Now, don’t get me wrong… Venezuela’s government is far from being the most democratic and just and efficient government in the world, but I might have to be on Chavez’s side on this one.
Since when did we start decided what news is fit to print in other countries? How does one government have the power [...]

Recently, there have been more and more reports of pharmacists and doctors refusing to treat certain patients or prescribe certain medications because of their religious beliefs. What’s going on here? Isn’t everyone entitled to medicine and medical treatment?
I can understand not wanting to do abortions if you truly believe that it’s murder (and quite frankly [...]

I don’t remember who I saw perform at the first hip hop show I attended. What I do remember is what I saw — only a handful of black audience members in a packed venue for a black artist. I thought maybe the artists who I went to see weren’t the most “conscious” of black [...]

“I’m for the AFL-CIO,” is a stance I took a long time ago– despite their past.
Now that the Teamsters and SEIU have decided to disaffiliate, I’m wondering about the larger role of workers’ unions in the global economy. The situation, if left to our administrations, (small “a” intended) is bleak. Corporatist policy is neither Democrat [...]

Before the name “Minutemen” became synonomous with right wing, border-protecting rednecks with guns, The Minutemen were a punk rock band from San Pedro, Calif. that kicked much ass. The new documentary, “We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutmen” is a thorough and exciting look at one of the most provacative bands of the genre. [...]

A forty- year-old Colorado mother pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges Monday. She was accused of having parties with high-school boys, giving them drugs and alcohol, and having sex with five of them.
How could any woman stoop so low you might ask? For Silvia Johnson, it was a desire to be the “cool [...]

Frank Rich connects the dots in what seems to be an even darker murkier problem than anyone thought:
“On that evening’s broadcast of ABC’s ‘World News Tonight,’ American soldiers in Falluja spoke angrily of how their tour of duty had been extended yet again, only a week after Donald Rumsfeld told them they were going home. [...]

From Media Notes
“John Carroll, who is stepping down as editor of the Tribune Company-owned LAT, was asked by Columbia Journalism Review : ‘Is it possible for a great newspaper to thrive under the umbrella of a publicly traded corporation?
“‘JC: This is one of the penetrating questions about our business. Can corporations that are not family-controlled [...]

Ok, yes, they are big business and I’m sure they have forced out smaller independent stores. But at least they treat their workers right with decent pay and health benefits. They even allow unions!
Click here for the NY Times article
What’s striking about the article are all the quotes from business consultants who are just interested [...]

Today’s a new day for Chinese currency.
The New York Times’ web site today (July 21) reports that China, for the first time in a decade, has raised the value of its currency. Apparently this a move toward a more “flexible” exchange rate that the United States and and Europe have been pushing hard for.
I’m [...]