Category Archives: RagBlog

BOOKS / Eric Boehlert’s ‘Bloggers on the Bus’

It’s a very fast, entertaining read, and since it focuses (almost) exclusively on the liberal blogosphere it mostly avoids the sense of triumphalism you might get in a more partisan book. By Kevin Drum If you’re interested in the political … Continue reading

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UT Medical Branch Researcher on Take from Pharma?

Republican U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley challenges researcher’s connections to Pharma. Photo from RFE/RL.HHS probes researcher’s ties to drugmakers [Sen.] Grassley claims that [Karen] Wagner got more than $160,000 from GlaxoSmithKline over five years, and she only reported $600 to the … Continue reading

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Need for Palestinian State Remains the Key Issue in the Middle East

The Palestinian symbol of the right of return. Many Palestinians still have the keys to their former homes in lands from which they were expelled.The Problem is StatelessnessBy Juan Cole / May 11, 2009 King Abdullah II of Jordan revealed … Continue reading

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Foodie Sunday: Open Season on Alice Waters

Alice Waters. Photograph by Jamie Rose/The New York Times/Redux.The War on Alice WatersBy Laura Shapiro / May 6, 2009 She made sustainable agriculture a rallying cry, but now the activist chef is under attack from food lovers. “It…radically overstates Alice … Continue reading

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When It Comes to Combating Teen Pregnancy, the Palin Family Has Done Enough Damage Already

Bristol Palin attends the Candie’s Foundation town hall meeting on teen pregnancy prevention at TheTimesCenter on May 6, 2009 in New York City. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images.Bristol Palin’s New GigBy Gail Collins / May 6, 2009 “Just because you’re wearing … Continue reading

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Austin’s Whole Foods : Union Busting in Hippie Clothing?

Whole Foods Market’s flagship store and corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.Something Stinks at Whole Foods …something sinister lurks beneath the surface of Whole Foods’ progressive image. Somehow, [founder and CEO John] Mackey has managed to achieve multimillionaire status while his … Continue reading

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ToFlu: The Next (Tongue-in-Cheek) Pandemic

Bird Flu, Swine Flu, ToFLU? Is a worldwide pandemic affecting only vegetarians next? Actors: Andrea Chalupa, Matt Pearson, Katrina Cacal, Rakesh Baruah. Written/Directed by Rakesh Baruah. Produced by Modern Jackass Productions. Thanks to Diane Stirling-Stevens / The Rag Blog

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America’s Strategic and National Security Interests: Not Much Good for the Rest of the World

Secretary Doomsday and the Empathy Gap: The Everyday Extremism of WashingtonBy Tom Engelhardt / May 7, 2009 A front-page New York Times headline last week put the matter politely indeed: “In Pakistan, U.S. Courts Leader of Opposition.” And nobody thought … Continue reading

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The Ongoing, All-American Katrina Debacle

Earnest Hammond, 70, with cans he collects to pay for repairs to his hurricane-damaged home. Photo: Lee Celano for The New York Times.Leaving the Trailers: Ready or Not, Katrina Victims Lose Temporary HousingBy Shaila Dewan / May 7, 2009 NEW … Continue reading

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Houston : Rape Victims Dunned for Hospital Costs

Rape victim. Photo from The Sun, U.K. The price of justice? Sounds more like the cost of doing bidness. Since when does one get billed for being a victim of a violent crime? Harry Edwards / The Rag Blog May … Continue reading

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Fidel: ‘Cuba Has Been the Victim of Terrorism for Many Years’

Reflections by Comrade Fidel – Cuba: A Terrorist Country?By Fidel Castro Ruz / May 2, 2009 “Cuba has been the victim of terrorism for many years and it has a completely clean record in this matter. Cuban territory has never … Continue reading

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Schwarzenegger : Let’s Talk About Legalizing Pot

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California says it’s time to talk about legalizing pot. Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images. ‘This is only going to increase the governor’s popularity,’ Aaron Smith of the Marijuana Policy Project said. ‘We … Continue reading

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