Portside

Max Blumenthal's "Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel" one of the most fearless and honest books ever written about Israel. Blumenthal burrows deep into the dark heart of Israel. The American journalist binds himself to the beleaguered and shunned activists, radical journalists and human rights campaigners who are the conscience of the nation, as well as Palestinian families in the West Bank struggling in vain to hold back Israel's ceaseless theft of their land.

When rich people and poor people disagree on policy, the rich people win.

This statistics stuff is important. The correct analysis and interpretation of statistics are sometimes a matter of life and death.

Angela Davis leads off an "Intercultural Speaker Series" sparking debate . . . and perhaps some self examination, at a Federal Way, Washington school district.

"All popular music stems from black music, be it jazz or rock and roll." . . . "I'd be happy if people said that I did a little bit to raise the dignity and recognition of the greatness of African-American music."

The Save the Lobo rally, paid for by Defenders of Wildlife, featured a man in a wolf costume, children scrawling placards with crayons and people offering videoed testimony to be forwarded to Washington. Down the hall, an anti-wolf event was sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, an organization funded by the conservative Koch brothers. The group screened the documentary "Wolves in Government Clothing." Said one Arizona rancher: "Is this politically driven? Absolutely."