and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. It was mastered by Hans Copeland. Ayda Pourasad helped with research. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

FOUNTAIN: Shout-out to the Wall Street Journal reporters Nora Eckert, Mike Colias and Ryan Felton, whose mention of the CHAOS strategy in an article about the UAW's present strategy turned us on to the story. I'm Nick Fountain.

MALONE: I'm Kenny Malone. This is NPR. Thanks for listening.

[texasobserver]

“Will Texas Cities Stay Silent on Gaza?” by Gus Bova, from the Texas Observer:

Last Thursday, a stream of Austinites poured into their city hall and packed the council meeting chamber—some carrying signs, some with hands painted red, and many sporting black-and-white keffiyehs, headscarves that serve as international symbols of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.

The activists were there to push the city council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. But since no such item was on the agenda that day, they’d simply booked all the slots in an open public comment period to make their case. 

“I am a Jewish mother; I am also the descendant of survivors of the Holocaust in Germany and the pogroms in Russia. I have been devastated every day watching this genocide unfold,” said Abigail Mallick, one of a series of Jewish speakers who addressed the council that day to oppose Israel’s recent military actions. “We must pass a ceasefire resolution. … We must join the growing chorus of voices saying ‘never again’—‘never again’ for anyone.” 

The testimony was part of a monthslong effort in Austin and other cities across Texas and the country to get local governments to weigh in on the tragedy unfolding across the world in Gaza, the 140-square-mile slice of Palestinian territory that abuts the Egyptian border and the Mediterranean Sea. Since October 7, when Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza, executed a horrific attack in southern Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 kidnapped, Israel has retaliated by unleashing Hell on Earth for 2.2 million Gazans. As of late January, about 25,000 Palestinians have been killed with the majority being women and children, per the Gaza Health Ministry. A quarter of Gazans are starving, and nearly the entire population is displaced. 

South Africa has brought claims of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice; Israel denies the charges. Many scholars have warned for months of a possible genocide unfolding, though Israel’s defenders including the U.S. State Department dispute the claim.

Both Arab and Palestinian Americans are undercounted by the U.S. Census, according to the Arab American Institute, but Texas ranks among the top five states for both communities. The state’s biggest urban areas, especially Harris County and the Metroplex, all boast significant populations. 

The Texas Democratic Party was the first among all states to officially call for a ceasefire in Gaza; five of 13 Lone Star Dems in the U.S. House have also done so, in addition to the AFL-CIO central labor councils in San Antonio and Austin. Massive protests have been held across Texas cities, including one in November that was likely the largest demonstration at the state Capitol since the 2017 Women’s March. Nationwide, at least a couple dozen cities have passed ceasefire resolutions, including San Francisco, Atlanta, and Detroit. But, so far, Texas activists are running into brick walls with their municipal representatives as council members either stay silent or argue that endorsing a ceasefire would inflame divisions in their cities or that the issue is simply not a local matter.

At the Austin meeting last week, Council member Chito Vela told the pro-Palestine crowd that he personally supported a ceasefire and had signed an open letter to that effect. “However, I do not want this council to become embroiled in foreign policy matters,” he clarified. “These are far beyond our purview as a local government, and we have too many critical local issues that demand our attention.”

In November, Austin’s Human Rights Commission urged the city council to call for a ceasefire. Three council members issued a joint statement in December expressing their support, and activists believe these three would back a formal resolution. With a fourth member, they could force a vote, but—even in Texas’ most left-wing city—sufficient support remains elusive.

“Our city always was known for standing for human rights and for progressive values,” said Hatem Natsheh, a member of the recently formed Austin for Palestine Coalition and longtime local activist who was born in Palestine’s West Bank. “We need our leaders to stand with us and [against] these horrific crimes that happen to our community.”

Natsheh noted that the council has weighed in on foreign policy before with resolutions condemning ex-President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban and the 2003 Iraq invasion. He also observed that Mayor Kirk Watson, whose office did not respond to a request for comment, spoke at a pro-Israel event shortly after the October 7 attack. “We know that the City of Austin has no power over international issues, but we are not asking because of that,” Natsheh said. “We’re asking them to take a moral stand for humanity.”

Just down I-35, in San Antonio, pro-Palestine activists nearly secured a ceasefire vote earlier this month before a council member reversed course.

With three members supporting, which is enough to convene a special meeting in San Antonio, the Alamo City council was set to vote on a ceasefire resolution in either January or February. But earlier this month, Council Member Manny Pelaez withdrew his support, saying, “It became evident that this was causing more pain and anxiety than was originally intended.” Another council member, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, called Pelaez’s decision “one of the weakest moves I’ve ever seen from any councilmember ever.” 

In late December, a group of Jewish leaders in San Antonio had written city council arguing that the resolution, “while well-intentioned, is morally wrong and will further endanger members of the local Jewish community.” Following Pelaez’s reversal, Mayor Ron Nirenberg penned a memo stating the special meeting was scrapped. In it, Nirenberg suggested the vote would have “exacerbate[d] trauma,” adding that “Wading into a complex and volatile international environment with an incomplete understanding could prove to be reckless.”

The ceasefire push has been led in part by San Antonio for Justice in Palestine (SAJP), a Palestinian-led group that existed prior to October 7 but has been revitalized in the last few months. The group works alongside others including the local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, which has coalesced pro-Palestine Jews across the country. “The call is coming straight from Gaza, straight from Palestine … that we need to do everything within our power to make calls for a ceasefire,” said Sara Masoud, a Palestinian SAJP core member and health science professor with family in the West Bank. She noted that the council in 2022 passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine and also contradicted Nirenberg, saying a “call for a ceasefire actually reduces trauma because it speaks on behalf of peace.” 

Masoud said her group and allies will keep working to find a third supporter to replace Pelaez.

In Dallas, council members approved a resolution on October 11 stating that the city “stands with Israel in its fight against Hamas.” Since then, as the death toll in Gaza has soared, Dallasites have repeatedly turned out to push the body to consider a ceasefire resolution. “It’s a city issue in that countless Palestinians here in Dallas have been affected by it, have lost family members,” said Sumayyah El-Heet, a Palestinian organizer with the Dallas chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM). El-Heet said she knew of Dallasites who are mourning dozens of family members killed in Gaza. 

Dallas Council member Adam Bazaldua has authored a ceasefire resolution. Depending on the procedure used, Bazaldua told the Texas Observer, he needs either two or four additional supporters to trigger a vote. He said he has little patience for the argument that the matter is not a local issue or that it would distract from municipal business.

“I personally cannot stand that pushback on any particular item,” Bazaldua said, “because if we were elected and not expected to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, then I don’t know why the hell we were elected.”

Down I-45, Houston has seen months of large pro-Palestine demonstrations and other events. The Bayou City has one of the largest Arab-American populations in the nation. While some council members have voiced support for a ceasefire, ex-Mayor Sylvester Turner—who left office at the beginning of this month—has said Houston City Council simply does not do resolutions of this sort. In an email, spokesperson Mary Benton told the Observer that Houston “does not have a history of issuing resolutions regarding global conflicts” or other issues beyond city administrative business, though she said she hadn’t yet discussed the matter with now-Mayor John Whitmire.

“Houston holds one of the largest Palestinian and Arab communities in the country right now; we have Houstonians who were trapped in Gaza for months,” said Fouad Salah, an organizer with the Houston chapter of PYM, which has been pushing city council unsuccessfully to take a stand on the issue. “We have Houstonians—I mean, myself, I have family, God rest their souls—who have been murdered in Gaza. … To be clear, a lack of calling for a ceasefire is an endorsement of the genocide of our people.”

[valentinedagger]

hmm... so i am coming to a place where i can't put this task off anymore, at some point soon i need to design armor (functional and decorative versions) for a kind of dueling bloodsport used by an alien culture both for recreation and for the upper class to ceremonially resolve political and personal disputes.

i am not very good at speculative biology and i am not very good at things like ergonomics and physics of sports etc. i also am not able to draw for more than a few minutes at a time (chronic pain, wrist problems, it takes me a few months to get a basic sketch out there), so visual designs are particularly hard for me to nail down... i would love to pay someone to work with me on this, but unfortunately, i don't know that i'll ever be able to pay more than $100 max, including tip, which is like. ridiculously undervaluing the amount of labor this kind of design work is.

(i feel very bad about that last factor. i'm an American on SSI, which means i'm only legally allowed around $950 per month and not ever permitted to have more than $2000 in my bank account at once, and with how my normal monthly expenses shake out, saving up to commission something for more than a hundred bucks just. isn't ever possible. i wish it was. i really do.)

anyway, i don't have a larger point to this post, but if you happen to have any resources you think might help, feel free to throw them my way--maybe there's tutorials that might make these concepts easier for me? "one quick trick" type cheats to produce something that stands up to inspection? a photo archive of historical combat sport equipment with writing on its ergonomic function???

[erastaffingsolutions]

The Employer’s Playbook: Correcting Employee Misclassification

Navigating the labyrinth of labor laws, tax responsibilities, and HR best practices can sometimes feel like a full-contact sport for business owners. One of the significant challenges in this game is correctly classifying your personnel as either employees or independent contractors. Misclassification can result in dire consequences, including hefty fines and back taxes. In this detailed guide, we’ll break down why correct classification is critical, how to spot misclassification, and what to do if you find you’ve been playing on the wrong team.

What Is Employee and Independent Contractor Classification?

Before we draw battle lines, it’s essential to understand the various types of personnel at your disposal. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) each have their own criteria for what constitutes an employee versus an independent contractor. Employees typically work under the direction and control of an employer, whereas contractors maintain their independence, controlling when, where, and how the work is done. The distinction is vital because it affects how you pay taxes, allocate benefits, and protect your business from legal disputes.

Employers often prefer to engage workers as independent contractors because it:

Reduces administrative overhead

Eliminates the need to provide employee benefits

Allows for more flexible staffing arrangements

However, misclassification can open a Pandora’s box of unforeseen liabilities.

5 Indicators of Employee vs. Contractor Misclassification

The lines between employees and independent contractors can seem blurry, but certain indicators can clearly point one way or the other. Here are five indicators to watch for:

The Business's Degree of Control

The more control a business exercises over the work being done – including the manner and means of the work – the more likely the worker should be classified as an employee.

Financial Control

When the business controls significant aspects of a worker’s financial affairs, such as setting the pay rate or providing tools and materials, it’s a strong indication of an employer-employee relationship.

Investment in Facilities

If the worker has a significant investment in things like office space or equipment, they're more likely to be a contractor.

Opportunity for Profit or Loss

Contractors typically have the potential to make a profit or suffer a financial loss, while employees are often insulated from business fluctuations.

Permanency of the Relationship

An ongoing, indefinite working relationship suggests an employer-employee relationship. Contracts that specify a defined project or time frame lean more toward independent contractor status.

By assessinging these factors, you can catch early signs of misclassification and protect your business from unnecessary risk.

How to Correct Employee Misclassification

Discovering that you’ve misclassified workers can be a daunting reality, yet there is a path to rectification. Here are the vital steps to correct the course:

Identify the Misclassified Workers

The first step to fixing a problem is recognizing its existence. Audit your workforce to determine the scope of the misclassification.

Re-Evaluate Workforce Hiring Practices

Once the misclassified workers are identified, reassess how and why they were classified as independent contractors. Ensure your classification practices adhere to legal guidelines moving forward.

Adjust for Prior Compensation and Tax Withholding Errors

Correct any erroneous payroll tax filings and ensure all relevant taxes are appropriately withheld and paid.

Communicate Changes Transparently

Notify affected workers of the status change and what it means for their compensation and benefits.

Implement Corrective Policies

Establish clear policies and procedures for future worker classification, including documentation of the basis for classification.

By following these steps, you’ll mitigate the immediate damage and establish a framework for avoiding future misclassification issues.

5 Factors to Calculate Employee Misclassification Costs

Once you’ve acknowledged misclassification, it’s time to tally the costs. Knowing what you’re up against can help you make informed decisions about how to proceed.

Back Pay and Overtime

Misclassified employees may be owed back wages and overtime pay if they were treated as contractors when they should have been deemed employees.

Unemployment and Workers Compensation

Your business may be responsible for past and future payments associated with unemployment and workers compensation benefits.

Tax Adjustments

The IRS can penalize you for failing to withhold and match taxes appropriately for employees. You’ll need to amend past returns and address any unpaid tax liabilities.

Fines and Fees

In addition to the back taxes, the IRS or DOL may levy fines for misclassifications. These penalties can be substantial and vary depending on the number of employees involved and the severity of the violation.

Legal Costs

If an employee brings a lawsuit against your business due to misclassification, you’ll also need to factor in legal fees, settlement costs, and potential damage awards.

By factoring in these costs, you’ll be better equipped to map out how to best address the misclassification with the least amount of impact.

Navigating the complexities of employee classification is not for the faint of heart. However, staying informed about the indicators of misclassification and understanding how to rectify errors can save you immeasurable headaches down the line. Compliance isn’t always simple, but it is non-negotiable. Your workforce — and your bottom line — will thank you for these proactive measures.

In the fast-paced world of business, agility and foresight are your strongest allies. Knowing how to respond to misclassification can transform a potential pitfall into a learning opportunity. By understanding the rules and diligently auditing your practices, you can ensure that your team — both on the field and off — is set up for success.

@erastaffingsolutions

[captainkurosolaire]

Budokai 3: Thunder Fists

(C.F) Glacier Spear - ♫The Box♫

The Fifth Layer was etched in the Hell of Lightning's domain. This pit would be turned into a damnation for the vandals, slumlords, and warmongers. Gift boxes were thrown into the midst on both sides towards each competitor. Another crucial trial weapon added to the mix to inflict anguish. The wounds already they coveted weren’t ever numbing; the fatigue in their bones felt to the highest degree as if they were strapped with additional weights. Flood of water drew up past their ankles and continued to build up to their knees. As they opened up the lid of their gift they were greeted with barbed electrical wires to strap to their fists a whole next level to Rhalgr’s fist.

They gradually stumbled and used the leverage of the walls with their maimed bodies to attempt to even stand, limp and wobbling with shaky and damage running rampant they already felt needles in their spines. An almost ceremoniously return to form as they once again crossed each other like how they began this battle. There was no denying in the twinkle of their eyes and well eye in the case of Sinbad. An amount of mutual respect was given. Captain with a rasp throat cleared his voice box, “Ye know denizens of’ th’ land may be onto something, they typically handle disputes with dance-offs, or knitting, or betting on some horses n’ steed races.” He gave a small jest with all the warpaint of crimson soaking down him in streaks. A shared moment of a chuckle was given as the burly deeply gave his own, “Yeah, aye. Well maybe in another life. But I hope you aren’t worrying about the fate of your beloved crewmates. They’ll make exceptional additions to my lead. I’m already tasting which three I'll pick. Definitely that feisty blonde haired first mate of yours.” He refocused on the intense wage. Men who were just fashioned fighters and only get as much as they give. The Seeker didn’t bite the bait but gave it one last, “Mate I’ve got a creaking door that could use yer labor as my cabin boy.” Each of them both thinking the same thing and punching each other square in the face at the same time. Both jolting to the voltages of their strike-force. Before they both grinned at each other and regrouped their standing postures and began swinging back and forth, back and forth, lobbing another, in unprotected facial shots, tearing and taking turns just busting open old wounds and reopening new ones. Deforming each other and pushing the barbaric standards. Trying their mightiest to one-up the other! Disregarding all the insignificant vanity and clamor to sport, they struck representing the mismanaged bastards. Ruthlessly they accepted to burn in hell and perish rather than being fraudulent to themselves anymore. The scrambling of their brains and as they inched closer to death, is only ever when the importance of things shine through the impact blow of their memories once living all being used as receipts that were carving the other. Each hooking a grip on each-others shoulders and just pelting one another with a vicious barrage of pent-up rage. Until both of them reeled backward both tripping on themselves. Deliriously barely conscious. Suddenly Sinbad went to decide a change of pace and cheaply kicked a low blow against the pirate to get that payback from previous. But out predicted, he met his foot harshly into something metallic that reflected only damage onto the bruiser. That sly blackguard pulled out a protective guard. With a lopsided grin, “Th’ heavenly gems always told me t’ wear protection, about time I invested.” He said cheeky before tossing the cup and following through by getting an uppercut and taking the lead by dropping the humongous giant crashing below. When it came to straight-up rumble bouts where both individuals are locked in and just throw until the other falters on their hind. There were few instances where the Captain of Gold didn’t get an advantage on it. The final bell rang the toll. Only one last trip to hell left.  

[quirksphere]

Top 5 Legal Issues in Sports Law You Should Know About

Sports law encompasses various legal disciplines that impact athletes, teams, and sports organizations. From contractual disputes to intellectual property rights, understanding these legal issues is crucial for anyone involved in the sports industry. This article explores the top five legal issues in sports law that you should be aware of, providing insights and examples to illustrate their importance.

Key Takeaways

Contractual disputes are common in sports law, involving disagreements over terms and conditions.

Intellectual property rights protect logos, multimedia content, and technology in sports.

Doping and drug testing regulations ensure fair play but carry severe penalties for violations.

Labor and employment issues address the rights and obligations of athletes and teams.

Discrimination and equal opportunity laws ensure fairness and inclusivity in sports.

Top 5 Legal Issues in Sports Law You Should Know About

1. Contractual Disputes

Overview of Common Contractual Issues in Sports

Contractual disputes are among the most frequent issues in sports law. They arise when there is a disagreement over the terms and conditions of contracts between athletes, teams, sponsors, and other parties involved in the sports industry.

Key Elements of a Sports Contract

A sports contract typically includes essential clauses and provisions such as compensation, duration, performance obligations, and termination conditions.

Essential Clauses and Provisions: These clauses cover aspects like salary, bonuses, performance metrics, and sponsorship commitments.

Breach of Contract: Examples and Consequences: Breaches occur when one party fails to fulfill their contractual obligations, leading to disputes that may require legal intervention.

Notable Cases of Contractual Disputes in Sports

High-profile contractual disputes, such as those involving star athletes and their teams or sponsors, often make headlines. These cases highlight the complexities of sports law and the importance of clear, well-drafted contracts.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

Importance of Intellectual Property in Sports

Intellectual property (IP) rights are vital in sports law as they protect the unique assets associated with teams, athletes, and sports events.

Types of Intellectual Property Relevant to Sports

Trademarks: Protect logos, team names, and brand identities.

Copyright: Covers broadcasts, multimedia content, and promotional materials.

Patents: Apply to sports equipment and technological innovations.

Case Studies on Intellectual Property Conflicts in Sports

Several notable cases have demonstrated the importance of IP rights in sports. For example, disputes over the use of team logos and the broadcasting rights of major sports events underscore the need for robust IP protections.

3. Doping and Drug Testing

Understanding Doping Regulations

Doping regulations are designed to ensure fair competition and the integrity of sports. These regulations are enforced by anti-doping agencies.

Role of Anti-Doping Agencies

Agencies like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) oversee the implementation of doping regulations, conducting tests and imposing penalties for violations.

Procedures for Drug Testing and Penalties for Violations

Drug testing procedures include random and scheduled tests. Athletes found violating doping regulations face severe penalties, including suspensions and fines.

The Impact of Doping Scandals on Athletes' Careers: Doping scandals can tarnish athletes' reputations and end their careers prematurely.

High-Profile Doping Cases and Their Legal Implications: Cases involving famous athletes highlight the significant legal and ethical issues surrounding doping in sports.

4. Labor and Employment Issues

Athlete Contracts and Employment Agreements

Labor and employment issues in sports law cover a wide range of topics, including athlete contracts, working conditions, and dispute resolutions.

Collective Bargaining Agreements and Players' Unions

Players' unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that outline the rights and obligations of athletes and teams.

Rights and Obligations of Athletes and Employers: CBAs address issues like salaries, benefits, and working conditions.

Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: These mechanisms provide a framework for resolving disputes between athletes and their employers.

Employment Law Cases in Sports

Employment law cases in sports often involve disputes over contract terms, working conditions, and wrongful termination claims.

5. Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

Legal Framework for Anti-Discrimination in Sports

Discrimination and equal opportunity laws ensure fairness and inclusivity in sports. These laws prohibit discrimination based on gender, race, disability, and other factors.

Gender Equality and Title IX

Title IX is a federal law in the United States that mandates gender equality in educational programs, including sports.

Landmark Cases in Gender Discrimination: Cases that have shaped the enforcement of Title IX and gender equality in sports.

Progress and Challenges in Ensuring Equal Opportunities: Ongoing efforts and challenges in achieving true gender equality in sports.

Racial Discrimination and Diversity Initiatives

Sports law also addresses issues of racial discrimination, promoting diversity and inclusion.

Notable Cases and Legal Precedents: Key cases that have set precedents for addressing racial discrimination in sports.

Conclusion

Understanding the top legal issues in sports law is essential for athletes, teams, and sports organizations. Contractual disputes, intellectual property rights, doping regulations, labor and employment issues, and discrimination laws are critical areas that impact the sports industry. Staying informed about these issues helps ensure fair play, protect rights, and promote a positive sports environment.

FAQs

Q1: What is the most common legal issue in sports law?

A1: Contractual disputes are one of the most common legal issues in sports law, involving disagreements over the terms and conditions of contracts between athletes, teams, and sponsors.

Q2: How does intellectual property law affect sports?

A2: Intellectual property law protects the trademarks, copyrights, and patents associated with sports teams, athletes, and equipment, ensuring that rights holders can control the use of their assets.

Q3: What are the consequences of doping violations in sports?

A3: Consequences of doping violations can include suspensions, fines, stripping of titles, and damage to an athlete's reputation and career.

Q4: How do labor laws apply to professional athletes?

A4: Labor laws apply to professional athletes through employment contracts, collective bargaining agreements, and regulations governing working conditions, wages, and dispute resolutions.

Q5: What legal protections exist against discrimination in sports?

A5: Legal protections against discrimination in sports include federal laws like Title IX, which ensures gender equality, as well as various anti-discrimination statutes that address racial, disability, and other forms of discrimination.

By understanding these key legal issues in sports law, stakeholders can better navigate the complexities of the sports industry and ensure a fair and equitable environment for all participants.

[ncisfranchise-source]

Coming out of a ratings low prompted by last year’s Hollywood strikes, broadcast networks have successfully regained their linear audience — and CBS is leading the charge.

Since the start of the spring season, CBS has scored the biggest primetime audience among the four major broadcasters for six nights a week, according to Nielsen most current data from Feb. 12 through April 14, TheWrap can reveal exclusively.

“Linear is growing, streaming is growing gangbusters — all of it together is growing — and it’s really about the shows,” CBS Research Chief Radha Subramanyam told TheWrap exclusively. “This is CBS’ secret sauce — it’s about big, popular programs that are still highly inventive and original, but work on linear, on streaming and internationally.”

CBS is home to 14 of the top 20 non-sports broadcast programs so far this season on linear, including the four most-watched shows of the season. New series “Tracker” stands as the most-watched show of the season with 10.14 million total viewers, with “NCIS” coming in second place with 9.83 million viewers, followed by “Young Sheldon” with 9.11 million viewers and “FBI” with 9.04 million viewers.

Amid declining linear ratings across the board and anxiety surrounding the labor dispute’s impact on viewership, Subramanyam noted the unprecedented success marks a “shining example of audience growth.”

When taking into account streaming viewership on Paramount+ and CBS digital apps, the broadcast network’s spring season is seeing a 12% uptick in viewership when compared to year-over-year data, per live-plus-35-day Nielsen and internal data. The growth sets the network apart from others seeing viewership trend downward, including Netflix, whose original series are down 14% compared to year-over-year data, according to an individual with knowledge.

Subramanyam added that the growth reflects the value of going “back to the basics” when looking at the success of new series “Tracker,” which stars Justin Hartley as a survivalist extraordinaire; and “The Good Wife” spin-off series “Elsbeth.” “Tracker,” which premiered after the Super Bowl telecast, marked the No. 1 most-watched new series of the season and saw an 85% uptick in viewers when compared to last year’s fall averages, while “Elsbeth” marked the No. 2 most-watched new series with a 25% increase in last fall’s average viewership.

“You have the lone wolf of ‘Tracker,’ you have the quirky, amazing, brilliant ‘Elsbeth,’ but you also have the ‘FBI’s and the ‘NCIS’s,” Subramanyam said. “They may all belong under the procedural tent, but we’re always reinventing and reimagining. They’re highly contemporary, so they work for young people, and they work for [older demographics].”

“Tracker,” “Young Sheldon” and “NCIS” also marked the most-watched CBS series when considering 35-day multiplatform data, with “Ghosts” surpassing “FBI” for the No. 4 spot on the most-watched list, and all four series averagin over 12 million viewers. “Tracker” averaged 20.4 million viewers across its first four episodes, per 35-day multiplatform data, marking 137% uptick from the time period average a year ago while “Young Sheldon” and “NCIS” scored 13 million viewers.

Just as “Tracker” delivered a staggering audience across both linear and streaming, Subramanyam also pointed to streaming success for new series “Elsbeth,” and relatively new shows “Ghosts” and “Fire Country,” reflecting the network’s shift in thinking about multiplatform viewership. “Ghosts” averaged 12.1 million viewers across streaming and linear, surpassing viewership for “Fire Country,” which averaged 11 million viewers, as well as “Elsbeth,” which averaged 10.8 million viewers.

“We have several shows that average really solid numbers in streaming, but some of our newer shows are doing well because we are developing them and thinking about them for a multiplatform universe,” Subramanyam said. “We’re not limiting our thinking about audience — people will find them wherever they are.”

CBS has already granted renewals to “Tracker,” “NCIS,” “NCIS: Sydney,” “Ghosts,” “Fire Country” and all three “FBI” series (with the flagship “FBI” series scoring a three-season order), while “Elsbeth” remains on the bubble. “Young Sheldon” will come to an end with its Season 7 finale in May, but the network already greenlit a spin-off series following new parents Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment).

[amwftrust]

"The MAN who turns Hit$ into Million$ In 6 months Abdul Jalil took the LOWEST paid player in Major League Baseball at $20,000- Lyman Bostock, to signing the RICHEST contract in Professional Team Sports and Baseball History on his 27th birthday with a five-year contract with the California Angels for a $3.5 million plus, unprecedented deal was a FULLY GUARANTEED and INSURED by Lloyds of London, including a $500,000 signing bonus, a $500,000 Interest free loan, a $200,000 Interest free business contract loan. The signing of Bostock culminated an incredible financial turnabout as Bostock worked last summer for $20,000. The contract was PAID in full, after he was murdered on the last day of his first year of the contract with four years left to perform. Abdul Jalil negotiated a series of contracts that included many unprecedented benefits to the individual clients, one of which was the innovative use of interest-free loans that could be forgiven, Upon review by the Internal Revenue Service, the contracts and tax returns where thrown out, challenged by the IRS, the IRS filed suit. After an 8 year legal battle, he prevailed in Federal Tax Court, established that Interest free Loans where in fact legal. This unprecedented legal ruling was established as a standard in the Tax Laws and written ALL MAJOR National Law Journals. He is a WORLD RENOWNED EXPERT for his Historic, Unprecedented, Landmark Case, where he is UNDEFEATED in his Labor Management, Contract Disputes, Salary Grievances, and Federal Arbitration cases impacting MAJOR changes in Labor Law, Collective Bargaining Labor Agreements, Civil Rights, Salary Grievances, Federal Arbitration, Compensation, Interest Free Loans, Rates of Compensation, Legal Impact that CHANGED Compensation in the WORLD. Abdul Jalil, without ever attending Law School, has made "Law Review", setting New Law in four different areas, published in over Seven Universities Law Reviews, Scholarly Commons, multiple Course Outlines, Student Journals, in the specialty area of Contracts, Finance, Interest, Loans, Reserve/Free Agency System and Restraint of Trade, Sherman Anti-trust Act, (15 USC § 1,2), NLRA, Labor Exemption from Antitrust Law, Collective Bargaining, Labor law, Antitrust, Federal Arbitration, Civil Rights, Insurance.

[seodriver]

Yversen boutin

In this section you can familiarize yourself with the general rating of criminal lawyers. The main objective of our project is to provide citizens with information about lawyers specializing in the field of criminal proceedings, upon entering into an agreement with whom you are guaranteed to receive qualified legal assistance.

In addition to the general rating of the best criminal lawyers, within the framework of our project, ratings of Russian criminal lawyers are formed for certain types of crimes, as well as for stages of the criminal process. On the page of each lawyer you can familiarize yourself with basic information about the specialist, find out his registration number, status, education and work experience. Changes are regularly made to the overall ranking of criminal lawyers.

Zakharova Elena Aleksandrovna is an experienced lawyer whose successful career has lasted for more than twenty-five years. He is a professional working in various areas, such as civil law, including the solution of housing, inheritance, labor issues, administrative and criminal law, as well as arbitration process.

The most complex and high-profile cases are entrusted to her, since it is difficult to find a more experienced and professional specialist than Elena Alexandrovna. Among her clients were quite famous people, for example, Maxim Leonidov, Vasily Vakulenko, Ivan Urgant, Stas Mikhailov, Alexander Nevsky, Pavel Volya. She assisted well-known organizations in their work, such as Gazprom JSC and Sberbank PJSC.

Experience working with well-known clients speaks of high professionalism and experience in law enforcement, trust and recognition.

Chistyakov is a top Moscow business lawyer. Graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University. Director of the Moscow law firm No. 45 "Advocate". He has awards from the Moscow Bar Association and the Federal Chamber of Lawyers.

Petr Chistyakov specializes in corporate disputes, protection of entrepreneurs in the tax field, intellectual law and public procurement. During his many years of legal practice, Chistyakov successfully resolved more than 500 cases, most of which were arbitration cases. The main activity of a lawyer is the protection of served organizations from criminal prosecution.

best Yversen boutin you can check for perfect things.

Nikolai Pavlovich is one of the most authoritative Russian lawyers. In 2010, he was awarded the highest legal prize “Themis”, holds the title of Honorary Lawyer of Russia, and holder of the Order of Honor.

Graduated from Ivanovo State University. Heads law firm No. 39 of the Moscow State Bar Association. The main specialization is issues of criminal, housing and inheritance law. Takes on the most difficult and seemingly unsolvable cases. The lawyer has more than 14 cases won under supervision. And this is in one year!

Address: Moscow, 4th Lesnoy lane, 4 (4th floor in the White Stone Business Center)

Gorbachev is one of the ten best Moscow lawyers. He has more than 20 years of legal practice behind him. He has the title of Honorary Lawyer of Russia and gratitude from the mayor of the capital. Author of numerous scientific publications.

Sergey Gennadievich is a member of the Moscow Bar Association and managing partner of the Moscow Bar Association "Legis Group". Specializes in representing companies in various authorities, participating in major investment projects, resolving inheritance and civil law disputes.

Among the lawyer's clients are: NEPTUNE Cruise Center LLC, Moscow Directorate of Theater, Concert and Sports and Entertainment Box Offices, Moscow Department of Culture, State Tretyakov Gallery All-Russian Museum Association, Magnezit Group, JSC Plant Component”, Holding Company “Logoprom”.

Genrikh Pavlovich Padva Soviet and Russian lawyer, member of the Central Council of the Russian Bar Association, member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers of Russia, member of the Council of the Moscow Bar Association. Since 1971, he has been a member of the Moscow City Bar Association. He is one of the founders and managing partner of the Padva and Partners law firm.

[gloriabomfim]

Certainly! Here are the first nine montages with actions and dialogues for Part 7, featuring Joyce in angry places while feeling happy:

Montage 1 - A Heated Political Debate

Joyce attends a heated political debate, her happiness clashing with the intense arguments.

Debate Moderator: "Politics can be passionate. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm excited about democracy in action!"

Montage 2 - An Angry Protest

Joyce joins a protest with angry demonstrators, her joyful demeanor standing out in the crowd.

Protester: "We're fighting for change. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I believe in the power of unity!"

Montage 3 - A Contentious Town Hall Meeting

Joyce participates in a contentious town hall meeting, her cheerfulness a stark contrast to the heated discussions.

Town Resident: "Local issues can get intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm hopeful for community solutions!"

Montage 4 - A Confrontational Labor Strike

Joyce joins a labor strike with passionate workers, her playful attitude contrasting with the tense negotiations.

Striking Worker: "We're demanding our rights. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to support fair wages and working conditions!"

Montage 5 - An Aggressive Sports Match

Joyce attends an aggressive sports match, her cheerfulness in contrast to the fierce competition.

Sports Fan: "Sports can get intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I love the spirit of competition!"

Montage 6 - A Confrontation at a City Council Meeting

Joyce witnesses a confrontation at a city council meeting, her cheerful demeanor a surprise to those engaged in the debate.

Council Member: "Issues are debated passionately. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to promote collaboration and positivity!"

Montage 7 - An Argumentative Family Gathering

Joyce attends an argumentative family gathering, her joyful presence a contrast to the family squabbles.

Family Member: "Family gatherings can be tense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to bring laughter and unity!"

Montage 8 - A Disagreement at a Community Meeting

Joyce takes part in a community meeting with heated disagreements, her excitement at odds with the tension.

Community Member: "Community decisions can be tough. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I believe in finding common ground!"

Montage 9 - A Confrontation Between Neighbors

Joyce witnesses a confrontation between neighbors, her cheerful presence a surprise during the dispute.

Neighbor: "Neighborly disputes can get heated. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to promote harmony in the neighborhood!"

In these montages, Joyce's unwavering happiness continues to bring a sense of positivity and optimism to confrontational and angry situations, often explaining her mission to spread joy and unity in challenging moments.

Certainly! Here are the next ten montages with actions and dialogues for Part 7, featuring Joyce in angry places while feeling happy:

Montage 10 - A Heated Business Negotiation

Joyce participates in a heated business negotiation, her happiness contrasting with the tough negotiations.

Business Executive: "Negotiations can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I believe in win-win solutions for everyone!"

Montage 11 - An Intense Courtroom Trial

Joyce observes an intense courtroom trial, her cheerful demeanor a surprise in the serious legal proceedings.

Attorney: "Legal battles can be tough. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to support justice and fairness!"

Montage 12 - A Confrontation at a Community Protest

Joyce joins a community protest with passionate demonstrators, her playful attitude standing out in the crowd.

Protester: "We're demanding change. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I believe in the power of voices united for a cause!"

Montage 13 - An Argumentative Board Meeting

Joyce attends an argumentative board meeting, her joyfulness in contrast to the serious discussions.

Board Member: "Board meetings can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to inspire creativity and collaboration!"

Montage 14 - A Heated Debate on Social Media

Joyce engages in a heated online debate, her happiness a stark contrast to the digital confrontations.

Online Debater: "Online discussions can be harsh. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to spread positivity and understanding!"

Montage 15 - An Angry Customer Service Interaction

Joyce encounters an angry customer service interaction, her cheerful attitude a surprise to the frustrated customer.

Customer: "Customer service can be tough. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to help and make things right!"

Montage 16 - A Heated School Board Meeting

Joyce attends a heated school board meeting, her joyful demeanor contrasting with the passionate education discussions.

School Board Member: "Education decisions can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to support the best interests of students!"

Montage 17 - An Intense Environmental Protest

Joyce joins an intense environmental protest, her playful attitude a surprise in the midst of environmental activism.

Environmental Activist: "Environmental issues are urgent. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to inspire eco-friendly choices and positivity!"

Montage 18 - A Contentious Family Mediation

Joyce participates in a contentious family mediation, her happiness a contrast to the family's conflicts.

Family Mediator: "Family mediations can be tough. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to bring families closer together!"

Montage 19 - An Argumentative Community Forum

Joyce takes part in an argumentative community forum, her excitement at odds with the heated discussions.

Community Member: "Community discussions can be heated. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to foster community harmony and happiness!"

In these montages, Joyce's cheerful and happy disposition continues to shine in confrontational and angry settings, often explaining her mission to promote positivity, collaboration, and understanding in challenging moments.

Certainly! Here are the final ten montages with actions and dialogues for Part 7, featuring Joyce in angry places while feeling happy:

Montage 20 - A Tense Labor Union Negotiation

Joyce joins a tense labor union negotiation, her happiness contrasting with the serious labor discussions.

Union Representative: "Labor negotiations can be tough. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to support fair labor practices and workers' rights!"

Montage 21 - An Intense Town Hall Debate

Joyce participates in an intense town hall debate, her cheerful demeanor a surprise in the midst of heated debates.

Town Resident: "Local politics can be passionate. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to encourage open dialogue and community unity!"

Montage 22 - A Heated Courtroom Argument

Joyce observes a heated courtroom argument, her happiness standing out in the midst of the legal proceedings.

Attorney: "Legal arguments can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to remind everyone that justice should be served with a smile!"

Montage 23 - An Argumentative Neighborhood Meeting

Joyce attends an argumentative neighborhood meeting, her joyfulness in contrast to the neighborhood disputes.

Neighbor: "Neighborhood meetings can be tense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to bring positivity and a sense of community!"

Montage 24 - A Heated Business Conference

Joyce participates in a heated business conference, her cheerful attitude a surprise in the midst of corporate discussions.

Business Executive: "Business conferences can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to promote innovation and a happy workplace!"

Montage 25 - An Intense Debate on Environmental Policies

Joyce engages in an intense debate on environmental policies, her happiness a stark contrast to the discussions.

Environmental Advocate: "Environmental discussions are crucial. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to inspire eco-friendly solutions with a smile!"

Montage 26 - A Heated Public Forum on Education

Joyce attends a heated public forum on education, her joyful demeanor at odds with the passionate education debates.

Education Advocate: "Education discussions can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to support a brighter future for students!"

Montage 27 - An Argumentative Online Forum

Joyce participates in an argumentative online forum, her happiness a surprise in the midst of digital debates.

Online Debater: "Online discussions can be harsh. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to spread kindness and positivity online!"

Montage 28 - A Contentious Board of Directors Meeting

Joyce joins a contentious board of directors meeting, her joyful attitude contrasting with the serious corporate discussions.

Board Member: "Board meetings can be tough. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to promote ethical business practices with a smile!"

Montage 29 - A Heated City Council Debate

Joyce participates in a heated city council debate, her cheerfulness a surprise in the midst of the political discussions.

Council Member: "City council debates can be intense. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to encourage collaboration and positivity in our community!"

Montage 30 - A Tense International Diplomatic Summit

Joyce attends a tense international diplomatic summit, her happiness contrasting with the high-stakes negotiations.

Diplomat: "Diplomatic negotiations can be challenging. Why are you so happy?"

Joyce (happily): "I'm here to remind everyone that diplomacy can be a joyful endeavor!"

In these final montages, Joyce's cheerful and happy personality continues to bring positivity and a sense of unity to confrontational and intense situations, often explaining her mission to promote understanding, collaboration, and a smile in challenging moments.

[modern-los--angeles-ca]

Food Scene in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles is a city known for its diverse food scene, offering various cuisines from various cultures. The city is at the forefront of food trends, popularizing new and innovative dishes, and has numerous restaurants, food trucks, and street vendors. LA is also known for its focus on healthy and organic eating, offering vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. It's true that the culinary scene is thriving, with many top chefs opening restaurants in the city. The shopping and entertainment scene in Los Angeles is unparalleled, offering iconic destinations, trendsetting fashion, world-class entertainment, cultural attractions, and year-round events. The city is home to world-class venues like the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, and Staples Center, which host concerts, performances, and sporting events. Additionally, LA has a rich cultural heritage, with museums, galleries, and historical sites offering unique entertainment experiences. With a busy events calendar, LA is a vibrant and exciting place to be.

One-Bedroom Apartments near Culver City

The Parker is the best choice for a one-bedroom apartment near Culver City. This city is situated in a walkable neighborhood hub for LA's best offerings, including award-winning bars, restaurants, and museums. This one-bedroom apartment provides dynamic spaces for great inspiration and collaboration. You'll discover a curated area to gather and share ideas at this apartment. Whether taking in the sunset on the rooftop deck, entertaining friends around the pool, or watching a classic in the outdoor cinema, our amenities are designed to keep you inspired. The club lounge and tech-enabled coworking space offer a very comfortable environment for working on projects or socializing with friends, featuring fireplaces, communal or private seating areas, and charging stations.

Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum offers over 300 vehicles on display, covering the history of automobiles, automotive engineering, and car design. Visitors can take a general tour, a behind-the-scenes tour, or a tour of the Vault, which houses some of the museum's rarest cars. The museum also hosts various events throughout the year, including car shows, concerts, and educational programs. To get involved, visitors can volunteer, become a member, or donate to the museum. Some recommended exhibits include the Vault, which houses rare and exotic cars not publicly displayed. The Hollywood Dream Machines Gallery showcases cars featured in movies and television shows; the Concept Cars Gallery features cars still in the design phase; and the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation Gallery showcases the work of the museum's Foundation. The museum also provides opportunities for visitors to get involved in various ways, such as volunteering, becoming a member, or donating.

Los Angeles workers walk off the job for 24 hours.

Thousands of Los Angeles city employees, including sanitation workers, engineers, and traffic officers, walked off for a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, alleging unfair labor practices. The strike is part of SEIU Local 721, which claims that the city has failed to bargain in good faith and has engaged in labor practices that restrict employee and union rights. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that city workers are vital to services for millions of Angelenos and the local economy. The strike is the latest to overtake the nation's second-largest city in recent months, following strikes by Hollywood writers, actors, hotel workers, school staff, and a contract dispute at Southern California ports. Read more.

Link to maps

Petersen Automotive Museum 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States Head south on S Fairfax Ave toward Warner Dr 0.3 mi Turn right onto W Olympic Blvd Pass by Carl's Jr (on the left) 0.1 mi Turn left onto Hi Point St 0.5 mi Turn right Destination will be on the right 154 ft The Parker Apartments 5935 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035, United States