Category Archives: RagBlog

Summer Solstice/Litha “Sweet summer breeze, whispering trees, Stars shining softly above…” Litha, the Summer Solstice, fifth spoke on the Wheel of Life, reaches Austin on Wednesday, June 21, 2006. Lady Moon is in her fourth quarter in Taurus and Lord … Continue reading →

French government is similar to that in the US in that it has three branches, executive, legislative and judicial. The executive, however, is divided between the president, who is elected to five-year terms, and a prime minister, who is appointed … Continue reading →

TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS Signed at Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968Ratification advised by U.S. Senate March 13, 1969Ratified by U.S. President November 24, 1969U.S. ratification deposited at Washington, London, and Moscow March 5, 1970Proclaimed by … Continue reading →

We took a 24-hour excursion to the country home of Gilbert Shelton and his wife, Lora. It’s a little more than an hour southeast of Paris on a slow train from Gare de Lyon in an idyllic village so small … Continue reading →

The save-the-world topic is a set of arguments that improves in quality after the first few salvos get us past our shorthand versions and inspire us to defend and extend our thinking. Here are some contributions from my perspective. [1] … Continue reading →

The Last Spring This is the last spring for these few remaining vacant lots down south of the river. The signs are already posted: “AVAILABLE!” and “COMING SOON!!” The college even wants to turn the old golf course, home to … Continue reading →

We’ve noticed a few improvements since we were last here. The most important is the public toilets. They have been around for a long time, but previously they cost about half a euro (65 cents) and often didn’t work. They … Continue reading →

The current debate over a corporation owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates managing six US ports is intrinsically absurd. The factors that make it absurd, however, are not discussed openly, because to do so would call into … Continue reading →

“My attitude about the defense of this country changed on September the 11th when we got attacked. I vowed then and there to use every asset at my disposal to protect the American people.” President George W. Bush in response … Continue reading →

Here’s the pic:

I’ve come to understand that “history” is important. It defines the context in which those who come after (and even those who were present) extract the “meaning” of events after they have passed. The phenomenological (what a word) process through … Continue reading →

The nice thing about imperialism is that it motivates others to defeat it. For now, most countries are still tip-toeing around the U.S.A. because of the nuclear arsenal and due to the destabilizing effect on international economic activity of cutting … Continue reading →