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25 Aug 2009 10:44

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Politics, U.S.: Why you should care about the CIA interrogation reports

  • As stomach-turning as these individual acts of sadism are, it is far worse to consider that only low-level interrogators will suffer consequences while those who were truly responsible – the criminally depraved leaders and lawyers who ordered and authorized it – will be protected.
  • Salon’s Glenn Greenwald • Discussing the implications of the Inspector General’s report on torture. His analysis points out many scary things in the report – including phrases such as “threats of execution,” “threats to kill detainee and his children,” “pressure points on carotid artery,” “‘buttstroking’ with rifles and knee kicks” and “blowing smoke in detainee’s face for five minutes.” Despite the many black boxes, you can read between the lines. And between those lines is a lot of questionable government-sanctioned activity. Makes us sick thinking about it. • source

25 Aug 2009 10:33

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Sports: Caster Semenya may be a lady, but her testosterone level disagrees

  • She has three times the expected testosterone level. South African runner Caster Semenya’s been facing questions about her gender for weeks, questions only exploding because of her recent breakaway at the World Athletics Championships last week. Now that tests suggest that she has an unusually high testosterone level, expect those questions to get even louder. May we suggest something? It’s not her fault that her genetic makeup is a little off. It’s not like she took steroids or put on a swimsuit designed to make her go faster. Let her have her victory untainted, jerks. source

25 Aug 2009 10:23

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World: In the Afghan election, Hamid Karzai leads, but not by much

  • 41% Karzai’s vote total with 10% of the election’s vote counted on Tuesday
  • 39% Abdullah Abdullah’s vote total; Karzai needs a simple majority to win source

25 Aug 2009 10:12

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Biz, U.S.: The White House thinks unemployment’s going double digits

  • 10% unemployment, but they say recovery starts late this year source

25 Aug 2009 10:06

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Biz, U.S.: Obama’s got Fed Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke’s back

  • As an expert on the causes of the Great Depression, I’m sure Ben never imagined that he would be part of a team responsible for preventing another.
  • President Barack Obama • In a speech this morning confirming that Bernanke would be reappointed to his post as Federal Reserve Chairman. It’s notable in one way – Bernanke’s a Republican, which means Obama’s got a bipartisan feather in his hat – but considering Bernanke’s predecessor, Alan Greenspan, stuck around for multiple administrations, maybe it’s not. But then again, Greenspan didn’t have the mess that Bernanke’s dealing with. Either way, go Ben! • source

25 Aug 2009 10:00

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U.S.: Slow morning? Read this CIA report on interrogation abuses

Ignore your boss. Ignore your job. Get a cup of Joe and read through a heavily-redacted report. Sounds like our kind of morning. source

25 Aug 2009 09:52

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Biz, U.S.: Home prices actually rose again, but we’re still a long way from home

  • 2.9% quarterly increase in home prices – the first increase in three years
  • -14.9% yearly decrease in home prices – and they dipped further last quarter source