Today is the final edition of the Daily Holidays and my departure from online political discussion boards.

At the suggestion of So Far From Heaven of JPR I am posting this Final Edition of The Daily Holidays. I have enjoyed doing so over the years at DU and more recently at JPR. These posts were an outgrowth of a Print then Facebook Group newsletter that I did for my place of employment in the grocery industry, hence the often food nature of the holidays. That said I have concluded very recently to reduce my online screen time particularly with all things political, not that one can ever really get away from it, but there is much more to life and frankly life it too short. I may lurk from time to time on the boards in the very early morning, but I do not see a time in the future that I will be posting. Times change, people change, the world goes on and will do so very well.

My Best To All!

Common Courtesy Day It’s quite simple really, whatever your concept of common courtesy is, use Common Courtesy Day to embody it. Take extra pains to be aware of how you treat those around you, and even those who may come long after you’ve departed. After all, it’s unlikely that the next person to use the restroom is going to be standing next to you at the moment that the toilet paper runs out. The person who’s running a little late may not have time to brew a new pot of coffee in the breakroom, and that little bit of comfort may be the thing that makes a bad day a good one. Common Courtesy Day is your opportunity to start being the change in the world you wish to see. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/common-courtesy-day/

PLANO, Texas – (Feb. 24, 2017) – J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today announced it is implementing a plan to optimize its national retail operations as part of the Company’s successful return to profitability. Under the plan, the Company expects to close two distribution facilities and approximately 130 - 140 stores over the next few months. These strategic decisions will help align the Company’s brick-and-mortar presence with its omnichannel network, thereby redirecting capital resources to invest in locations and initiatives that offer the greatest revenue potential.

“In 2016, we achieved our $1 billion EBITDA target and delivered a net profit for the first time since 2010; however, we believe we must take aggressive action to better align our retail operations for sustainable growth. During the year, it became evident the stores that could fully execute the Company’s growth initiatives of beauty, home refresh and special sizes generated significantly higher sales, and a more vibrant in-store shopping environment,” said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer of JCPenney. “We believe the relevance of our brick and mortar portfolio will be driven by the implementation of these initiatives consistently to a larger percent of our stores. Therefore, our decision to close stores will allow us to raise the overall brand standard of the Company and allocate capital more efficiently.”

“We understand that closing stores will impact the lives of many hard working associates, which is why we have decided to initiate a voluntary early retirement program for approximately 6,000 eligible associates. By coordinating the timing of these two events, we can expect to see a net increase in hiring as the number of full-time associates expected to take advantage of the early retirement incentive will far exceed the number of full-time positions affected by the store closures,” added Ellison.

http://www.jcpnewsroom.com/news-releases/2017/0224_announces_plan_to_optimize_retail_operations.html

World Sleep Day is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. It is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-sleep-day/

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by those of Irish descent and increasingly by people of other ethnicities as well, notably in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and North America. Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the colour green. Both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink and attending parades, which have a particularly long history in the United States and in Canada. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/saint-patricks-day/


http://www.famousbirthdays.com/march17.html

Teamsters Joint Council 13 released the following statement on Facebook tonight:

“Schnucks Markets and Teamsters Local 688 have negotiated a settlement. The boycott is now over, and all members are encouraged to shop at Schnucks again. Thanks to all who supported this boycott. Your help in this effort is greatly appreciated.”

– Mike Goebel, Teamsters Local 688 executive secretary-treasurer

We’ll have more information on this development in our March 23 print edition.

http://labortribune.com/teamsters-local-688-reaches-agreement-with-schnucks/

Teamsters Joint Council 13 released the following statement on Facebook tonight:

“Schnucks Markets and Teamsters Local 688 have negotiated a settlement. The boycott is now over, and all members are encouraged to shop at Schnucks again. Thanks to all who supported this boycott. Your help in this effort is greatly appreciated.”

– Mike Goebel, Teamsters Local 688 executive secretary-treasurer

We’ll have more information on this development in our March 23 print edition.

http://labortribune.com/teamsters-local-688-reaches-agreement-with-schnucks/

Freedom of Information Day On March 16th 1751, in a nation that was heading towards a rebellion that would change the world forever, James Madison Jr. was born in Port Conway, Virginia. He was raised on a tobacco plantation with his 11 younger brothers and sisters, and inherited the plantation upon his fathers death. Showing the sort of fearless ambition and political savvy that would serve him well in the years to come, he then grew that plantation to 5000 acres, becoming the largest landowner in Orange County, Virginia, and one of the most important citizens of the area. He would later come to be known as “Father of the Constitution” for drafting the United States Constitution and the United States Bill of Rights, and was the loudest voice of the time for ensuring that the government of the newly formed nation held no secrets from the people it served. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/freedom-of-information-day/

Lips Appreciation Day Who doesn’t love lips, right? Take a moment to appreciate the tactile and speech facilities given to you through the use of your lips for Lips Appreciation Day! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lips-appreciation-day/

No Selfies Day There’s an epidemic in the world today, a growing plague of epic proportions that effects every piece of social media out there. New devices have been made to help accelerate its growth, and we can see its effects every time we access social media. The plague is selfies, and they are by far the worst thing to come out of the accessibility of self-photography. Thankfully, there’s a day dedicated to breaking free of this terrible addiction, and it’s No-Selfies Day. For one day, you can finally stop participating in this narcissistic and, as it turns out, psychologically damaging behavior. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-selfies-day/

Panda Day Pandas are big fluffy balls of fan wearing a tuxedo! Everyone knows what a panda looks like, and no one hates them. (You, in the back, the panda hater, you’re invited to leave planet Earth at any time) These cuddly little tumblers are especially known for their prodigious appetites that give them the ability to consume massive amounts of bamboo. Panda Day is dedicated to spreading awareness about this majestic teddy-bears of nature, spreading the word that deforestation is leading to the destruction of their habitats, and has placed them on the endangered animal list. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/panda-day/



http://www.famousbirthdays.com/march16.html

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The owner of a Kansas City, Missouri, scrap metal business that operated largely on a cash basis has admitted in federal court that he evaded more than $350,000 in federal income taxes.

Thirty-one-year-old Joseph Lee Scott Deardorff of Kansas City pleaded guilty Tuesday. He also admitted that he hid assets from the Internal Revenue Service.

Prosecutors say that as owner and operator of Total Recovery and Recycling LLC, Deardorff earned $194,067 in taxable income in 2011 and owed $65,067 in federal income tax that year. The total tax loss, including relevant conduct during tax years 2007 through 2012, is $355,310.


Deardorff admitted he tried to hide the nature and extent of his assets from the Internal Revenue Service.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri-scrap-metal-businessman-admits-tax-evasion/article_c076dbbe-09bf-5a1d-9c4a-29de7679662e.html

In the span of a month, two local hospitals have stopped negotiating with Service Employees International Union Local 1107.

The decisions, which the union’s president has vowed to fight, have left close to 1,000 registered nurses without organized representation.

Desert Springs Hospital withdrew its recognition of the union Sunday, hospital spokeswoman Gretchen Papez confirmed Monday. A majority of the hospital’s unionized registered nurses have signed cards stating they no longer wished to be represented by SEIU, according to a memo obtained by the Review-Journal.

“We have notified the union that all future RN bargaining sessions are cancelled,” the memo states. “Also, all union access rights to the Hospital under the expired RN collective bargaining agreement are terminated.”

http://www.reviewjournal.com/local/las-vegas/second-las-vegas-hospital-severs-ties-union

Controversial Iowa Rep. Steve King is once again in hot water for espousing racist, white nationalist views, tweeting that "we can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies." He doubled down on his bigoted words over the weekend, telling CNN that "I meant exactly what I said."

King’s latest racist remarks drew praise from Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, who tweeted "GOD BLESS STEVE KING," and sharp rebukes from just about everyone else, including fellow Republicans in Congress and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, just to name a few.

While this story is making headlines, there’s been scant attention paid to how King’s policy agenda reflects his white nationalist views. King is the author of the federal bill that would impose a right to work scheme nationally, which would be devastating to our country’s economy and would hit workers, especially people of color, square in the pocketbook.

Backed by an array of wealthy corporations and secret deep-pocketed donors, these laws have proliferated in Republican-controlled states across the country, leading to lower wages and fewer benefits for not just union workers, but all workers in those states. People of color—particularly women of color—are hit hardest by these laws, which fuel income inequality and put their American Dream further out of reach. According to the Economic Policy Institute, wages in right to work states are 3.2% lower than in non-right to work states. Health insurance and retirement security are scarcer.

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Rep.-Steve-King-and-the-Racist-Origins-of-Right-to-Work

Uber is pushing anti-union podcasts to Seattle drivers as the ride-hailing app fends off a bid from labor organizers, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Text messages, phone surveys, meeting invites and unusually high pay rates are among the latest tactics by Uber to convince drivers that they're better off without organized labor representation, according to the newspaper.

One driver said Uber offered a $35 hourly rate (about double the usual pay) to keep him on the road at the time that a union organizing meeting was scheduled in the city.

San Francisco-based Uber has sued to block a Seattle law that gives collective bargaining rights to drivers for Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies. The fight ahead of a union vote could serve as a model for organizers and businesses that use independent contractors nationwide.

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/03/13/uber-seattle-anti-union-podcasts-texts-and-drivers.html