N.J. Professor Suspended Over "Threatening" Game Of Thrones T-Shirt Photo

Francis Schmidt, a professor at a community college in Bergen, New Jersey, was recently suspended soon after he posted a photo on Google+ that some (including a dean at the college) felt was a "veiled threat."  The art and animation professor posted a pic of his young daughter in a t-shirt with the tagline from the TV show Game of Thrones:

"I will take what is mine with fire and blood."

Why would people find anything threatening about the post? Apparently Schmidt had been denied a sabbatical and had filed a grievance with his union. The union itself is also having trouble with the administration regarding tenure and promotions.

After the post on Google+, Schmidt was immediately called in to meet with administrators.

At the meeting, Schmidt explained the shirt in the context of Game of Thrones and showed Miller that the "fire and blood" tagline has 4 million results on Google. The professor asked why his photo had caused such a reaction, and was told that "fire" could be a metaphor for "AK-47s."

Schmidt was placed on administrative leave without pay later that week, and told he would have to pass a psychiatric evaluation before he could return. He says he passed that same evaluation in 2007 after being diagnosed with depression.

Sounds pretty crazy to suspend someone for a photo of his child in a Game of Throne t-shirt?  Right? But Bergen Community College admin issued this statement:

"The referenced incident refers to a private personnel matter at Bergen Community College. Since January 1, 2014, 34 incidents of school shootings have occurred in the United States. In following its safety and security procedures, the college investigates all situations where a member of its community – students, faculty, staff or local residents – expresses a safety or security concern."

Almost every mass shooting incident has been the result of some mentally ill individual going off the deep end, and yes depression is a mental illness. Are people with depression dangerous, the majority are not, but some are. Was the college justified in suspending him out of fear?  Suspension certainly wouldn't prevent Schmidt from going postal, if that's what they feared. But they are obviously operating on a 'better safe than sorry' mode.

I'm not sure what I think.

Source: Gawker

More Non-Union Crews Told "Pay Dues" Or Don't Help With Sandy Cleanup

More union thuggery at the expense of those devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

Six volunteers with an utility crew from Alabama that showed up to help in Seaside Heights, New jersey, were told to join the union or go away. So they did. Now we are hearing similar stories.

A Georgia Power utility company was also turned away because the guys that drove up to New York to help out refused to sign International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers  union (IBEW) papers.

“They worked in Maryland, and they went up to New York, and when they got up there it was, ‘out come the union papers.’”

“And our guys were like, ‘Hey, we’re not joining nothing. We came up to help, but if you don’t want it, that’s fine.’ So they turned around and drove all the way back here to Georgia.”

The same thing happened in Long Island with Florida non-union utility workers. Because of union demands, there were delays, and in some case crews stayed home.

This is why it's taking so long to get electricity back to the residents of certain areas in New Jersey and New York.  Unacceptable and shameful, especially since the northeast is short of workers to speedily get things back on track.  The last thing you demand of someone that is willing to help you clean up is to join a union.

AL Utility Crew Told To Join Union In Hurricane Sandy Cleanup

Hurricane Sandy has caused mega damage in the north east. As is customary, utility companies from other regions will send their people to aid  areas that have been hard hit by natural disasters. I've seen those caravans of utility trucks from different states heading off to help others.  It's a good thing. So after the wrath of Sandy left New Jersey and New York a mess, six men from Decatur Utilities in Alabama headed on up to Seaside Heights, New Jersey to volunteer to help.  When they arrived, they were met with union goons who told them to either sign up or get out.  Yes, six men willing to help were turned away because they were non-union and had no intention of joining. And why should they?  I'm a union gal, a proud member of all my acting unions, but what they did was shameful. Turning away help is unconscionable.

The general manager of Decatur Utilities, Ray Hardin told Fox Business they were presented documents from the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers at a staging area in Virginia. The documents stated they had to affiliate with a union to work, which the crews could not agree to.

Hardin said the crews were told this was a requirement to work.

As they waited for confirmation on the documents, crews received word that Seaside Heights had received the assistance they needed from other sources.
They attempted to look for work in other areas but because a resolution could not be reached, they made the decision late Thursday night to return home.
Moore said they're frustrated being told "thanks, but no thanks."

Huntsville Utilities said they were not turned away and are up in storm ravaged areas working.

Joe Wheeler EMC said they did not respond to New Jersey, but did go up to Maryland and headed home once they were done.