BARBWIRE by ANDREW BARBANO Pirate Laureate of the High Desert Outback of the American Dream

Barbwire Archives

It's election day. Sorry you voted early? Wanna be? Or maybe lord over your friends with a holier-than-thou, smarter-than-you attitude? Perchance win some bar bets?

Read on.

VIRGINIA CITY'S NEXT SCARY SEXY MAJOR HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. This will make early voters feel even worse that they are not on my e-mail list.

Go to BallotBoxing.US to read why Storey County is in sore need of a grand jury.

The latest Silver State X-rated film starts right here in Sparks with rape charges filed last April against the Storey county sheriff at Sparks PD under the guidance of Mineral County Sheriff Stewart Handte.

This lewd and lascivious drama will continue whether or not voters re-elect Storey County Sheriff Gerald Antinoro nee Cook (he changed his name a few years ago).

It's a scriptwriter's dream with credible charges of sex, drugs, motorcycles, murder coverup, ongoing federal and state investigations and delicious political skulduggery.

And that's just chapter one.

SCHOOL OPERA. If you have not read Tribune alumnus Dennis Myers' deconstruction of the quite justified firing of local school boss Pedro Martinez, do it before you vote today.

His story is linked to both last week's and this week's Tribune Barbwires at NevadaLabor.com/

UPDATE: Eery irony —> Martinez predecessor axed in North Carolina

"You have been endorsed by the organization whose basic principle is government by the Christian Bible," I stated. "Which takes precedence in your philosophy of governing: The Bible or the Constitution of the United States?"

Thus far, only Washoe County Commissioner Bonnie Weber and her husband, Mike, have responded.

Both asserted that they have not been involved with the outfit for many years although they were among its founders. (Barbwire 1-25-1998 and thereafter)

The anointed: Ron Knecht for State Controller; Don Gustavson, State Senate District 14; Jill Dickman, Assembly District 31; Chuck Allen, Washoe County Sheriff; Jeanne Herman, Washoe Commissioner District 5; Charlene Bybee, Sparks City Council Ward 5; Vicky Maltman, Sun Valley General Improvement District.

MORAL OBTUSENESS DEPT. In its unenthusiastic endorsement of term-limited Commissioner Weber's candidacy for Reno City Council, the Reno Gazette-Journal's sole reason was her opponent's status as a union man.

Perhaps there's more.

Acting on orders from its biggest car dealer advertisers, the RGJ pushed the county commission to vote down minor tax hikes for sorely needed school repair and maintenance.

Only Democratic Commissioner Kitty Jung supported the schools. Mrs. Weber's opponent, Paul McKenzie, worked in favor but with a 4-1 Republican split, the RGJ and the car salesmen won, school kids lost. The term-limited Mrs. Weber then rented a place in Reno and filed for a new office.

The RGJ endorsement was the very definition of prejudice, a decision made because of who Mr. McKenzie is.

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY DEPT. Parent Leaders for Education, the grassroots organization of local moms that took point in supporting the school maintenance taxes, refused to support Mr. McKenzie because he's a Democrat running against a Republican, albeit in a non-partisan race. Their website asserts that they are a non-partisan organization. Their website is in dire need of correction.

Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno. (Pardon my Spanglish.)

ONLINE EXTRAS...

TOMORROW'S NEWS TODAY: FEEL UP YOUR FIRE METER. The Reno Gazette-Journal did big spreads on three consecutive Sundays (Sept. 14, Sept. 21 and Sept. 28) on NV Energy smart meter fires. Welcome aboard. Barbwire readers were two years ahead on the fire meter issue. (Touch a Smart Meter, Go to Jail — 11 October 2012)

In a blah editorial on Sept. 28, the Reno Gazette-Journal praised the Public Utilities Commission for opening an investigation.

What's next? Endorsing motherhood?

I've taken to regularly feeling up my gas and electric meters and those of my neighbors. Heat means your fire meter is about to go torch. Call NVE and pray or 911.

[UPDATE: THE NEVADA FIRE MARSHALL'S INVESTIGATION concluded "don't worry, be happy." I'm still worried and will continue fondling NVE's precious equipment.]

TOAST ALERT. Teachers' union gross profits tax petition supporters and opponents would do well to review the Barbwire of Feb. 28, 2013.

Passage of the tax initiative could easily lead to a successful court challenge that would at the same time blow out not only the revenue hike, but also term limits and the state's worst anti-union laws. Something for everybody.

ANTE INTO THE GAME: Support the new season of Barbwire.TV by putting your money where my mouth is.

A thousand thanks to those who already responded and keep sending show suggestions.

  Stay tuned.

  I encourage you to donate to the cause at Barbwire.TV/

The medium that shapes public opinion needs at least one refuge where it is not filtered through the distorted green eye shades of prissy corporate accountants for whom profit is the only priority; where self-censorship is the journalist's normal work environment and where all sins of omission are tacitly encouraged and forgiven with the wave of a balance sheet.

This is important. We've got a lot of work to do.

Get ahead of corporate-influenced news—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential.

Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno. (Pardon my Spanglish.)

Andrew Barbano is a 46-year Nevadan, chair of the Nevada César Chávez Committee, producer of Nevada's annual César Chávez Day celebration, first vice-president and political action chair of the Reno-Sparks NAACP, labor/consumer/civil rights advocate, member of Communications Workers of America Local 9413/AFL-CIO and editor of NevadaLabor.com and JoeNeal.org and DoctorLawyerWatch.com/ As always, his opinions are strictly his own. Check local listings for other Nevada cable systems. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us. Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Sparks Tribune since 1988. Excerpts from the above were published in the Tribune's 10-28-2014 edition.

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Smoking Guns... Get ahead of corporate-influenced news—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential Virginia City's next scary sexy Hollywood movie Virginia City 911: Sexy Sheriffing in Old ConforteLand Barbwire by Barbano / Special Nevada Day Edition 10-31-2014, Updated 11-1 and 11-3-2014 Follytix '14: Year of the Topless Campaign Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 10-28-2014 Sparks Tribune, Updated 10-31-2014 Words from God on Nevada ballots and Ebola Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 10-21-2014 Sparks Tribune Happy 150th Birthday, Ms. Nevada Nevada Day Required Reading The Lady in the Red Dress The Barbwire's classic Nevada Day column written in 1983 The compleat history of the Silver State in 500 words SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Sparks Tribune 10-31-2013 and previously The Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln on display in Reno thru Nov. 2 GAO Study: Voter ID laws cut turnout by blacks, young By Alan Fram / Associated Press 10-8-2014 Barbwire: Nevada not really a state No, we were not Battle Born in Kenya Top 10 reasons Nevada lives in the 19th Century Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 10-17-2013 Sparks Tribune Cheap thrills: Sex banned in Gomorrah South Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 10-14-2014 Sparks Tribune / Updated 10-15-2014 True confessions from the back of the bus Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 10-7-2014 Sparks Tribune We don't need no education: Leaks R Us Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-30-2014 Sparks Tribune Taxpayers taken for Teslacide demo ride Heavy demands for services & infrastructure but no money for them: Los Angeles Times debunks booster claims Can megaresorts scam Tesla-style freebies? Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-23-2014 Sparks Tribune St. Elon, Lord Pedro and Gov. Veto El Obtúsè Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-16-2014 Sparks Tribune 9-23 CRYSTAL BALL UPDATE: The above column accurately predicted Martinez's departure one week in advance Tinkle-down economics: testing Tesla's testes Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-9-2014 Sparks Tribune Labor Day 2014: Red, white and screwed Silver State Lining: Nevada union membership 10th-highest in the nation Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune / 8-28-2014 Union decline and rising inequality in two charts by Colin Gordon Economic Policy Institute / 6-5-2012 Labor Day: State of the Unions By Mark Robison / Reno Gazette-Journal / Sunday 9-1-2013 The above graph was used in journalist Mark Robison's extensive Hard Labor: Nevada unions tout role in helping workers, firms, economy (Sunday 2 Sept. 2012 Reno Gazette-Journal, page one, Reno Rebirth section of the print edition). Union men Jim Burrell, Paul McKenzie and Guy Louis Rocha did the movement proud. WOMEN AND UNIONS — ORPHAN MAJORITIES The Barbwire Labor Day column Reno Gazette-Journal / 9-3-2012 ...and more ammo... The hardest and fairest questions yet asked of proponents of the teachers gross profits tax initiative Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review 7-10-2014 We Don't Need No Education The continuing Barbwire series Barbwire: Nevada not really a state No, we were not Battle Born in Kenya Top 10 reasons Nevada lives in the 19th Century Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 10-17-2013 Sparks Tribune Low-income penalty: Nevada socks it to the working poor BARBANO: Nevada is one big company town Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review 10-10-2013 State of Health National health care comes up against a very sick state. WHAT'S IN IT FOR US? Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review 10-10-2013 ...and more ammo yet IMF Head Says Inequality Threatens Democracy. Here Are 7 Charts Proving She’s Right. By Erika Eichelberger / Mother Jones/BillMoyers.com 5-30-2014 “The behavior of the financial sector has not changed fundamentally…since the crisis. The industry still prizes short-term profit.” The Post-Dated Recession: Pay me now or pay me later Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-6-2012 Daily Sparks Tribune The Post-dated Recession By Joshua H. Silavent / Daily Sparks Tribune / 5-3-2011 Nevada Press Assn. Better Newspaper Contest 2013-14: BARBWIRE SCORES SIXTH NEVADA PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD BRONZE 2014 Hopelessly trying to win an earthquake / 4-18-2013 The 2013 Loony Tunes Legislative Lexicon / 5-30-2013 The politics of media ga-ga boosterism / 3-20-2014 2012: WE WON —> BIG NEWS FROM THE NEVADA PRESS ASSOCIATION GOMORRAH SOUTH CONFAB—> BARBWIRE NOMINEE GUY RICHARDSON INDUCTED INTO NPA HALL OF FAME ON FIRST BALLOT Support legendary photographer Don Dondero next 2010 GOLD HAT TRICK: Barbwire takes first place three years in a row. The winning entries Suing for Schools: The 20-year shuck Expanded from the 2-21-2010 Daily Sparks Tribune RED flags flying low over Sparks Expanded from the 1-10-2010 Daily Sparks Tribune The wrath of self-righteous racism Expanded from the 11-8-2009 Daily Sparks Tribune Government contacts Nev. congressional delegation Nevada Legislature State of Nevada Secretary of State Carson City Clark County City of Las Vegas Douglas County Reno City Council Sparks City Council Washoe County Commission Washoe Registrar of Voters The campaign against forcibly-paid newspaper obituaries And they wonder why the newspaper business is dying?   The Dean's List    The Dean of Reno Bloggers could very well be Andrew Barbano, self-described "fighter of public demons," who started putting his "Barbwire" columns online in 1996 and now runs 10 sites. RENO NEWS & REVIEW, 11-9-2006 The 2009 first-place Nevada Press Association award winners Tony the Tiger & the flaky NFL Barbwire / 11-30-2008 Deregulation is never having to say you're sorry Barbwire / 8-3-2008 Nevada: A good place to visit, but do you want to live here? Barbwire / 6-15-2008 The 2008 first-place Nevada Press Association award winners The price of a piece / 6-17-2007 Boxing Pandora /9-23-2007 The Lady in the Red Dress 10-28-2007 1997 Pulitzer Prize entries The life and times of Travus T. Hipp The best who ever was   Get ahead of corporate-influenced news—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential

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Copyright © 1982-2014 Andrew Barbano

Andrew Barbano is a 46-year Nevadan, editor of NevadaLabor.com and JoeNeal.org; and former chair of the City of Reno's Citizens Cable Compliance Committee. He is producer of Nevada's annual César Chávez Day celebration and serves as first vice-president, political action chair and webmaster of the Reno-Sparks NAACP. As always, his opinions are strictly his own. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us.

Barbwire by Barbano moved to Nevada's Daily Sparks Tribune on Aug. 12, 1988, and has originated in them parts ever since.
Whom to blame: How a hall-of-famer's hunch birthed the Barbwire in August of 1987
Tempus fugit.

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