Opinion
September 14, 2017 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 5
A total eclipse of productivity and other bright spots of modern life LEFT UNEDITED
A few random thoughts in the aftermath of some recent stories in The Villager. In the wake of our coverage of the recent solar eclipse, I came across an analysis by Chicago-based Challenger, Gray & Christmas—and its postmortem was no present under the tree. According to the firm, which specializes in helping workers make transitions in their careers, this slacker of a celestial event cost U.S. employers a collective $694 million in lost productivity. Did you get an “involuntary transition” in your career for taking an unproductive glimpse outside? Challenger figures it took you about 22 minutes to watch the thing, if one counts fumbling with equipment and the dilly dallying that often goes with such unofficial goings-on. Yeah, a whopping 22 minutes. I had radio jobs that lasted longer than that.
Although I didn’t time my viewing with a stopwatch, I actually walked outBY PETER side several times JONES to take a quick peak and didn’t notice any particular lax in my daily work. What’s more, I wrote this column about the thing. Those 22 minutes might have even been a moneymaker. With the wear and tear on my eyes and shoes, could a tax deduction be in the offing? Turn around, Bright Eyes.
*** In last week’s Villager, we recognized the 40th anniversary for Shiou Yun Wang and her Twin Dragon restaurant in Englewood. In the story, I mentioned that this ChineseAmerican perennial had entertained “rock stars,” but I did not have space to elaborate. As it happened, I had dinner there with a rock star there, myself, in the mid-1990s when I worked for
Colorado Public Radio and Mike Pinder, the original keyboardist for the Moody Blues, was in town promoting his new solo CD. On the first night, Pinder and his wife took me to the now-defunct McCormick’s in LoDo before we sat down for an extensive interview in his downtown hotel room. Pinder stressed that he lived in a regular neighborhood with regular teenage kids and seldom ate in expensive restaurants—but what the hell, let’s eat. He paid. The next night, I met the Pinders again at the Twin Dragon, this time for a special event with members of the local Moody Blues fan club. Turns out nights in white satin go well with crab-cheese wontons. Dutch treat, Cantonese style. Years later, I had Pinder on a radio show in a bizarre Valentine’s Day roundtable on love with fellow panelist Gloria Leonard, an “adult film” actress/director, as well as a local poet and a lovelorn local stage actress/ director. It was my own sort
of stab at Bill Maher’s nowdefunct Politically Incorrect. *** Speaking of musicians, my recent column adding a new verse to songwriter Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” took on a life of its own in the Twitterverse as it circulated among Mitchell and Judy Collins fans, and oddly enough, commentators on the racial turmoil in Charlottesville, Va. For those who don’t know, “Both Sides Now” takes a simultaneously balanced and perplexed view on clouds, love and life itself. I added a verse about the inherent complications of felines. “I’ve looked at cats from both sides now …” In response, someone emailed a Facebook post to me titled “Joni Mitchell vs.
Alt-White,” which rewrote the song in a parody of President Trump’s initial “both sides” reaction to the riots. None of it was clever enough to quote here, but it was interesting to see Mitchell’s lyrical idea find yet another offbeat home. Lastly, a few words about the squeaky chair of our co-worker, award-winning designer and production manager, Tom McTighe. As he rocked back and forth in his headphones recently, Becky Osterwald, our managing editor, and I listened intently to the music. I swear we heard a key change. Beautiful. I’ve looked at squeaky office chairs from both sides now. - peter@villagermedia group.com
A salute to American labor unions
While celebrating Labor Day last week, my wife and I paused to reflect on why this day off is so special. Labor Day honors the American labor movement and the contributions workers have made in providing the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of this nation. With the growth of the industrial age in the 1900s, American labor began its fight to organize into unions to improve working conditions in factories, negotiate a 40-hour workweek and help establish child-labor laws. In response to the Pullman strike in Chicago in 1894,
which resulted in the death of striking workers by the Army and U.S. marshals, Congress passed legislation to establish Labor Day as a federal holiday. Since the early beginning of the labor movement, America has seen a significant growth in unions, reaching its highest levels of membership in the 1960s when nearly 60 percent of all American workers belonged to an organized union. Today, that figure has dropped to 12 percent of all workers in the United States. The decline of union membership can be tied to the decrease in manufacturing jobs, states implementing right-to-
work laws allowing nonunion workers into unionized shops, and active campaigns by business leaders and politicians to discourage workers from joining unions. The American labor movement has successfully improved working conditions for all Americans by fighting for the eight-hour workday, the five-day workweek, health benefits for workers and their families, collective bargaining, safety measures to protect workers and equality in the workplace. The American worker owes a great debt to those who fought for worker rights and their dignity. Without the American labor movement and the creation of unions, none of the fruits of our labor would be realized. We thank you, American labor.
Barbs & Bravos revisited—Cheers to Creek of class from three high When I had the Eastern schools to protest the inhuColorado Plainsman, the mane action of the current name of my column was administration. The DreamBarbs & Bravos, using er kids affected barbed wire (it by DACA have was a farming little or no community) memory of the and clapping hands as imagcountry they es. It allowed left behind. me to use the Many are column for serving and a little bit of dying for this everything, country. Those from jeering to affected by the cheering. DACA decision BY BECKY OSTERWALD This week, would have I have to give a bravo and included Alonso Guillen, if shout out to the students at he hadn’t died while trying Cherry Creek School Disto rescue victims during trict—the voters and leadHurricane Harvey in the ers of tomorrow. Houston area. On Friday afternoon, Not only did these CherSept. 8, approximately ry Creek teenagers stand 500 students walked out up for what they believe in,
PERSPECTIVA
OBSCURA
but they also showed they are ready to be the leaders of tomorrow. A recent report by Bill Moyers said 55.7 percent of adults who are eligible to vote don’t. This includes those who are not even registered to participate in one of the most cherished freedoms entitled to Americans. Whatever the reason for not casting a ballot, that number is far too low for this country. The Cherry Creek students showed they will be engaged in politics in the future because they are concerned about their fellow human beings. editorial@villager publishing.com
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