Thorne Webb Dreyer, Editor
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Author Archives: Thorne Dreyer
The Great New Yorker Obama Fist-Bump Cover Controversy of 2008
I think the idea that the Obamas are branded as unpatriotic [let alone as terrorists] in certain sectors is preposterous. It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is. Cover artist … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Art, Artists, Humor, Illustration, Journalism, Media, Michelle Obama, Obama, Obama Smear Campaign, Parody, Presidential Campaign, Satire
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HEALTH CARE : Do Cholesterol Drugs Do Any Good?
Graphic courtesy of Pharma Marketing.Statins: Looking at the statsBy Duncan Echelson / The Rag Blog / July 14, 2008 Statin pharmaceuticals are marketed ferociously on TV ads and by many MD’s. The statins are major money makers for the pharmaceutical … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Health Care, Medical Studies, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Companies, Pharmaceuticals
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LITERATURE : Road Fatigue
The Beat Generation in the rearview mirrorBy A.G. Mojtabai / July 11, 2008 Even from a distance, it was easy to guess that the clerk with the bowed head at BookPeople was reading behind the counter. Face to face, she … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged American History, Austin, Authors, Beat Generation, Books, Exhibitions, Literary Criticism, Literature, UT-Austin, Writers
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The Muppets, Me and Public TV…
Caroll Spinney with Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Photo by Victor Dinapoli.And the power of popular cultureBy Michael Winship / July 13, 2008 Take a moment to forget about politics and the pickle of our worrisome world. A recent … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Alternative Media, Entertainers, Popular Culture, Public Television, Television
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The Death of Reaganomics
Barbara Dane et al / Reaganomics Blues. / Fuse 002Singing the Capitalism BluesBy E.J. Dionne / July 10, 2008 The biggest political story of 2008 is getting little coverage. It involves the collapse of assumptions that have dominated our economic … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Economics, Globalization, McCain, Presidential Campaign, Reaganomics
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POETRY : True Homeland
Wubbzy in the style of Picasso / Frank Rocco. Welcome to the USA Patriarch Actwith its spying and break-insup its sleeve behind your backwith eavesdropping that’s a crackdownwith character attacks and panic attacksOh damn I’m indicted with fictionthough my sentence … Continue reading
U.S. Soldiers No Longer Find Haven in Canada
James Corey Glass, an Army deserter, is appealing an immigration removal order in Canada. Photo by Farah Nosh / Getty Images.Little sympathy for deserters from Conservative governmentBy Ian Austen / July 13, 2008 TORONTO — James Corey Glass, apprentice mortician … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Canada, Deserters, GI's, Iraq Occupation, Iraq War, Sixties, Vietnam
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FILM : John Cusack’s Savage "War, Inc." Playing (and Marketing) To Its Strength
Hilary Duff in John Cusack’s “War Inc.”John Cusack: Bypassing the Corporate MediaBy Joshua Holland / July 12, 2008 Cusack’s anti-war polemic, War, Inc., continues to defy expectations, despite the traditional media’s dismissive reception. It’s not uncommon for a big-budget Hollywood … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Alternative Media, Corporate Media, Film, Filmmakers, Iran War, Iraq Occupation, Marketing, Media, Peace Movement, Satire
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BOOKS : The Dark Side by Jane Meyer
They described not just standing, but being kept up on their tiptoes with their arms extended out and up over their heads, attached by shackles on their wrists and ankles, for what they described as eight hours at a stretch. … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged al-Qaida, Books, Bush Administration, CIA, Criminal Justice, FISA, Guantanamo, Human Rights, National Security Agency, Patriot Act, Red Cross, Torture
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Church Lures Teenagers With Assault Rifle Giveaway
Image courtesy Street Prophets.Baptist pastor cancels AR-15 prize at youth conference after Oklahoma City shootingJuly 12, 2008 An Oklahoma church canceled plans for a gun giveaway Friday at its annual youth conference, a local news station reported. The church’s youth … Continue reading
Native Americans, Environmentalists : Thousands Gather in Washington
Dennis Banks organized the five month march to the White House.‘Longest Walk’ reaches Washingtonby Sally Art / July 11, 2008 WASHINGTON – Thousands of demonstrators are gathering in Washington DC after a five month long journey across America to draw … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Environment, Native Americans, Social Action, Social Change
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Stephen Payne : Hotshot Lobbyist Can Get You Into White House
Lobbyist Stephen Payne shown shooting with VP Dick Cheney. (Careful, dude.) Offered access to Dick Cheney and others in return for donation to Bush library By Daniel Foggo / July 13, 2008 A lobbyist with close ties to the White … Continue reading
