American Theocracy: The Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse

After a very depressing week or so of reading, I’ve finally finished American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century by Kevin Philips. It was a tough book, but someone had to read it, and I think everyone who’s not aware of how messed […]

Listening to Holocaust Survivors

My second period class is in an ultra-large room divided by a removable wall. Usually it’s a curse because it doesn’t block any sound, but this morning it was one of the greatest blessings I’ve ever received.
My friend Jim teaches Genocide Studies on the other side of the wall, and asked […]

Near Riot as Fox Squelches Ron Paul

I’m not a huge fan of Ron Paul, but he’s got his good points. These are good points that won’t be heard on Fox, who blacked him out of their debate while allowing Rudy Guliani, who got half the support Paul did in Iowa to be on.
Naturally Ron Paul’s supporters were pretty […]

Election Year Apparel for the 29th Congressional District


“Buell Street 5″ Protestors to Appeal Sentencing

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Danny Burns, Mark Scibilia-Carver, […]

An Automotive Kindred Spirit

Bumper stickers say a lot about a person. For instance, I would probably never be able to hang out with someone that has a Bush/Cheney sticker and a metal fish thing. Or someone who has a male + female = marriage sticker. I could almost certainly bond with the owner of this […]

Eagles: Meandering Road out of Eden

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from the Eagles’ new release “Long Road Out of Eden.” I was reasonably sure from the title that I would get a good dose of anti-imperialism from Don Henley, my favorite angry white California Muslim. I wanted at least a glimpse of greatness that is “Hotel […]

Freedom from Religion

My atheist friends are lucky. They get to watch the Christian right with a degree of detached amusement.
Those of us who have some degree of spirituality get a heavenly buzz kill every time we hear about the doings of the Christian right. I’m not even Christian, but just knowing that I share […]

Citizenship for Dummies: Choosing Political Parties and Candidates

Last week I gave a lesson in my US History classes that I give every year, and my kids’ reactions always surprise me and them. I give them a quiz I made up a few years ago that gives a pretty crude picture of what political party they most closely identify […]

The Middle East Quagmire: Mid-November Edition

This has been the deadliest month of fighting thus far in the war in Afghanistan. Usually Iraq gets the dub’yus (new spelling of dubious) honor, but apparently the Ol’ Taliban is kicking it up a notch. It’s been a pretty deadly month in Iraq too, but we’re used to hearing that. It’s […]