Thorne Webb Dreyer, Editor
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Author Archives: Thorne Dreyer
Obama and The Onion : Reflections on the Uses of Satire
‘Cooter Obama’ chases pig on Capitol lawn. Photo from controversial satirical article in The Onion. Photo © Copyright 2008, Onion, Inc. I recently chuckled at a satirical piece I found at The Onion’s website and reposted it here on The … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Austin, Cultural Stereotypes, Humor, Obama, Political Correctness, Racism, Satire, Texas, The Onion
5 Comments
Net Neutrality: Why You Should Give a Damn
Photo by Sean Nel.‘Too much creative control is in the hands of too few people who aren’t creative’By Michael Janover / August 16, 2008 OK, I’m old. I was around when Channel 2 went on the air in Denver in … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Censorship, Digital Media, Freedom of Press, Internet, Net Neutrality, Telecoms
1 Comment
Tom Hayden on Obama : Transformational President or Another Disappointment?
Screen print from Ray Noland’s (CRO) traveling Obama art show entitled Go Tell Mama!.‘Whether he wins or loses, the vast movement inspired by Obama will become the next generation of American social activists’By Tom Hayden Barack Obama, it is true, … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Obama, Presidential Campaign, Social Movements, Student Activism, Tom Hayden
1 Comment
Austin Police : Fear-Mongering About the Homeless
Mr. George, 6th & Congress, Austin, September 2007. Photo by Brian K. George.‘Police Chief Art Acevedo spoke about the homeless, panhandlers and drug users being the cause of the ills of our society’By Debbie Russell / The Rag Blog / … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Austin, Austin Police, Homeless, Homeless Vets, Texas, Veterans
3 Comments
Alan Pogue and Steve Russell : Somalia and Big Oil
Oil exploration in Somalia. Chevron photo. ‘The point is that the oil is there and the U.S. energy companies, among others, want it.’ A Ragblogger dialogue with Alan Pogue and Steve Russell. ‘What would Obama do? Hillary? It was her … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Bush Administration, Genocide, History, Imperialism, Oil Companies, Oil Exploration, Somalia
1 Comment
Tom Hayden : Same Social Expectations Amid a Very Different War
‘The similarities between the movements for RFK and Barack Obama (the fervor and the interracial character) have been often noted. If anything, the Obama constituency is larger because of the mobilization of so many more young people’By Tom Hayden / … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Cold War, Iraq War, Obama, Peace Movement, Robert Kennedy, SDS, Sixties, Social Change, Tom Hayden, Vietnam
2 Comments
Jerry Wexler: Invented Rhythm & Blues, Boosted Austin Artists Like Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm
Jerry Wexler with Willie Nelon in the late 1970s.Aretha Franklin producer, Atlantic Records co-chief and music business pioneer dies at age 91By Ashley Kahn / August 15, 2008 See ‘Wexler worked with Austin musicians like Willie Nelson…’ below. Jerry Wexler, … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Austin, Deaths, Entertainers, Jerry Wexler, Music, Music Producers, Musicians, People, Rhythm and Blues, Rock 'n Roll, Texas
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Houston : Few Cops Disciplined for Taser Abuse
Houston cop with Taser drawn. Photo by Dylan / Houston Independent Media.No wrongdoing found in 1,700 incidents where HPD officers intentionally fired a TaserBy Roma Khanna / August 17, 2008 The Houston Police Department has found no wrongdoing in some … Continue reading
Charges Likely Against Blackwater Guards in Shooting of Iraqi Citizens
An Iraqi policeman inspects a car that was destroyed when Blackwater security guards opened fire in Baghdad, killing 17 civilians. Photo by Khalid Mohammed / AP.‘An Iraqi government investigation concluded that the security contractors fired without provocation’By Del Quentin Wilber … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Blackwater, Criminal Justice, Defense Contractors, Iraq Occupation, Iraq War, Justice Department
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Texas Ethics Commission : Proposal to Regulate Blogs
‘Regulating Texas blogs would be regulation with out representation. Regulation that doesn’t protect the rights of citizens is not good government’ By Vince Liebowitz / August 15, 2008 The statement below is issued in response to a document that has … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Austin, Blogosphere, Internet, Political Blogging, Texas, Texas Blogs, Texas Ethics Commission, Texas Legislature
1 Comment
Big, Bland John : Republican Senator from Texas Can Be Beaten
The Hon. John Cornyn of Texas. Illustration courtest of the Texas Observer.How a dull exterior masks one of the most conservative records in the U.S. SenateBy Dave Mann Democratic strategists in Texas have been telling anyone who will listen for … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Congress, Corn Dog, John Cornyn, Rick Noriega, Texas, U.S. Senate
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