Society's ChildS


MIB

Sabotage suspected as second Russian athlete 'tests positive for doping' at Winter Olympics

Sean Ingle
The Guardian
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:44 UTC
Nadezhda Sergeeva
© Arnd Wiegmann/ReutersFramed? Russian athlete Nadezhda Sergeeva in Pyeongchang.
Nadezhda Sergeeva, who finished 12th in the two-woman bobsleigh, has become the second Russian to test positive for a banned substance at the Winter Olympics. According to reports in the Russian media, the substance involved was trimetazidine, a stimulant usually used to treat patients suffering from angina.

The disclosure of another positive doping test comes 24 hours after the Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of an Olympic bronze medal.

The news will heap further pressure on the International Olympic Committee, which will meet today to decide whether the Russian team will be allowed to march under their own flag at tomorrow's closing ceremony.

As things stand, the Russian Olympic Committee is banned, although 168 of the country's athletes have been competing in Pyeongchang under the Olympic Athletes from Russia banner. Alexander Zubkov, president of the Russian Bobsleigh Federation, confirmed Sergeeva's positive test to the Russian newspaper Sport Express.

Comment: The Irish Examiner adds:
The construction of the case against Krushelnitckii seems straightforward; his routine doping sample has come back positive for the prohibited substance meldonium. It is the same substance used by Maria Sharapova and for which she was banned for 15 months.

Although Krushelnitckii left the Olympic village without comment, it seems his defence will be that a fellow competitor - disgruntled at having not been selected to go to the Olympics - spiked or sabotaged his drink with the prohibited substance.

The burden of proof with this defence will be on Krushelnitckii. The "someone spiked my drink" defence is rarely credibly argued in doping cases and even more seldom successful. [...]

All those on the OAR team would have known they would be subject to enhanced testing in the immediate weeks prior to, and during, the Olympics.

And Krushelnitckii was, it seems, independently tested at the end of January at a training camp in Japan before his departure to Pyeongchang. The results were negative.

OAR participants would also have been acutely aware that they were part of a sophisticated political choreography between Russia and the IOC, which it is claimed may even have resulted in athletes entering the closing ceremony under the Russian flag and in the national uniform. Krushelnitckii's positive test now puts pressure on the IOC not to allow this.

And the closing ceremony in Pyeongchang was an opportunity for Russia to draw a line under the past four years of doping allegations, in a year when it hosts another big sporting event - the Fifa World Cup.

Finally, on Tuesday when Krushelnitckii's B sample confirmed the positive finding, Norway, population 5.2m, sat on top of the Winter Olympics' medal table.

Indeed, if Krushelnitckii's case is proven, the bronze medal in mixed curling will go to Norway.

Norway and Russia have been at loggerheads for a while on the issue of doping. The Norwegian FA has, for example, stated that Russia should be forbidden from hosting the World Cup later this year and the Norwegian press has ridiculed the Russians for having to dope even its curlers.

Russia retaliated, highlighting that Norway's delegation brought around 6,000 doses of asthma medication to the 2018 Games - equating to 55 doses for every Norwegian athlete.

Sometimes it's hard to know who or what to believe on doping in sport or even why to bother.
Those Norwegians are probably top of the medals table because of their 'TUEs', dodgy exemptions handed out mainly to Western athletes so they can legally consume all the dope they want.

Read More...
Map

Have the Kurds backed Damascus into a corner?

Andrew Korybko
Oriental Review
Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:44 UTC
PKK Peshmerga fighters
The Kurds aren't playing Damascus like a fiddle just yet, but they're coming dangerously close.

Conflict Context

The past week has seen a flurry of conflicting reports about the true status of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allied militias in Afrin, with the general conclusion being that Damascus is playing a dangerous game of brinksmanship with Ankara in coyly playing with the possibility of allying with the PYD-YPG "federalist" Kurds. The author wrote about this in his most recent analysis titled "Syria's Afrin Move: 'Artful Assistance To Allies' Or 'Armageddon In The Making'?", which includes references to his two crucial foundational texts on this topic questioning whether "It's Even Possible To "Betray" The Kurds?" and warning that "The Syrian Kurds Think They Can Play Damascus Like A Fiddle".

The main point being expressed is that no actor should feel any "guilt" about breaking their previous "commitments" to the Syrian Kurds because it's impossible to "betray" them anyhow, but that Damascus might not realize this and is therefore susceptible to being taken advantage of by the PYD-YPG as it seeks to provoke a conventional Turkish-Syrian conflict. Regrettably, the fact alone that Damascus is flirting with the Kurds is proof that it might be falling for their ruse, though to the government's defense, it might only be doing so as part of a short-term tactical measure aimed at countering what it believes to be the larger and more existential threat of Turkey.
Read More...
Radar

Two US warships enter the Black Sea: A policy of testing Russia's resolve

Arkady Savitsky
Strategic Culture Foundation
Sat, 24 Feb 2018 13:36 UTC
US Navy destroyer
© navaltoday.com
Two US destroyers, the USS Ross and USS Carney, recently entered the Black Sea. CNN quoted a US official who claimed that the goal was to "desensitize Russia" to the American military presence. The ships turned up just as the Russian Navy launched a series of military exercises. A British destroyer had only just left the Black Sea when the American ships arrived. The Royal Navy vessel had also been on a mission to challenge Russia.

Not since NATO's Sea Breeze naval exercises in July 2017 have two American combat ships been simultaneously deployed in the Black Sea.. That scenario included an amphibious operation to practice landing on Russian shores. Last year the US Navy was part of three large-scale exercises in the Black Sea: Spring Storm, Sea Shield, and Sea Breeze.

Ukraine features prominently in US plans. Last summer, Americans began to build a naval facility in Ochakov, Ukraine that will support their operations in the region. There can be no doubt that this is just the beginning and the facility will expand. Ukraine takes part in NATO training events on par with the bloc's full-fledged members. Last June, Ukraine's parliament annulled the country's non-aligned status.
Read More...
Yoda

Why Jordan Peterson's message is so crucial for the community

Xavier Austin Reyna
Study Break
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:02 UTC
jordan peterson
© Image via QuilletteProfessor Jordan Peterson is a clinical psychologist helping people understand themselves better
Jordan Peterson, by sharing his psychological and philosophical ideas, is making a difference and creating conversations.

Psychologist Jordan Peterson has become a beacon of hope for many people through his widespread and easily accessible discussions of philosophy, psychology and self-improvement.

He's become famous for his ability to articulate complex ideas in a simple manner to a relatively young audience and his courage to question social norms, and he is now becoming one of the most outspoken and impactful figures today.

Jordan Peterson is a clinical psychologist, professor at the University ofToronto Canada and author of two books. Over the past few years, Peterson has gained a respectable following online through his various lectures and interviews posted on his own YouTube channel, amounting close to 300 videos.
Read More...
Mr. Potato

Disgusting: Gucci puts on worst fashion show in 'post-human' history


The Daily Wire
Sat, 24 Feb 2018 13:13 UTC
Gucci post human fashion show
At a Fashion Week event in Milan on Wednesday, Gucci's new "sneaky feminist" fashion show introduced the world to "cyborg" chic, which features genderless fashion, severed heads, cyclopean eyes, baby dragons, a freaky examining table, and clothes that, as one viewer put it, look like they got pulled straight out of the dumpster behind Good Will.

"Gucci Cyborg is post-human: it has eyes on its heads, faun horns, dragon puppies and doubling heads," said creative director Alessandro Michele. "It's a biologically indefinite and culturally aware creature."
Read More...
Info

Four years after 'Euromaidan': Corruption still king in Ukraine

Bryan MacDonald
RT
Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:20 UTC
A commemoration ceremony at the monument to the so-called “Nebesna Sotnya” (Heavenly Hundred), Ukraine
© Valentyn Ogirenko / ReutersA commemoration ceremony at the monument to the so-called “Nebesna Sotnya” (Heavenly Hundred), Ukraine February 20, 2018.
Four years ago this weekend, Ukraine's democratically-elected, albeit deeply corrupt, government was overthrown in a Western-backed coup which set off a chain reaction of events, tearing one of Europe's largest countries asunder.

The "EuroMaidan" movement pledged to wipe out corruption, improve living standards and integrate Ukraine into the west. On all counts, it has failed miserably.

In 2014, Ukrainian incomes were already paltry. But today, not only does the country compete with Moldova for the dubious distinction of having the lowest salaries in Europe, its GDP per capita is now below El Salvador and Libya and wedged between Laos and Vietnam in raw dollar terms. Nevertheless, despite these difficulties, it did manage to rise four places in the Doing Business 2018 ranking of the World Bank.

At the same time, the European Union is increasingly frustrated at Ukraine's failure to reform. Indeed, only this week, Brussels scrapped a €29 billion border checkpoint scheme amid rancor over Kiev's failure to deliver on certain promises. The move came after it emerged that a firm specializing in installing ventilation units had been given the contract, for reasons unknown.
Read More...
Attention

Hysteria! Student accused of 'terrorist threat' for writing a math symbol


Sputnik
Sat, 24 Feb 2018 13:13 UTC
math notebook student STEM
© Rex Features
This week, police launched an investigation into a terrorist threat allegation at a Louisiana high school after a student drew a square root symbol on a math problem that another student claimed looked like a gun.

According to the Allen Parish Sheriff's Office, detectives began investigating terrorism threats at Oberlin High School after a student completed a math problem that required the square root sign to be drawn. When other students began commenting that the math symbol looked like a gun and a poorly judged quip was made between students, an investigation was quickly launched. A rumor that the student was planning to carry out a mass shooting at the school also surfaced.
Read More...
Camcorder

Elder abuse and murder charges filed after video shows nursing home staff laughing at dying WWII veteran

Teri Webster
The Blaze
Sat, 24 Feb 2018 13:01 UTC
nurse Wanda Nuckles veteran James Dempsey
© YouTube screenshotFormer licensed nurse Wanda Nuckles (inset) watches hidden video camera footage that shows dying World War II veteran James Dempsey gasping for air and calling out for help as the nursing staff allegedly failed to provide appropriate life-saving measures.
Three Georgia nursing home employees who allegedly laughed at a dying World War II veteran and ignored his pleas for help have been indicted on charges related to elder abuse, WXIA-TV reported. One of them was charged with murder.

What are the specific charges?

Loyce Pickquet Agyeman, Wanda Nuckles, and Mable Turman were each indicted for elder abuse, according to WXIA-TV.

James Dempsey, 89, a decorated World War II veteran, died under their care four years ago at the Northeast Atlanta Rehabilitation Center, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.

Agyeman, a former licensed nurse, was charged with murder and neglect to an elder person. Nuckles, also a former licensed nurse, was charged with depriving an elder person of essential services. Turman, a certified nurse assistant, was charged with neglect to an elder person. All three women were charged with concealing a death, WXIA reported.
Read More...
Eagle

United States aggression in Syria: A blue print for Imperialism


Strategic Culture Foundation
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 12:04 UTC
US American military airplane
Syria's prolonged conflict and misery going into its eighth year is no accident. It is by design. American imperialist design.

First though, we note the increasing reprehensible absurdity in this conflict.

Turkey, which invaded Syria nearly a month ago in violation of Syria's sovereignty, this week accused Damascus of "terrorism" after the Syrian government sent forces to defend the northern area near Afrin under assault from Turkey.

Meanwhile, US forces, again illegally occupying Syria in violation of international law, claim to be fighting terrorist militia. Yet more often than not, the Americans are affording protection to various terrorist groups. Then when Syrian state forces advance to clear the terror groups, the US claims it is acting in "self-defense" by massacring whole units of the Syrian army.

Further absurdity is due to France, which has been bombing Syria illegally along with the US and Britain, warning Iranian militia, who are legally present in Syria owing to Damascus' approval, that they have to withdraw from the country.

As if the situation couldn't get any more bizarre, Israel has carried out more than 100 air strikes on Syria, claiming that the aggression are "acts of self-defense".

Comment: Dr Bashar al-Jafaari, Syrian envoy to the UN:
When concluding his remarks, Al-Jaafari stated,
"History will show that we and our allies fought a war on behalf of the whole world".
He then turned to his antagonists in the room and remarked on their hypocrisy before quoting Dostoevsky, saying,
"Rest assured, hell is big enough for all. It doesn't deserve this fierce competition over who will be the worst".


Read More...
People 2

The rich, white men institutionalizing transgender ideology

Jennifer Bilek
The Federalist
Tue, 20 Feb 2018 12:00 UTC
human rights shop
Exceedingly rich, white men (and women) who invest in biomedical companies are funding myriad transgender organizations whose agenda will make them gobs of money
As an environmental activist who was deplatformed from a speaking venue by transactivists, in 2013 I developed curiosity about the power of this group to force this development. A year later, when Time magazine announced a transgender tipping point on its cover, I had already begun to examine the money behind the transgender project.

I have watched as all-women's safe spaces, universities, and sports opened their doors to any man who chose to identify as a woman. Whereas men who identify as transwomen are at the forefront of this project, women who identify as transmen seem silent and invisible. I was astonished that such a huge cultural change as the opening of sex-protected spaces was happening at such a meteoric pace and without consideration for women and girls' safety, deliberation, or public debate.

Concurrent with these rapid changes, I witnessed an overhaul in the English language with new pronouns and a near-tyrannical assault on those who did not use them. Laws mandating new speech were passed. Laws overriding biological sex with the amorphous concept of gender identity are being instituted now. People who speak openly about these changes can find themselves, their families, and their livelihoods threatened.

Comment: See Also:

Read More...