SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:06 P.M. ET: 

WELL EXCUSE ME! – The new Muslim mayor of London needs a lesson in diplomacy.  From the Independent:   Sadiq Khan has offered to help Hillary Clinton defeat Donald Trump – pledging his successful campaign as a “template” to hers.  Mr Khan, the new Mayor of London, said he had successfully beaten the Conservatives’ “Donald Trump approach” to elections in last weeks’ vote.  “I think what we’ve shown — and I hope it’s a lesson that Hillary and others in American take on board, hope does ‘trump’ fear, forgive the pun,” he told reporters at the capital’s City Hall, according to the Politico website.  May we remind his honor that we don't require outside help to hold elections, and that his interference in our internal affairs is not appreciated.

THE TROUBLED RIO OLYMPICS – The Rio Olympics start August 5th, but they are mired in fear, warnings, and potential tragedy.  From Fox:   Brazil soccer great Rivaldo is telling tourists to stay away from the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro because of the danger of endemic violence.  Rivaldo posted the warning on his Instagram account and alluded to the case of a 17-year-old woman killed on Saturday in a shootout.  "Things are getting uglier here every day," Rivaldo wrote. "I advise everyone with plans to visit Brazil for the Olympics in Rio — to stay home. You'll be putting your life at risk here. This is without even speaking about the state of public hospitals and all the Brazilian political mess. Only God can change the situation in our Brazil."  This is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  The waters around Rio, required for the long-distance swimmers, are hopelessly polluted.  Pledges to clean them up have not been kept.  There is growing disease.  Some scientists are warning that illnesses acquired at the Olympics could spread around the world.  The dangers will become a major story as the games approach, although there will be serious and irresponsible attempts to minimize them.  Olympics mean big money, and you know what talks.  The well-being of the athletes should be the foremost concern, and it isn't.

LATEST SOCIAL GRIEVANCE – From heatstreet:    The University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health was a lot less healthy this week.  Tovar’s talk, entitled “Dispelling Myths: Fat, Fatphobia, and Challenging Social Stereotypes,” was designed to help students understand that “fat phobia” is rampant in a “white, heteronormative society” that is looking to actively oppress people with larger body types. Society’s bias against fat people is, apparently, a form of bigotry and discrimination, evident in everything from sexual preferences to the size of seats on public transportation.  She even, reportedly, compared society’s anti-fat culture to so-called “rape culture,” and chastised society for its obsession with what she termed “thin privilege.”  According to Tovar, the students, who study public health (at one of the top 10 schools for public health), shouldn’t push people they deem overweight to shed pounds, even if it’s better overall for health. “Weight loss is not a realistic goal for most people,” she said, declaring that exercise and diet are “social constructs.” She implored her audience to “lose hate, not weight” and rebel against “diet culture.” (Diets are, of course, just a tool of the hetero-normative Patriarchy.)  I'm so glad this was cleared up.  I will never again feel guilty digging into a hot-fudge sundae.  Free at last, free at last. 

May 11, 2016