rakemag

Las Vegas

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Chillon Leach of St. Paul, writes: Taking a break from all the lights and activity of the Las Vegas Strip. (bringing some quality reading from home) Author(s) and Location: Chillon Leach

France

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Cici family of Maple Grove sends greetings and photos from Europe. The Cici kids read the Rake before their trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower (and Jessica Cici at the top). Matt Cici checks out the new release from one of his favorite bands, the Foo Fighters. A solemn visit to Omaha Beach … Read more

Afghanistan

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Richard Parnell, of Minneapolis, Rehab Tech at Courage Center on wheelchair distribution with the Mobility Project in Afghanistan, April 1-24, 2005. Bibi Mauro Hill in Kabul, Hindu Kush Mountains on right. With Saleem, from Qale Fatalah neighborhood. Author(s) and Location: Richard Parnell

Ken Baker

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It all started when celebrity journalist Ken Baker saw Saddam Hussein getting a dental exam on TV. “I thought, Hmm. You don’t see people getting their mouths examined on TV very often. Then I thought, What just happened? This is weird.” Hussein’s capture, carefully packaged for television and announced just when missing WMDs were becoming … Read more

Screaming "STUPID" in a crowded museum

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As dangerous as an allegory on the banks of the Nile Yesterday this from the NY Times about the Biblical literalists’ invasion of natural history museums and how they are accosting and interrupting guides while they are explaining the scientific view of how we got here. The article explains how members of B.C. groups (B.C. … Read more

Time for a little levity

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Brownback–isn’t that a species of great ape? Today, I take back everything I’ve said about David Brooks of the NY Times. This is a howler. If you’ve spent any time at all listening to the confirmation hearings for John Roberts, you’ll like this. The only thing funnier is listening to Kansas Senator Sam Brownback’s performance … Read more

Were not in Normandy any more

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An anonymous interlocutor took me to task last week for crying about the FEMA and Army types who wouldn’t let reporters ride along to document the search for the dead in New Orleans. Well, the reporters have their own rides now, but it seems the Army didn’t get the message about letting reporters do their … Read more

Darwin in Louisiana

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If you vote for monkeys, you’re going to get bananas I had an interesting dinner with one of my Republican friends last night. (Yes, I do have them.) Of course, the conversation eventually turned to New Orleans and Bush and his comment “Nobody could have forseen the levees would fail.” Since it’s been clear for … Read more

They're only dead if we say they're dead

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If there were any dead in New Orleans, they’d be in a tourist attraction. Reuters is reporting that FEMA will not let journalists on the rescue boats looking for survivors in New Orleans. It seems the journalists might take pictures of dead bodies. Let’s see now…no pictures of dead bodies in New Orleans equals no … Read more

Let Them Eat MREs

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Where W gets it Well, I thought I’d heard it all when Bush said “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job,” to Michael Brown, head of FEMA. Then I thought I’d heard it all when Brown said “Everyone in the Convention Center is getting one or two meals a day from us.” But now … Read more