Category Archives: RagBlog

Nelson Mandela’s group of “Elders” — including six former winners of the Nobel Peace Prize — condemned Israel’s attack on the Gaza aid flotilla as “completely inexcusable” and called the three-year blockade of Gaza “one of the world’s greatest human … Continue reading →

This new Michael Caine vigilante revenge vehicle “thrills and titillates without any socially redeeming value.” And it does it with hints of “Reefer Madness.” But the film echoes recent events in the news — in Kingston, Jamaica, where police have … Continue reading →

What is Harry Brown trying to tell us? By Ed Felien / The Rag Blog / May 30, 2010 It was 95 degrees and I thought I’d take the afternoon off and slip into an air-conditioned theater and watch Michael … Continue reading →

Obesity And Osteoarthritis: Is There A Connection? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects nearly 27 million residents of the United States, making it the most common form of arthritis [1]. Joint pain is the foremost symptom of osteoarthritis … Continue reading →

John Ross reports form the Purepecha Indian village of Santa Cruz Tanaco in the Mexican state of Michoacan — about changes in the nature of agriculture in Mexico. He tells us about migration fueled by the 1994 North American Free … Continue reading →

Sherman DeBrosse provides us with a revealing history of Afghanistan and the role of the drug trade, and informs us that “The U.S. used the international heroin network to serve its geopolitical aims in Afghanistan and elsewhere.” We learn of … Continue reading →

By Dick J. Reavis / The Rag Blog / May 25, 2010 The current issue of Texas Monthly, a “special edition” whose theme is “Where I’m From” is worth some reading, some scrutiny, and some thought. Though the funerary photo … Continue reading →

Renowned photojournalist Alan Pogue will be inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame on June 7. Pogue was staff photographer for Austin’s underground newspaper The Rag from 1971-1977, and has been a frequent contributor to The Rag Blog. His … Continue reading →

Burn Down The Banks? By Jonah Raskin Yes, I know the title of this piece is inflammatory. But these are inflammatory times and inflammatory times call for inflammatory words — and deeds. This past year, citizens all around the country … Continue reading →