“Ago Obi, Ago Obi, Ago Obi” The prayers begin for Obi, the system of divination from the Yoruba religion to obtain “Yes” and “No” answers to questions in various levels of intensity and meaning. This system, crucial to all in the African religious concepts under the major heading of Ifa and their various levels of dilution under the categories of Lukumi and Santeria, are a methodology of the ways Nigerian kola nuts (Obi Abata), fresh coconut meat (darle el coco) and four cowrie shells speak to us and are considered the ‘mouthpieces’ of the Orichas. The Orichas, as they are collectively known, are African based Gods and Goddesses of Nature who rule various places and elements of the Worl

Retired school buses covered in hand-painted tags may be nothing unfamiliar to Oak Park, but it is not every day you see one on a mission to bring aid to Cuba. Your chance is on its way July 11 at 5 p.m. when the Caravan to Cuba makes a stop in Sacramento. The Caravan is an endeavor of Pastors of Peace to answer a humanitarian call that has been ignored by the United States for decades. The embargo of Cuba has stubbornly neglected the simple capacity a rich country such as ours has to serve and save another country in a vortex of poverty. Ravaged by hurricanes and horrific corruption, Cuba is in great need, but they are denied the vital aid of which we have a surplus. The Interreligious

By Tony Sheppard Capitol Weekly Che: Parts One and Two Directed by Steven Soderbergh   History, it is said, is written by the winners. But that's an over-simplification, or perhaps an over-complication: It's written by whoever write histories, from their own perspective. Japanese textbooks probably don't look like ours when it comes to WW II. Was George Washington a hero in a noble and justified War of Independence, or was Benedict Arnold a tragic hero in a traitorous Revolutionary War in the Colonies - that probably depends if you grew up in the US or the UK. I've also lived in the US South, where you still occasionally hear about the War of Northern Aggression. I'm not a historian an