Ironweeds

With the election looming large over Rensselaer County, Sex Pest Steve is helping out his pals by handing out contracts to donors. While at the national level Dems abandon child care in their reconciliation bill, Capital District parents are unable to find spots for their own kids. Handsy Andy is being charged for a groping incident, but apparently is too important to be perp walked. With a wave of strikes around the country, it’s time for a sober evaluation of the state of labor today. And Ryan from The Office is selling ponchos. 

Incumbency's rewards shape the Rensselaer County executive race https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Incumbency-s-rewards-shape-the-Rensselaer-County-16576307.php 

Capital Region families seeking child care find themselves in a desert https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/I-can-t-afford-to-do-that-Families-16545818.php 

BJ Novak is the face of lots of random products: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/business/bj-novak-photo-public-domain-products.html 

Delaware Avenue businesses rally against redesign https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Delaware-Avenue-businesses-rallying-against-16572402.php 

Biden shares an amusing anecdote with the pope: https://twitter.com/dumbandawful/status/1454425738615173122?s=21

Sex pest Cuomo charged for forcible touching: https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-gov-cuomo-charged-misdemeanor-sex-crime/story?id=80840731

Striketober: https://labornotes.org/2021/10/viewpoint-beneath-striketober-fanfare-lower-frequencies-class-struggle 

Troy DSA Voter Guide: https://twitter.com/TroyDSA/status/1452709803978076165?s=20

Support the Show!

This week we’re talking about the spooky history of the New York State Capitol Building, where the devil is in the details. Tesla is paying out a whopping $137 million dollars due to its toxic, racist work environment, and your boss can’t fire you for being high. Too high, yes, but not like, normal high.

Tesla Pays $137 million for racist work environment: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/05/tesla-must-pay-137-million-to-ex-worker-over-hostile-work-environment-racism.html 

You can’t be fired for smoking weed: https://wnyt.com/news/marijuana-weed-pot-being-high-at-work/6276980/

Haunted Capitol Building virtual tours

Pt 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJZ72lR7cQ

Pt 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAx7Uu5rqQs&t=14s

Pt 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTsbUJGt-H4

This week we’re blessed with a guest! Ashley joins us to share her experiences working in child care activism and to inform us about the dismal state of child care in the US. We also discuss dreadful conditions at the Rensselaer County Jail, the rights of vapers, and Zuck’s massive pay cut in the wake of whistleblower allegations and Facebook downage. 

Vapers’ rights https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/health/ecigarettes-fda-vuse.html?referringSource=articleShare 

Child care:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Child-care-crisis-worsens-in-Capital-Region-14928093.php 

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/The-health-impact-of-Cap-Region-childcare-shortage-14942105.php 

https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2021/08/02/new-york-s-child-care-crisis 

She's been detained at 5 NY jails, says Rensselaer County's is the worst. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/She-s-been-detained-at-five-New-York-jails-16536616.php

Wildflower: 

https://t.co/Qw1BMwVZTQ  

This week we ask ourselves: What is the good life? American men are dropping out of the above board workforce in huge numbers, while women are increasing their numbers. We talk about the Buen Vivir movement and the tensions between Deep Ecology and Social Ecology, with David channeling cranky Bookchin. In China, workers are celebrating Tangping, or Lying Flat, in response to brutal work schedules. What does it mean to work? To rest? To care for oneself in a broken world? Ya know, just some light conversation among friends.

7 Ways men living without working in America:

https://news.yahoo.com/7-ways-men-live-without-working-in-america-092147068.html

Enough is Enough:

https://annamercury.medium.com/enough-is-enough-5dcb30b52b94

Buen Vivir:

https://theconversation.com/buen-vivir-south-americas-rethinking-of-the-future-we-want-44507

Tangping, or lying flat:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/03/world/asia/china-slackers-tangping.html

Deep ecology vs social ecology

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bookchin/socecovdeepeco.html

http://gudynas.com/wp-content/uploads/GudynasBiocentricAndesR17-1.pdf 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800916308771

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800914000640 

This week we’re returning to an old favorite, the nightmarish business model of Tesla and the lack of any meaningful regulation to curtail it. We also remember the rallying cry of kids in cages as President Biden allows Border Patrol to play cowboy/slave driver on Haitians seeking asylum. Oath Keepers communications have been hacked, and the documents are riddled with cops and military types. Britney is finally getting free, which turns out to redound to all our benefit, and these global cities have found one easy tip for reducing emissions and moving people around. 

Beta Cuck Tesla Testers: https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7ezxq/how-teslas-self-driving-beta-testers-protect-the-company-from-critics 

Tesla runs over cops: https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22698388/tesla-texas-lawsuit-cops-autopilot-crash-injury

Joe Biden’s immigration policy is as bad as Trumps: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/immigration-biden-stephen-miller/ 

Electric Transit Gets the Goods: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/03/climate/cities-public-transit-electric-tram-ferry-bus-cable-car.html?referringSource=articleShare 

Karl Hansen interview pt 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-41-karl-hansen-part-one/id1491394342?i=1000489592836

Karl Hansen Interview pt 2:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-42-karl-hansen-part-two/id1491394342?i=1000489593227

Comrade Grimes: https://nypost.com/2021/10/02/grimes-reads-karl-marx-after-split-with-worlds-richest-man-elon-musk/amp/

Oath Keepers Hack: https://www.dailydot.com/debug/oath-keepers-hack/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/10/02/oath-keepers-hack-exposes-law-enforcement-officers-across-us/5949281001/

https://ddosecrets.com/wiki/Oath_Keepers

Everyone is responding to the vaccine mandates, as you would expect: badly. Already strained hospitals and schools are about to lose a ton of employees. Cuomo was gonna assemble the NY Cannabis Control Board but then he got high (on ziti) so Hochul finished the job. The Intercept shares some spooky reporting on the lab-leak theory of Covid19 and gain of function research. And the courts block a huge drilling project in Alaska, citing concerns about the end of life as we know it.

Support the show!

Area hospitals face tough decisions as 'alarming' staffing crisis worsens: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Area-hospitals-face-tough-decisions-as-alarming-16485774.php 

Hochul nominates final Cannabis Control Board members: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Hochul-nominates-final-two-Cannabis-Control-Board-16482690.php 

The Intercept reporting on Covid origins: https://theintercept.com/2021/09/09/covid-origins-gain-of-function-research/?comments=1#comments

https://theintercept.com/2021/09/23/coronavirus-research-grant-darpa/?utm_campaign=theintercept&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Court Blocks Alaskan Drilling Project: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/climate/alaska-willow-oil.html?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20210825&instance_id=38786&nl=climate-fwd%3A®i_id=89891543&segment_id=67198&te=1&user_id=ab909f0ca81e391fd0bd16d1fa803809

Coming to a working class near you: entire towns owned and operated by Amazon. Don’t worry, it’s for your own good! And as a parting gift, our pull out from Afghanistan features the murder of seven children and three adults whose crime was transporting water. We have a few updates on Britney, Byron, and Buffalo, and for a palate cleanser we talk about Barcelona reclaiming space from cars to create public green space. 

Alain Kaloyeros conviction upheld over buffalo billions bid-rigging scandal:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Kaloyeros-loses-appeal-to-throw-out-conviction-16443284.php

Byron Brown off the ballot: https://www.wivb.com/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/byron-browns-ballot-fate-unclear-until-at-least-friday/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=t.co

CNN investigation on drone attack: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/14/asia/afghanistan-kabul-drone-strike-questions-intl-dst-hnk/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/politics/united-states-military-drone-strike-kabul-civilians/index.html 

Company--I mean factory--towns: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-16/amazon-s-new-factory-towns-will-lift-the-working-class

Barcelona takes over car space for public space: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/08/pandemic-barcelona-greener-future/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+inside-the-world-economic-forum+%28Inside+The+World+Economic+Forum%29

In this New York-themed episode we’re joined by friend of the pod Adam to talk about union support for India Walton’s opponent and what it means for the general election. In North Country, a CIA officer is looking to kick Stefanik out of Congress by attracting moderates. And in Saratoga, cops are targeting BLM activists and doing a great job of convincing everyone that they are definitely not racist why would you even say that? Finally, a potential treatment for our now endemic fact of life, Covid 19.

Support the Show! https://www.patreon.com/Ironweeds

Former CIA officer seeks to challenge Stefanik in 21st District https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/CIA-officer-and-counterterrorism-official-wants-16443016.php 

Saratoga cops gone wild https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Saratoga-police-continue-to-arrest-activists-16446950.php

TU Opinion on Saratoga: https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Editorial-A-chilling-message-in-Saratoga-Springs-16447588.php

Saratoga BLM aid information: https://linktr.ee/saratogablm

India Walton & union endorsements:

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/buffalo-teachers-federation-endorses-india-walton-for-mayor/71-763a6d19-0172-4ac9-8320-9dd3b152ace6 

https://www.wivb.com/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/two-major-labor-unions-endorse-byron-brown-for-mayor-of-buffalo/ 

https://jacobinmag.com/2021/09/india-walton-byron-brown-buffalo-local-mayoral-elections-pro-corporate 

https://twitter.com/indiawaltonbflo/status/1436720022324400129?s=21 

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/republican-support-for-mayor-byron-browns-buffalo-party/71-b62fefbd-8ee3-4fe1-ab05-0a5cf4ba915a 

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-and-politics/buffalo-gop-weighs-helping-byron-browns-write-in-campaign-for-mayor/article_7fd4ef4e-f094-11eb-9582-9f7e627d3605.html 

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/politics/2021/06/08/two-buffalo-mayoral-candidates-endorsed-by-local-organizations 

Viper Venom Covid Treatment: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/brazilian-viper-venom-may-become-tool-fight-against-coronavirus-study-shows-2021-08-31/ 

In an admirable attempt to level the playing field among gamers, China limits video game use for youths under the age of 18. The Instagram user who sold fake vaccination credentials has been arrested. Florida man has been charged with extorting another Florida man and his Florida son. Hurricane Ida wreaks havoc in the north and south and in between, and slum lords are of course making the problem worse. And finally, elephants are terrified of bees, and that’s a good thing. 

Listen to our full episode on abortion past and present: https://www.patreon.com/Ironweeds

Chinese government bans weekday gaming: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-sets-new-rules-for-youth-no-more-videogames-during-the-school-week-11630325781

AntiVaxMomma arrested for selling fake vaccine cards: https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-c14ce28edda2593b0b3819acec97089e

Matt Gaetz extortion case: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/31/man-charged-extortion-gaetz-508122 

13 killed in NYC flooding: https://abc7ny.com/nyc-flooding-deadly-8-killed-basement-apartments-flood/10993722/

Elephants and bees: https://elephantsandbees.com

It’s yet another brutal week of Covid news. Two more anti-vax radio hosts have died, and the gang wonders if there’s a media market gap there that we could fill. Governor Hochum announces that an additional 12,000 New Yorkers will be added to the list of those who died under Andy Cuomo. Fake vaccine cards are apparently way easier and cheaper to get than you might imagine. Meanwhile, Israel is provoking Palestinian Arabs by increasing the number of Jewish Israelis allowed to pray atop the Temple Mount, and in bad news for seals but good news for the environment, Canada is about to gain one new wetland.

Get Brit a living-ish wage: https://www.patreon.com/Ironweeds

Another one bites the dust

https://twitter.com/ronfilipkowski/status/1431740837021552645?s=21 

Eviction moratorium: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/08/supreme-court-eviction-moratorium-cdc-biden.html 

Uh oh Cuomo killed more old folks: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/New-NY-governor-adds-12-000-deaths-to-publicized-16410827.php

Fake vax cards: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/feds-warn-alarming-rise-reports-fake-vaccine-cards/story?id=79666216

Prayer at the Temple Mount: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/world/middleeast/israel-temple-mount-prayer.html 

Project Watersheds:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-how-project-watersheds-dream-of-turning-an-abandoned-sawmill-into-a/

Zombie Giuliani: 

https://zombiegiuliani.bandcamp.com

https://twitter.com/zombiegiuliani

https://www.instagram.com/zombiegiuliani