October 15, 2015

Laumeier Sculpture Park opens new center and asks what a fair world would look like

As Laumeier Sculpture Park opens its Adam Aronson Fine Arts Center to the public, exhibited works will be designed to bridge international and local communities. Among those whose work is featured in the first show, which opens Friday, is Raqs Media Collective.

“They’re kind of setting the tone for the international scope that we have for the next five years,” said exhibit curator Dana Turkovic, “It’s more about representing these different voices from different areas of the world.”

The Raqs exhibit features an outdoor component “If the World is a Fair Place Then…” and indoor component “Art in the Age of Collective Intelligence.”

The outdoor aspect consists of laser-cut metal bands of words wrapped around trees scattered throughout the grounds. The words were culled from more than 500 responses to the request to finish the phrase: “If the World is a Fair Place Then…” from which the show draws its name.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/laumeier-sculpture-park-opens-new-center-and-asks-what-fair-world-would-look

October 15, 2015

New outdoor chess tables available in Forest Park

There is now another spot in St. Louis for chess lovers to enjoy the game in the great outdoors.

Forest Park Forever has partnered with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis on four outdoor, concrete tables near Steinberg Skating Rink.

The area is designed to attract more people to that section of the park throughout the year and expose more people, especially youngsters, to chess.

“We really work to try and hit as many students as possible because of the impact of the game,” Chess Club and Scholastic Center Development Manager Lauren Stewart tells St. Louis Public Radio.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/new-outdoor-chess-tables-available-forest-park

October 15, 2015

Judge strikes down city's minimum wage law

Low-wage workers in St. Louis will not be getting the raise they expected on Thursday.

Judge Steven Ohmer ruled Wednesday afternoon that a law boosting the city's minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2018 violated Missouri's Constitution because it conflicted directly with state law. The first increase, to $8.25 an hour, was to take effect at midnight Wednesday.

"Municipal ordinances are presumed valid, and will be construed in light of the presumption of validity," Ohmer wrote in his opinion. "If, however, an ordinance conflicts with the general laws of the state, the ordinance is void and unenforceable. Ordinance 70078 conflicts with state law because it prohibits activities that are permitted by Sections 290.500 to 290.530 (the state's minimum wage law)."

Ohmer heard oral arguments Oct. 6. He had declined to issue a temporary restraining order, saying he would issue a final decision before the increase took effect. He kept his promise, with about seven hours to spare.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/judge-strikes-down-citys-minimum-wage-law

October 15, 2015

Daily Holidays - October 15

National Cheese Curd Day Cheese Curds are unique, funky, snackable little pieces of yellow or white Wisconsin cheddar cheese coated and deep fried golden brown for a warm buttery crunch on the outside and an ooey-gooey burst of dairyland delicacy on the inside.

National I Love Lucy Day “I Love Lucy”, an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley made it’s debut on October 15, 1951.

National Cake Decorating Day Cake decorating is a creative hobby for many people. It allows you to express yourself in edible form. Many professional cake decorators started their careers as hobbyists. We make or purchase decorated cakes for many of life’s events, from baptisms and birthdays to weddings and anniversaries. Decorated cakes help carry out the theme of any party or event.

National Grouch Day If you are a grouch today is your special day. According to Sesame Street Magazine, National Grouch Day was created for all grouches to celebrate their way of life.

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/latest-posts/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/october15.html

October 14, 2015

Slim resources, high need challenge advocates for human-trafficking survivors

About three dozen minors in the St. Louis region have been rescued from sex trafficking so far this year, and a nationwide sting last week recovered 149 children, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But during a public hearing in St. Louis, local agencies who help victims said they’re strapped for resources.

About a dozen people shared insights with Missouri’s newly-appointed Human Trafficking Task Force during the hearing in Brentwood on Tuesday. The Missouri legislature voted unanimously last session for the establish of the committee to suggest legislation that would help victims and reduce trafficking in the state.

“How did she get there? I think that always has to be the question. Not why are you doing this or why did you do that, but how did you get here,” said Christine McDonald of St. Charles, an advocate and author who was sold into sex trafficking as a teenager.

During her testimony, McDonald recommended training health providers to recognize trafficking victims, and to include people on the committee who have experienced exploitation.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/slim-resources-high-need-challenge-advocates-human-trafficking-survivors

October 14, 2015

Daily Holidays - October 14

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/october14.html

National Desert Day National Dessert Day is celebrated annually on October 14. This is a day to indulge in that wonderful, sweet ending to a meal.

Be Bald and Be Free Day Be Bald and Be Free Day is observed annually on October 14. The day is sometimes referred to as Bald and Free Day.

National Emergency Nurses Day National Emergency Nurse’s Day is observed annually on the second Wednesday in October. We take this day to say “thank you” to the emergency room nurses for their hard work, dedication, service and commitment to their patients and families and their loyalty to the emergency nursing profession.

National Fossil Day National Fossil Day was established to promote the scientific and educational values of fossils. This nationwide celebration was first held on October 13, 2010, during Earth Science Week. The National Park Service and over 270 partners, including museums, institutions, organizations and other groups, joined together to celebrate fossils. Hundreds of activities were hosted across the United States allowing the public to better understand the world’s fossil heritage.


http://nationaldaycalendar.com/latest-posts/

October 13, 2015

Daily Holidays - October 13

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/october13.html

National Yorkshire Pudding Day Also known as batter pudding, Yorkshire Pudding is an English dish similar to a popover that is made from a batter and usually served with roast meat and gravy.

National Train Your Brain Day This day was created to encourage everyone to expand and “exercise” their brain and use more of it’s potential capacity. There are many different ways to “exercise” your mind and improve your cognitive skills such as reading, word puzzles, number games, brain teasers, trivia games, riddles and word games. Learning something new is another “exercise” that is a benefit to everyone’s brain on National Train Your Brain Day (as well as any other day).

National No Bra Day is meant to promote breast cancer awareness and to help raise money for research. Many women who have survived breast cancer are unable to go without a bra as they need it to hold their prosthesis after surgery. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National No Bra Day should serve as a reminder for all women to be screened for breast cancer.

Navy Birthday The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is currently the largest, most powerful navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage. The U.S. Navy has the world’s largest aircraft carrier fleet, with ten in service, four in the reserve fleet and three new class carriers under construction. The service has over 300,000 personnel on active duty and more than 100,000 in the Navy Reserve. It has 272 deployable combat ships and more than 3,700 aircraft in active service. as of September 2015

http://nationaldaycalendar.com/latest-posts/

October 12, 2015

Photo retailer B&H faces unwanted exposure over worker safety ( x-post from Labor Group)

NEW YORK — At night, when Oscar Orellana arrives home after his 13-hour shifts in the warehouse of B&H Photo Video, a national electronics retailer, he is often in such pain, he can barely lift his 2-year-old daughter.

“He can’t bend at all,” said one of his older daughters, Odalys. “My sisters want to play hide and seek, or tag, but he can’t because his back is really injured.”

In 2014, Orellana fell from the top of an eight-foot-high pallet in the warehouse and severely injured his upper spine. He says he never received any training on how to operate the forklift he was instructed to use to unload the inventory. He was never even provided a hard hat, he says.

That’s why on Sunday, Orellana joined nearly 200 of his co-workers in publicly denouncing B&H Photo Video, the largest non-chain photo store in the United States, with more than a quarter of a billion dollars in annual revenue and a lengthy history of alleged discrimination and workplace safety complaints.

http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/2015/10/bh-workers-claim-discrimination-unsafe-standards1.html?utm_content=main&utm_campaign=ajam&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow

October 12, 2015

Photo retailer B&H faces unwanted exposure over worker safety ( x-post from Labor Group)

NEW YORK — At night, when Oscar Orellana arrives home after his 13-hour shifts in the warehouse of B&H Photo Video, a national electronics retailer, he is often in such pain, he can barely lift his 2-year-old daughter.

“He can’t bend at all,” said one of his older daughters, Odalys. “My sisters want to play hide and seek, or tag, but he can’t because his back is really injured.”

In 2014, Orellana fell from the top of an eight-foot-high pallet in the warehouse and severely injured his upper spine. He says he never received any training on how to operate the forklift he was instructed to use to unload the inventory. He was never even provided a hard hat, he says.

That’s why on Sunday, Orellana joined nearly 200 of his co-workers in publicly denouncing B&H Photo Video, the largest non-chain photo store in the United States, with more than a quarter of a billion dollars in annual revenue and a lengthy history of alleged discrimination and workplace safety complaints.

http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/2015/10/bh-workers-claim-discrimination-unsafe-standards1.html?utm_content=main&utm_campaign=ajam&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow

October 12, 2015

Photo retailer B&H faces unwanted exposure over worker safety

NEW YORK — At night, when Oscar Orellana arrives home after his 13-hour shifts in the warehouse of B&H Photo Video, a national electronics retailer, he is often in such pain, he can barely lift his 2-year-old daughter.

“He can’t bend at all,” said one of his older daughters, Odalys. “My sisters want to play hide and seek, or tag, but he can’t because his back is really injured.”

In 2014, Orellana fell from the top of an eight-foot-high pallet in the warehouse and severely injured his upper spine. He says he never received any training on how to operate the forklift he was instructed to use to unload the inventory. He was never even provided a hard hat, he says.

That’s why on Sunday, Orellana joined nearly 200 of his co-workers in publicly denouncing B&H Photo Video, the largest non-chain photo store in the United States, with more than a quarter of a billion dollars in annual revenue and a lengthy history of alleged discrimination and workplace safety complaints.

http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/2015/10/bh-workers-claim-discrimination-unsafe-standards1.html?utm_content=main&utm_campaign=ajam&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow