Badminton is major news, as eight players were disqualified from the London 2012 Olympic Games for "not using one's best efforts to win" and also "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport".
Competitors in preliminary group play tried to position themselves better for the important knockout round.
The newly-constructed competition system at this Olympics failed miserably. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) was mainly responsible for the failure, not the players.
First, there should have been an immediate response to any lackluster play. Warnings, fines or penalties could be threatened or imposed during the first poor match, not after a whole day of buffoonery.
Of course, if other athletes see one team seem successfully "conserving energy" or avoiding injury they might do similarly.
In athletics (track & field) it's common to see competitors run more slowly in preliminary rounds - doing just enough to qualify. In field events there's often a qualifying distance or height, where a first good throw or jump allows an athlete to advance without further efforts. Too bad for the spectators.
It's perhaps more disturbing when a winning athlete in the finals fails to perform a final throw or jump when they've already won, or when a runner slows before the finish line. But it's not really a situation where we want to see dozens of sports bureaucrats arguing & interfering. Make reasonable rules!
Send home bad bureaucrats & unwise coaches, not Olympians.
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Olympic Sabotage USA
Olympic Gold medalist & world record holder, Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen was reportedly smeared with doping allegations by John Leonard of the USA, Executive Director of the World Swimming Coaches Association (he's also Executive Director of the American Swimming Coaches Association).
It's unclear if Leonard was properly quoted. If he's credentialed as an Olympic official maybe he should be censored. His opinions are damaging when directed at a specific athlete, and without evidence.
It seems to me that Olympic Champion Ye should have a good case for slander -- if she's clean of cheating, she should sue the bastard.
It's been widely reported Ye's split time in the 400m individual medley for her final 50m (28.93) was faster than men's winner Ryan Lochte's split (at 29.10). "However (according to the BBC) her world-record time was still 23 seconds slower than Lochte's winning time, and several of Lochte's competitors were faster than her over the final 50m. Chinese officials also pointed out that Lochte was easing to the finish, comfortably in the lead, whereas Ye had to battle to the end to take first place."
The Greek Olympic team expelled triple jumper Voula Papachristou a few days before the London Opening Ceremony for joking online about West Nile mosquitoes favoring Greece's many Africans. (She rudely tweeted: "Με τόσους Αφρικανούς στην Ελλάδα..Τουλάχιστον τα κουνούπια του δυτικού Νείλου..θα τρώνε σπιτικό φαγητό!!!")
As her comments were considered "contrary to the values and ideals of the Olympic movement," then John Leonard begging us to doubt the performance of a Chinese swimmer is worse. Leonard embarrasses his great nation and the Olympic sense of fairness & justice.
It's unclear if Leonard was properly quoted. If he's credentialed as an Olympic official maybe he should be censored. His opinions are damaging when directed at a specific athlete, and without evidence.
It seems to me that Olympic Champion Ye should have a good case for slander -- if she's clean of cheating, she should sue the bastard.
It's been widely reported Ye's split time in the 400m individual medley for her final 50m (28.93) was faster than men's winner Ryan Lochte's split (at 29.10). "However (according to the BBC) her world-record time was still 23 seconds slower than Lochte's winning time, and several of Lochte's competitors were faster than her over the final 50m. Chinese officials also pointed out that Lochte was easing to the finish, comfortably in the lead, whereas Ye had to battle to the end to take first place."
The Greek Olympic team expelled triple jumper Voula Papachristou a few days before the London Opening Ceremony for joking online about West Nile mosquitoes favoring Greece's many Africans. (She rudely tweeted: "Με τόσους Αφρικανούς στην Ελλάδα..Τουλάχιστον τα κουνούπια του δυτικού Νείλου..θα τρώνε σπιτικό φαγητό!!!")
As her comments were considered "contrary to the values and ideals of the Olympic movement," then John Leonard begging us to doubt the performance of a Chinese swimmer is worse. Leonard embarrasses his great nation and the Olympic sense of fairness & justice.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Stalin & Tip O'Neill ?
There's an unseemly hurry to rename the Cape Cod National Seashore's year round Salt Pond Visitor's Center after former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr.
The problem is that in comparison to a few others, O'Neill's contribution to the creation of the Cape Cod National Seashore was minor. U.S. Rep. Hastings Keith & U.S. Senators Leverett Saltonstall & John F. Kennedy sponsored and pioneered the legislation that created the national park. Further important influences were authors Henry David Thoreau (Cape Cod, 1865) and Henry Beston (The Outermost House, 1928). Although 2012 is the centennial of O'Neill's birth, he's already well-remembered and officially memorialized in assorted other projects, including the Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Library at Boston College, the Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Tunnel of Routes 93, 1 & 3 (Central Artery) through Boston, and the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Federal Building.
It seems unwise to force local people to adopt such name changes. Projects meant to weather the ages should stand above short-term political expediency and partisan brown-nosing. In my opinion, the USA saw far too many things named after actor-President Ronald Reagan. The USSR named many things after Stalin. People hesitate to say "No."
The passage of time, a different sense of reason, or more forthright opposition may lead to another future change of name. Simmering conflict becomes rather insulting...
Best family members of Tip O'Neill decline the honor, or request others be memorialized.
Stalingrad, formerly Tsaritsyn, is now named Volgograd.
Leningrad has been Petrograd and is now Saint Petersburg.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Rich Rancor: Romney a Retard
Mitt Romney has failed to properly handle questions about his wealth & income, his work with Bain & Co., his IRA (individual retirement account) worth $100 million, etc.
But Willard Mitt Romney bit the hand that fed him. His blustering explanations have fueled wider interest in offshore tax havens, investment banking loopholes, private banker links to unsavory foreigners, and how to hide details of who's the beneficial owner of wealth. A recent study (link) estimates the super-rich are hiding between $21-32 trillion ($21,000,000,000,000+) in secret tax havens, assisted by a "bevy of professional enablers in private banking, legal, accounting and investment industries" -- Seem exactly Mitt's kind of people !
Surely many mega rich now fear their furtive world might unravel... they prefer darkness, outside public awareness. Mitt became their enemy, because basically, he's stupid.
But Willard Mitt Romney bit the hand that fed him. His blustering explanations have fueled wider interest in offshore tax havens, investment banking loopholes, private banker links to unsavory foreigners, and how to hide details of who's the beneficial owner of wealth. A recent study (link) estimates the super-rich are hiding between $21-32 trillion ($21,000,000,000,000+) in secret tax havens, assisted by a "bevy of professional enablers in private banking, legal, accounting and investment industries" -- Seem exactly Mitt's kind of people !
Surely many mega rich now fear their furtive world might unravel... they prefer darkness, outside public awareness. Mitt became their enemy, because basically, he's stupid.
Capitalist Treachery
Keep people indebted, keep them dumb, keep 'em hungry...
Republicans and Mitt Romney are preparing the groundwork for a new America. Jobs will become available after the minimum wage is scrapped. The American people will work longer hours, in worse conditions, for less.
The richest among us too readily exploit weakness & suffering in the other 99%
Entrepreneurs & businessmen deserve to enjoy successes stemming from their efforts. The key argument rather is such businesspeople have no right to monopolize all of America's riches. We all deserve decency, a chance to learn, stable community life, leisure time, etc...
The dangers of profit maximization regularly threaten safety and health. This is clear when flimsy minimum standards collapse (link). As long as America's borders are open to trade, jobs will continue to be exported to sweatshops abroad.
In Sweden, the whole society enjoys five or more weeks of paid leisure holiday. The roads are good, education is free, excellent medical care is available to everyone regardless of income.
Republicans and Mitt Romney are preparing the groundwork for a new America. Jobs will become available after the minimum wage is scrapped. The American people will work longer hours, in worse conditions, for less.
The richest among us too readily exploit weakness & suffering in the other 99%
Entrepreneurs & businessmen deserve to enjoy successes stemming from their efforts. The key argument rather is such businesspeople have no right to monopolize all of America's riches. We all deserve decency, a chance to learn, stable community life, leisure time, etc...
The dangers of profit maximization regularly threaten safety and health. This is clear when flimsy minimum standards collapse (link). As long as America's borders are open to trade, jobs will continue to be exported to sweatshops abroad.
In Sweden, the whole society enjoys five or more weeks of paid leisure holiday. The roads are good, education is free, excellent medical care is available to everyone regardless of income.
Tweedledee & Tweedledum
Paul Krugman on Romney's hidden finances:
"I’ve been awe-struck by the way questions about Mr. Romney’s career at Bain Capital, the private-equity firm he founded, and his refusal to release tax returns have so obviously caught the Romney campaign off guard. Shouldn’t a very wealthy man running for president — and running specifically on the premise that his business success makes him qualified for office — have expected the nature of that success to become an issue?"
To me it is more of a question: why are our choices of leadership so poor?... Romney's a fool; Obama is a tool of the oligarchs.
Examine the charter of incorporation granted by states and foreign nations to companies infiltrating our communities. "Limited liability" allows companies to cut-and-run on debts & mistakes, often leaving their huge problems with local people. Should the funds of distant investors be allowed to buy the support of our elected officials? America's people are being shanghai'd -- "induced to do something by means of fraud" --
we're pushed to Elect the fool, or Re-elect the tool.
Fallen Heroes, Wounded Warriors
Why is America at war?
Or to rephrase - why is America still at war in Afghanistan?
Too many people have suffered & died for whatever's the lame answer. All over the world, families grieve for their injured and crippled. Thousands of people suffer psychological trauma from horrendous experiences in the war zones.
It is time the spotlight celebrating Fallen Heroes & Wounded Warriors is turned on our civilian leadership and their financiers.
Lakefront jet-skiing by Mitt Romney might be interrupted by a few sad moments -- sure, politicians & bankers can put on dark clothes and look grim for a few hours, but America's po' families grieve forever, along with the families of enemies abroad.
Vietnam, Laos, Iraq, Afghanistan - the soldiers are expended not for freedom, but so 1% enjoy a fancy lifestyle.
Shared sacrifice?
Or to rephrase - why is America still at war in Afghanistan?
Too many people have suffered & died for whatever's the lame answer. All over the world, families grieve for their injured and crippled. Thousands of people suffer psychological trauma from horrendous experiences in the war zones.
It is time the spotlight celebrating Fallen Heroes & Wounded Warriors is turned on our civilian leadership and their financiers.
Lakefront jet-skiing by Mitt Romney might be interrupted by a few sad moments -- sure, politicians & bankers can put on dark clothes and look grim for a few hours, but America's po' families grieve forever, along with the families of enemies abroad.
Vietnam, Laos, Iraq, Afghanistan - the soldiers are expended not for freedom, but so 1% enjoy a fancy lifestyle.
Shared sacrifice?
Thursday, July 19, 2012
US Military Muscle Cramp
The 31,000 ton USNS Rappahannock recently fired on a small fishing boat off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, killing an Indian fisherman and seriously wounding others of the crew. As the two ships neared each other in the shipping lanes, the US vessel, a 677 ft (206 m) Naval support ship, came to believe the much smaller craft was a potential threat. The 25-foot skiff (which proved ultimately to have no radio and no weaponry), "ignored defensive, non-lethal warnings" by the US Naval vessel before being raked with machine gun fire and partially disabled.
Such incidents are likely to occur.
American troops are deployed in assorted sensitive areas around the world, and must be sensitive to the threat of attack.
How can accident and bloodshed be avoided? Best redeploy in the mainland USA, and slowly shrink the size of the US military -- it is too large, too widely deployed, too expensive. Posting US military forces all around the world generates trouble.
Too often US military presence relies on cozy relationships with despotic and non-democratic unpopular regimes. When we prop-up the hated government, no doubt local people despise our presence. Bring the US troops home.
(photos not to scale)
Such incidents are likely to occur.
American troops are deployed in assorted sensitive areas around the world, and must be sensitive to the threat of attack.
How can accident and bloodshed be avoided? Best redeploy in the mainland USA, and slowly shrink the size of the US military -- it is too large, too widely deployed, too expensive. Posting US military forces all around the world generates trouble.
Too often US military presence relies on cozy relationships with despotic and non-democratic unpopular regimes. When we prop-up the hated government, no doubt local people despise our presence. Bring the US troops home.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Shapely Olympic Females
The 1912 Olympics in Stockholm had 2407 athletes, including 48 women. Team USA did not send any female members - surprisingly, for similar reasons as Saudi Arabia until this year, due largely to modesty. - (link) "because U.S. team rules required women to wear long skirts in all their events, no American women competed."
Monday, July 16, 2012
Field Marshal Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney's claims of loyalty to der Fatherland USA might be doubted. He himself ably avoided service during the Vietnam War, and among his five sons, none achieved the lowest rank of Private. That's because none volunteered for military service (one is training in medicine, others are fast-track finance or real estate executives).
US-based Romney's offshore financial manipulations make him a suspect citizen, otherwise he's cleancut and seems nice (fellow Republican Ted Bundy also seemed honorable, except for his serial killer weaknesses).
If Romney is elected US president, we'll have a chickenhawk leader seeking to prove his toughness through slaughtering other people's sons (and daughters). At 65 years old, Romney hasn't completed any great service projects or exhibited very honorable traits. He's served himself (and perhaps his family). Romney is a whiner and chickenshit, who'll cause great damage to the wider world.
US-based Romney's offshore financial manipulations make him a suspect citizen, otherwise he's cleancut and seems nice (fellow Republican Ted Bundy also seemed honorable, except for his serial killer weaknesses).
If Romney is elected US president, we'll have a chickenhawk leader seeking to prove his toughness through slaughtering other people's sons (and daughters). At 65 years old, Romney hasn't completed any great service projects or exhibited very honorable traits. He's served himself (and perhaps his family). Romney is a whiner and chickenshit, who'll cause great damage to the wider world.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Banks = Bank Thieves?
Another huge financial scandal has been settled, where credit card companies & major banks have agreed to pay retailers up to US$7.25 billion for price fixing. It's likely the largest antitrust settlement in history. (WSJ link)
This just after we learn giant international banks manipulated the LIBOR rate at our expense.
Ultimately and systematically, big finance screws you.
The collusion of these corporations is terrible. Is it criminal? Will hundreds of bankers & finance industry insiders be imprisoned soon for corruption?
Of course not! The corruption is part of the system. Many of the regulators are former or future employees of key financial firms. Some are related by family ties. We can expect no accountability for their 'ignorance' - which all surely deeply regret. Typical format is fines paid by companies, which avoid admitting guilt.
Note the embarrassing family link between former NASDAQ Chairman Bernie Madoff & the Securities & Exchange Commission, where SEC compliance official Eric Swanson married Madoff's niece Shana (she was a compliance lawyer for Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities firm, her dad was Chief Compliance Officer). Corruption, compliance shortcomings and poor regulation helped Madoff & Co. launder tens of billions of dollars. But wrongdoing by most of his cronies & family co-workers is unproved, no charges have been filed - we're told nobody but Bernie knew nothing...
This just after we learn giant international banks manipulated the LIBOR rate at our expense.
Ultimately and systematically, big finance screws you.
The collusion of these corporations is terrible. Is it criminal? Will hundreds of bankers & finance industry insiders be imprisoned soon for corruption?
Of course not! The corruption is part of the system. Many of the regulators are former or future employees of key financial firms. Some are related by family ties. We can expect no accountability for their 'ignorance' - which all surely deeply regret. Typical format is fines paid by companies, which avoid admitting guilt.
Note the embarrassing family link between former NASDAQ Chairman Bernie Madoff & the Securities & Exchange Commission, where SEC compliance official Eric Swanson married Madoff's niece Shana (she was a compliance lawyer for Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities firm, her dad was Chief Compliance Officer). Corruption, compliance shortcomings and poor regulation helped Madoff & Co. launder tens of billions of dollars. But wrongdoing by most of his cronies & family co-workers is unproved, no charges have been filed - we're told nobody but Bernie knew nothing...
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