Transit Irony: The More You Rely on It, the More They Cut

Samantha Winslow Labor Notes
In 2011 the transit authority cut its budget by 15 percent, eliminating 29 bus routes. It laid off 180 workers and reduced hours for more. The cuts continued the following year, and the region lost tens of thousands of bus riders. Some switched to cars, if they had one, or carpooling. Others walk now.

5 players behind the Big Money attacks in NC Supreme Court elections

Chris Kromm Facing South
Big money groups like Justice for All NC could reshape how justice is carried out in North Carolina. This year, seven top state judicial seats are up for election, including four on the seven-member NC Supreme Court, which is now ruled by a narrow 4-3 conservative majority.

Fate of Donetsk is Being Decided in Kharkov

Boris Kagarlitsky, translated by Renfrey Clarke Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal
The insurgents are convinced that all they need to do is to hold out for a certain time, and Russia will then come to their aid; if this does not take the form of direct military intervention, some other mechanism will be found. Unfortunately, every passing day since the beginning of the revolt has shown how illusory these hopes are.

Neanderthal Intelligence: A Reader's Response

Matthew Hallinan
A reader's response by Matthew Hallinan to "Neanderthals Were Not Less Intelligent Than Modern Humans, Scientists Find" read the original article at portside May 2, https://portside.org/2014-05-02/neanderthals-were-not-less-intelligent-modern-humans-scientists-find

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a cute, bubbly, young (usually white) woman who has recently entered the life of our brooding hero to teach him how to loosen up and enjoy life. Part of a series created for Bitch magazine.

Friday Nite Videos -- May 2, 2014

Portside
New from Playing for Change: Words of Wonder / Get Up Stand Up. Unlocking the Cage: A ground-breaking documentary from Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker. Thomas Piketty's 'Capital' in 3 Minutes. Meet Emily: Tech Demo.

Words of Wonder / Get Up Stand Up

Featuring Keith Richards in collaboration with Roberto Luti, Titi Tsira and a number of worldwide musicians on a rendition of his reggae song, "Words of Wonder," off 1992's Main Offender. This video also leads into a cover of Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up," featuring Keb' Mo', Mermans Mosengo, Aztec Indians, Natalie Pa'apa'a of Blue King Brown, and Jamaican singer Sherita Lewis. These tracks will appear on Playing For Change's upcoming CD/DVD, available June 17.
 

Documentary: Unlocking the Cage

Chris Hegedus' and D.A. Pennebaker's films include Don't Look Back with Bob Dylan, The War Room chronicling Clinton’s 1992 Presidential campaign, and Startup.com shot during the Internet’s first boom and bust. These are stories about passionate people who took risks that changed history. They believe their new film, Unlocking the Cage, is just such a story. For the past two years they have been following an animal rights lawyer, Steve Wise, who is attempting to break down the legal wall that separates animals from humans. Help crowd-source this film project here.

Thomas Piketty's 'Capital' in 3 Minutes

BBC's Policy Editor Chris Cook tells you everything you need to know about Thomas Piketty's landmark book on inequality: Capital in the twenty-first century.