Modern Day Unions Within North America - by Moses (a.k.a Stacey Marc Goldman)

1. National Hockey League Players Association - was formed in 1955 est. by Ted Lindsey and Doug Harvey (amongst others), creating a pension fund for Hockey players. Ted Lindsey was traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the Chicago Black Hawks for his role in establishing the N.H.L.P.A. In 1985 est. Alan Eagleson was found to be involved in embezzling funds from Contracts he signed for players, and shortly thereafter N.H.L player salaries skyrocketed. The average annual salary of an N.H.L player was $15,000/year in 1955, $50,000/year in 1977, and is roughly $1.7 million dollars per annum today.

2. In 1970 Marvin Miller was named the first leader of the MLBPA. During the 1971 season, Curt Flood sat out the year and challenged the Reserve Clause (essentially the ownership that a Team had, pertaining to their players). Andy Messersmith did the same during the 1975 campaign, and an arbitrator named by the Owners granted Messersmith Free-Agency. This was the first occurance of Free-Agency in Professional Sports. In 1971 the average salary within MLB was roughly $30,000/year, it was roughly $150,000/year in 1979, and is now at roughly $3.5 Million/annum.

3. The Negro League Baseball Players Association was formed in 2002 est. and is instrumental in creating a market for Negro League Team Merchandising. This is a market that many speculate to be one of the most financially promising ventures in sports fashions within the fashion world.

4. The United Autoworkers Union expanded into Canada in 1983 and the Canadian Autoworkers Union in that year was headed by Bob White. The U.A.W and C.A.W have downsized positions within Canada and the U.S.A significantly over the past sixteen years and many jobs have moved to Mexico since the advent of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994. Many people in Canada would say that Buzz Hargrove missed the warning signs in 2008 when he took a hardline stance in negotiating with the U.S Auto Manufacturers. This led to the loss of roughly 6,000 jobs in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

5. The Steelworkers Union was headed by Marvin Miller in 1967, and through a deadlock in negotiation with the Steel Plants, U.S President Lyndon Johnson stepped in and signed an agreement in good faith with Miller, saving 200,000 jobs.

6. National Football League Players Associationw was formed in 1977 and Gene Upshaw was named the first President. The NFLPA is heavily influential today in long term strategies treating brain injuries within the sport of U.S Football. These long-term treatments of players that have suffered concussions is starting to be implemented by the NHLPA.

In 1994, U.S President Bill Clinton, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo signed the North American Free Trade Agreement leading to many manufacturing jobs in Mexico. The agreement also provided technology positions within the States and Canada, and Silicone Valley, North and South of the border has flourished since. In 2006 most of North America was hit with an economic recession that we're still feeling today. As U.S and Canadian unemployment rate is at roughly 9.5% today, there will surely be changes in both the Private and Public Sectors. To strive for 6% unemployment rates in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.A would probably lead to jobs plentifold. It is of this writers' opinion to lower high income positions (any position paying $3 Million +) by 20% and pro-create positions by the difference. In other words; $5 Million=$4 Million and presto, there is now a team of twenty people working $50,000/year postions (through delegation). I would have to say that unionized sectors within the Private Sector would create this parity.

The Relationship of the Canada Cup with Respect to the Winter Olympics Hockey Tournament - By Moses

In 1976 the First Canada Cup was played. Cherry tipped Sittler and we beat the Soviet Union as Sittler took Tretiak wide. Canada beat Czechoslavakia in the Finals and Rogie Vachon took home Team MVP for the Tournament. Bobby Orr was named the MVP of the Tournament. As the Montreal Canadiens took home every Stanley Cup from then to 1979 came the 1980 Winter Olympics, hosted by Lake Placid in New York State. The U.S.A versus the U.S.S.R was played in the Finals. A heavily favoured Goliath, in the U.S.S.R was defeated by the U.S.A, symbolically David. This upcoming Winter Olympic Classic is being held in Canada for the first time in 22 years, since Calgary host the Winter Classic. During this years Winter Classic in Vancouver, B.C, Canada, here is an in-depth analysis of the Teams going into the Tourney.

1. Canada - Sidney Crosby Chris Pronger Jarome Iginla Rick Nash
2. U.S.A - Mike Modano Phil Kessel Patrick Kane
3. Sweden - Niklas Lidstrom Henrik Sedin Daniel Sedin
4. Russia - Evgeni Malkin Alexander Ovechkin Ilya Kovalchuck
5. Finland - Teemu Selanne Mikka Kiprosoff
6. Czech Republic - Tomas Kaberle Tomas Vokoun
7. Slovakia - Zdena Chara Marian Hossa
8. Germany - Marco Sturm
9. Switzerland - Jonus Hiller


Gordie Howe used to say 'Shoulder Up' to get the call against Elbowing. With the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada's Chris Pronger will probably get the call, as will Nash and Crosby, likewise. The physical Chara and Ovechkin will likely shine. Considering that this is Teemu Selanne' last Winter Olympics, I consider Finland to be a 'Darkhorse' in the running, likewise Czech Republic. With excellent Goaltending, each Nation in the upcoming Tournament has a promise of fulfilling Gold. Martin Brodeur, Ryan Miller, Henrik Lundquist, Evgeni Nabokov, Mikko Kiprisoff, Tomas Vokoun, Jonas Hiller, are all excellent Netminders.

The Palmach - By Moses

The Palmach was the underground intelligence agency, and Army of the Hagannah (the spiritual embodyment of Sephardiim - the Semitic People). At the time, the Country was controlled by Great Britain, and known as Palestine. The Hagannah tried to organize themselves Politically, however, the Brits remained Head of State. The Palmach was formed to combat the British Army, and the Phillistine Army, to establish sovereignty within the Country (the Land of Canaan).
In 1942, the Palmach was known in the Western World mainstream media as a terrorist faction (as reported in Great Britain, the U.S.A, and France). This was during the tailend of WW11, and it was a common sentiment that Arabs and Jews should be killed. It wasn't just Hitler's Third Reich.
At this time, the Palmach called the British Embassy (Now the King David Hotel) and warned the British, to evacuate their Embassy, as there was a bomb in the building. The British Embassy ignored the threat, and the bomb killed roughly 300 people.
The irony of this terrorist act, was that it caused the British to Mandate a two-State solution, of Palestine and Israel. It also called for the British to evacuate the Region. During the calendar year of 1947, the leaders of Palestine refused, while the Hagannah accepted the British Mandate of Partition for a two-party State. This Mandate went before the United Nations in 1948, and the U.N Mandate of Partition was given that same year (a two-party State). When the U.N Mandate was put before Phillistine Leaders, they rejected the Mandate, while the Hagannah was still in support of this Mandate. Once U.N Troops pulled out of the Land of Canaan, the Palmach seized control of the Land now called Israel.
The addage 'One mans' terrorist is another mans' Freedom Fighter' is of important significance in the paradigm relationship between 'the terrorist faction/Freedom Fighter' Palmach, and the 'oppressor/liberator' Great Britain. In other words, who's to say whether the Palmach were terrorists, or whether they were Freedom Fighters. Likewise, who's to say that Great Britain weren't oppressors, or Liberators for that matter.
In todays' age, we see reports of 'terrorist factions'; Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Hammas, R.A.F (Republic of African Freedom Fighters), Al Queda, the Taliban, I.R.A (Irish Republic Army), and so forth. What is at stake here is paramount to Freedom of Thought. Does every Tyrannical leadership carry with it measures of oppression. Absolutely. Is democracy a given right to most Nations' population? Absolutely not. With Bureaucracies in place, most Countries have hideen agenda's, and keep their populous in check with mainstream idealism. It has to be alright to be subversive (or a non-conformist). There will always be two sides to every story.
Bureaucracy sure as hell isn't democracy.

The 2010 NFC Championship Game - by Moses

It was clearly a matchup of two NFC powerhouse Football Teams. The 'Who Dat' New Orleans Saints at home against the Minnesota Vikings led by warrior Brett Favre. The folklore of the Vikings spoke of Bud Grant, the Purple People eaters, Fran Tarkenton, and 4 trips to the Superbowl with narry a win in the big game to show for it. Favre was perhaps the man to take them to the promised land.
The Saints folklore was that of mediocrity. Never getting this far in the playoffs, and only making the playoffs four times in the history of their organization. Some may have said this was the greatest team New Orleans ever assembled, with a Quarterback as dominant as a young Brett Favre, in Drew Brees.
This game was perhaps the greatest NFC Championship game ever played, with perhaps the exception of the 49'ers/Cowboys classic of 1982. With the score 28-21 for the Saints, it looked like they'd reach the Super-Bowl Game. Adrian Peterson was clearly rattled by two earlier fumbles (one lost to the Saints). The Vikings were at their 12 Yard line with just over 7 minutes left in regulation. All Favre did was drive 88 yards to tie the score with roughly 5 minutes left in the game. Peterson redeemed himself during this drive with two runs of 18+yards and the plunge into the end-zone to tie the score was his third Touchdown in the game. The Vikings defence strong-armed the ultra-talented Drew Brees and forced a three and out, and the Vikings had the ball with just under two minutes left in the game. Favre again guided his Vikings to the 31 yard line of New Orleans, with 19 seconds left in regulation. After a 5-yard offside penaly to the Vikings, it was clear that a 56 yard field goal would probably be unattainable, and the pressure again centered towards Favre. After taking 16 hits in the game the old warrior scrambled out of the pocket and looked like he may run for a few yards, he saw an open man in the middle of the field and New Orleans was finally ready for him. The interception meant one thing for Football fans. Overtime.
New Orleans won the coin toss and received the kickoff. Brees was determined to lead his Saints as he did all throughout a 13-3 regular season. With the Saints facing a third and ten at the Viking 34 yard line, the Vikings needed to have a stop against Brees juggernaut offence. The ball was thrown and the Saints receiver caught the ball at the Vikings 22 yard-line. Instant replay showed that the ball was juggled by the Saints receiver and even touched the ground as the receiver hit the turf. A generous call to say the least, the Saints got the call. With three uneventful gains and the ball still at the Vikings 22 yards line, New Orleans placekicker, Garrett Hartley made good on a 40 Yard field goal that had the distance of 68 yards and the Saints are now in the promised land with only the Indianapolis Colts to beat for their first Super-Bowl.
It was truly a great game, as a hobbled Brett Favre could very well walk away from the game of Football, doing so in legendary status. He may very well have played the gutsiest game of his career as a footnote to the 2009/2010 NFL season. Brees is now established as one of the greatest Quarterbacks of our day alongside Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb.
As for Brett Favre, should this have been his last game in U.S Football, he will be remembered as a great Viking, a great Packer, a great husband, and a great father.