This Week's Post

Staging - Why or Why Not?

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Staging is a layered, complex, and interesting word.   “ Staging is the fine art of pretending your lived environment has always resembled an IKEA showroom. Sociologists call this ‘false consciousness’; Realtors call it ‘value added.’” “Every home showing is just Hamlet without the swords: you stand in someone else’s kitchen, whispering, ‘To buy, or not to buy?’ while the throw rug takes center stage.” “ Staging : the process of arranging items in a manner designed to suggest functionality, but not actual human occupation. See also: government flowcharts.” ---  witticisms generated by ChatGPT, 9/4/2025 That's AI's wit. The dictionary definition includes the method of presenting a play, a temporary platform, a phase in a progressive disease, and the arrangement of sequential components of a rocket. But in North America, it includes setting up a house for sale with art and furnishings so as to increase the appeal. A.I. now allows one to stage and unstage. A potential buyer ...
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Why is American Labor Day not May 1st like almost everyone else?

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Most of the world celebrates labor day on May 1st. Ironically, the U.S. doesn't even though the impetus for the day originated in Chicago. Why is this the case and why does Canada follow suit?

“This is a day of dedication. It is a day on which America salutes her workers, not with the blare of guns, but with the recognition of honest toil.” -- Woodrow Wilson (1916, Labor Day address in Buffalo, NY)

After the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886, May 1st became associated with the international labor movement. The map shows the countries that observe it on May 1st. 

Labor Day Map of Countries
World map highlighting countries that observe May 1st Labor Day. 
Generated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT (DALL·E), August 29, 2025.

Notice Canada and the U.S. stand out: they sidestepped May 1st as an official holiday to avoid the socialist/communist associations with the day. Ask A.I or start here for more information. 

As you enjoy the end of the northern hemisphere summer or the southern hemisphere winter, empathize with American and Canadian workers as they observe this day of organized labor. 

Why Should You Care

US Law at 5 USC Ch 71 states that labor organizations and collective bargaining in the civil service are in the public interest. But unfortunately, many federal government employees have recently been prohibited from creating or joining unions. See the Executive Orders of March 27, 2025 and August 28, 2025 which carve out an exception for many departments. Keep those employees in your thoughts and prayers.

Disclaimer: the views expressed in this post are solely my own, published under my first amendment rights, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government or any of its current or former federal agencies. 


What do others say? "Galeeb Kachra truly is one of a kind. A unique combination of optimism, can-do determination and relentless energy, he has the wiliness and moral integrity required to shake up sclerotic systems and sweep away logjams." (Michela Wrong, 2021)

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