from:"The Rag Blog"

Rag Radio FRIDAY: NY Times Columnist Robert H. Frank, Author of The Darwin Economy

2011-12-01 Thread The Rag Blog

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___

Cutting-edge alternative journalism, politics, and culture in the spirit of the
Sixties underground press.

HOSTED BY THORNE DREYER

BROADCAST LIVE FROM 2-3 PM CST EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON

ON KOOP 91.7 FM (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941643/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/#FallMD10
) IN AUSTIN AND STREAMED (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941644/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
) TO THE WORLD

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern)

on WFTE (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941645/32516/goto:http://wfte.org/
), 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA, and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA.

VOLUME V, NUMBER 3

Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, 2-3 PM (CST)

Economist and New York Times Columnist

Robert H. Frank

Author of

The Darwin Economy:

Liberty, Competition, and the Common Good

Robert H. Frank is an economics professor at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School
of Management, a regular Economic View columnist for The New York Times, and
a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos. His books, which have been translated
into 22 languages, include The Winner-Take-All Society (with Philip Cook), The
Economic Naturalist, Luxury Fever, What Price the Moral High Ground?, and
Principles of Economics (with Ben Bernanke).

Robert Frank's latest book is The Darwin Economy: Liberty, Competition, and the
Common Good in which he contends that naturalist Charles Darwin was a greater
economist than Adam Smith. According to author Francis Fukuyama, Frank takes
particular aim at the notion that a well-functioning competitive market system
will necessarily produce socially optimal results. In The Darwin Economy,
Frank argues against Adam Smith's theory of the invisible hand which says
that competition channels self-interest for the common good. The uncritical
celebration of the invisible hand, writes Frank, has undermined regulatory
efforts to reconcile conflicts between individual and collective interests...,
causing considerable harm to all of us.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Nov. 18, 2011 Rag Radio Interview with
Singer/Songwriter, Author Actor Bobby Bridger (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941646/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-11-18-BobbyBridger
).
Dec. 9, 2011: Nonviolent Activist Val Liveoak of Peacebuilding en las Americas.

Dec. 16, 2011: Singer/Songwriter and Activist Eliza Gilkyson.

Dec. 30, 2011: Environmentalist and Climate Change Activist Bruce Melton.

Jan. 6, 2012: New Year's Special with SDS Founder and Progressive Political
Activist Tom Hayden.
To stream Rag Radio live, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941647/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).
Find podcasts of all earlier Rag Radio shows, Below.

RAG RADIO (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941648/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

driving in the left lane
Thorne Dreyer. Photo by Alan Pogue.

Host and producer: Thorne Dreyer
Co-producer and engineer: Tracey Schulz

RAG RADIO features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues of
progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers,
artists, leading thinkers, and public figures from Austin, Texas, and around
the world.

Host Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941649/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorne_Webb_Dreyer
) was a founding editor of Austins historic Sixties underground newspaper The
Rag (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941650/32516/goto:http://www.nuevoanden.com/rag/
), a founding editor of Space City! (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941651/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_City_%28newspaper%29
) in Houston, an editor at LNS (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941652/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_News_Service
) in New York, and a former station manager of KPFT-FM (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941653/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPFT
) (Pacifica) in Houston. He now edits The Rag Blog (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941654/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
), a nonprofit progressive internet newsmagazine based in Austin, and is on
the board of the New Journalism Project, a Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation. With roots in the Sixties, RAG RADIO often features content about
the history of Austins unique counterculture and its political and literary
traditions.

FIND ALL OF OUR SHOWS IN THE RAG RADIO (
http://e2ma.net/go/7365072843/208757963/226941655/32516

Rag Blog Digest: Nov. 30, 2011

2011-11-30 Thread The Rag Blog

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___

The Rag Blog Digest Nov. 30, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923130/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Bill Meacham : What is Truth? (In 400 Words) (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923131/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bill-meacham-what-is-truth-in-400-words.html
)-- By Bill Meacham / The Rag Blog. Bill's essay on Truth (in 400 words or
less) was a winner in Philosophy Now's essay contest and is also a big winner
in our humble estimation.(Truth is useful. Does that mean that what is useful
is true? That is not a useful question.) We also post another provocative (and
winning)take on the subject by Bill's colleague, Robert Tables.

Allen Young : Is 'Mic Check' Just 'Political Shouting?' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923132/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/allen-young-is-mic-check-just-political.html
)-- By Allen Young / The Rag Blog. The Occupy Wall Streetmovement has
captured the attention and imagination of the country -- and with it's advent
have come some stylistic innovations. One of those, known as mic check, has
served as a unique means of communication among demonstrators -- and has more
recently been usedas a technique tointerrupt speeches, including one by Karl
Rove. Our old friend and colleague Allen has serious reservations about mic
check which he shares with us -- along with an email string reflecting some
sharply differing opinions on the subject. The post includes a video of the
Karl Rove disruption.

Paul Rosenberg : American Deceptionalism (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923133/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/paul-rosenberg-american-deceptionalism.html
)-- By Paul Rosenberg / Progressive America Rising. In an incisive and
thought-provoking opinion piece, Rosenbergsays that, Under the growing
influence of the 1 per cent, American exceptionalism has become American
deceptionalism. Paul says that the U.S.' perverse refusal to learn from
others who have been inspired by us in the political realm is strikingly at
odds with Americans' grassroots improvisatory traditions. This piece, which
originated with Al Jazeera, is a must read.

Robert Jensen : Occupy Congress (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923134/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/robert-jensen-occupy-congress-with.html
)-- By Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Jensen reminds us that left activists
typically argue that political change comes not from electing better
politicians but building movements strong enough to force politicians to
accept progressive change. But Norman Solomon has concluded that it isn't an
either/or question. The activist, author, and media critic, who supports a
green New Deal,is running for Congress and Jensenthinks he -- and his ideas
-- deserve our attention.

Marc Estrin : Who Needs Tear Gas? (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923135/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/marc-estrin-who-needs-tear-gas.html
)-- By Marc Estrin / The Rag Blog. New England novelist and activist Estrin
discusses the evolvingtactics being used by mayors and police chiefs against
the Occupy movement.They are turning tonovel approaches which involve a
switch from blameworthy military attack to invisible counterinsurgency. One
effective tactic, he tells us, is don't given them any place to pee.

Bob Feldman : Reconstruction in Texas, 1865-1876 (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923136/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bob-feldman-reconstruction-in-texas.html
)-- By Bob Feldman / The Rag Blog. In the latest installment of his hidden
history of Texas, Bob tells us about the Reconstruction years which included
the time of emancipation of African-Americans, and a period when many black
men held office.He also recounts the fraudulent election of 1873 in which
manyblacks were prevented from voting by white supremacist Democrats who had
previously supported the Confederacy.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923137/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7363776793/208756877/226923138/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Rag Radio features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues
of progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers,
artists

Rag Blog Digest: Nov. 23, 2011

2011-11-23 Thread The Rag Blog

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___

The Rag Blog Digest Nov. 23, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838606/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Steve Russell : Will Rogers on Occupy Wall Street (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838607/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/steve-russell-will-rogers-on-occupy.html
) by Steve Russell / The Rag Blog. Steve quotes his all time favorite
Cherokee, Will Rogers: When a [political] party can't think of anything else
they always fall back on Lower Taxes. It has a magic sound to a voter, just
like Fairyland... Rogers wrote that in 1924,and that same year he suggested
essentially what the Occupy folks are demanding now: quit allowing unlimited
gambling by Wall Street with other people's money.

Paul Krassner : Sex, Corruption, and the Kool-Aid Massacre (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838608/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/paul-krassner-sex-corruption-and-kool.html
) by Paul Krassner / The Rag Blog. November 18th marked the 33rd anniversary
of the Jonestown massacre. Krassner recounts some of the dark historyof Jim
Jonesand his movement-- much of itlittle-known and some of it involving San
Francisco politics -- and the horrific story of thekilling of Congressman Ryan
andthe mass suicide that followed, including dialogue from audio recordings of
the event.

Mike Davis : Protest in the Driver's Seat (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838609/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/mike-davis-protest-in-drivers-seat.html
) by Mike Davis / The Rag Blog. Davis describes the rite of passage when as
a young activist, you first look into a cop's eyes a few anxious inches from
your face and find only robotic murderous hatred staring back at
you.Confessing that he's not too fond of being clubbed or pummeled, Mike says
he prefers to lock myself safely in my car and drive to protest, perhaps
humming drove my Chevy to the levee... He then offers a fascinating history
of all-American vehicle-based demonstrations, from truck convoys to labor's
historic use of massive auto blockades.

Lamar W. Hankins : Judge Ken Anderson Still Can't Tell the Truth (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838610/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/lamar-w-hankins-judge-ken-anderson.html
) by Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog. Former Williamson County, Texas,
District Atty. Ken Anderson, now a district judge, wrongfully securedthe
conviction of Michael Morton 25 years ago for killing his wife Christine, by
withholding evidence that could have exonerated Morton. Hankins, a former city
attorney in San Marcos, says the problem is systemic and that many prosecutors
are less interested in justice than they are in obtaining convictions.

Nicole Berland : Occupying Ideas in Austin (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838611/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/nicole-berland-occupying-ideas-in.html
) by Nicole Berland / Fringe Magazine. When Nicole, who has taught literature
in high school and college, learned that Occupy Wall Street was starting up in
Austin, she thought aboutwhatshe could personallybring to the effort.The
result wasthe Occupy Austin Reading Group which allows the demonstrators
tostep outside of our immediate frustrations to focus on the greater
implications of the Movement. And the group, she says, continually defies my
expectations.

Rag Radio : Singer/Songwriter, Author, and Actor Bobby Bridger (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838612/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/rag-radio-singersongwriter-author-and.html
) Interview by Thorne Dreyer / Rag Radio. Bridger, whotraveled the globe
performing his epic trilogy, A Ballad of the West, and whose song Heal in the
Wisdom,is the anthem of the Kerrville Folk Festival, was Thorne Dreyer's
guest on Rag Radio. Bridgertalked abouthis new book, Where the Tall Grass
Grows: Becoming Indigenous and the Mythological Legacy of the American West,
and much more, while alsosharing a few songs with us. Go to the post tolisten
to the show.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838613/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7356221075/208751207/226838614/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Rag Radio features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues

Rag Blog Digest: Nov. 17, 2011

2011-11-17 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7346598735/rid=a33bf28854c640218324b50663c13358
___

The Rag Blog Digest Nov. 17, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726668/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

FILM / David McReynolds : Clint Eastwood's 'J. Edgar' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726669/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/film-david-mcreynolds-clint-eastwoods-j.html
) by David McReynolds / The Rag Blog.McReynolds, who -- as a socialist and a
pacifist -- had extensive dealings with J. Edgar's FBI, provides a revealing
take on Eastwood's new biopic.Though praising the performances of Leonardo
DiCaprio and Judi Dench,Davidsays the film's real power comes from Eastwood's
humanizing Hoover as a sad, sexually frustrated, deeply insecure man who
tried to rearrange facts to help insure his place in history.

Mike Davis : Ten Immodest Commandments (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726670/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/mike-davis-ten-immodest-commandments.html
) by Mike Davis / The Rag Blog. When asked if he had any important lessons to
pass on to the Occupy movement from his 45 years as an activist, Mike repeated
his fervent vow never to age into an old fart with lessons to pass on. In
blatant violation of his vow, however, he shares with us a highly personal and
very relevant Ten Immodest Commandments.

Bill Freeland : With 'Occupy,' the People are the Point (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726671/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bill-freeland-with-occupy-people-are.html
) by Bill Freeland / The Rag Blog. The Occupy movement began as a small
gathering in a private park near Wall Street in New York City, but has since
swept across America and into another dozen countries around the world. While
the gatherings are local, their concerns are global, responding to economic
and social trends that have been developing for decades.

Eric Newhouse : Half of Returning Warriors are Wounded (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726672/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/eric-newhouse-half-of-returning.html
) by Eric Newhouse / Truthout. New and as yet unpublished statistics from
Veterans Affairs show that more than half of America's warriors are returning
home with medical and mental problems that need treatment. These are
unprecedented numbers as more than one soldier in three will have PTSD, major
depression, and/or traumatic brain injury.

Thomas McKelvey Cleaver : It's 'How You Play the Game' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726673/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/thomas-mckelvey-cleaver-its-how-you.html
) by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver / The Rag Blog. The legendary Vince Lombardi
was known for saying Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. Penn
State coach Joe Paterno, however,professed thatwinning doesn't mean much if
the players don'tbecome better people in the process. But then, when it came
down to the most important decision in his life, he hadn't a moral clue and
his indifference and complicity will overshadow everything else in his life.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726674/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726675/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Rag Radio features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues
of progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers,
artists, leading thinkers, and public figures

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Nov. 11, 2011, Rag Radio interview with Author and
Sustainability Advocate (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726676/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-11-11-EllenLaconte
) Ellen LaConte (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726677/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-11-11-EllenLaconte
). (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726678/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-11-11-EllenLaconte
)
Nov. 18, 2011: Singer/Songwriter, Author, Actor Artist Bobby Bridger.
Nov. 25, 2011: University of Texas Government Professor David Edwards.

Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7346598735/208743158/226726679/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) on

WFTE, 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA and 105.7-FM in Scranton

Rag Blog Digest: Nov. 11, 2011

2011-11-11 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7339237402/rid=ccd3920e62e9dda43c10fba7a6ac3d68
___

The Rag Blog Digest Nov. 11, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638122/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Ellen LaConte : When Too Big to Fail is Too Big Not To (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638123/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/ellen-laconte-when-too-big-to-fail-is.html
) by Ellen LaConte / The Rag Blog. The powers that be -- and even the Wall
Street protesters -- believe in the global economy's ability to deliver them
the goods -- the resources, jobs, wages, and services they depend on -- if
only the people managing it were more fair. But, even if the global economy
were better managed, according to LaConte,we would still be dealing with an
economy that's approaching a terminal condition... Ellen LaConte will be
Thorne Dreyer's guest Friday, Nov. 11, on Rag Radio (see post).

Paul Beckett : Naked ALEC and the Right Wing Conspiracy (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638124/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/paul-beckett-naked-alec-and-right-wing.html
) by Paul Beckett / The Rag Blog. Another dimension of the vast right-wing
conspiracy has come to light, like a horror movie monster emerging from
primeval slime. ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) brings
together state legislators (overwhelmingly, conservative Republicans) and
corporate leaders in annual meetings to propose, review, and approve
legislation they want passed --to meld the corporations' business interests
with the ideological content of the right-wing politicians.

Josefina Castillo and Judith Rosenberg : Women and Fair Trade (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638125/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/josefina-castillo-and-judith-rosenberg.html
) by Josefina Castillo and Judith Rosenberg / The Rag Blog. The Women and
Fair Trade Festival is an annual Austin marketplace that hosts artisan
producers from women's cooperatives from around the world. This community
event, sponsored byAustin TanCerca de la Frontera, celebrates cultural
diversity and presents an alternative to corporate globalization.

Bruce Goldberg : Carl Oglesby Occupies Heaven (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638126/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bruce-goldberg-carl-oglesby-occupies.html
) by Bruce Goldberg / The Rag Blog. Carl Oglesby, an influential New Left
activist, writer, thinker -- and gifted orator -- passed away earlier this
year. Bruce, who was a friend and colleague, reports on a memorial service
held in Cambridge, Mass., last week, where family members, friends, and fellow
activists spoke, sang, and showed slides of the skinny man in his early 30's
holding his kids, the fiery bearded long-haired man giving razor-edged
speeches, and the beaming tender man posing proudly with his new grandchild.

Rag Radio : Greenlandic Inuit Explorer/Actor Ole Jrgen Hammeken and Filmmaker
Marc Buriot (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638127/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/rag-radio-greenlandic-inuit.html
) Interview by Thorne Dreyer / Rag Radio. Dreyer's guests on Rag Radio last
week were Ole Jorgen Hammeken --an indigenous Greenlandic Inuit polar
explorer, social worker, andactor -- andFrench filmmaker Marc Buriot, who was
executive producer of the award-winning film, Inuk, in which Hammeken stars.
Go to this post to listen to the interview.

Robert Jensen : Angus Wright and the 'Fire Next Time' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638128/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/robert-jensen-angus-wright-and-fire.html
) by Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Professor Jensen profiles and interviews
environmentalist Angus Wright. According to Jensen, We're in deep trouble,
ecologically and culturally, as we try to face up to unprecedented planetary
problems in a society in denial. And Wright, who has a knack for presenting
complex ideas in plain languageis one of our most astute observers of these
troubles.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638129/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7339237402/208736982/226638130/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Rag Radio features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues
of progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers,
artists, leading

Rag Radio FRIDAY: Author and Sustainability Advocate Ellen LaConte

2011-11-10 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7338554791/rid=74437831f25b7f88388b02f14f62901a
___

Cutting-edge alternative journalism, politics, and culture in the spirit of the
Sixties underground press.

HOSTED BY THORNE DREYER

BROADCAST LIVE FROM 2-3 PM CDT EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON

ON KOOP 91.7 FM (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629657/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/#FallMD10
) IN AUSTIN AND STREAMED (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629658/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
) TO THE WORLD

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern)

on WFTE (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629659/32516/goto:http://wfte.org/
), 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA, and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA.

VOLUME IV, NUMBER 27

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, 2-3 PM (CST)

Author and Sustainability Advocate

Ellen LaConte

A freelance journalist, contemporary issues writer, and memoirist, Ellen
LaConte is author most recently of a controversial,
widely-endorsedmeta-synthesis Life Rules: Why so much is going wrong everywhere
at once and how Life teaches us to fix it. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629660/32516/goto:http://www.ellenlaconte.com/life-rules-the-book/
) LaConte is also a contributor to The Rag Blog. Information about Ellen and
her work can be found at www.ellenlaconte.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629661/32516/goto:http://www.ellenlaconte.com/
).

If there were someone with authority to require all candidates for high public
office to read certain books in preparation for the responsibilities they
aspire to undertake, Ellen LaContes LIFE RULES should be high on the list of
urgently required reading. -- William R. Catton, Jr.

Read When Too Big to Fail is Too Big Not To (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629662/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/ellen-laconte-when-too-big-to-fail-is.html
) by Ellen LaConte on The Rag Blog

Find more articles by Ellen LaConte (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629663/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Ellen%20LaConte
) on The Rag Blog.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Nov. 4, 2011, interview with Greenlandic Inuit
Explorer Actor Ole Jorgen Hammeken and filmmaker Marc Buriot (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629664/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-11-04-OleJorgenHammekenMarcBuriot
).

Nov. 18, 2011: Singer/Songwriter, Author, Actor Artist Bobby Bridger.
Nov. 25, 2011: UT-Austin Government Professor David Edwards.

To stream Rag Radio live, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629665/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).
Find podcasts of all earlier Rag Radio shows, Below.

RAG RADIO (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629666/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

driving in the left lane
Thorne Dreyer. Photo by Alan Pogue.

Host and producer: Thorne Dreyer
Co-producer and engineer: Tracey Schulz

Host Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629667/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorne_Webb_Dreyer
) was a founding editor of Austins historic Sixties underground newspaper The
Rag (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629668/32516/goto:http://www.nuevoanden.com/rag/
), a founding editor of Space City! (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629669/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_City_%28newspaper%29
) in Houston, an editor at LNS (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629670/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_News_Service
) in New York, and a former station manager of KPFT-FM (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629671/32516/goto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPFT
) (Pacifica) in Houston. He now edits The Rag Blog (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629672/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
), a nonprofit progressive internet newsmagazine based in Austin, and is on
the board of the New Journalism Project, a Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation. With roots in the Sixties, RAG RADIO often features content about
the history of Austins unique counterculture and its political and literary
traditions.

FIND ALL OF OUR SHOWS IN THE RAG RADIO (
http://e2ma.net/go/7338554791/208736456/226629673/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
) ARCHIVES

Recent shows:

11-04-2011: Greenlandic Explorer

Rag Blog Digest: Nov. 4, 2011

2011-11-04 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7330517918/rid=3e86867fef6392ff7d42af10648f64c1
___

The Rag Blog Digest Nov. 4, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530399/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Robert Jensen : Occupy 'Demands': Energy, Economics, Ecology (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530400/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/robert-jensen-occupy-demands-energy.html
)by Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Professor Jensen expands on remarks
delivered at an Occupy Austin teach-in: Rallying around a common concern
about economic injustice is a beginning; understanding the structures and
institutions of illegitimate authority is the next step. But first, as
pundits and politicians keep asking the Occupy movement for demands, here's
Jensen's suggested response: We demand that you stop demanding a list of
demands.

Dr. Stephen R. Keister : I Cry for my Country (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530401/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/dr-stephen-r-keister-i-cry-for-my.html
)by Dr. Stephen R. Keister / The Rag Blog. As Steve Keister turns 90 -- and
we at The Rag Blog wish him a hearty Happy Birthday! -- the good doctor
assesses the state of health care in America. And his overview -- as well as
the revealing facts and figures he presents-- don't make for a very happy
diagnosis.

Judy Gumbo Albert : Past Seeds the Present at Oakland General Strike (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530403/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/judy-gumbo-albert-past-seeds-present-at.html
) by Judy Gumbo Albert / The Rag Blog. Judy, who was one of the founders of
the Sixties theatrical radical group, the Yippies, reports from the Oakland
strike -- andsees much to remind her of the bestof the old days. And some
improvements too: The male-dominated, media-seeking leadership of my day has
been replaced by a genderneutral, democratic process of consensus that does
not defer to celebrity.

Rag Radio : Singer/Songwriter and Community Activist Charlie Faye (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530404/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/rag-radio-singersongwriter-and.html
)Interview by Thorne Dreyer / Rag Radio. Our guest on Rag Radio last Friday
was the delightful and talented Charlie Faye who talked about her modern
bohemian odyssey in which she spent a month in each of 10 cities, putting
together a band and recording a song in each locale, for her Travels with
Charlie CD. She also discussed herefforts intrying to save Austin's Wilson
Street musicians' cottage enclave. Go tothis postto listen to the show.

Bill Meacham : Simone de Beauvoir: A Philosophy of Liberation (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530405/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/bill-meacham-simone-de-beauvoir.html
)by Bill Meacham / The Rag Blog. Bill delves into the life of Simone de
Beauvoir and her existentialist philosophy. The starting point to
understanding de Beauvoir is human freedom, he says. Freedom is a premise of
her whole argument, not a result of any logical deduction... And the
connection between existentialism and politics is obvious. We are all
inherently free; hence the slave is always free to rebel against the master.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530406/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530407/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Oct. 28, 2011, Rag Radio interview with
Singer/Songwriter Community Activist Charlie Faye (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530408/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-10-28-CharlieFaye
).

Nov. 4, 2011: Greenlandic Inuit Actor Explorer Ole Jrgen Hammeken French
Filmmaker Marc Buriot.
Nov. 11, 2011: Author and Sustainability Advocate Ellen LaConte.
Nov. 18, 2011: Singer/Songwriter, Author, Actor Artist Bobby Bridger.

Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7330517918/208729306/226530409/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) on

WFTE, 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA.

Prognosis

Rag Blog Digest: Oct. 28, 2011

2011-10-28 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7319958457/rid=e8c95d7807323f21552c1386adc0beca
___

The Rag Blog Digest October 28, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392192/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Susan Van Haitsma : 'Viva la Vida' in Austin (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392193/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/susan-van-haitsma-viva-la-vida-in.html
)by Susan Van Haitsma / The Rag Blog. One of Austin's most colorful events
of the year is the Dia de los Muertos festival organized by the Mexic-Arte
Museum. Called Viva la Vida, this year's festival included a beautiful
procession in downtown Austinand members of CodePink added an anti-war theme
to the traditional skeleton motif, honoring the dead women and children of
Afghanistan.Don't missSusan'sbeautiful gallery of photos.

David Van Os : 'Non-Lethal Projectiles' in Oakland (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392194/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/david-van-os-non-lethal-projectiles-in.html
)by David Van Os / The Rag Blog. Tuesdaypolice in riot gear opened fire on
Occupy Oakland demonstrators, usingso-called non-lethal ordnance. Scott
Olsen, a member of Veterans for Peace, was shot in the head with what police
glibly called a projectile, fracturing his skull. We update the action with a
surprisingly conciliatory statement from Oakland Mayor Jean Quan.

William Rogers : Austin Labor Marches in Solidarity with 'Occupy' Movement (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392195/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/william-rogers-austin-labor-marches-in.html
)by William Rogers / The Rag Blog. 500 spirited union members, chanting,
They got bailed out, we got sold out, marched through downtown Austin Sunday
during the Occupy Austin Labor Solidarity March. The group, thatincluded iron
and sheet metal workers, electricians, telecom and transit workers, teachers
and government workers, marched to a skyscraper that houses Wells Fargo, a
bank that received $43.7 billion in bailout funds and has since made $24.6
billion in profits.

Rag Radio : Academic/Activist Bernardine Dohrn, Former Leader of Weather
Underground (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392196/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/rag-radio-academicactivist-bernardine.html
) Interview by Thorne Dreyer / Rag Radio.Dreyer's guest on Rag Radio, Friday,
Oct. 21,was controversial Sixties activist Bernardine Dohrn, now a respected
academic who teaches law at Northwestern University School of Law. In the
lively andfar-ranging interview,shereflects onher history with SDS and
Weatherman, discusses the criminal justice system and its effect on young
people -- and expresses enthusiasm about the possibilities for social change
offered by the mushroomingOccupy Wall Streetmovement. Listen to it at the
above link.

Kate Braun : Let the Spirits Dance at Samhain (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392197/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/kate-braun-let-spirits-dance-at-samhain.html
)by Kate Braun / The Rag Blog. Monday, Oct. 31, is Samhain, Halloween, All
Hallow's Eve, ThirdHarvest. Samhain marks the end of summer on the Wheel of
Life calendarand falls on the eve of All Souls Day or Dia de los
Muertos,It offersan opportunity for celebration and to honor the spirits of
those who have crossed over.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392198/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392199/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Oct. 21, 2011, Rag Radio interview with
Academic/Activist Bernardine Dohrn (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392200/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-10-21-BernardineDohrn
), former Leader of Weather Underground.

Oct. 28, 2011: Singer/Songwriter Community Activist Charlie Faye.
Nov. 4, 2011: Greenlandic Inuit Actor Explorer Ole Jrgen Hammeken French
Filmmaker Marc Buriot.
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7319958457/208720325/226392201/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) on

WFTE, 90.3-FM

Rag Blog Digest: Oct. 13, 2011

2011-10-20 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7309025151/rid=a4f5302e362319b30d3ca80ebb3974a4
___

The Rag Blog Digest October 20, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260300/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Mike Davis : No More Bubblegum (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260301/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/mike-davis-no-more-bubblegum.html
) by Mike Davis / The Rag Blog. Davis sees prophesies of today's Occupy Wall
Street movement in John Carpenter's classic date-night terror flick, They
Live. As Carpenter foresaw, force enough Americans out of their homes and/or
careers... and something new and huge will begin to slouch toward Goldman
Sachs. In assessing the surging movement, scholar and veteran activist Davis
notes that, although old radicals like me are too apt to declare each new baby
the messiah, this child has a rainbow sign.

Jonah Raskin : A Rag Blog Interview with Bernardine Dohrn (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260302/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/jonah-raskin-rag-blog-interview-with.html
) by Jonah Raskin / The Rag Blog. An exclusive Rag Blog interview with Dohrn
--the leader of late Sixties SDS and the Weather Underground who now teaches
law at Northwestern and is an advocate for children and family justice -- by
an old colleague, Raskin. When asked why Americans are so docile, Dohrn says,
The trick is to avoid cynicism. Ordinary people have the wisdom but they
don't know they have the power. Dohrn will also be Thorne Dreyer's guest on
Rag Radio Friday. (See below.)

Carl Davidson : Occupied Wall Street and the Emergence of a Popular Front (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260303/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/carl-davidson-occupied-wall-street-and.html
) by Carl Davidson / The Rag Blog. In a comprehensive report onand analysisof
Occupy Wall Street in New York, Carl sees the implications of the new movement
as deep, complex, and strategic,saying that Occupy Wall Street has
changedthe political conversation. He envisions the emergence of a new
popular front against finance capital, encompassing a progressive majority of
the country.

Alyssa Burgin : Cronyism, Corruption, and the Keystone XL Pipeline (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260304/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/alyssa-burgin-cronyism-corruption-and.html
) by Alyssa Burgin / The Rag Blog. The pipeline project has embroiled the
State Department in a swirl of corruption allegations due to what has been
revealed as a cozy relationship between pipeline contractor TransCanada and
State Department officials. Burgin reports on the allegedcronyism --and the
recent public hearings about the project--and informs us that thousands of
environmentalists and others opposing the projectedtar sandspipeline
willconverge on Washington Nov. 6,and encircle the White House.

Greg Moses : Even Weather Turns Spiritual at Occupy Austin (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260305/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/greg-moses-even-weather-turns-spiritual.html
) by Greg Moses / The Rag Blog. Moses reports that, as Occupy Austin
entered its second week, organizers were looking more rested, wholesome,
happy, and relaxed as they mixed themselves into the festival of people...Greg
looks in on how the group organizes its ongoing official occupation
activities, and reports on a group discussion on strategies of nonviolent
communication.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260306/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260307/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Oct. 14, 2011 Rag Radio interview with Scholar, Urban
Theorist Social Activist Mike Davis (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260308/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-10-14-MikeDavis
).

Oct. 21, 2011: Academic, Activist Child Advocate Bernardine Dohrn, former
leader of Weather Underground.
Oct. 28, 2011: Singer/Songwriter Community Activist Charlie Faye.

Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7309025151/208711068/226260309/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext

Rag Blog Digest: Oct. 13, 2011

2011-10-13 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7299516342/rid=ac094775b1f8f6bd85bb8c4369544fb5
___

The Rag Blog Digest October 13, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138928/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Ellen LaConte : Finding Democracy in Unexpected Places (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138929/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/ellen-laconte-finding-democracy-in.html
) by Ellen LaConte / The Rag Blog. What if nature, Ellen asks, rather
than our own history, provides 'the inspiration for genuine democratic
thinking'? Since our leaders are evidently incapable of dealing with the
issues -- economic, environmental, political/social -- before them, she
suggests that we reassess how we view the concept of democracy. For some of the
answers, we might turn to nature itself.

Steve Russell : 'Chief' Was Born on Death Row (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138930/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/steve-russell-chief-was-born-on-death.html
) by Steve Russell / The Rag Blog. Retired judge and Cherokee Indian Russell
looks at capital punishment (those without the capital get the punishment)
and the case of American Indian Douglas Chief Stankewitz, who has spent 33
years on death row at San Quentin. Steve tells us that Chief has essentially
been a condemned man hisentire life, and that, to understand his story, we
must also understand the spectacular destruction of California Indians.

Rag Radio : Activist/Journalist Jonah Raskin, Author of 'Marijuanaland' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138931/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/rag-radio-activistjournalist-jonah.html
) Interview by Thorne Dreyer / Rag Radio. Go here to listen to the podcast of
Dreyer's interview with California-based writer Jonah Raskin, author of
Marijuanaland: Dispatches from an American War. Raskin discusses cannabis
culture, politics, economics, medicine, and law -- and the unsuccessful2010
Prop. 19 campaign to legalize some possession of marijuana.

Robert Creamer : Why the Occupy Wall Street Movement Frightens the Right (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138932/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/robert-creamer-why-occupy-wall-street.html
)-- By Robert Creamer / Progressive America Rising. Theminions of the Right
aren'tafraid of the Occupy Wall Street movement because of Eric Cantor's
feigned fear of the mob that is occupying our cities. But they are worried
that their electoral heads may roll. Telling us that all elections are decided
by persuadable voters and mobilizable voters, Creamer says that the
movement could affect the behavior of those groups -- and he lays out five
reasons why.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138933/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138934/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Oct. 7, 2011 Rag Radio interview with Writer/Activist
Jonah Raskin (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138935/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-10-07-JonahRaskin
), Author of Marijuanaland: Dispatches From an American War.

Oct. 14, 2011: Scholar, Urban Theorist, Author Social Activist Mike Davis.

Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138936/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) on

WFTE, 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA.

Green democracy : Learning from nature.

Lamar W. Hankins : Documenting Flawed Forensics and the Willingham Execution
(
http://e2ma.net/go/7299516342/208702601/226138937/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/lamar-w-hankins-documenting-flawed.html
) by Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog. The new documentary film-- Incendiary:
The Willingham Case -- is about the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for
arson in afire that killed his three children.The film focuses on what
happens when supposedly expert witnesses in a criminal case get the forensic
science wrong, and what happens when politicians pretend that the
criminal justice system works well.

Harry Targ

Rag Blog Digest: Sept. 29, 2011

2011-09-29 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7217079447/rid=5ce2ef72a8accbe0936b63c21d868c26
___

The Rag Blog Digest September 29, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890455/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

BOOKS / Mariann G. Wizard : Jonah Raskin's 'Marijuanaland' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890456/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/books-mariann-g-wizard-jonah-raskins.html
) by Mariann G. Wizard / The Rag Blog. The Wizard reviewsRag Blog
regularJonah Raskin's new book, Marijuanaland: Dispatches From an American
War. Jonah will be in Austin Oct. 7-8 -- for a Rag Blog Happy Hour at Maria's
(Friday, 5-7 p.m.) and for Saturday book signings at Oat Willies and Brave New
Books. Jonah will also be our guest on Rag Radio, Friday at 2. (See post for
all the details.)

Rag Radio : Suspense Novelist David Lindsey on the Private Intelligence
Industry (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890457/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/rag-radio-suspense-novelist-david.html
) Interview by Thorne Dreyer / Rag Radio.Austin resident andNew York Times
bestsellingnovelist David Lindsey discusses hisfascinating career and the
booming contract espionage business that is the subject of his latest novel
cycle.Go to the postto learn more about Lindsey and his work,andto listen to
theRag Radio podcast.

Harry Targ : Remembering the Great Society (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890458/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/harry-targ-remembering-great-society.html
) by Harry Targ / The Rag Blog. Noting that poverty is a growing problem in
this country, with 46.2 million people living below the poverty line,
Professor Targ reflects on the remarkable achievements of LBJ's Great Society
--which ultimately floundered, not because of errors in its visions or
programs, but because of a disastrous imperial war.

Robert Jensen : Revolutionizing the Way We Grow Food (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890459/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/robert-jensen-revolutionizing-way-we.html
) by Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Wes Jackson of The Land Institutehas
been pursuing the science and tweaking the strategy of a sustainable
agriculture movement for more than three decades. His research teamis working
to build a resilient agriculture modeled on natural ecosystems.

Tom Hayden : An Expanding War in Pakistan (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890460/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/tom-hayden-expanding-war-in-pakistan.html
) by Tom Hayden / The Rag Blog. Hayden warns that the United States is
creeping deeper and deeper into a disastrous war in Pakistan, using drone
technology as a substitute for American ground troops. Tom discusses the
complex situation in the region, saying that the drone strategydoesn't make
America safer becauseit requires massive investments in nation-building and
inevitably provokes blowback.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890461/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
):

Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890462/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Sept. 23, 2011 Rag Radio interview with Suspense
Novelist David Lindsey (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890463/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-09-23-DavidLindsey
) on the booming Private Intelligence Industry.

Sept. 30, 2011: Progressive State Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Texas.
Oct. 7, 2011: Former Yippie Jonah Raskin, Author of Marijuanaland: Dispatches
From an American War.
Oct. 14, 2011: Scholar, Urban Theorist, Author Social Activist Mike Davis.

Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890464/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

Rag Radio is rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m. (Eastern) on

WFTE, 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA.

Pakistan : The war drones on.

SPORT / Dave Zirin : John Carlos and the Moment That Still Matters (
http://e2ma.net/go/7217079447/208685803/224890465/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/sport-dave-zirin-john-carlos-and-moment.html
) by Dave Zirin / The Rag Blog. As Troy Davis

Rag Blog Digest: Sept. 15, 2011

2011-09-15 Thread The Rag Blog



http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7201038153/rid=adbc85da19e8a2e4079af404439973a1
___




  The Rag Blog Digest  September 15, 2011


 theragblog.blogspot.com ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681820/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
 )

 Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor





  















Mike  Davis : The Eloquence of Carl Oglesby ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681821/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/mike-davis-eloquence-of-carl-oglesby.html
 ) by Mike Davis /  The Rag Blog. The first of two remembrances of SDS leader 
Carl  Oglesby, who died of cancer on Tuesday, by former colleagues in the New 
Left.  Davis relates Oglesby's rare oratorical skills, referring to his 
unadorned  eloquence and moral clarity, and the profound role he played in 
deepening our  commitment to the anti-war movement.




Jeff  Shero Nightbyrd : Skipping Stones With Carl Oglesby ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681822/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/jeff-shero-nightbyrd-skipping-stones.html
 ) by  Jeff Shero Nightbyrd / The Rag Blog.Jeff Shero served as vice president 
of SDS in 1965 when Oglesby led the  organization through a time of transition, 
shifting our focus from organizing  the poor and disenfranchised to taking on 
the war in Vietnam. Jeff callsthe  lanky, almost raw boned, South 
Carolinian... the only white organizer I heard  who could match the speaking 
power of the best civil rights leaders.




Rag  Radio : Carl Davidson on Mondragon and Workers'  Cooperatives ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681823/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/rag-radio-carl-davidson-on-mondragon.html
 ). The Rag  Blog brought influential writer and political activist Davidson to 
 Austin to give a presentation on thedynamic example of theMondragon  
Corporation and itsrole in the international workers' cooperative movement. He  
joined Thorne Dreyer on Rag Radio for a lively discussion about Mondragon,  
theburgeoning cooperative movement in the U.S., and  
Carl'silluminatingvisionfor 21st century socialism. Go to the link above, or  
listen  here ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681824/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-09-09-CarlDavidson
 ).




Don  Swift : Perry, Bachmann, and the Threat of Dominionism ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681825/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/don-swift-perry-threat-of-dominionism.html
 ) by Don Swift / The Rag Blog. In the first of a series,  Swiftpaints an 
alarming picture of Dominionism and what he calls its threat to  American 
liberties. Both Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have clear ties to  the 
Christian Dominionists, he warns, who do not believe in the separation of  
church and state. He tells us what dominionism is, how it works, and the  
influence it is having on today's religious right.




MUSIC  / John Wilson : Houston Folk Legend Don Sanders is 'Heavy Word  User' ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681826/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/music-john-wilson-houston-folk-legend.html
 ) by John Wilson / The Rag  Blog. Singer-songwriter and children's storyteller 
Sanders -- who  will be Thorne Dreyer's guest on Rag Radio Friday -- was a 
force in the Houston  music scene for decades and an influence on many Texas 
musicians, including Lyle  Lovett. Despite his many accomplishments, Don has, 
according to Wilson, failed  to receive the [wider] adulation he so richly 
deserves.Don's new CD, Heavy  Word User, is a digital remix ofhiswonderful 
earlywork.




Thomas  McKelvey Cleaver : Nagasaki and Responding to Calamity ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681827/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/thomas-mckelvey-cleaver-nagasaki-and.html
 ) by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver / The Rag Blog. In one of several  Rag 
Blogthought pieces on the legacy of 9/11 and its impact on  American culture 
and foreign policy, Cleaver suggests that the way we deal with  disasteris our 
most important indicator of nationalcharacter. He reflects on  the city of 
Nagasaki, Japan, devastated by an atomic bomb late in the second  World War, 
and howits people responded by dedicating their city to promoting  
international peace and brotherhood.

















EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681828/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
 ): 


Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin. 
To stream online, go here ( 
http://e2ma.net/go/7201038153/208670982/224681829/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
 ). 

 


Rag  Radio features hour-long in-depth  interviews and discussion about  issues 
of progressive politics, culture

Rag Blog Digest: Sept. 8, 2011

2011-09-08 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7193743721/rid=f4f4825a8c6efb4194651d16afaa238e
___

The Rag Blog Digest September 8, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575175/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Mike Davis : The Embers of September (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575176/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/mike-davis-embers-of-september.html
)by Mike Davis / The Rag Blog. Author and noted scholar Davis suggests
that,10 years ago, Lower Manhattan became the Sarajevo of the War on
Terrorism. As with the assassination of the Archduke and his wifein 1914, a
small network of peripheral but well-connected conspirators, ennobled in
their own eyes by the bitter grievances of their region, attacked a major
symbol of the responsible empire. In both cases the outrages were designed to
detonate larger, cataclysmic conflicts, and they were successful beyond the
all imagining.

Jay D. Jurie : Keystone XL is a Pipeline to Big Profits (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575177/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/jay-d-jurie-keystone-xl-is-pipeline-to.html
)by Jay D. Jurie / The Rag Blog. Former NASA scientist Jim Hansen has argued
that if tar sands development continues and the massive Keystone XL tar sands
pipeline is built, it is essentially 'game over' for climate change. Jurie
tells of the history of the extraction of crude oil from tar sands and its
effects on the environment, and he reports on the proposedmassive pipeline
from Alberta, Canada, who stands to gain from it, the dangers involved, and
themilitant movement to stop it.

Sarito Carol Neiman : Healthcare on the Ground II: The Angels (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575178/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/sarito-carol-neiman-healthcare-on_07.html
)by Sarito Carol Neiman / The Rag Blog.This is thesecond installment
ofSarito's very personal and engagingreport onher father's West Texas medical
odyssey. Here she talks about health care at the high techhospital where
herfather just had his operation, and the nature of hands-on care he has
received. Shetells us aboutthe nurses, and especially the precious few --
labeled angels by her brother -- who are doing more than just their jobs.

Bob Feldman : The Alamo and the Republic of Texas (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575179/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/bob-feldman-alamo-and-republic-of-texas.html
)by Bob Feldman / The Rag Blog. In his continuing series on the hidden
history of Texas, Bob tells us how Santa Anna's troopsmarched on San Antonio in
February 1936, where they met -- and wiped out --the mostly white Anglo men
under the command of William Travis at an abandoned Franciscan mission called
The Alamo. Santa Anna's men were soon defeated at San Jacinto, however, and the
pro-slavery Republic of Texas was founded.

Nancy Miller Saunders : Idiots and Blinders (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575180/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/nancy-miller-saunders-idiots-and.html
)by Nancy Miller Saunders / The Rag Blog. Saunders, who was involved with the
GI anti-war movement in the Vietnam era, asks if those who run our
intelligence operations are idiot savants, brilliant in some areas and
totally oblivious in others. She considers a frightening current military
effort involving forging the onscreen cyber-trademarks used by Al Qaeda
toconfuse and incite jihadists -- and compares them to failed provocateur
efforts aimed at anti-war demonstrationsscheduled forthe national political
conventions in 1972.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575181/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575182/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's Sept. 2, 2011 Rag Radio interview with Film Historian
Chale Nafus (
http://e2ma.net/go/7193743721/208663661/224575183/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-09-02-ChaleNafus
) of the Austin Film Society
Sept. 9, 2011: Noted Writer and Political Activist Carl Davidson on the
Mondragon Corp. and the Workers' Cooperative Movement.
Sept. 16, 2011: Singer/Songwriter and Storyteller Don Sanders.
Sept. 23, 2011: Suspense

Rag Blog Digest: Aug. 25, 2011

2011-08-25 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7178357633/rid=8daa27323e57f975d580e1747c47c6f9
___

The Rag Blog Digest August 25, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376562/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Glenn W. Smith : Is Rick Perry a Person? (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376563/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/glenn-w-smith-is-rick-perry-person.html
) by Glenn W. Smith / The Rag Blog. Smith -- who has followed Rick Perry
since the '80s, both as a reporter and while workingin Texas politics-- says,
If Rick Perry can be president, I can play center field for the New York
Yankees. Glenn's take on coyote-whacking Rick and his Texas Miracle is
insightful and funny. (Scoop: Perry reportedly shaves his legs to ramp up his
jogging speed!) Smith will be Thorne Dreyer's guest on Rag Radio, Friday, Aug.
26, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on Austin's KOOP 91.7-FM, and streamed live. (See Rag Radio
info below.)

Richard Raznikov : Libya Falls (Or Was it Pushed?) (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376564/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/richard-raznikov-libya-falls-or-was-it.html
) by Richard Raznikov / The Rag Blog. Raznikov questions the mainstream line
on Khadafy and the apparently successful uprising in Libya -- and the role
of the U.S. government in the revolt. He points out the significant reforms of
Khadafy's secular state, including universal health care --and the fact
thatLibya was the region's most progressive on women's rights. The U.S.
supportfor the rebels had much to do with the privatization of the nation's
rich oil reserves.

VIDEO / Jeff Zavala and Thorne Dreyer : Anarchist Organizer and Author Scott
Crow on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376565/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/video-jeff-zavala-and-thorne-dreyer.html
) Video by Jeff Zavala / Interview by Thorne Dreyer / The Rag Blog.Austin
documentary videographer Zavalaproduced this lively video ofThorne Dreyer's
Rag Radio interview with Austin-basedanarchist Scott Crow. Crow, who helped
organize the massive post-Katrina Common Ground collective in New Orleans, has
been called a domestic terrorist by the FBI and was the subject of a front
page New York Times article about surveillance of political activists.

Bob Feldman : Hidden History: Slavery in Coahuila y Tejas (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376566/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/bob-feldman-hidden-history-slavery-in.html
) by Bob Feldman / The Rag Blog. Our revealing series on the hidden history
of Texas continues with the 1827-1836 years when Texas was under Mexican
rule. During this time slavery flourished in Texas -- which was part of the
state of Coahuila y Tejas -- despite the fact that it was officially
prohibited by the Mexican government.

Carl Davidson : Time to Get Serious About Full Employment (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376567/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/carl-davidson-time-to-get-serious-about.html
) by Carl Davidson / The Rag Blog. Carlsays we need a jobs program that
doesn't tinker around the edges. In a down economy, jobs are created by
increasing demand -- and consumer demand has taken a nose dive since the
credit bubble burst. Now, Carl says, the government has to become the key
customer, making huge productive purchases for local work and local
materials to build infrastructure like new and improved schools and
county-owned green energy plants.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376568/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376569/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Aug. 26, 2011: Progressive Blogger and Political Consultant Glenn W. Smith on
Rick Perry and the Texas Miracle.
Sept. 2, 2011: Film Scholar and Critic Chale Nafus of the Austin Film Society.
Sept. 9, 2011: Noted Writer and Political Activist Carl Davidson on the
Mondragon Corp. and the Workers' Collective Movement.
Sept. 16, 2011: Singer/Songwriter and Storyteller Don Sanders.
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7178357633/208650854/224376570/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
)

Rag Radio

Rag Blog Digest: Aug. 11, 2011

2011-08-11 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7163159314/rid=6aea5b7a3492be48d6f36bf76862efef
___

The Rag Blog Digest August 11, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208133/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Nancy Miller Saunders : Jane Fonda and the 'Home of the Brave' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208134/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/nancy-miller-saunders-jane-fonda-and.html
)by Nancy Miller Saunders / The Rag Blog. Filmmaker and author Saunders
remembers Jane Fonda's historic role in support ofthe Vietnam Veterans Against
the War (VVAW) and the Winter Soldiers Investigation -- and the continuing
assault onFonda by Swiftboater typesnearly 40 years later. Cable channel QVC
recently canceled an appearance in which Fonda was going to talk about her new
book -- due to right wing pressure.

VERSE / Felix Shafer : hey, marilyn (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208135/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/verse-felix-shafer-hey-marilyn.html
)by Felix Shafer / The Rag Blog. A moving poetic tribute to Marilyn Buck on
the anniversary of her death.Shafer previously wrote Mourning Marilyn Buck,
a three-part Rag Blogseries about the acclaimed poet and long-timepolitical
prisoner who dieda year ago of cancer.The post also includes Why We Sing, a
poem by Uruguayan writer Mario Benedetti.

Carl Davidson : Winter of Our Discontent? (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208136/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/carl-davidson-winter-of-our-discontent.html
)by Carl Davidson / The Rag Blog. Writer and progressive organizer Davidson
looks at the summer rebellions in the impoverished communities in London and
other industrial centers of the UK -- as well as the Arab spring uprisings--
and, taking into account our current situation exacerbated by the GOP-led
Shock Doctrine -- wonders if similar unrest could be in the cards for the
U.S. this winter.

Harry Targ : Sometimes We Have to Sing (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208137/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/harry-targ-sometimes-we-have-to-sing.html
)by Harry Targ / The Rag Blog. Professor Targ says it was music that first
planted the seeds of his political radicalization,from Pete Seeger andWoody
Guthrie and Cisco Houston. He discusses Les Rice's song The Banks are Made of
Marble, recorded by Pete Seeger and The Weavers (...the banks are made of
marble / With a guard at every door), and Woody Guthrie's Pretty Boy Floyd,
(Some will rob you with a six-gun / And some with a fountain pen). We
include videos of both songs.

Bob Feldman : The Hidden History of Texas (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208138/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/bob-feldman-hidden-history-of-texas.html
)by Bob Feldman / The Rag Blog. Feldman's new Rag Blogseries is designed to
supplement the standard-fare history we're fed, and will feature little-known
facts about Texas. He begins with the pre-1821 years, when, for instance, only
Catholics were allowed to worship openly bythe Spanish authorities.As to our
roots, long before Europeans of Christian background arrived in the 1500s,
Native American people had been living in what is now Texas for over 10,000
years.

David P. Hamilton : France is on Vacation (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208139/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/david-p-hamilton-france-is-on-vacation.html
)by David P. Hamilton / The Rag Blog. In his series of dispatches from Paris,
David provides us with insights on French politics and culture. This week
hepoints outthat it's August, so France is on vacation. Muchof France simply
shuts down andhundreds of thousands of Parisians leave every year at
virtually the same time...French workers get 37 days a year of paid vacation,
much more than in the U.S. -- and therein lies a tale about the differences
between our two cultures.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208140/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7163159314/208639343/224208141/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

August 12, 2011: Bob Cheevers, TX Music Awards Singer/Songwriter of the Year.

August 19, 2011: The Nation's Christian

Rag Blog Digest: Aug. 4, 2011

2011-08-04 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7155393453/rid=ebe86dc97cc7d532036e80955665f9c7
___

The Rag Blog Digest August 4, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126793/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Jim Rigby : Scriptures You Won't Hear at Perry's Prayer Event (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126794/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/jim-rigby-scriptures-you-wont-hear-at.html
)-- By Jim Rigby / The Rag Blog. Human rights advocate and Presbyterian
ministerRigby believes that the use of the governor's office to promote one
religion in a country with such rich religious diversity is obviously
unhealthy politics -- but that, if one takes the Christian and Jewish
scriptures seriously, it is also unhealthy religion.Rev. Rigbyoffers five
verses of relevant scripture that we aren't likely to hear at Gov. Rick
Perry's Christian prayer event.

David P. Hamilton : French Left Could Prevail in 2012 (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126795/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/david-p-hamilton-french-left-could.html
)-- By David P. Hamilton / The Rag Blog. In his latest dispatch from Paris,
Austin activist Hamilton provides a primer on the French presidential elections
of 2012. David tells us that there is a very good likelihood that one of two
candidates from the Parti Socialiste will be in a runoff with President
Nicolas Sarkozy -- whose politics don't reflect those of the majority of
French voters -- and that he willvery likelylose, resulting inonly the second
socialist president of France since the founding of the Fifth Republic 53
years ago.

David MacBryde : In Germany, Power (Grid) to the People! (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126796/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/david-macbryde-in-germany-power-grid-to.html
)-- By David MacBryde / The Rag Blog. MacBryde reports from Berlin about
Germany's decision to shut down all nuclear power plants by 2022, and the
country's great transformation towards sustainable energy. He tells us that
it is now broadly clear here, including within the large German Protestant and
Catholic churches, that 'social fairness' is not hot hair but a significant
moral compass [and] a prerequisite for domestic economic development.

Bill Meacham : Considering the Philosophy of Ayn Rand (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126797/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/bill-meacham-considering-philosophy-of.html
)-- By Bill Meacham / The Rag Blog. Meacham tells us that
philosopher/novelist Ayn Rand has a promising methodology for ethical
thinking -- which bases ethical values on what is objectively and verifiably
true -- but that shehas a deeply flawed vision of human nature. Rand
praises a rationality that entails a full mental focus in all issues, but
she overlooks what cognitive scientists call hot cognition, and the
essentially social nature of human reality.

Harry Targ : The Two-Headed Neoliberal Monster (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126798/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/harry-targ-two-headed-neoliberal.html
)-- By Harry Tarq / The Rag Blog. In another lucid and entertaining history
lesson, Professor Targ tells us that common threads run throughout America's
history, and that we need to study the fundamental interconnections of class
and race to better understand why American society is in crisis today.He
describeshow the Tea Party movement, was created by a small fraction of the
wealthy economic class, and how a racist ideology lurks just below the
surface of political discourse.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126799/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126800/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

August 5, 2011: Anarchist Community Organizer and Writer Scott Crow.
August 12, 2011: Bob Cheevers, TX Music Awards Singer/Songwriter of the Year.

August 19, 2011: The Nation's Christian Parenti, Author of Tropic of Chaos.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's July 29 Interview with Author and Sixties Activist
Sarito Carol Neiman (
http://e2ma.net/go/7155393453/208633748/224126801/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-29-SaritoCarolNeiman

Rag Blog Digest: July 28,2011

2011-07-28 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7146991427/rid=12ecb3cb2235e28b53cb44b19aa49451
___

The Rag Blog Digest July 28, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027475/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Roger Baker : The Texas Road Lobby Meets Peak Oil (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027476/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/roger-baker-texas-road-lobby-meets-peak.html
) by Roger Baker / The Rag Blog. This is the final installment of Roger's
series on peak oil and peak driving. Molly Ivins called the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT)the Pentagon of Texas.The Texasroad lobbyhas
unrivaled power, and in this state, roads are seen as a form of publicly
funded entitlement -- welfare to subsidize suburban sprawl development.
But, with road traffic having leveled due to peak oil and an increasingly
tough economy, things have changed -- though the politicos remain in denial.

Ed Felien : Breivik's Norwegian 'Putsch' Has Historical Echoes (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027477/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/ed-felien-breiviks-norwegian-putsch-has.html
) by Ed Felien / The Rag Blog. How isolated were Anders Breivik's acts of
terror in Norway? Felien sees historical parallels in Hitler's 1923 Beer Hall
Putsch, and in Timothy McVeigh's Oklahoma City bombing. But he also says that
today,there are organizations that support the ideas of McVeigh and Breivik,
and there is a culture that supports murder and violence as legitimate means
to realize those ends.

Sarito Carol Neiman : Shredding the Envelope (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027478/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/sarito-carol-neiman-shredding-envelope.html
) by Sarito Carol Neiman / The Rag Blog. Sarito's ruminations on news,
taboos, and space beyond time initiate a new Rag Blogfeature. Author, editor,
and actressNeiman -- who will be Thorne Dreyer's guest on Rag Radio this
Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST)on KOOP 91-7FM (see streaming info below) -- tells us
why she's calling the column Shredding the Envelope.And shethrowsin
afascinating dash ofhistoryabout the paper shredder, which was originally
styled after a kitchen pasta maker!

Robert Jensen : Will Potter and 'Green is the New Red' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027479/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/robert-jensen-will-potter-and-green-is.html
) by Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Professor Jensen interviews Will Potter,
author of Green is the New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement
Under Siege. Jensen and Potter tell us how corporations, politicians, and law
enforcement increasinglysee environmental activism as a threat (especially to
profits that depend on degrading the ecosphere) and have responded with
repressive laws and tacticsreminiscent ofthe Red Scare that targetedleftists
in the 20th century.

Bash and Blowout : Please Join Us Friday in Austin! (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027480/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/bash-and-blowout-please-join-us-this.html
) Rag Blog editor and Rag Radio hostThorne Dreyer is turning 66 and we won't
let him forget it! If you're in Austin, join usthis Friday, July 29, 6-9 p.m.,
atMaria'son South Lamar --for a Dreyer Birthday Bash and Rag Blog Blowout.
(His real birthday is Aug. 1, butDreyer has ADD and won't even notice.)It's a
chance for friends and followers of The Rag Blog to get to know each other and
to have some fun (at Dreyer's expense)!

Dr. Stephen R. Keister : Sick of Being Spoon-Fed the News (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027481/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/dr-stephen-r-keister-sick-of-being.html
) by Dr. Stephen R. Keister / The Rag Blog. Retired physician and health
care reform activist Keister wants to know what happened to our independent
press. When I consider the lack of valid, intelligent information
available[in today's media] he tells us,it would seem that the dirt is being
replaced in the hole much more rapidly than the honest, dedicated journalist
can dig it out.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027482/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7146991427/208627676/224027483/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

Rag Radio features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues
of progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers

Rag Blog Digest: July 21, 2011

2011-07-21 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7140268317/rid=ec8207c5e7b604da44acb442498cca92
___

The Rag Blog Digest July 21, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935990/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Mary Tuma : When One Man Owns Too Much (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935991/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/mary-tuma-when-one-man-owns-too-much.html
)by Mary Tuma / The Rag Blog. In her analysis of the scandal engulfing the
media empire of Rupert Murdoch, Tuma concentrates on the aspect of media
consolidation andthe special regulatory considerations that allowed Murdoch to
build his massive international conglomerate --and the denial andbias toward
thescandal exhibited by theMurdoch-controlled media.Tuma points out that six
major firms now dominate our media -- down from 50 in the '80s.

Rag Blog's Dreyer : Another Year Older and... (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935992/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/rag-blogs-dreyer-another-year-older-and.html
)Rag Blog editor and Rag Radio host Thorne Dreyer is turning 66 -- and we're
having a party! The Dreyer Birthday Bash and Rag Blog Blowout takes place
Friday, July 29, 6-9 p.m.,at Maria's Taco Xpress in Austin. It's a chance for
our family, friends, and followers to get to know each other -- and to party
down! Click on the link to see Jim Retherford's great poster art.

Brooke Jarvis : A Tale of Carmaggedon (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935993/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/brooke-jarvis-tale-of-carmaggedon.html
)by Brooke Jarvis / CommonDreams. Over the weekend, Los Angeles -- perhaps
America's most famously car-chocked city -- briefly became a transportation
morality play. As 10 miles of the city's infamous 405 Freewayclosed for
construction, manypredicted the apocalypse. But it ended up being a sweet
respite -- a virtually car-free weekend. JetBlue, which offered a special
limited edition flight from one end of LA to the other, was challenged to a
race by a group of cyclists -- and the cyclists won!

Leonardo Boff : Man as 'Lord and Master' of Nature (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935994/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/leonardo-boff-man-as-lord-and-master-of.html
)by Leonardo Boff / The Rag Blog. Brazilian theologian Boff tells usthat the
worldis facing muchmore thana crisis in natural resources and services. We
also face a crisis in a form of civilization that hasestablished the human
being, as Descartes wrote, as the lord and master of Nature. We are not
God, Boff tells us, and our desire to be such takes us to madness.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935995/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935996/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

July 22, 2011: Permaculture Institute founder Scott Pittman.

July 29, 2011: Original Rag Funnella Sarito Carol Neiman on Politics and
Spirituality.
August 5, 2011: Anarchist Community Organizer and Writer Scott Crow.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's June 15 (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935997/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-08
)interview with (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935998/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-15
)Community Organizer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223935999/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-15
)Linda Stout (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223936000/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-15
), author of Collective Visioning.

Watch Jeff Zavala's video (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223936001/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/video-jeff-zavala-and-thorne-dreyer.html
) of Robert Jensen's interview on Rag Radio.

Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7140268317/208621832/223936002/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

Beginning July 24, 2011, Rag Radio will be rebroadcast every Sunday at 10 a.m.
on WTFE, 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA and 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA.

Media octopus: When one man owns too much.

Lamar W. Hankins : Remembering Woody Guthrie

Rag Blog Digest: July 14, 2011

2011-07-14 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7133328807/rid=1f5752d2827b7f328dc8228a602f367a
___

The Rag Blog Digest July 14, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846782/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Robert Jensen : The Power and Limits of Social Movements (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846783/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/robert-jensen-power-and-limits-of.html
) by Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog. Jensen tells us that dissidents not only
have to be willing to tell the truth about the delusions of the dominant
culture, but make sure we don't fall into delusions of our own. Most
dissident political organizing of the past half century has assumed economic
growth and ecological stability -- and Jensen fears that many on the left are
in denial about the depth of the massive crises we nowface.

VIDEO / Jeff Zavala and Thorne Dreyer : Educator and Activist Robert Jensen on
Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846784/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/video-jeff-zavala-and-thorne-dreyer.html
) Video by Jeff Zavala / Interview by Thorne Dreyer / The Rag Blog. Watch
Jeff Zavala's video -- taped during Dreyer's Rag Radio interview with
educator, author, and radical political thinker Robert Jensen. Jensen is a
UT-Austin journalism professor and his writing is published widely in the
mainstream and alternative media. Rag Radio airs every Friday from 2-3 p.m.
(CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin and is streamed to the world.

Party Down : Dreyer Birthday Bash and Rag Blog Blowout (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846785/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/party-down-dreyer-birthday-bash-and-rag.html
)-- If you're in Austin, join us for Rag Blog editor/Rag Radio host Thorne
Dreyer's (66th) Birthday Bash and Rag Blog Blowout. It's Friday, July 29, 6-9
p.m., at Maria's Taco Xpress in Austin. No presents, but tax-exempt donations
to The Rag Blog are welcome. And please, keep the bad geezer jokes to a
minimum. See post for more details.

Rag Bloggers : A Conversation about Life, Death, and Washington (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846786/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/rag-bloggers-conversation-about-life.html
) by The Rag Bloggers / The Rag Blog. Recent budget/deficit negotiations in
Washington inspired a lively behind-the-scenes, coast-to-coastconversation
among some of our regular contributors -- by way of our email discussion group
-- about what's really at stake, especially in issues involving health care.
It's the kind of discussion that usually can't be heard above the roar of
mainstream media talking heads. Sarito Carol Neiman pulled it all together.

David McReynolds : Libya, NATO, and International Law (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846787/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/david-mcreynolds-libya-nato-and.html
) by David McReynolds / The Rag Blog.Long-time peace activist and writer
McReynolds provides a provocative critique of the U.S./NATO action against
Libya in the context of a revealing history of NATO dating back to the Cold
War. His take on Libya, Gaddafi, and the rebels, is nuanced, but he considers
what's happening there to be a full-fledged civil war, and not a part of Arab
Spring. And he believes any resolution to the conflict must come at the
negotiating table.

Jordan Flaherty : Cop Corruption on Trial in New Orleans (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846788/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/jordan-flaherty-cop-corruption-on-trial.html
) by Jordan Flaherty / The Rag Blog. In New Orleans' federal courthouse,
five police officers are currently facing charges of killing unarmed Black
civilians -- on the Danziger Bridge post-Hurricane Katrina -- and conspiring
for more than four years to cover up their crime. The New Orleans police
department has developed a reputation as one of the most violent and corrupt
in the nation -- and in a sense the entire department is on trial.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846789/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7133328807/208615904/223846790/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

July 15, 2011: Linda

Rag Blog Digest: July 7, 2011

2011-07-07 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7124852931/rid=df8e08cb0c565118f5da9d4f22eec7d3
___

The Rag Blog Digest July 7, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751229/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

VIDEO / Jeff Zavala and Thorne Dreyer : 'Eco Outlaw' Diane Wilson on Rag
Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751230/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/video-jeff-zavala-and-thorne-dreyer-eco.html
)Video by Jeff Zavala / Interview by Thorne Dreyer / The Rag Blog. Watch Jeff
Zavala's video -- taped during Dreyer's Rag Radiointerview with environmental
activistDiane Wilson, who has earned the wrath of industrial polluters
everywhere.The remarkable Wilson, author of Diary of an Eco-Outlaw, was a
lively and entertaining guest and Zavala captured it all, with flair. Rag
Radio airs every Friday from 2-3 p.m. (CDT) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin and is
streamed to the world.

Roger Baker : U.S. Driving Hits the Wall (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751231/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/roger-baker-us-driving-hits-wall.html
)by Roger Baker / The Rag Blog. Baker continues his transportation series
that centers on the issue of peak oil and its ramifications. Baker says that
driving in the U.S. peaked in 2007 and here heexamines the reasons, the
implications, and the prospects for the future. The reduction in driving, he
says, is not only due to high fuel prices, but is part of a global trend that
predates rising fuel costs. Roger, as always,makes an impressive case, with
substantial documentation.

Richard Raznikov : Bradley Manning and the Obama Grand Jury (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751232/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/richard-raznikov-bradley-manning-and.html
)by Richard Raznikov / The Rag Blog. Attorney Raznikov contrasts the
historical and contemporary uses of the grand jury system, originally designed
to protect the rights of the individual, andpoints outhow that system is now
being used against military whistleblower Bradley Manning. Anyone who might
expose inconvenient 'secrets' -- truths -- is an enemy of the state, Raznikov
tells us, and what is being done to Bradley Manning... is meant to discourage
and to intimidate.

David P. Hamilton : Nationalization and French Socialism (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751233/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/david-p-hamilton-nationalization-and.html
)by David P. Hamilton / The Rag Blog. In his latest dispatch from Paris,
Austin activist and writer Hamilton discusses socialism in France, and
contrasts the history of nationalization in France and the U.S. It is in
Western Europe, David says, where we see the most successful efforts to
protect the commons while simultaneously nurturing a vibrant private sector in
the context of political democracy.

In Austin?

Join us for Thorne Dreyer's Birthday Party

and Rag Blog Bash

Yep, he's 'another day older and deeper in debt.'

So let's rub it in!!!

Friday, July 29, 6-9 p.m.

Maria's Taco Xpress
2529 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas
Maria's full bar menu
Leeann Atherton performs on the patio at 7

No presents, but
Contributions to The Rag Blog welcome

(Aug. 1 is really Dreyer's birthday, but who's counting?)

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751234/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751235/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

July 8, 2011: Author, Journalism Professor, and Political Activist Robert
Jensen.
July 15, 2011: Linda Stout, Author of Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work
Together for a Just and Sustainable Future.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's July 1 interview with (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751236/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-01
)Underground Radio Pioneer Bob Simmons (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751237/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-07-01
).
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7124852931/208609241/223751238/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

Peak driving: Hitting the wall.

TRAVEL / Olga Bonfiglio : How the Empire

Rag Blog Digest: June 30, 2011

2011-06-30 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7117399329/rid=e31a4ad8b3241c411cbf6d97c5f59043
___

The Rag Blog Digest June 30, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22330/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Paul Krassner : My Lesson in Mindfulness (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22331/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/paul-krassner-my-lesson-in-mindfulness.html
)by Paul Krassner / The Rag Blog. Famed satirist Krassner reflects on a
life-changing event when police brutally beat him after the 1979trial of Dan
White, who was convicted of killing progressive San Francisco Mayor George
Moscone and Supervisor (and gay leader) Harvey Milk. The injury resulted in an
ongoing and life-threatening physicalcondition and finally -- after Paul
limped the gamut of therapists and was told he was a walking time bomb --
he went under the knife. All of which ultimately resulted in a new
mindfulness for the man novelist Ken Kesey once labeled a Zen Bastard.

Jonah Raskin : Interviewing Journalist and Gay Activist Allen Young (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22332/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/jonah-raskin-interviewing-journalist.html
)by Jonah Raskin / The Rag Blog. Jonah -- who ishimself a veteran of the
Sixties counterculture--interviews Young on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
It is a refreshing and revealing discussion, as Allen reflects on his historic
life as a journalist (Washington Post and Liberation News Service) and an
activist, providing anunflinching assessment of the Sixties New Left and the
historic struggles of the gay liberation movement.

Glenn W. Smith : Conservative Lies About Human Nature (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22333/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/glenn-w-smith-conservative-lies-about.html
)by Glenn W. Smith / The Rag Blog. Since World War II, America's elite
policy makers haveinterpreted our political and economic relationships around
an understanding of human behavior thatfeeds a dog-eat-dog individualism and a
sense of powerless in the face of godlike market forces. But virtually every
field in the human sciences has found that, in fact, we are hard-wired for
empathy and aren't the selfish... and exclusively materialist creature
invented by conservative propagandists.

Mary Tuma : Rick Perry (Selectively) Touts Texas Economy With Glenn Beck (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22334/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/mary-tuma-rick-perry-selectively-touts.html
)by Mary Tuma / The Texas Independent. While schmoozing with Glenn Beck on
Fox News, Texas Gov. Perry again hit on his prime talking points, touting the
Texas economy and job creation numbers. But he failed to add that Texas leads
the nation in people making minimum wage or less and avoided mentioning the
state's structural budget deficit and sweeping cuts to health services and
public education -- as well as what Time Magazine has called hisjob poaching
from states like California and New York.

Dr. Stephen R. Keister : Poverty and Public Health in America (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22335/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/dr-stephen-r-keister-poverty-and-public.html
)by Dr Stephen R. Keister / The Rag Blog. In his latest commentary on the
state of health care, the good doctor reports on an academic study that found
that poverty, low levels of education, poor social support, and other social
factors contribute about as many deaths in the U.S. as do heart attacks,
strokes, lung cancer, and other familiar health issues. Yet our
representatives continue their attempts to cut an already inadequateMedicaid
program and to revise Medicare benefits.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22336/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22337/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

July 1, 2011: Media Producer and Counterculture Veteran Bob Simmons.
July 8, 2011: Author, Journalism Professor, and Political Activist Robert
Jensen.
Listen to Thorne Dreyer's June 24 interview with (
http://e2ma.net/go/7117399329/208603877/22338/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-06-24

Rag Blog Digest: June 23, 2011

2011-06-23 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.783507/rid=70a933584a3e79c3a1aed40caba10884
___

The Rag Blog Digest June 23, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571671/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Roger Baker : Have We Turned the Corner on Peak Driving? (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571672/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/roger-baker-have-we-turned-corner-on.html
) by Roger Baker / The Rag Blog. In his latest analysis ofour transportation
mess, Roger tells us that total driving in the USA might have already peaked
forever. There is much evidence of a shift in driving behavior caused by
factors like unemployment, traffic congestion, and the growing age of the
populace. And, since many experts believe we are near or past peak global oil
production, driving will increasingly be less affordable.

David P. Hamilton : How Social Security Works in the U.S. and France (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571673/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/david-p-hamilton-how-social-security.html
) by David P. Hamilton / The Rag Blog. Reporting from Paris, David compares
and contrasts the Social Security systems in the U.S. and France --
anddiscusses the growing problems faced in both countries. In France, David
tells us, the system is more costly, more complicated, and provides more
benefits, but employers and the wealthy pay a higher percentage of the costs.

Joshua Holland : Governor 'Goodhair' and the 'Texas Miracle' (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571674/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/joshua-holland-governor-goodhair-and.html
) by Joshua Holland / AlterNet. Conservative mythology now holds up Texas as
a shining example of right-wing governance in action -- a model for the nation
-- but it's actually a blueprint for winning the race to the bottom,
destroying an already threadbare social safety net in the process.Under Gov.
Rick Goodhair Perry, Texas has, in fact, become a basket-case, and would be
faring even worse today without the help of policies enacted by Democrats at
the national level.

Lamar W. Hankins : When Religion Restricts Our Freedom (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571675/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/lamar-w-hankins-when-religion-restricts.html
) by Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog. The U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops recently revised its policiesregarding aid in dyingfor the terminally
ill. Although their views traditionally only apply to Catholic health
institutions,the bishopsnow want to contribute to a fundamental public
debate about the strong resurgenceof the assisted-suicide movement,and are
attempting to press upon non-Catholics... behaviors and ethical standards
based on Catholic theology.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571676/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571677/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

June 24, 2011: Environmental Activist Diane Wilson, author of Eco-Outlaw.
July 1, 2011: Media Producer and Counterculture Veteran, Bob Simmons.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's June17 interview with (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571678/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-06-17
)Vietnam Vet and Peace Activist (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571679/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-06-17
)Terry DuBose (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571680/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-06-17
).
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571681/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

Peak driving: Have we turned the corner?

Robert S. Becker : The Environmental Rabble-Rousing of Diane Wilson (
http://e2ma.net/go/783507/208597768/223571682/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/robert-s-becker-environmental-rabble.html
) by Robert S. Becker / OpEd News. Environmental activist Diane Wilson -- who
will be Thorne Dreyer's guest on Rag Radio this Friday, June 24 (go to article
for details) -- has become a champion who takes risks, gets bloodied and
arrested, and endures jail -- then turns

Rag Blog Digest: June 16, 2011

2011-06-16 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7103538936/rid=cf7e19eee91da4c2d8655ab9de529e60
___

The Rag Blog Digest June 16, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478356/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Chellis Glendinning : Decepcin in Bolivia (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478357/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/chellis-glendinning-decepcion-in.html
) by Chellis Glendinning / The Rag Blog. In an insightful and colorful
dispatch from Cochabamba, Chellis reports that things are not going well' for
the government of Evo Morales -- Bolivia's first indigenous leader in 500
years. Morales' 2005 election unleashed an aura of hope among activists,
environmentalists, and traditional native peoples, but his two-faced
administration has fallen well short of its promise, and the country has been
wracked by massive protests from his former supporters.

Dr. Stephen R. Keister : Saving Granny from Vouchercare (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478358/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/dr-stephen-r-keister-saving-granny-from.html
) by Dr. Stephen R. Keister / The Rag Blog. In his latest report from the
health care front, the good doctor reflects on the culture of fragmentation
in the mainstream media that results in obsession with issues of little
importance. He also expresses concern about the conservative think tanks, with
their lack of transparency, and fears that they can help the Republicans
define the debate about Medicare.

Kate Braun : Summer Solstice is Festival of Light and Energy (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478359/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/kate-braun-summer-solstice-is-festival.html
) by Kate Braun / The Rag Blog. June 21 marks the Summer Solstice when Lord
Sun enters Cancer and Lady Moonis in her third quarter. Balance is shifting,
Kate tells us, as once again the Oak and Holly Kings execute their ritual
dance or battle. (The Holly King emerges triumphant.) The Summer Solstice is
a festival of light and energy, fertility and abundance, creativity and
vitality.

BOOKS / Christine Shearer : How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478360/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/books-christine-shearer-how-handful-of.html
) by Christine Shearer / Truthout. In their book, Merchants of Doubt, science
historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway uncover the history of a small group
of Cold War scientists and advisers who battled anything, including scientific
research, that might threaten their vision of American free enterprise -- even
if that meant the science on acid rain or the hole in the ozone layer. This
small group, Shearer tells us, has had an outsized role in shaping public
opinion and policy.

Margarita Alarcn : Five Reasons to Remember the Pentagon Papers (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478361/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/margarita-alarcon-five-reasons-to.html
) by Margarita Alarcn / The Rag Blog. This week the Pentagon Papers were
released in full, four decades after Daniel Ellsberg, a Pentagon defense
analyst, leaked them to the press in an act of defiance that helped speed up
the end of the Vietnam War. Maggie Alarcn provides a uniquely Cuban
perspective on that event and its ramifications.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478362/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478363/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

June 17, 2011: Vietnam Vet (VVAW) and Peace Activist Terry DuBose.

June 24, 2011: Environmental Activist Diane Wilson, author of Eco-Outlaw.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's June10 interview with Texas members of Iraq Veterans
Against the War (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478364/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-06-10
) (IVAW) Aaron Hughes, Malachi Muncy, Scott Kimball, Sergio K.
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936/208591448/223478365/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

Militant ambivalance?: Evo on the rocks.

Lamar W. Hankins : Jack Kevorkian and the Right to Die (
http://e2ma.net/go/7103538936

Rag Blog Digest: June 9, 2011

2011-06-09 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7095185000/rid=3ac586bf8c982fb12c6dc525b76876f2
___

The Rag Blog Digest June 9, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381648/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Roger Baker : Playing 'Peak-a-Boo' With the Earth (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381649/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/roger-baker-playing-peak-boo-with-earth.html
) by Roger Baker / The Rag Blog. With rising fuel prices a constant
reminder, it is getting harder for the public to deny thatwe're in big energy
trouble. This is the first of three essays by Roger Baker on Peak oil, peak
driving, peak cars. In the first installment, Roger tells us that the USA has,
in effect, squandered the decades since the energy crisis of the 1970s in
denial of its growing dependence on cheap imported oil, which is now in global
decline.

Michael Meeropol : 'L'Affaire Kushner' at New York's City University (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381650/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/michael-meeropol-laffaire-kushner-at.html
) by Michael Meeropol / The Rag Blog. The City University of New York has
been the scene of what The New York Times called a firestorm over its
handling of an honorary doctorate awarded to -- and temporarily withdrawn from
-- celebrated playwright Tony Kushner.The tempest involvedsome
controversialKushner comments on Israel.The Rag Blog's Meeropol, who teaches
at CUNY's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was one of those who nominated
Kushner, and he gives us the inside story.

Jay D. Jurie : Orlando Cops in 'Feeding Frenzy' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381651/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/jay-d-jurie-orlando-cops-in-feeding.html
) by Jay D. Jurie / The Rag Blog. In Orlando, Florida, local police have
busted members of the anti-militarist and anti-poverty organization Food Not
Bombs for thecrime offeeding the homeless at the City's downtown Lake Eola
Park. Jurie provides context for the incident and background onthe group, whose
mission is to graphically illustrate poverty in the face of bloated military
spending, and to provide a direct service to those in need.

Amanda Marcotte : Does Weinergate Mark an End to Sexual Privacy? (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381652/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/amanda-marcotte-does-weinergate-mark.html
) by Amanda Marcotte / AlterNet. Marcotte addresses the Anthony Weiner
scandalfrom the perspectiveofsexual privacy issues involving public
figures.Prior to this scandal, she asserts, the media and political
operatives had to at least pretend that a politician's sex life had some
bearing on the public interest before they picked up the pitchforks.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381653/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381654/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

June 10, 2011: Aaron Hughes, Kyle Wesolowski, and Malachi Muncy of Iraq
Veterans Against the War (IVAW).

June 24, 2011: Eco-Outlaw Diane Wilson.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's June 3, 2011 (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381655/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-05-27
)interview with psychologist and populist author Bruce E. Levine (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381656/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-06-03
).
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381657/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

Peak-a-Boo: Now you see it, now you don't.

Lamar W. Hankins : Medicare and the Corporatist Agenda (
http://e2ma.net/go/7095185000/208584658/223381658/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/lamar-w-hankins-medicare-and.html
) by Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog. Ever since LBJ succeeded in getting
Medicare enacted in 1965, corporatist politicians have done their best to
makethe programbenefit America's health insurance and pharmaceutical
corporations, at the expense of the people. This has been especially true of
the Congressional Republicans, but no one anticipated that their political
calculations would backfire as they have

Rag Blog Digest: June 2, 2011

2011-06-02 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7086911031/rid=ac8134b44ebe19b9911b22d3c0f1defc
___

The Rag Blog Digest June 2, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272122/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

David P. Hamilton : French Healthcare is the World's Best (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272123/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/david-p-hamilton-french-healthcare-is.html
) by David P. Hamilton / The Rag Blog. In his third communiqu from Paris,
The Rag Blog's Hamilton contrasts the French and U.S. healthcare systems and
it turns out there's simply no contest. The World Health Organization has
France at number one, and the U.S. lags at 37th. On the other hand, our health
care is the most expensive and we're way up there in number of uninsured.
David tells us how the French system works and why it's so successful.

Dr. Stephen R. Keister : Democrats, Medicare, and the 'Jaws of Victory (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272124/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/dr-stephen-r-keister-democrats-medicare.html
) by Dr. Stephen R. Keister / The Rag Blog. With the Dems'upset victory in
New York's 26th District, the pundits tell us that the Democrats have a
winningmessage on Medicare. But be warned:In recent years the Democrats
have shown an aptitude for grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory. The good
doctor discusses the very real economic and political threats to Medicare and
to our healthcare system.

FILM / William Michael Hanks : Turk Pipkin's 'Building Hope' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272125/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/film-william-michael-hanks-turk-pipkins.html
) by William Michael Hanks / The Rag Blog. Building Hope is the third in a
trilogy of films by Austin-based filmmaker Turk Pipkin exploring the
challenges facing the youth of the world today, and it's the most compelling
of the three. Set in the mountains of Kenya, among some of the most dramatic
scenery on Earth, Pipkin tells the story of Mahiga Hope High School -- from
concept to completion -- and a remarkable story it is.

Martha Kempner : The Patronizing Lectures of 'Private Practice' and Texas Law
(
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272126/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/martha-kempner-patronizing-lectures-of.html
) by Martha Kempner / truthout. As Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs a law
requiring women seeking abortions to go through waiting periods, lectures, and
ultrasound images,a story line on the television show Private Practice
dramatizes the issue in an especially telling way.

BOOKS / Paul Buhle : 'Climbin' Jacob's Ladder' (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272127/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/books-paul-buhle-climbin-jacobs-ladder.html
) by Paul Buhle / The Rag Blog. Historian and publisher Buhle tells us that
Climbin' Jacob's Ladder: The Freedom Movement Writings of Jack O'Dell, is an
important document in the political and cultural history of the left. O'Dell,
who was active in the Communist Party during the 1950's and later becamea
close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was an editor at the preeminent
African-American progressive quarterly journal, Freedomways.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272128/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272129/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

June 3, 2011: Populist author, clinical psychologist, and social critic Bruce
E. Levine.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's May 27, 2011 interview with developmental
psychologist Hirokazu Yoshikawa (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272130/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-05-27
), author of Immigrants Raising Citizens.
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272131/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

Ranking health care: We're (Not) Number One!

[Go to article and click on image to enlarge]

Lamar W. Hankins : Austin-Area Funeral Homes Mislead the Public (
http://e2ma.net/go/7086911031/208577794/223272132/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/lamar-w-hankins-austin-area

Rag Blog Digest: May 26, 2011

2011-05-26 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7079729181/rid=4bd6749e6d184e3b75a998020d1b59b9
___

The Rag Blog Digest May 26, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186062/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founderThorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Chellis Glendinning : The Way We Were (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186063/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/chellis-glendinning-way-we-were.html
)by Chellis Glendinning / The Rag Blog. A colorful, evocative (and
action-filled)reminiscenceof Sixties activist Berkeley. Glendinning, now an
award-winning writer living in Bolivia, was in the thick of things --
runningfromteargas, facing down bayonet-wielding National Guardsmen, and, in a
pre-feminist moment, sharing a jail cell with 100 women rounded up in a mass
bust. Later, she and husband Bill hightailed it to Europe and then retreated
to a maple-sugar farm in Vermont.

VERSE / Mariann G. Wizard : Fire in the Hole (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186064/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/verse-mariann-g-wizard-fire-in-hole.html
)by Mariann G. Wizard / The Rag Blog. Wizard, The Rag's resident bard, tells
us that Daily before our eyes / spoiled executives flaunt / staggering
profits while / staggering veterans beg for alms... The powder keg is full,
she opines, and the fuse is lit.

Lamar W. Hankins : The Latest Plan for Perpetual War (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186065/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/lamar-w-hankins-latest-plan-for.html
)by Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog. Have the wise men and women of Congress
found a way to institutionalize the perpetual war desired by
Eisenhower'smilitary-industrial-Congressional complex? Just check out a
defense authorization bill recently passed by the House Armed Services
Committee that would provide the president with war powers against terrorist
forces until the termination of hostilities. Like, whenever that is...

Marc Estrin : Up, Up, and Away (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186066/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/marc-estrin-up-up-and-away.html
)by Marc Estrin / The Rag Blog. Novelist Estrin, who lives in Burlington,
Vermont, discusses that town'slove/hate relationship withan air showcalled
Wings Over Vermont that features, in part, high-performance military jets.
And the extreme reactionignited by thetree-hugging wing nuts who oppose it.
Warns one show supporter: If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel
free to stand in front of them.

Kate Braun : Lady Moon in Gemini for Fourth Phase (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186067/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/kate-braun-lady-moon-in-gemini-for.html
)by Kate Braun / The Rag Blog. For the moon's fourth quarter, Lady Moon is in
Gemini. This is a good moon phase for dealing with the public, and -- with
Pluto in retrograde --for takingcare of unfinished business.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186068/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186069/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

May 27, 2011: Psychologist Hirokazu Yoshikawa, author of Immigrants Raising
Citizens.
June 3, 2011: Populist author Bruce E. Levine.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's May 20, 2011 (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186070/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-05-06
)interview with cultural historian Richard Pells (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186071/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-05-20reCache=1
).
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186072/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=infooa_id=33
).

The way we were: Flower power at People's Park.

SPORT / Dave Zirin : Why Lance Armstrong Will Survive (
http://e2ma.net/go/7079729181/208572414/223186073/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/sport-dave-zirin-why-lance-armstrong.html
)by Dave Zirin / The Rag Blog. Sportswriter/activist Zirin has a fresh take
on Austin's champion cyclist, now enmeshed in controversy involving
accusations of performance-enhancing drug use. Zirin sees the problems with
drugs as institutional, andfinds the federal

Rag Blog Digest: May 19, 2011

2011-05-19 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7071241297/rid=22a5980bae6779d8552ed94d483cd2a5
___

The Rag Blog Digest May 19, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088546/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founder
Thorne Webb Dreyer, editor

David P. Hamilton : France's Gift to America Was Our Independence (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088547/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/david-p-hamilton-frances-gift-to.html
) by David P. Hamilton / The Rag Blog. In the first of a series of dispatches
from France, David tells us how those who love to bash France are ignorant of
our common history. The Founding Fathers were a bunch of Francophiles and
without France, the American Revolution would have failed and the U.S. would
have continued as a British colony for at least several decades. On the other
hand, France didn't, in fact, give us French fries, which came from Belgium.

Ted McLaughlin : The Passivhaus is a Smarter Way to Build (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088548/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/ted-mclaughlin-passivhaus-is-smarter.html
) by Ted McLaughlin / The Rag Blog. Using the Passivhaus building standard --
which is based on enhanced insulation and ventilation -- results in buildings
that will use 70-90% less energy, and cost only minimally more than those
constructed under normal standards. Along with more efficient cars, this
approach to building, which is becoming increasingly popular in Europe, could
go a long way towards solving our energy problems.

Don Swift : The Republicans' Debt Default Threat (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088549/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/don-swift-republicans-debt-default.html
) by Don Swift / The Rag Blog. The Republicans have been threatening to shut
down the government if they don't get what they want in return for voting to
raise the debt ceiling. As a down payment to meeting the GOP's demands, the
Democrats already gave them $38.5 billion in cuts, mostly from the departments
of education, labor, and health -- cuts that will come out of the hide of the
sick and poor and will also cost hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Peter Montgomery : Newt Gingrich Wants to Make America More Like Texas! (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088550/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/peter-montgomery-newt-gingrich-wants-to.html
) by Peter Montgomery / AlterNet. Newt Gingrich, in his presidential campaign
announcement on Fox News, told Sean Hannity that he's been talking with Texas
Gov. Rick Perry about how to get the whole country to resemble Texas.
Meanwhile, Texas lawmakers have been struggling with a massive budget deficit
(according to the AP, among the worst in the nation). So Texas, which places
near the bottom in most state rankings in health and education categories, is
slashing basic human services.

Dr. Stephen R. Keister : Fighting Money-Driven Medicine (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088551/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/dr-stephen-r-keister-fighting-money.html
) by Dr. Stephen R. Keister / The Rag Blog. The good doctor says we are
fighting an uphill battle when it comes to good and affordable health care in
this country. The doctor-patient relationship, he tells us, has been destroyed
in the financial interest of the health insurance industry, the pharmaceutical
industry, the hospital associations -- and all those collateral institutions
that bleed away the health care resources from the American people.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088552/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=info_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088553/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

May 20, 2011: Cultural historian Richard Pells, author of Modernist America:
Art, Music, Movies, the Globalization of American Culture.

May 27, 2011: Psychologist Hirokazu Yoshikawa, author of Immigrants Raising
Citizens.

Listen to Thorne Dreyer's May 13, 2011 (
http://e2ma.net/go/7071241297/208565722/223088554/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-05-06
)interview

Rag Blog Digest: May 12, 2011

2011-05-12 Thread The Rag Blog

http://e2ma.net/map/view=CampaignPublic/id=32516.7064329401/rid=7026c7f1347afe4c7916dec12f75a684
___

The Rag Blog Digest May 12, 2011

theragblog.blogspot.com (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993931/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/
)

Richard D. Jehn, founder
Thorne Webb Dreyer, editor

Ken Martin : 'The Austin Bulldog': Growling at the Powers That Be (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993932/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/ken-martin-austin-bulldog-growling-at.html
) by Ken Martin / The Rag Blog. An Austin investigative website has caused
quite a stir in Central Texas. The Austin Bulldog, a Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation, broke a major story involving private meetings among the Austin
mayor and city council members, and, through open records requests, gained the
release of hundreds of controversial city council emails. As Bulldog founder
and editor Martin says, this kind of journalism can make a big difference in
exposing corruption, incompetence, and violations of open and honest
government.

Tom Miller : Stoney Burns Was Dallas' Underground Iconoclast (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993933/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/tom-miller-stoney-burns-was-dallas.html
) by Tom Miller / The Rag Blog. Miller, now a best-selling author, wrote for
a number of underground publications in the '60s and '70s -- including Stoney
Burns' iconoclastic Dallas papers that served as rallying points for the
Dallas counterculture and were objects of serious harassment from local law
enforcement. Tom tells us that his erstwhile colleague -- whose recent passing
was covered by The Rag Blog last week -- lived up to his image: longish
brillo hair, loads of dope, young cuties by his side, and a great appetite for
outrage...

Harvey Wasserman : Let's Join Japan in Junking New Nukes (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993934/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/harvey-wasserman-lets-join-japan-in.html
) by Harvey Wasserman / The Rag Blog. Japan's decision to build no new
nuclear reactors strikes a body blow to the global industry, and could mark a
major turning point in the future of energy. As Japanese Prime Minister Naoto
Kan said, We need to start from scratch... and do more to promote renewables.
But first we must stop the Obama-backed loan guarantee package and shut down
the dying nukes like Vermont Yankee and Indian Point.

David McReynolds : The View From Over the Hill (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993935/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/david-mcreynolds-view-from-over-hill.html
) by David McReynolds / The Rag Blog. In this remarkable and inspiring work,
the openly gay McReynolds, a legendary figure in the pacifist and Democratic
Socialist movements in this country, reflects on his rich and storied life in
politics. David, who was recently honored in a double biography by noted
historian Martin Duberman, offers up some thoughtful -- and decidedly hopeful
-- political philosophy. McReynolds incorporates a strong spiritual element
into his outlook on the continuing struggle for radical social change.

EVERY FRIDAY: KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Rag Radio with Thorne Dreyer (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993936/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=info_id=33
): Every Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CST) on KOOP 91.7 Austin.
To stream online, go here (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993937/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/pages.item.86/stream-koop-listen-online.html
).

May 13, 2011: Artist, musician, actor, and comic Kerry (Awn) Fitzgerald.
May 20, 2011: Cultural historian Richard Pells, author of Modernist America.
Listen to Thorne Dreyer's May 6, 2011 interview with Texas civil rights pioneer
Dr. Leon McNealy. (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993938/32516/goto:http://www.archive.org/details/RagRadio2011-05-06
)
Listen to earlier shows on Rag Radio (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993939/32516/goto:http://www.koop.org/schedule/detail.php?ext=info_id=33
).

Austin Bulldog: Growling at power.

Sue (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993940/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/rabbi-arthur-waskow-do-we-rejoice-in.html
)Katz : May Day in Vermont (
http://e2ma.net/go/7064329401/208559253/221993941/32516/goto:http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2011/05

Rag Radio FRIDAY: NY Times Columnist Robert H. Frank, Author of The Darwin Economy

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