Ricky's Riffs:

Random Thoughts on Travel, Education, Health, and the World in General


Post-Feminism and the Digital Media

December 18th, 2008

In the heart of Manhattan, a group of women come together to drink and eat and talk about life and business in the modern digital world. Formed in 2006, Women In Digital Media (WIDM), was founded by Cindy Charles, General Counsel of MediaNet, Aileen Atkins, General Counsel of Napster, Amy Lauren, Music Attorney at EMI, and Heather Moosnick, a VP at Warner Music Group. Begun loosely as a social gathering of women rising through the emerging digital ranks, it quickly became clear to a core group that this was something to be formalized, so they might create a space for the building of community.

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Black Oak Rising

November 28th, 2008

One of the joys of living in North Berkeley has been my close proximity to the great and venerable bookstore, Black Oak Books. Home to both the new and used, with a wonderful collection of contemporary and classic titles, the store reflects the work of deep and well read owners on the pulse of important cultural and critical issues, purveyors of the significant events of our day and the literary roots of our world view.Read the rest of this entry »


On the Politics of Hate, Fear, Anger, and Love

October 19th, 2008

We are living in a moment of great fear, of anger, of hate and in a world suffering the many diseases of so called civilization. We are oppressed not only by the viral and bacterial scourges that have been with us throughout time, but also by deep psychic illnesses that bore through our spiritual centers.Read the rest of this entry »


In Memory of Danny Cassidy

October 13th, 2008

Daniel Cassidy was a Professor of Irish Studies at New College of California as well as the founder of that program. A well known Irish-American activist and winner of the American Book Award in 2007 for his book “How The Irish Invented Slang”. Danny passed away on 10/11/08 from pancreatic cancer. He was my friend and this is my Eulogy to him:Read the rest of this entry »