As for the socialists themselves, they're "cautiously optimistic" about organizing, as one person put it. Unlike my home town, where the bottom's dropped out of the far left and everyone's spending more time downloading movies than organizing... I mean, particular people who are doing that as part of blog research... unlike there, the activists I met were building branches, rank-and-file union movements, and serious joint work with other far-left groups from different traditions. To hear this from the belly of the beast, so to speak, is refreshing.

The socialists talk without the halting self-consciousness of Canadians, about whatever political idea is on their minds. They do it in a huge range of delightful accents, ranging from New York twang to Southern drawl.

A word on the radiant Heather Rogers, who gave a detailed talk on the political economy of waste disposal, and how recycling is a corporate strategy to avoid legislation forcing businesses to change their packaging. I don't often mention my insta-crushes, but intelligent and attractive leftists are always a pleasure.