the mellow tigger's musings

Back in July, I mentioned the report of a 15-mile stretch of green goo in the Arctic ocean near Alaska.  I went searching today for any reports on what that stuff really was.

Basically, it was rotting compost that turned all oily and icky on the surface of the water.  A phytoplankton researcher with the University of Alaska has two theories on the origin of such a large mass of seaweed:

• A severe storm and heavy seas in the area brought up seaweed from the bottom, and it is now decomposing on the surface.
• The seasonal ice melt created an infusion of fresh water into the salt water, resulting in reduced oxygen and plant life rising to the surface.

I'm still not having any luck, though, finding recent news on that (potential) volcano in the Pacific ocean near Oregon state.

The Cracker Barrel corporate website currently has a news release published in regards to the recent beating of a black woman at the front door to one of their restaurants.

September 18, 2009 -- Cracker Barrel believes that what happened on September 9th is reprehensible. It could have happened anywhere and we are dismayed that it happened in the entrance of our building.

Some of us, though, remember the name Cracker Barrel from years past. Another news release of theirs from 1991 provided the kind of language that is welcomed by bigots.

It is inconsistent with our concept and values... to continue to employ individuals in our operating units whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values which have been the foundation of families in our society.

When a company issues statements like that to justify their firing of gay and lesbian employees, observers shouldn't be at all surprised when their customers exhibit violent racist behavior like this.

A public pressure campaign and stockholder votes over 10 years (finally winning 58% shareholder support) eventually moved the company to establish official language of non-discrimination. It appears now, though, that little change occurred in their business relationship with their customers. One reporter questioned in the 2003 February 04 issue of The Advocate how quickly a corporation can change its culture.

While most activists rejoiced at CBRL's announcement, others wondered whether this tiger could really change its stripes so quickly. They point to the company's 2002 annual report, which refers to several lawsuits, including two class actions, one by employees who claim they were required to work without compensation and another by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), alleging that the company has engaged in a "systematic pattern of racial discrimination in employment opportunities." In August 2002, the annual report notes, the Department of Justice launched its own investigation into allegations of racial discrimination at Cracker Barrel. "This [kind of discrimination] has been going on for so long," Summerville says. "I can't see that changing overnight."

Davis says both suits are without merit and adds that a judge denied the NAACP suit class action status in October. She also says the company is cooperating with the federal investigation.

It could have happened anywhere, sure.  But it didn't.  It happened at Cracker Barrel.