The unmatched and comprehensive online meeting hall for Nevada workers since 1995
"Our republic and its press will rise or fall together." — Joseph Pulitzer
Je Suis Charlie

Site Map

Memo to modern short attention spaniels: This front page is chronological, the site map is categorical.
SITE NAVIGATION TIP: When all else fails, read the instructions
(A favorite John Hanks aphorism I've been using for decades)

BREAKING NEWS AND THEN SOME

BARBWIRE CONFIDENTIAL—>HushHush!
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / SPECIAL WEB INVESTIGATIVE EXTRA 8-4-2021
BIZ BOSS: NEVADA STRIKE NEEDS TRUMP

Mississippi West re-run & Hot August Strike 1.911
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from Sparks Tribune 8-4-2021

HOT AUGUST STRIKE!
Continuing Updates
Teamsters Local 533 strikes foreign-owned RTC bus contractor Keolis Transit

 

STRIKE ONE: Results of the first day of long-delayed contract negotiation between Keolis-19 and Teamsters Local 533

Lies, loves, loss, laughs & other L-words
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from Sparks Tribune 7-28-2021

BREAKING NEWS—>Union files major new federal charges vs. COVID-19 superspreader
7-27-2021

Losers, winners, saint, sinners & Yogi
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from Sparks Tribune 7-21-2021

ISN'T $220,000 A YEAR ENOUGH PAY?
Bus drivers' union opposes rewarding RTC boss for abuses
Enriching a foreign corporation at taxpayer expense
"Show up. Stand up. Speak up before Friday vote."
UPDATE: Two dozen union members, along with Reno City Councilmember Jenny Brekhus showed up to speak.
The board pulled the Thomas pay raise off the agenda for consideration at a later date. See you there. Great job!

Updated 7-15, 7-16, 7-17, 7-22 & 7-23-2021
View video of the meeting

Czar Donaldov infects Reno-Sparks bus system
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the 7-14-2021 Sparks Tribune

BUS SYSTEM BARBECUES BUS RIDERS
SUPERSPREADER SENTENCES PASSENGERS TO HEATSTROKE

19 buses sit idle on record 104-degree day / 16 routes affected
Teamsters Union president blocked from seeing members

HOT AUGUST STRIKE 2.0 ?

Union busters bust bus system
Reno-Sparks-Washoe transit drivers vote to strike
Teamsters Union sues for unpaid health insurance premiums

Last of the Sparks-Reno royals
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from Wednesday 7-7-2021 Sparks Tribune

John Ascuaga: Frycook who ruled the roost
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 6-30-2021 Sparks Tribune

Deus Ex Machinations
Barbwire June 16 and 23, 2021

Regional Union Council Passes Strike Sanction
Bus contractor sued for unpaid health insurance premiums

Accepting acceptable deaths
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 6-9-2021 Sparks Tribune

Keepin' the young'uns moral after school
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 6-2-2021 Sparks Tribune

BREAKING NEWS OR BREAKING BAD?
KTVN TV-2 trucks with The Terminator

Nominations open for the Doofus Awards
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno /
Expanded from the Wednesday 5-26-2021 Sparks Tribune

MILK RUN before bus bosses Friday morning
Millions for profit & strikebreakers but no mercy for nursing mothers
This morning brings the Battle of Milk Run to the streets of Reno.

21 May 2021

Click here to read the whole sadly soggy story...


This meme material is blowing in the wind on 9th Street right now — all 12 feet of it. Feel free to print out this version. Suggestions below.
Use as a bookmark, bumper sticker or Internet meme. Potential caption hereinbelow —>

SUCK IT UP, RTC!

Hot August Strike: Déjà vu all over again
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno /
Expanded from the Wednesday 5-19-2021 Sparks Tribune

State Senate Judiciary Committee kills police use of force bill

The Terminator sez he'll be back
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno /
Expanded from the Wednesday 5-12-2021 Sparks Tribune

OBIT: The formerly United States of America
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno /
Expanded from the Wednesday 5-5-2021 Sparks Tribune

Happy May Day—>which is labor day worldwide save the U.S.

A brief history of shootings and choke holds

Choking on the bones of Mississippi West
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno /
Expanded from the Wednesday 4-28-2021 Sparks Tribune

Getting paid to choke in the clutch
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno /
Expanded from the Wednesday 4-21-2021 Sparks Tribune

Pardon me if I get all choked up
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 4-14-2021 Sparks Tribune


Alleluia! Moonhowlers are gunning for you
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 4-7-2021 Sparks Tribune

4-1-2021

Betty J. Barbano
2-7-1941 / 12-27-2005

On April 1, 1976, Andrew Barbano met Betty Joyce Luffman Donlevy, manager of Pauline's Sportswear in Carson City.
Be still my foolish heart.


¡Viva huelga! César Chávez Day 94 returns
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 3-31-2021 Sparks Tribune

BREAKING NEWS AND THEN SOME—>

Viva huelga! Strike a blow for Nevada workers
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 3-24-2021 Sparks Tribune

Remember St. Patrick for slaves, not snakes
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 3-17-2021 Sparks Tribune

The Piano Players at the Cat House
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 3-10-2021 Sparks Tribune

Debra Joyce Donlevy
1-16-1959 / 3-4-1978
Remember her kindness

Betty Joyce Barbano
2-7-1941 / 12-27-2005
Remember her laughter

Superspreading for pun and prophet
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 3-3-2021 Sparks Tribune

Union arbitration with superspreader bus system collapses, manager fired
By Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com 2-25-2021
NevadaLabor.com Teamsters/RTC archives

Barnum, Reagan, Rambo, Gingrich & the Czar
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the 2-24-2021 Sparks Tribune

Murderous MAGA moonhowlers meander among us
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 2-17-2021 Sparks Tribune

A hard rain falls on the land of the giants
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 2-10-2021 Sparks Tribune

Betty J. Barbano
2-7-1941 / 12-27-2005
Remember her laughter

GIANTS FALL: All Nevada Labor Mourns

SUPERSPREADER UPDATES

SUPERBOWL SUPERSPREADER: COVID-19 as a religious experience

Skipping the line: The politically powerful get vaccinated first
List includes Regional Transportation Commissioner & Community Health Alliance CEO Oscar Delgado

By Jason Hidalgo / Reno Gazette-Journal main front page story Sunday 2-7-2021

Former Reno-Sparks NAACP president decries unequal vaccine distribution for seniors
By Abel Garcia / KOLO TV-8 / 2-5-2021

HEX, LIES & VIDEOTAPE
Lives are on the line —> the bus line
BUS CRASH: Washoe transit system managers and foreign-owned contractor contradict each other,
then lie to media about CDC virus safety compliance

Maskerape: Get COVID-19 & vax on one bus ride
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 2-3-2021 Sparks Tribune

Fool's gold, a few gems & meat spots
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 1-27-2021 Sparks Tribune

Bus drivers lay to rest one of their own, call on RTC to enforce COVID-19 protections
By Astrid Mendez / KTNV TV-13 (ABC-Las Vegas) 1-22-2021

Funeral today for 2nd Nevada bus driver felled by COVID-19

Biden Fires Reaganaut Nat’l Labor Relations Board Lawyer

Capitol punishment and bus station blues
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 1-20-2021 Sparks Tribune

CARSON CITY, NV (19 Jan. 2021)In his State of the State Address, broadcast statewide, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak praised the service and honored the memory of Sen. Joe Neal.

A MUST-READ: Abraham Lincoln, at age 28, predicted the rise of 'mobocratic spirit' & leaders who abet it
Sen. Neal was honored with the Elijah Lovejoy Award, named for the abolitionist newspaper editor murdered by a mob in 1837 and mentioned in the above item
By Bret Stephens / New York Times, Seattle Times et al. 1-18, 1-19-2021

Nevada MLK weekend events

Betty J. Luffman Donlevy Barbano
2-7-1941 / 12-27-2005

In memoriam

January 16, 1959, brought the births of Debra Joyce Donlevy/Carson High '77 (1959-1978) and Donna Leslie Cline (1959-1999). Their youth was cut in twain on the same night in 1978 within the loneliness of the High Desert Outback of the American Dream.

Remember them fondly.
Act in their honor.

Fire is the Devil's Only Friend
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 1-13-2021 Sparks Tribune

JOE NEAL: You can't run from the truth
Barbwire by Andrew Barbáno / Expanded from the Wednesday 1-6-2021 Sparks Tribune

Trumpist Treason on Joe Neal Day


Sen. Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
1935-2020

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts:

The best who ever was just embarked on a new journey. At 12:45 a.m. on 1-1-21, Sen. Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, informed me that her father, 32-year former State Sen Joseph M. Neal, Jr., D-North Las Vegas, died at 10:25 p.m. PST 12-31-2020.

"Hello, Mr. Barbano. Happy New Year. I bring sad news to you. My Dad, after a long-fought battle, succumbed to an illness. He passed away at 10:25 tonight at Dignity Health, Sienna Campus, in Henderson, (where) he received the best care, surrounded by family."

My friend Joe had become ill over the past several weeks and apparently succumbed to multiple system failure after rebounding many times to the surprise of professionals and family surrounding him with thoughts and prayers.

Please monitor SenJoeNeal.org and NevadaLabor.com for details. You may send remembrances to me for posting.

Requiescas in pace, Senatore Maximissimo, frater mei.

AB

 

GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Please volunteer to do what you and so many others did before November —>
Sign up to contact infrequent voters before January 5, 2021.

Hope you and yours enjoyed Happy High Holly Days
Christmas/Kwanzaa/Solstice/Festivus/
Chanukah
/Thanksgibleting
Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad
HAPPY NEW YEAR / Feliz Año Nuevo
/ Felice Anno Nuovo
Frohe Weihnachten und beste Wuensche fuer 2021

A Barbwire Christmas carol in the time of plague

Laborers' Union Local 169 Donates $12,500 in Grocery Gift Cards to 7 Nonprofits to Help Families & Veterans


10 the Hard Way
Barbwire wins 10th Nevada Press Association award
6 of 10 gold
Tribune editorial page voted 2020 best

Dennis Myers 2nd Barbwire nominee elected to NPA Hall of Fame

Support Don Dondero and Jake Highton next
Send endorsements

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 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?

DAILY SPARKS TRIBUNE 1-3-2011

Je Suis Charlie

30+ years of Barbwire Archives thru today

SITE MAP

SITE NAVIGATION TIP: When all else fails, read the instructions
(A favorite John Hanks aphorism I've been using for decades)

Get ahead of corporate-influenced news—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential
The Underbelly of the News—>TOP SECRET, HUSH HUSH!

All the news you never knew you needed to know—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential
The Underbelly of the News—>TOP SECRET, HUSH HUSH!

Navigating the flagship—>Making quick work of NevadaLabor.com

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS DEPT.—> A year or so back, I got my first criticism in more than two decades that this site is a bit confusing to navigate. I take that as a compliment. Confusing people is one of my few talents.
    I thought I had anticipated any such problems years ago by liberally sprinkling links to the front page site map. (These days, am I supposed to say that I sprinkled progressively rather than liberally?)
    The front page of NevadaLabor.com acts as a chronological listing of recent workplace news with the latest at the top. I archive annually to create a continuous permanent record fully accessible via the site map or any garden-variety websearch.
    "We Don't Need No Education" is now approaching its 100th installment and long ago earned its own section inside. Say hi to Don Quixote.
    Current Barbwires plus more than 20 years of columaniacal archives, the Statewide News Roundup and Breaking News/Bull'tins/Almanac are all available via the site map—>as well as the usual general or specific ongoing madness and historical inflammation. (Once something's posted here or to any of my other sites, it's up forever.)
    While the front page is chronological, the Statewide News Roundup is categorical, e.g., construction, hospitality, legislation, health care and many others. Breaking News/Bull'tins/Almanac often publishes original U-News as well as links to items at other sites that are not hot enough for the front page chronology. The NevadaLabor.com search engine acts as a short-cut to everything, depending on what you seek. So simply seek and ye shall find.
    As my old friend Wise John the Lake Havasu Cropduster Pilot often says, "when all else fails, read the instructions." So when all else fails, re-read the above, then go to the nearest site map link and/or "search." The NevadaLabor.com search engine is really amazing. It's also union-signatory and thus quite efficient.
    Thanks for your inputs and support over lo, these many years. Keep up the good work and the good fight.
    Esté bien. Haga infierno. / Be well. Raise hell.

—> Andrew the Barbwire Man

Political Animal Crackers & Crackups

      "I think it is dangerous to confuse the idea of democracy with elections. Just because you have elections doesn't mean you are a democracy...I'm still taken aback at the extent of indoctrination and propaganda in the United States. It is as if people there are being reared in a sort of altered reality, like broiler chickens or pigs in a pen."

Indian novelist Arundhati Roy
in the Barbwire of 9-12-2004


      
The American electorate is a dumb cow that follows the herd, is easily stampeded, gets milked for all she's worth and produces offspring for meat, muscle or cannon fodder to benefit the few. When all used up, she is sent to the slaughterhouse so that she may give her overlords the last full measure of devotion, bones for Jello and hide for belts. No stars and stripes for her grave because she doesn't merit one, having been totally consumed by our consumptive system.
Barbwire 9-12-2010

"If elections mattered, they wouldn't let us do it." Travus T. Hipp, 1982

Great Minds Think Alike Dept.
Over-rated New York Times Pulitzer over-achiever Thomas Friedman predicts emergence of a third political party a month after the Barbwire did so for the umpteenth time (He's just one short.)
Paul Krugman: Murdoch as Citizen Kane / GOP candidates paid off by Faux News
New York Times 10-4-2010


Editor's Note: Many of the news links on this site are from Nevada dailies. In late 2006, the Reno Gannett-Journal began nuking much of its archive. If you encounter any broken links, I encourage you to contact them and send me a copy. On the one hand, they want to build their web traffic in order to increase the price of ads. On the other hand, they are killing that very traffic. Far be it from me to reconcile the Dilbert-style motivations of an outfit for which a 38 percent net profit is not enough. If you can explain it, please enlighten me. (Before you e-mail me, please read this bulletinAB) UPDATE: In early 2008, the Las Vegas Sun "upgraded " its website, nuking more than a dozen years of links. If you find an orphaned Sun story, search their site for the title.

 



NevadaLabor.com Site Directory

Navigating the flagship—>Making quick work of NevadaLabor.com

Latest Breaking News & Bulletins + Almanac + Archives 1999-present

2000-2020 U-News Front Page Archives

U-News Statewide Archives 1996-2018

In Search Of...

Right to Work for Less | Nevada Labor History | Sparks Centennial
Building Energy  |
100 Years of Union Apprenticeship

DoctorLawyerWatch.com | Barbwire Oilogopoly Archive|
BallotBoxing.US

War Rooms:
Banks, CabbiesCable TV, Cabela's, Cancer Kids/Mining, Corporate Welfare, Energy, Health Care, ReSurge.TV, Starbucks, Wal-Mart

NEW —> WE DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION
The Neverending Series
The Barbwire Molly Ivins Memorial Columniator Hall of Flames

Un-dissing the Dead—>The campaign against forcibly-paid newspaper obituaries

Labor Links | Nevada Writers | About the Editor | Search | Deciding Factors


Get ahead of corporate-influenced news—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential
The Underbelly of the News—>TOP SECRET, HUSH HUSH!

 



The unmatched and comprehensive online meeting hall
for Nevada workers since 1995



The tale of our gorgeous union-created graphics

In 2002, we were honored to produce the Centennial Book for the 100th anniversary of the founding of northern Nevada Painters and Allied Trades Local 567/AFL-CIO. Working on a short time frame, we cast a nationwide net for appropriate cover art and succeeded beyond our wildest dreams thanks to muralists Kathleen Scarboro and Kathleen Farrell. The above illustration ("Papering the World: Joliet's Wallpaper Industry") appeared on the cover and interior of Local 567's Centennial Book, copies of which have been submitted to Nevada libraries and historical organizations. The mural, painted on a wall in Joliet, Illinois, depicts Painters Union members manufacturing wallpaper the old fashioned way, long about the time of Local 567's founding. Ms. Farrell is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, an affiliate of the International Union of Painters & Allied Trades/AFL-CIO. Ms. Scarboro is a member of the Maison des Artists in Paris, the association which represents artists in France.

Ms. Farrell executes murals, mosaics and figurative sculptures for the labor movement. Her work and that of others may be viewed at the Friends of Community Public Art web site. "We have added new table top size sculptures for sale as well as additions of our life size sculptures," she says. "A number of the sculptures feature union members including the Baseball Player (The Catch) and The Firefighter. I have also finished the rad workers sculpture I mentioned awhile back. I welcome work from unions that would like to buy the existing sculptures or hire me to create awards, tabletop size sculptures and life size sculptures."

Sister Farrell may be contacted at terri@fcpaonline.org; phone (815) 722-4140; fax (815) 722-9007. You may view more of her work and obtain additional contact information at http://fcpaonline.org/artist.asp?a=farrelka

Rotating at the top of this site as well as in pastel form in the background of this page is a mural produced for the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union/AFL-CIO. The others were acrylics on canvas done for the United Food and Commercial Workers and to memorialize the plight of U.S. chicken processing workers (si podemos). Enjoy.

Be well. Raise hell.

Murals/montages copyright © Kathleen Farrell



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