Category Archives: RagBlog

Nice is Not Enough : Obama and the Israeli Political Mess

Is Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman (with lifted glass) even embarassing his boss, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu? Photo from acus.org.Obama vs. Netanyahu and Lieberman Obama, as shrewd a gentleman as he is supposed to be, is in no way … Continue reading

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Austin Metro Policies Are Creating Fewer Riders and More Pollution

Capital Metro and the EnvironmentBy Glenn Gaven / The Rag Blog / May 7, 2009 As EPA clean air requirements become more stringent, Texas’ Travis County is poised to enter a new phase of its non-attainment status. For the first … Continue reading

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Steven Johnson: Making Something More of Imagination

Nod office. Steven M. Johnson.Searching for Value in Ludicrous IdeasBy Allison Arieff / May 4, 2009 This is a relentless age we’re living in, a time when innovative solutions — or any solutions, for that matter — to our seemingly … Continue reading

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MEDIA / Where Were the Watchdogs on Iraq and the Economy?

Were the watchdogs asleep on the job? Photo of Rottie ( “Who me?”) from Dog Infopedia.When the Watchdogs Are Asleep, We All Get Robbed In the wake of the financial collapse, I wonder if the remaining (if relatively low) public … Continue reading

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Concern About Human Rights May Be a Thing of the Past

Kiss the Era of Human Rights Goodbye: What Bush Willed to Obama and the WorldBy Karen J. Greenberg / April 30, 2009 These days, it’s virtually impossible to escape the world of torture the Bush administration constructed. Whether we like … Continue reading

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KBR Still Owes Millions from the Corruption in Iraq

Senators Accuse Pentagon of Delay in Recovering Millions in OverchargesBy James Glanz / May 3, 2009 The Pentagon has done little to collect at least $100 million in overcharges paid in deals arranged by corrupt former officials of Kellogg Brown … Continue reading

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U.S. Military to GI’s in Afghanistan : ‘Hunt People for Jesus’

Evangelical Christian soldiers praying at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Photo from Al Jazeera.Military officials at Bagram are caught on tape urging U.S. soldiers to evangelize in the Muslim country. U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan are told to ‘hunt people … Continue reading

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Artist Delara Darabi Executed in Iran

Delara Darabi made a tearful call early on Friday to her parents. Photo from Amnesty International. Iran Executes Woman for Alleged Murder Committed as a Juvenile Delara Darabi knew the end was close when she made a panic-filled call to … Continue reading

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‘Climate Hacking’ : The Real Fear of Freelance Geoengineering

The “Pinatubo option” would involve spewing aerosol gunk into the stratosphere. Photo of Mount Pinatubo from U.S. Geological Survey publications. Freelance atmospheric modification may sound far-fetched, but the potboiler concept was on the agenda last week at an invitation-only, international … Continue reading

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Charlie Loving: The Banking Lobby

Cartoon by Charlie Loving / The Rag Blog

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Al Giordano : How the ‘NAFTA Flu’ Exploded

Updated May 4, 2009 This photo, on the Smithfield Farms website, (still there at this posting on May 3, 2009), carries the following caption: “Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never … Continue reading

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We Can Build a Society of Good Ancestors

Ecosocialism – For a Society of Good Ancestors!By Ian Angus / April 30, 2009 [Ian Angus was a featured guest at the World at a Crossroads: Fighting for Socialism in the 21st Century conference , in Sydney Australia, April 10-12, … Continue reading

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