Dressage struggles for respect

Source: BBC Sport

However, while Hester's home island of Sark has seen its only postbox painted gold, some of his fellow Channel Island sportsmen seem yet to be enthused.

Cricketer Jamie Nussbaumer tweeted: "Dressage is just not a sport."

Nussbaumer was not alone, among those who have represented Guernsey in the World Cricket League, to express some cynicism after the win.

Ross Kneller used hashtags to imply that dressage was the "worst Olympic event" and that its participants were "born with silver spoon[s]" in their mouths.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865

Parthenia Comics seeks funding

Parthenia Comics is a new independent comics publishing firm that I am starting. The aim is to publish short "how-to" guides in comic book form aimed at adult literacy learners and people whose first language is not English. The comics are currently specific to the UK market, but I hope to do format deals with publishers in other countries to publish local versions, rather than try and do a generic international comic. I am trying to raise funds via Indiegogo, please go to the link below for more information. And don't foget to share on your social networks etc, so that the word gets out to as many people as possible. Thanks for your help. (edit: even rec'ing this thread helps, as it means it will be seen by more people on DU)

http://t.co/JbWqxmgk

Fundraising on DU?

I have an Indiegogo project that I'd like to plug on DU, and I want to do so in a forum where I'm not breaking any rules. Does such a forum exist. The best place for it would be Comic Books, but I am not sure if you are allowed to plug your own work there.

Chicago Factory Occupiers Form Worker Cooperative

Source: TruthOut

First, they occupied the factory to get their wages from the bosses that owned the machinery. Then, they occupied their factory to keep the second bosses from shutting down their machinery. And, now, they are on their way to owning and running the machinery.

The group of workers who occupied their Chicago factory in 2008 and again in 2012 incorporated a worker-run cooperative on May 30, 2012. The factory window makers will take over was formerly owned by Republic Windows and Doors and then Serious Energy, and will now be run by New Era Windows, LLC.

Their battle to win wages and back pay from Republic Windows and Doors by occupying the factory is often mentioned in the same breath as the occupation of the Wisconsin State Capitol to protest Gov. Scott Walker's anti-union bill as a flash point of progressive struggle since the recession took hold.

Armando Robles, president of the United Electrical Workers Local 1110, said that the school of struggle the workers went through with both factory occupations helped them win the confidence to take over their factory.

Read more: http://truth-out.org/news/item/9500-republic-windows-and-doors-serious-materials-workers-form-cooperative

My hometown may re-regulate buses

First a bit of background: Thatcher deregulated bus services in England (outside London, which was deemed too important to be the victim of her free market experiments) back in the 1980s. Since then, as with most public utilities that get flogged off to vulture capitalists, fares have been skyrocketing while the quality of service has declined. Now, my hometown of Bristol, among others, is openly proposing to bring them back under democratic control.

More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17919520

Urgent Call to Action: House Plan Puts Public Transit Projects In Jeopardy!