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Perhaps while we're at it we should thank the slave traders who brought our ancestors over, the inquisitors who inspired secular politics, and the dictators who started the wars that stimulated our economy. Focusing on just the unions, should we also thank them for crippling police departments in the 20s and 30s while the Mob ran rampant?

Yeah, the unions did some good things a handful of times over the past century, but they've also raised the cost of doing business substantially. They've driven companies out of business by requiring unnecessary employment and benefits, and thanks to their effective monopoly on labor across industries, they can cut off supplies to companies that don't bow to their rule. With exclusive contracts with both employers and members, the union's influence infects workers and markets. Small companies can't afford to start, and big companies can't even hire non-union workers. Let's all take a moment to thank the unions for pushing jobs overseas.

Another Slashdotter recently commented that the best union is the one that you're threatening to form. It should apply a slight pressure to a company to improve worker relations, but it shouldn't have the legal ability to cripple a business. Sadly, today's unions have no interest in actually improving working conditions, but rather they seek mainly to improve the union's own power and bargaining position. Concessions are minimal, contract terms are long, and bureaucracy piles higher.

Don't like what the almighty union has contracted? Too bad; you're stuck. You can't negotiate your own employment, because as far as the union's concerned, you are not a human being. You are a product to be sold. Let's all thank our masters for the privilege of taking the bullshit they feed us.

In a timely coincidence, the film Flash of Genius is opening today. It tells the story of how Ford stole the invention of the intermittent windshield wiper from Dr. Robert Kearns, and how Kearns fought back (at considerable personal expense).

We also know that RCA and David Sarnoff stole the basic invention of television from Philo Farnsworth. It took more than 10 years for Farnsworth to win the right to royalties for his invention. Aaron Sorkin wrote a play, "The Farnsworth Invention", based on this story.

The character breakdowns provide some insight to plot points as the character Arachne ("female, 20-35 years old, any ethnicity") is described as "a beautiful, boastful young woman turned into a spider for her hubris and lack of respect for the gods. She subsequently appears to Peter Parker and the audience as in turn a powerful spider-woman who comes from another time to inspire Peter; an otherworldly lover; a bride; a terrifying (and sexy) dark goddess of vengeance; a dance partner in a charged and violent spiders dance of death; and, finally, a lonely, fragile young woman." Casting is seeking a "strong Celtic, Balkan style, e.g., Sinead O'Connor," noting, "outside the box ideas are welcomed. Could be someone from the music industry."

Also, a "Geek Chorus" consisting of "three teenage boys and one girl" are described to "meet to ritualistically retell the greatest Spider-Man stories."

No. Daniel Radcliffe with his shirt off is fantasy.

Lestat is preparing to open on Broadway. I'm seriously considering a whirlwhind trip to see it. If Elton can do Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt... why not let someone do something with The Princess Bride? Personally, I hated the movie. :P

Jho

Road House is the ultimate Patrick Swayze movie, and now we even have an off-Broadway version starring Taimak from The Last Dragon (in a blond wig).