Each election, the Department of Elections sets up a command station at the North Light Court at City Hall.

A television flashes the latest counts for the propositions and key races from SFGTV (Channel 26). Periodically (every 45 minutes or so), John Artnz, the director of the Department of Elections, will stand at a podium and update consultants and political junkies about the count.

At 8:30 p.m., I walked into the North Light after phonebanking for Proposition A. Approximately 35 people were there. The first count of the absentee votes were counted.

Tonight we had elections for officers of Pride at Work:

New Executive Board Officers of Pride at Work include

Claire Bohman, Co-Chair

Robert Haaland, Co-Chair with Josue Arguelles and Molly Goldberg, Staffers for Pride at Work

Jane Martin, Vice-Chair

Vivian Crockett, Outreach Coordinator to the LGBT Community with Kelly Fields and Wendy Lee

Samantha Levens, Outreach Coordinator to the Labor Community
Howard Wallace, Delegate to the SF Labor Council

Sarah Garmisa, Co-Treasurer with Molly Goldberg

Emma Gerould, Co-Treasurer
Wendy Lee, Secretary Coordinator

Sally Buchmann, Emeritus

Fred Sherbum-Zimmer

Pride at Work Mascot Lucky Haaland

According author J.K. Rowling, Dumbledore is gay.

Economist Dean Baker, blogger at the indispensable Beat the Press, is reading from his excellent book The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer tonight at Modern Times. His book (which is available free for download or purchasable in paperback) is an indictment of the way corporations and the rich manipulate government policy to their advantage. He is appearing at Modern Times, 888 Valencia, at 7:30 pm. I won’t be there, but if you’re in the area, I suggest you go.

Randy Shaw today wrote an interesting review of what seems like a fascinating book, Bohemian Los Angeles: And the Making of Modern Politics. It apparently details quite extensively the intertwining of the rise of Modernism and the rise of radical politics in Los Angeles, as well as the roots of the gay rights movement in the ranks of radicals.

The gay and lesbian civil rights movement has advanced so far, and so fast, in the past two decades that I wonder how many know that its origins lay with the vision of Harry Hay, a former Communist Party member. Hay caused a huge controversy in the 1950’s by arguing that homosexuals constituted a distinct oppressed minority, and for pushing them to band together politically to improve their lot. Hay’s analysis ultimately prevailed, but not before his bold agenda caused his removal from the leadership of the Mattachine Society, the organization he created.

Are you going to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” tonight? If so, you may be watching communist propaganda. Or is it really the Home Depot vs. Cole Hardware fight revisited?

(By way of wisebread, living large on a small budget. Click Here. with thanks to Dennis Brumm for the tip.)

You can read the original memo at the blog. Here is an excerpt from the blog:

The FBI specifically detested the way Mr. Potter was portrayed:

Check out the Leftinsf Holiday Gift Guide coming out soon. In the meantime, want some fun music to give to friends for the holidays? Get your copy of Folk Songs of the Far Right with such hits as “If I had a hammer, I’d sell it to the Army” by the Halliburton Gang, “We shall overcharge” by Eli Lilly and the Pillpoppers, and “Gore is just a four letter word” by Ann Coulter.

With thanks to Steve Bingham for the tip.

From the SEIU Action Center:

“Be prepared to throw out all your stereotypes about ‘big labor’ and embrace a vital agenda for change.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed

Today, millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, one illness or accident away from bankruptcy, in debt and without adequate retirement savings – while their government grapples with whether to outlaw flag-burning and reduce the estate tax for the wealthiest two percent. Americans want real solutions to the problems that affect lives and pocketbooks: exploding health care costs, retirement insecurity, and the erosion of good jobs that you can raise a family on.

In the tradition of How to Suppress Women’s Writing …

How to Suppress Discussions of Racism

Tired of discussions of racism in literature, television, and film? Worn out from the unexpected criticism of your leisure pursuits? Exhausted by the effort of having to respond to each new argument carefully and conscientiously?

We can help!

We’ll teach you how to suppress discussion of racism in six easy steps. Soon suppressing dissent will be so easy you can do it in your sleep!

Especially designed for your online needs!

Modern Times is an excellent source for progressive and even radical reading. Like many independent book stores, however, they’ve been hurt by publishing consolidation and the rise of online book stores. There’s a benefit tonight to help them keep afloat:

Performers: Soledad De Costa, Ghost Family, Bahiyyih Maroon, Seely Quest, Grant Donnelly, and Joolie Geldner
- Wednesday, August 9
- 7:00 PM

Bay Area Peeps Come Help Modern Times!
What better way to spend a Wednesday night than hanging out at your local independent, progressive bookstore listening to local artists, musicians and performers do their thing? Times are tough for independent bookstores, but our community is tougher. Come check out fabulous home-grown talents and help keep your local, progressive, independent, collectively owned and operated bookstore afloat! We’ll have tasty eats and drinks for all.