Stuff below the fold

American society at fault?

the "Santa Claus killer" in Texas was an honor killing by an Iranian.

but if you mention religion, you are an Islamophobe.
True, if he was just a jealous good old boy, no one would blame the Baptists...
Similarly, The LA arsonist is a German who is mad his mom is being deported for running a sex business and bilking her customers. But no one is blaming the Lutherans, or the local porn industry.

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Who joins the US Army? Strategypage points out that the Army reflects the racial make up of the USA, but that minorities usually chose positions that will give them job skills, and that African American women are overrepresented in the military.

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over 900 hurt in firecracker/fireworks accidents here this New Year.
but there is some good news: only 2 deaths, and only 3 percent of injuries were from bullets (the gov't has had a lot of commercials warning against shooting guns in the air, a practice that is banned).

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Syrian violence is all over the news, but the papers here note that most of the OFW there refuse to leave the country, which suggests that the violence is not generalized (i.e. no anarchy or government break down) but targeted against known protesters.