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Category Archives: RagBlog
2010 : ‘Year of the Bible?’
President Barack Obama swears in on the Lincoln Bible. Photo from Getty Images.The Bible bill? Rep. Broun’s simple congressional resolution aimed at honoring the Good Book has produced a push-back of biblical proportion in the blogosphere, with critics dismissing it … Continue reading
FCC Warrantless Searches : Coming to a Home Near You?
FCC’s Warrantless Household Searches Alarm Experts ‘Anything using RF energy — we have the right to inspect it to make sure it is not causing interference,’ says FCC spokesman David Fiske. That includes devices like Wi-Fi routers that use unlicensed … Continue reading
Vince Bell : The Life and Times of a Texas Songwriter
This is a fine book about Texas music, the singer-songwriter tradition, and a personal journey that ends triumphant in the here and now. By Joe Nick Patoski See ‘From Euphoria to Tragedy and Back’ by Michael Corcoran and ‘The Making … Continue reading
Manhattan and a Mouse: Variations on a Single Structural Theme
Math and the CityBy Steven Strogatz / May 20, 2009 One of the pleasures of looking at the world through mathematical eyes is that you can see certain patterns that would otherwise be hidden. This article is about one such … Continue reading
Texas: Doing What’s Right to Protect Its Citizens
The Texas-U.S. border wall will protect Texans from foreigners who do not share their beliefs and customs.Texas Constructs U.S. Border Wall To Keep Out Unwanted AmericansMay 19, 2009 WICHITA FALLS, TX—Calling it an essential step toward securing the Texas border … Continue reading
Consumerism: Leading the Life of the Peacock
Graphic: Viktor Koen.Message in What We Buy, but Nobody’s ListeningBy John Tierney / May 18, 2009 Why does a diploma from Harvard cost $100,000 more than a similar piece of paper from City College? Why might a BMW cost $25,000 … Continue reading
Noam Chomsky : The Torture Memos and Historical Amnesia
Photo from Foreign Policy.The torture memos and historical amnesia Unexceptional Americans: Why we can’t see the trees or the forest By Noam Chomsky / May 19, 2009 The torture memos released by the White House elicited shock, indignation, and surprise. … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged American History, Human Rights, Obama Foreign Policy, Terrorism, Torture, War Crimes
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What’s in a Name? ‘César Chávez Blvd’ and Dallas’ Own Border Fence
Supporters of renaming a Dallas street for César Chávez crowd a City Planning Commission meeting at Dallas City Hall.Dallas: Latino Heroes Need Not Apply right-wing, anti-immigrant forces… dig in their heels and draw their own border fence to block Latino … Continue reading
Democracy in Israel with No Freedom of the Press?
©Khalil BendibStop The Press! This is What Israeli Democracy Looks LikeBy Nima Shirazi / The Rag Blog / May 18, 2009 Telling the truth can be dangerous business.Honest and popular don’t go hand in hand.– Lyle Rogers and Chuck “The … Continue reading
Peruvian Rainforest : Tribes Blockade Roads and Rivers, Government Troops Move in
Huge parts of Peru’s rainforest are threatened by government deals with several multinationals. Photo by / Paul A Souders / Corbis. Ecology and culture at stake say environmentalists, as government plans to exploit rainforest for oil, gas and timber. By … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Amazon, Direct Action, Environment, Indigenous People, Latin America, Peru, Social Action
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Singin’ on Sunday – Madeleine Peyroux
Madeleine Peyroux – Bare Bones The third album in four years from song interpreter extraordinaire Madeleine Peyroux, Bare Bones is both an extension of the currents of 2004’s Careless Love and 2006’s Half the Perfect World and a bold step … Continue reading
