Category Archives: Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff

A song for El Salvador

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Sabina Becker

Alí Primera, the Venezuelan folk singer, dedicates a number to the people of El Salvador during a peace concert in the 1980s: “The Blue Hat”. With subtitles.

Music for a Sunday: Two you’re not likely to hear on commercial radio

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Sabina Becker

From Venezuela’s own Dame Pa’ Matala, my latest musical crush:“En favor de la paz”. Crazy hippie peacenikkery never sounded better! Stick around till the end and you’ll even hear a bit of German.And one whose chorus requires no translation. Something … Continue reading →

Posted in Angry Pacifist Speaks Her Mind, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Huguito Chavecito, Music for a Sunday | Comments Off

Ashy thoughts for a Wednesday morn…

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Sabina Becker

I’m not Catholic, so this whole penitential post-carnival thing is kind of opaque to me. Rather than atone for sins (actual or imaginary), I prefer to do the right thing in the first place, if I can. Which means I … Continue reading →

Posted in All About Evo, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Environmentally Ill, Found in Translation, Isn't That Illegal?, Law-Law Land, Not So Compassionate Conservatism, Pissing Jesus Off | Comments Off

Rosenmontag!

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Sabina Becker

It’s carnival time around the world! Here she is, folks, the lady you’ve all been waiting for, laid bare. The Chancellor of Germany (and latest Extreme Makeover recipient), Angela Merkel:Der Spiegel explains the meaning of those markings on her nude … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Confessions of a Bad German | 2 Comments

A patriotic country song that doesn’t suck

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Sabina Becker

Here you go–enjoy. (I promise it will make you cry. Thanks to Corey for sending me the link!)

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff | Comments Off

It’s 22 degrees below freezing tonight…

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Sabina Becker

…with a windchill in the minus-30s. Do you know where your music is?Here’s a little something by Bruce Cockburn, for all my fellow deep-freeze-bound North Americans. Stay warm, y’all.

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch | 2 Comments

A dirty old bastard finally goes to meet his lord

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Sabina Becker

And no, it ain’t Jesus for this racist SOB: William Devereux Zantzinger, the Southern Maryland tobacco farmer convicted of manslaughter in the death of barmaid Hattie Carroll in a celebrated 1963 case, died Jan. 3, according to the Brinsfield-Echols Funeral … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Karma 1, Dogma 0, Obits and 'bobs | Comments Off

Two for Palestine

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Sabina Becker

Spanish punk group Boikot (how do YOU think it’s pronounced?) featured in two videos–a photo-collage set to their “Wall of Shame”, and a live rendition of the power-rocky “Scorched Earth”.Enjoy!

Posted in Angry Pacifist Speaks Her Mind, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Under the Name of Spain | Comments Off

Festive Left Friday Blogging: Yes, I WOULD like some salsa with my revolution, thanks!

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Sabina Becker

Grupo Madera brings you the new year’s big hit: ¡Uh Ah, Chávez con el pueblo Sí Va!by Radioaporrea Those red blouses and white skirts on the dancers are super-cute (and in Canada, they’d be downright patriotic). I especially like the … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Festive Left Friday Blogging, Huguito Chavecito | Comments Off

Dear Big Publishing: You suck!

Posted on December 30, 2008 by Sabina Becker

And do you know why? Salon.com does: Thanks to conglomeration and corporate distribution models, some of publishing’s biggest houses were laid very low by the current stock market collapse. And scary holiday book sales figures compounded the industry’s woes, with … Continue reading →