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Category Archives: RagBlog
Drawn and Quartered
R.J. Matson / The New York Observer and Roll Call.The Rag Blog / Posted July 30, 2008
Strained by War, U.S. Army Promotes Unqualified Soldiers
U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Sarah De Boise.A shortage of skilled sergeants has led to dubious promotions for inexperienced soldiers — even jeopardizing some operations in Iraq. By Bill Sasser / July 30, 2008 America’s military commitment in Iraq and … Continue reading
MUSIC : Toby Keith’s Ode to Lynching
‘Hang them high in the street / For all the people to see’By Max Blumenthal / July 29, 2008 Despite his background as a comedian, Stephen Colbert is known by many of the authors who have appeared on his show … Continue reading
Pvt. LaVena Johnson ‘Committed Suicide’ and ‘Was Not Brutally Raped and Murdered’
Pvt. LaVena Johnson.Another cover-up in a war full of cover-ups and liesby Meg White / July 29, 2008 They don’t care. They put on a uniform and they say honor and integrity and they have no morals, no honor and … Continue reading
Bigots (Mambo #1)
Graffiti from Barcelona, Spain. “Los cerdos?” “The Pigs.” Photo by Duncan Cumming.‘I think he saw a dark woman, a human darkness, and that’s all he needed to see’By Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez A few days ago I went with a friend … Continue reading
Texas Beach Study Finds Increase In Fecal Contamination
Galveston beach: everyone in!‘Texans should not be swimming in human and animal waste’By Jay Root / July 29, 2008 AUSTIN — A day after state officials declared water quality on the rise at Texas beaches, an environmental group reported today … Continue reading
Amnesty International : China Using Olympics As ‘Pretext’ For Crackdown
A Chinese paramilitary policeman tries to block photos being taken outside the Olympic Stadium. Photo by AFP.Repression of ‘human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers has intensified’ July 29, 2008 HONG KONG – China is using the Beijing Olympics as a … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Amnesty International, China, Civil Liberties, Human Rights, Olympics, Sport
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BOOKS : Justice, Texas Style
Read About It While You CanBy Craig Malisow / July 28, 2008 Authorities in Smith County (Tyler) might not be happy to learn that Smith County Justice, a book alleging systemic corruption and unusually harsh sentences in the county — … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Books, Corruption, Criminal Justice, Official Repression, Texas
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Guantanamo : Two Trials in One
Boots of Military Police at Camp Delta, a Long-Term DetentionCenter at Guantanamo.Salim Hamdan trial also test of military tribunal systemBy Willian Glaberson / July 29, 2008 GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba — On the surface, the proceedings unfolding inside a makeshift courthouse … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Civil Liberties, Criminal Justice, Guantanamo, Human Rights, Iraq Occupation, Iraq War, Military Tribunals, Torture
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CITIES : Trading Places
The Angel of Gentrification.The demographic inversion of the American cityby Alan Ehrenhalt Thirty years ago, the mayor of Chicago was unseated by a snowstorm. A blizzard in January of 1979 dumped some 20 inches on the ground, causing, among other … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged American Society, Cities, Gentrification, Suburbs, Urban Culture, Urban Planning
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Response to Hard Times : The Suicide Solution
Two hours before her home was to be auctioned off, Carlene Balderrama killed herself with her husband’s rifleBy Barbara Ehrenreich / July 28, 2008 A few days before Congress passed its Housing Bill, Carlene Balderrama of Taunton MA found her … Continue reading
EDUCATION : Texas Fiction Science
Image © Austin Cline, Licensed to About; Original Poster: Library of CongressThe State Board of Education does its part to fantasize biologyBy Andrea Grimes There’s nothing the evil overlords of the fictional future like more than a nice, healthy round … Continue reading
Posted in RagBlog
Tagged Education, Evolution, Public Schools, Religion, Religious Right, Science, Texas
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