Everyone loves a good comeback story!

Happening in the World: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France has held its first public mass since its devastation in the 2019 fire. The cathedral was officially reopened on Saturday evening with French President Macron greeting foreign dignitaries, but this was the first return of the public. The soaring stone arches have been cleaned of dust and grime and 2,500 visitors packed into newly carved oak chairs to stare up at its new shine. (NY Times)

Happening in the US: The original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz have just sold at a live auction for $28 million, the largest sum spent at an auction for a piece of entertainment memorabilia. The Judy Garland Museum had been raising money to win back the slippers at auction after they were stolen from their possession in 2005, but they realized quickly that they would not be able to win. Large portions of “We’re Off to See the Wizard” features Judy Garland skipping in the red shoes. (NY Times)

Happening in NYC: Workers went on strike at New York City’s iconic Strand Books this Saturday to demand higher wages. The 110 unionized workers demanded a raise to the base pay—from the minimum wage of 16 dollars per hour to 18 dollars per hour in the first year of the contract. They also asked for a $1.50 per hour raise in each of the second and third years of the contract. The management has countered with an offer for 50-cent less for each year. (The Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: Join Columbia Law School on Monday, December 9 for Marx 5/13 and a discussion with philosopher Jules Joanne Gleeson of Marx’s The German Ideology, Monique Wittig’s The Category of Sex, and Transgender Marxism at the Annex at Columbia Law School, 410 W. 117th St., New York, NY 10027, starting at 6 pm NYC time. The seminar will be live-streamed through their YouTube channel. Click here for more information.

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