Author Archives: Thorne Dreyer

IVAN KOOP KUPER | NOSTALGIA | The Summer of ’72: A look back after more than 50 years.

Coming of age in Houston, Texas, with The Rolling Stones Photo by John M. Lomax (John Lomax III), first published in underground newspaper Space City!, June 29, 1972, and later in the book Exploring Space City! published by the New Journalism … Continue reading

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JONAH RASKIN | BOOKS | ‘Material Wealth
: Mining the Personal Archive of Allen Ginsberg’

By Jonah Raskin | The Rag Blog | December 27, 2023 [Compiled and annotated by Pat Thomas; PowerHouse Books; 256 pages.] Pat Thomas has written and published colorful books about the Black Panthers — the defiant organization that rocked the … Continue reading

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NORMAN SOLOMON | DEATHS | For media elites, war criminal Henry Kissinger was a great man

Can a war criminal really be a “noted statesman”? By Norman Solomon | The Rag Blog | December 13, 2023 For U.S. mass media, Henry Kissinger’s quip that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” rang true. Influential reporters and pundits often … Continue reading

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LAMAR HANKINS | MIDDLE EAST | Hamas, Israel, and the Palestinians

To criticize Israel’s government and policies is not antisemitic. By Lamar Hankins | The Rag Blog | December 5, 2023 I am reluctant to write about Israel at this politically- and emotionally-charged time because there is little respect for free … Continue reading

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JONAH RASKIN | FILM | The reign of terror waged against the Osage. A review of the movie ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’

By Jonah Raskin | The Rag Blog | November 24, 2023 Jonah Raskin will discuss this article and related issues on Rag Radio, Friday, Nov. 24, 2-3 p.m. (CT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin or streamed at KOOP.org. For the past 600 … Continue reading

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LAMAR HANKINS | DEATH AND DYING | Dying on our own terms in Texas

Texans are unlikely to see a medical assistance in dying law any time soon, but other options are available for those facing an unacceptable, protracted death that lacks the dignity most people seek. By Lamar Hankins | The Rag Blog … Continue reading

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ALICE EMBREE | LATIN AMERICA | The First 9/11: Fiftieth anniversary of the coup in Chile

September 11, 2023, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 military coup in Chile. By Alice Embree | The Rag Blog | September 10, 2023 The Austin Committee for Human Rights in Chile began after the coup.  It is where … Continue reading

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LESLIE CUNNINGHAM | CIVIL RIGHTS | The March on Washington: Now 60 Years Later

Now it’s the 60th anniversary.  Ten years ago (see my article below) I was marking a lot of half century points in my life; the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and momentous events of the months following it … Continue reading

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JIM SIMONS | A PASSING | Greg Olds and the Gang of Six: An Abiding Memory

By Jim Simons | The Rag Blog | August 25, 2023 AUSTIN — A dear friend passed in June at 86. Greg Olds was a quiet, thoughtful person. Even though he was very sick, he assured us he was fine. No … Continue reading

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ALLEN YOUNG | BOOKS | Two new memoirs by gay liberation pioneers, one by a lesbian and one by a gay man.

The experiences of Shelley and D’Emilio differ largely because of their unique backgrounds and life goals. By Allen Young | The Rag Blog | August 16, 2023 Two new books, which I just finished reading, merit a wide-ranging readership, so whether you … Continue reading

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TOM ZIGAL | ART | Carlos Lowry’s portrait gallery for our time

La Peña Presents: Rastros Inolvidables / Unforgettable TracesPaintings by Carlos Lowry, August 13-September 11, 2023 Opening Reception:Sunday, August 13, 2023 from 5 to 7 p.m.Live Music by Trio TiburónLa Peña is located at 237 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701 By … Continue reading

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ALICE EMBREE | VERSE | The brutality of August

The clock was stopped at 11:48 a.m. I took this photo the day they dedicated the memorial. On August 1, many of us remember the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting.  Fifty years later, in 2016, the University of Texas … Continue reading

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