" Like the first Sagebrush Rebellion of 40 years ago, this revolt represents a classic case of fictional privilege, grounded in a shoddy understanding of United States history." Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/bundhy-protest-ranchers-actually-government-moochers-213510#ixzz3whUzPaZT "
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There couuldn't be more useful timing for the Oregon militia action then when my students are focusing on just such events. This is the best discussion of the Oregon militia action in the context of federal terrorism statutes, and a good comparison with the abuse of these laws to prosecute animal rights and environmental radicals. You Can Prosecute Animal Rights Activists But Not a Right-Wing Militia for “Terrorism”by Kevin Jon Heller Heller concludes, rightly: "It defies logic that there is a substantive federal terrorism offence covering non-violent activists who open mink cages but not one covering a right-wing militia that forcibly seizes a federal building, demands the release of prisoners, and threatens to kill anyone who tries to intervene. But there you have it."
We just finished the 2nd Annual Festival of Texas Fiddling in Burton, TX on November 7. This was the festival I founded and for which I serve as Artistic Director. I've been behind getting video and pictures up as this is a busy part of the semester, but I will do so very shortly and then post them here. This year, for the first time, we gave a new Master of Texas Fiddling Award to two important figures in the state. First is Don Jose Moreno, the great Rio Grande Valley Valley fiddler. Here is a nice article about him getting the award . The second Master of Texas Fiddling Award went to Washington County Texas-Polish fiddler Daniel Cendalski, who blew everyone away with his fiddling and his spirit. This gives you a taste:
I gave a talk for the VWC-NSU 1619 Symposium called "The African Roots and American Journey of the Banjo," and was sent this kind of blurry picture of me surrounded by a handful of banjos. I made an akonting (you can see the neck on the left) and a gourd banjo for the talk. That one up front is an old banjeaurine I've been informed that you are not a collector of banjos until you have 100 of them...
