Activist. Vegan. Cyclist. Parent. (Almost) Criminal defense attorney.

Big Day.

As the semester progresses I've found myself in a dangerous position. I have continually been unable to motivate myself to get work done. Normally this comes along atleast a month into the semester, not two weeks into the semester. Though I am not terribly concerned. It's just a funk, and I'll soon get my bearings, and find my motivation to buckle down and study.

As a member of the National Lawyers' Guild, I like to take the opportunity to legal observe as often as I can. Yesterday I was a LO for an anti-fur demonstration by the local IDA (In Defense of Animals) group. There is a store in downtown Portland that sells fur coats, and IDA pickets and protests every Saturday. This is the first time I've LO'd for this event and it was a pretty eventful day. FIrst of all, we saw just about every type of weather that Portland has to offer in the 4+ hours we were out there. It started as cloudy and grey, with occasional drizzling. Then it started raining in buckets, and as the afternoon wore on the clouds gave way to blue skies and sunshine. (Being Portland, it didn't last long, but it was nice while it lasted.) So really quickly, normally as a LO, we wear neon green caps (see picture) that identify us as such; yesterday, we didn't think they were necessary so didn't wear them. So there are three of us, videotaping the demonstration, and as usual, the demonstrators and security for the store eyed us suspiciously. I even had my picture taken by the store's security guy.

At one point, early in the day there was a car/train accident--a car made an illegal turn in front of the MAX (the light rail train)--which none of us caught on video. This might not have been a big deal, except the driver of the vehicle was on her way to the demonstration, and was wearing of all things, a chicken suit. So the train stops, the police come, fire trucks come, TRIMET (Portland's Mass Transit Co.) employees show up, it turns into a big ordeal. A guy in a TRIMET truck identifying him as a "supervisor" shows up and is taking pictures of the damage to the car and recording general information. This eventually was cleared up and the train went about its business and the demonstration kept going.

Later, I'm across the street from the demonstration filming the whole thing--passers-by, employees of the store, customers and demonstrators--and this guy walks up and starts taking pictures. He's got a really nice camera, and from the perspective of a legal observer, seemed slightly out of the ordinary. So Mr. X is taking pictures and I notice him casually taking a picture of me, over his shoulder. I have nothing to hide, but now I'm even further suspicious of him. He keeps taking pictures and I keep taping and it's no big deal.

(Later I found out he walked up to one of the other legal observers where they had an exchange similar to this:
Mr. X: So, who are you here with?
Law student Legal Observer: Uh...who are you here with?
Mr. X: (some strange acronym she didn't recognize)
Law student Legal Observer: Oh. I'm a legal observer.
See what I mean? Sketchy.*)

I cross the street to where the demonstration is going on and keep taping. As I'm filming, I notice two things:

1) The TRIMET supervisor that was taking pictures of the damage to the car has returned to take pictures of the demonstration, and
2) Mr. X is taking pictures of the TRIMET supervisor and exchanging words with him.

Then I see the TRIMET supervisor make a grab for Mr. X's camera as if to take it away from him. And they start yelling at each other. So I make my way over there, filming as much as I can, because it just feels like a bad situation. Well, TRIMET supervisor calls the police. By this time, Mr. X has crossed the street again and has to re-cross to talk to the police officer, which he immediately does. Now, one of the other LO and I continue to tape, and cross the street to record the situation with the police officer. There is a not-so brief discussion with the three of them, culminating in--of all things--a $350 jaywalking ticket for Mr. X. For when you might be asking...for when he crossed the street to talk to the police officer. In reviewing our tapes, we discovered a few things:

1) none of us actually captured the alleged jaywalking by Mr. X on tape,
2) it appears the TRIMET guy was way out of line in making a grab for Mr. X's camera,
3) I jaywalked when I crossed the street to tape the conversation with the police officer,
4) M (the other LO) jaywalked when he crossed the street to tape the conversation with the police officer.

Overall it was a pretty exciting demonstration to LO.

And just when you think your day won't get any more exciting than that...I felt my first earthquake yesterday. It measured 2.8, and was pretty close by my standards. The epicenter should be the green, my neighborhood in red. I'm glad I started off with a small one. I don't think I would've been self-aware enough to make it to a doorway if it were a big one. I was watching TV studying diligently when I felt it, thought it was a huge gust of wind that shook the house for a second or two then thought - Hey, I wonder if that was an earthquake?

Yes, yes it was.

_____________________________________________________________________________
*Note: I am realizing that this sounds a little paranoid, However, recently there has been a lot of news that makes one wonder about everyone at these events. The grand jury indictments, and subpeonas that have been issued across the Northwest particularly with respect to the environmental, and animal rights movements have everyone on edge. In my mind, rightly so. The federal government has referred to these groups as the #1 domestic terror threats. They are paying informants and infiltrating organizations. It's a scary time to be active, involved, and effective.

Sill a Deaniac (Part II)

Say what you will, I am a still a fan. On the Today show, Katie Couric asked what he thought Democrats stood for in 30 seconds or less, head of the DNC, Dr. Howard Dean answered about as well as anyone could have. Via Blue Oregon:

One: American jobs that will stay in America, using energy independence to generate those jobs. Two: a strong national defense based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers and our allies. Three: Honesty and integrity to be restored to government. Four: A health care system that works for everybody just like they have in 36 other countries. Five: a strong public education system so we can have optimism and opportunity back in America.

View a clip here.

Still a Deaniac Part I.

My brother

I've already said a bit about the book here, but go check out my brother's post about it. I think he eloquently expresses the sentiment I didn't quite make clear. I don't feel duped, or betrayed either.

Seriously funny.

A Q&A with W, via fafblog (fafblog? yes! fafblog!):

Q. Things sure have changed since the innocent days of mutually assured destruction! But is it legal for the president to ignore the law?
A. Maybe not according to plain ol stupid ol regular law, but we're at war! You don't go to war with regular laws, which are made outta red tape and bureaucracy and Neville Chamberlain. You go to war with great big strapping War Laws made outta tanks and cold hard steel and the American Fightin Man and WAR, KABOOOOOOM!
Q. How does a War Bill become a War Law?
A. It all begins with the president, who submits a bill to the president. If a majority of both the president and the president approve the bill, then it passes on to the president, who may veto it or sign it into law. And even then the president can override himself with a two-thirds vote.
Q. See it's the checks and balances that make all the difference in our democratic system.
A. It's true.

And when you think it can't get any better:

Q. Can the president eat a baby?
A. If that baby has suspected ties to al Qaeda, then it's the president's duty to eat it - for the sake of national security.
Q. The president doesn't want to eat sweet, delicious babies. He just wants to protect America from the growing threat of a rogue baby insurgency.
A. Exactly. And nobody will have more compassion for that succulent baby barbecue than him.

Not to take it too far...but I love how by the end of the "article" the fake questioner stops asking questions of the fake president and begins banging the drum for action--just like the "real" media of the "real" president!

Thanks to T Sinister for the link.

Let Live.

Here are pictures from the Let Live Art Auction from last Friday. Looks like my FBI file may be getting just a bit thicker (one can only hope).

Speaking of, check out this new T-shirt from Herbivore Clothing. A portion of the money from each one of these sold goes to benefit SHAC-7.

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. -- Mohandas Gandhi

January 25, 1888

118 years ago today, in Toledo, OH a group of workers formed what would come to be known as the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association. My father is a member and organizer for SMWIA Local 49. My grandfather is a retiree from SMWIA. Their membership in this particular union, and my mother's membership in the Communication Workers' Association (CWA), helped shape my view of the workers' right to organize and have a say in the workplace. The mission of SMWIA is:

to establish and maintain desirable working conditions and thus provide for themselves and their families that measure of comfort, happiness, and security to which every citizen is entitled to in return for his labor, from a deep sense of pride in our trade, to give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.

That said, I am posting an article that is long and yet worth the read. It's an article my dad wrote about his local. I do not know where it was originally printed, if anyone has that information, I'd be happy to cite it.

The History of the Local Union in Amarillo/Lubbock
by Billy Martinez

"Hope is a good thing--maybe the best of things--and no good thing ever dies." --Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

For the part of the state that has been considered not very pro-union, there certainly has been a lot of activity in the sheet metal trade within this Amarillo/Lubbock area. In researching the history of the local union I would like to acknowledge the following retirees and members for their help and continuing support of the local union. Retirees: Bobby Branum, James Wilson, Morris Cranford, Lawrence Barron and Hermilo Martinez. Members: Jesse Martinez, Mark Ruggles and many other current members. Many thanks also to former member, Mike Wagner who is now with Local #68 and whose father, Elmo Wagner, served as president of Local #432 thirty years ago. And, of course, let us not forget Kathy Bishop with the International who helped in refreshing the memories of our retirees by providing all the correct dates.

On the 8th of July, 1919, Local #75 was chartered in Amarillo, Texas, however because this union disbanded in 1931, the International is unable to provide any other information and no other information has been located as to the activities during its existence or the reasons for its disbanding. The #75 has never been reassigned to any other union.

There would not be a local in Amarillo again until November 2nd of 1938. The charter members of this particular union included: Rodney R. Weddington, Lester Lemons, G. F. Mitchell, S. J. Hawkins, G. W. Hendrix, H. M. Reed, Billy Johnson, J. C. Springer and Wade Johnson. This local existed until December 31, 1988 when it merged with Local Union #67 from San Antonio, Texas. At this time the business manager was Bruce Barton. Other officers included: President, William E. (Bill) Gregory and Darrell W. Tipton as the recording secretary. Bruce was elected Business Manager after Earl Clements retired, in the late 1960’s. Most members will remember Bruce’s wife, Deedee, who took care of our insurance needs as well as our vacation checks and sometimes even took in some late union dues. After the merger, William E. Gregory was hired as the area business agent. We must acknowledge Mr. Gregory and the part he played in the smooth transition between Locals #432 and #67. He served until the merger with Local Union #49 in 1992, and upon his passing recently, both locals memorialized him within each of their unions.

The Local #432 office was located upstairs at the Carpenter’s Hall at 1307 W. 7th Street in Amarillo. It would continue to have an office there until the early 70’s. At this time the owner of Apex Sheet Metal, Mr. Messerhammer chaired a JATC committee, which purchased the current building at 311 N. McMasters. The funds for the purchase of this building came from a grant of 50% of the purchase amount and a loan by the International Training Institute. That building is still used today for apprenticeship training and local union meetings.

In Lubbock, Local Union # 479 became the first local union ever chartered. This local union was established on February 29, 1952. The list of the 30 charter members are: Robert Smith, Paul Spartman, Lacilyn Stidger, Gid Browd, Carroll Caudill, Wilbur Collins, Eugene Dycus, William Edwards, William Guthrie, George Holman, Harold Kennedy, Harry Loch, Lester Lemons Jr., Lester Lemons Sr., Jess Lumpkin, Wayne Sumrall, Conrad Lutz, Edward Thompson, Wilson Martin, Richard Mayfield, Jack Medley, Claude Miller, Russell Muston Jr., Leroy Norton, William Nowak, Brose Ogleshy, Chester Rampy, William Ramsaier, JJ Robinson. The Business Manager and treasurer was Claude V. Miller. The recording secretary was Harry L. Jones and the president was Jess Lumpkin.

Because I have lived in Lubbock all of my life, I had the opportunity to meet many of these members. Wilson Martin became a signatory shop owner whose son now works for Lewis and Lambert out of Fort Worth. Chester Rampy also was a signatory owner, but later got out and I was able to serve some of my apprenticeship working for Chester, who still lives in Lubbock. Although Lester Lemons has passed, he has left a son in the trade, Charlie, who now works out of the Dallas Local making him a third generation union metal worker.

On February 8th 1958, this union was dissolved and merged with Local Union #432 in Amarillo. The merger date was the first of March, 1958. At that time W.E. Plemons was the Business Manager. The number 479 was given to a production local in Peoria, Illinois. A retiree told me that the reason Lubbock merged with Amarillo was because Lubbock had all the money and Amarillo was in financial need. When I asked how much money was involved, I was told it was $150.00.

In the 1950’s there was a fire in the union hall that damaged a lot of the records. A great deal of information was lost that later affected some of the members. For instance, Terry and I presented a 25-year certificate and pin to Vernon Camp, but in visiting with Brother Camp he advised us he had actually been a member for over forty years but his records had been lost in the fire. He told us he was as proud of that 25-year certificate and pin as if it had been for the actual 40 years. Brother Camp was a true unionist. His brother, Doug Camp, recently received a 50-year pin from Local #49.

In the late 60’s the local union started to change. Midwest Metal Products in Lubbock was awarded a contract at a government facility in Lubbock. Needing manpower, Midwest Metal Products signed a contact with Local #432. Hermilo Martinez, who was already employed by Midwest, was grand-fathered in, making him the first Hispanic member. Seeing the benefits of being a union member, Brother Martinez opened up his home to teach other non-union workers the trade, in order to become better sheet metal workers and later join the union. Without realizing what he was doing, Brother Martinez became the first organizer for Local Union #432. After Brother Martinez, although not related, came Jesse and Jimmy Martinez who are still in the trade, as well as Ronnie Martinez, Jesse’s son who is also still in the trade. Jimmy is expected to be the first to retire in Lubbock under the 55/30-pension plan. Deciding to retire in 1984, Hermilo, now 81, is still reaping the benefits of being a union member drawing from his retirement.

In the 70’s Kenneth Romero became president of the local. He and Bruce Barton were instrumental in starting a pension plan, our health insurance plan, and they also brought in SASMI. At that time, we were manning the power plants in the Amarillo area, we had over a hundred members working and were also bringing in travelers. In addition, we were also the highest paid union workers in this area.

Later, Ken Romero became an owner of a signatory shop for a short while, however was unable to meet all the requirements from the International. Although Ken was unable to meet those requirements, he remained a good union member at heart, paying decent wages and doing quality work. His son, Garry, still owns a shop in Lubbock. He and I keep in constant contact.

In the late 80’s when talk about merging came about, we were told we would merge with Oklahoma City or San Antonio. In 1988 we were merged with Local #67. Many members felt that San Antonio did not want us, causing some ill feelings. However, in retrospect we were too far away for San Antonio to feasibly serve us. At this time we took a major cut in pay and lost SASMI. Local #67 did as good a job as could be done. Buddy Wilson and his members from 67 still have a lot of friends in our area.

In 1992 after a lot of discussion and a close vote, local #432 merged with local #49. Soon thereafter, Mike Ryan came to Amarillo as an instructor and organizer. Later in 1993 the President of the local, Charlie Thomas, came to Amarillo as an organizer. Charlie was the organizer until 1997. This was the first time in a while that the membership from this area had any representation. Charlie was a friend to all the members. His work had lasting effects on all the building trades in this area. He worked in Amarillo, Lubbock and the Midland area. Charlie presently works at Pan-Tex where he continues to help organize the new hires at the plant. In 1998 I took over as organizer, and in 2001 was named Training Coordinator for the Amarillo/Lubbock Area Sheet Metal Workers JATC. I still serve in that capacity. Since the merger we have had two of our members hold an elected position. Johnny Sepulveda and Terry Clark have been elected to the Executive Board. They both were well accepted and have worked well with the Albuquerque members.

One of the most interesting parts of the research of this article was finding out how many fathers and sons were members at one time or another. Besides the ones already mentioned, I encountered: Bill and Donnie Wall, Cliff and Cliff Branum Jr., Monte and Larry McDowell. I also encountered many brothers in the trade (besides those already mentioned) such as Elmo and Bobby Wagner.

I heard a lot of stories that brought back many memories. The retirees who voted for a pension plan knowing that they would never benefit from the plan. Mac McManus, Billy Brewer, Leonard Caldwell, D. T. Harold, Kenneth Johnson, Woody Johnson, Paul Steele, Joe Thompson and so many more retirees who continue to support Local #49. It has truly been a privilege following in the footprints of those that came before.

As I approach almost 30 years membership in three different local unions, I can personally say that joining local #49 was the best move we could have made. I learned to appreciate the organization, their strong desire to keep training and an even stronger desire to organize. It has been an honor representing local #49 throughout the region.

On behalf of the members from the Amarillo/Lubbock area we would like to congratulate Local #49 on their 75 years of existence. We wish to thank Eric Emblem for his vision to have the “largest local in Texas”, and Terry Farmer for continuing the dream. We are proud to be part of a local union who constantly wants to improve the life of its members and their families.

To those members, retirees and members who have passed on whose names are not mentioned in this article, please forgive me for having a short memory and to my friend, Waymon Gibson, to whom I dedicate this history of the Sheet Metal Workers union in the Amarillo/Lubbock Area.

Tag, I'm it.

I was tagged. No class on Mondays, so I took most of today off. Back to the grind...

Four Jobs You've Had In Your Life
1. Bartender
2. Car Salesman
3. Restaurant Manager
4. Machine Shop Asst.

Four Movies You Could Watch Over And Over
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Norma Rae
3. High Fidelity
4. Say Anything...

Four Places You've Lived
1. Lubbock, TX
2. Portland, OR
3. St. Louis, MO
4. Dallas, TX

Four TV Shows You Love To Watch
1. West WIng
2. Mythbusters
3. Everyday Italian
4. Friends (I know, I know, but it's the new SBTB, you can find an episode of Friends, playing at just about anytime on tv at any given moment.)

Four Places You've Been on Vacation
1. Las Vegas, NV
2. New Orleans, LA
3. Lake Tahoe, NV
4. Washington, DC

Four Websites You Visit Daily
1. Food Fight! (the blog)
2. Vegan Lunch Box
3. Get fuzzy
4. Boondocks

Four Of Your Favorite Foods
1. Cereal and soy milk
2. Tofu
3. Toaster Waffles
4. Fake Meat Tacos

Four Places You'd Rather Be
1. In Texas
2. At a movie
3. In bed
4. On vacation

Four Albums You Can't Live Without
1. George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1
2. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
3. Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls
4. Counting Crows - August and Everything After

Four People To Tag With This Meme
1. Aaron and Kathryn
2. Ang
3. Meredith
4. Kenneth (update, man, update!)

1/22/1973

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. I am blogging today, along with many others, to protect the fundamental right of privacy. It is not the business of the American people, politicians, or judges what a woman discusses with her doctor, and ultimately decides to do with her body. Roe is about self-determination, and autonomy. It's about the right to be let alone. Justice Harry Blackmun called Roe “a step that had to be taken as we go down the road toward the full emancipation of women.” I submit to you, that it is a step that needs to be preserved as we continue down the road to the full emancipation of all people. I encourage everyone to visit any and/or all of the following sites:

feministing.com

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette

NARAL - Pro-choice America

Bush v. Choice

What do law school dorks do when they are avoiding studying (part II):

You are Interpretation in Avoidance of
Constitutional Questions! You presume that the
legislature doesn't intend to draft
unconstitutional stautes and so you interpret
them so that you won't have to reach a
constitutional decision. Some criticize you
for implicitly making constitutional law, but
without stating your reasons. You like to stay
away from difficult decisions. You're kind of a
weasley little bastard.


Which Canon of Statutory Construction are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Part I.

Ang

It was a cool January morning, and I remember wearing my favorite Texas Tech hoodie. It was red, and had a pocket in the front and said Texas Tech Red Raiders across the front. Aaron, I think, was wearing his plain blue hoodie. We pulled up to the strange building and I remember it being cloudy and grey. I was nervous, maybe even anxious, as if I was expecting something, but not sure of what. We went inside and wandered through a maze of halls and counters with people walking about purposefully. When we got to the room we were looking for, my mom seemed tired, and spent. We talked to her and I remember there were lots of flowers, balloons, and one particular arrangement had a bear attached to it. Later we walked down the hallway and peered through a big glass pane at my younger sister. She was sleeping, and incredibly tiny. I couldn't stop thinking about how red she was, and wondering how they kept track of all those little babies. Like are they sure she's my sister? What happens if they get switched? Weird, I know, but I was 7, what did I know?

Anyway, that was 21 years ago and she has grown up to be one of my favorite people to talk to, laugh with, and know.

Happy 21st Birthday, Ang! I love you.

My sister.