Category Archives: Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff

Oliver Stone remembers Chavecito

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Sabina Becker

Filmmaker Oliver Stone gives an interview for Telesur, in which he talks not only about his memories of Chavecito (the subject of his latest documentary, shown on Telesur last night), but also of how Venezuela has grown and changed thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Huguito Chavecito, The United States of Amnesia | 1 Comment

Who is Leopoldo López?

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Sabina Becker

Leopoldo López, in his former capacity as mayor of Chacao, doing what he does best…leading “protests” that are nothing but riots. If you think this pretty boy is some kind of hero or martyr in the cause of Venezuelan freedom, … Continue reading →

Posted in All About Evo, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Barreling Right Along, Crapagandarati, Cuba, Libre (de los Yanquis), Fascism Without Swastikas, Filthy Stinking Rich, Fine Young Cannibals, Huguito Chavecito, Isn't It Ironic?, Isn't That Illegal?, Spooks, The United States of Amnesia, Writer Lady Sings the Blues | Comments Off

RIP, Pete Seeger…

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Sabina Becker

Via Aporrea this morning, I learned that the man who brought “Guantanamera” to Gringolandia had passed away yesterday at the age of 94, after a week’s hospitalization. In a strange twist, today is the 161st anniversary of the birth of … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Cuba, Libre (de los Yanquis), Obits and 'bobs, The United States of Amnesia | Comments Off

Slaughterhouse-Five: A Remembrance Day story

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Sabina Becker

Join me for a moment of getting-unstuck-in-time, won’t you? That was Kurt Vonnegut, reading one of the weirdest and loveliest passages in all of his work: Billy Pilgrim’s time-slip in Slaughterhouse-Five. Billy is waiting for the flying saucer to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Angry Pacifist Speaks Her Mind, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Confessions of a Bad German, Isn't It Ironic?, The United States of Amnesia | Comments Off

This just in…

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Sabina Becker

Literary talent: We (meaning Canadian women) haz it… Canadian author Alice Munro has won the prestigious Nobel Prize for literature. The Swedish Academy announced the decision Thursday, calling the 82-year-old author from Wingham, Ont., a “master of the contemporary short … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch, Isn't It Ironic?, Karma 1, Dogma 0, Men Who Just Don't Get It, Schadenfreude, Uppity Wimmin | Comments Off

An open letter to David Gilmour, plus a partial reading list

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Sabina Becker

Dear David Gilmour: May I call you Dave? Because, by your own admission, you’re not really a prof, seeing as you don’t have a Ph.D. and your “teaching” experience comes courtesy of TV, that not-at-all-superficial-or-unidimensional medium that makes everybody feel … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch, Isn't It Ironic?, Men Who Just Don't Get It, The United States of Amnesia, Uppity Wimmin, Writer Lady Sings the Blues | 5 Comments

A few random thoughts on women’s sexuality

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Sabina Becker

“Feminine psychology is at times twisted: They have created in us the conviction that all the bad things in the world are lying in wait, trying to sneak in on us from between our legs.” –Laura Restrepo, Colombian writer. Lupita … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Bina's Band of Brigands, Confessions of a Bad German, Economics for Dummies, EuroPeons, If You REALLY Care, Isn't It Ironic?, Isn't That Racist?, Men Who Just Don't Get It, Mexican Standoffs, Not So Compassionate Conservatism, Quotable Notables, The Nausea, The United States of Amnesia, Uppity Wimmin, Writer Lady Sings the Blues | Comments Off

Denuedo, baby.

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Sabina Becker

I’m now just over one-third of the way into The War Against the Gringos, and it feels like longer. I’m not one to curse a source of work and income, mind you, but Heriberto Frías, Mexican historian and pain-in-the-ass writer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Angry Pacifist Speaks Her Mind, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Found in Translation, Mexican Standoffs, Writer Lady Sings the Blues | Comments Off

It’s Hiroshima Day. Do you know where YOUR radiation is?

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Sabina Becker

Footage of the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, followed by Allen Ginsberg, reading his “Plutonian Ode” over footage of various nuclear “test” explosions from around the globe. Note the quotation marks; that’s because these “tests” are never really JUST a … Continue reading →

Posted in Angry Pacifist Speaks Her Mind, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Environmentally Ill, Good to Know, Isn't It Ironic?, She Blinded Me With Science, Turning Japanese | Comments Off

Festive Left Friday Blogging: Ollie’s next film

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Sabina Becker

Oliver Stone and Chavecito in happier days. According to the current president of Venezuela, fans of the late leader will soon be in for a treat, one that will bring those happy days back…on screen, at least: US filmmaker Oliver … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Festive Left Friday Blogging, Huguito Chavecito, The United States of Amnesia | Comments Off