Bits and Bites > The Semi-Tragic Story of the Black Watch

 

Hopefully, those Scottish soldiers of legendary courage 
will not accuse me of cultural appropriation.

The story goes: 

I once had a watch with a black face, but I had to get rid of it as it kept reminding me of our Prime Minister.

Forgive me a little silliness as it seems necessary sometimes to maintain my sanity. That's assuming I have some sanity to begin with - a large assumption, not necessarily supported in reality.

GWM

Can't Discriminate Against Devout Muslims in Sweden

Muslim woman wins handshake discrimination

case in Sweden

By Susan McFarland

(UPI) -- A Swedish court has ruled in favor of a Muslim woman who was cut short at a job interview because she wouldn't shake hands for religious reasons.

Farah Alhajeh, 24, was called to the interview with a company that offers interpretation services via telephone or video. When she declined to shake hands with a male interviewer, he terminated the meeting.

Alhajeh placed her hand over her heart instead, hoping he wouldn't take offense.

The court ruled the company discriminated against Alhajeh and ordered it to pay her $4,350.

Sweden's discrimination ombudsman took the case to court last year to argue for Alhajeh.

The company, whose policy asks employees to treat all colleagues the same regardless of gender, considers germophobia and autism legitimate reasons for not shaking hands.

The company said the move was not directed at Muslims as a whole, noting most male and female Muslims do shake hands.

The court ruling criticized the company's policy "for excluding those people who interpret Islam in the same way" as Alhajeh, but said it doesn't believe the employer's action was intentional.

In other words, devout Muslims. Devout Muslims are far more liable to be redicalized and therefore become possible terrorists. Employers now have to gamble with their employees.

“I came to the absolute conviction that it is impossible…impossible…for any human being to read the biography of Mohammed and believe in it, and then emerge a psychologically and mentally healthy person.” - Syrian Psychiatrist Dr. Wafa Sultan

Hysteria Over Alleged Syrian Chemical Attack Will Result in Disaster

Note: I am not defending Bashar al-Assad here; he is a butcher and a murderer. I am defending truth and sanity, neither of which is evident on the world stage right now.

The mess

Trump, May, Macron and other world leaders and ex-world leaders like Tony Blair are itching to teach Assad a lesson by risking war that would involve Russia and Iran. They seem to be in an extreme hurry to inflict their knee-jerk, emotional response before anyone even investigates to determine if it actually even happened. 

That's how they responded to Khan Sheikoun and a year later they still can't definitively link a chemical attack to Assad. Assad would know that another chemical attack would result in a considerably more damaging response. He just isn't that stupid that he would provoke such a response especially just days after Trump mused about pulling troops out of Syria. That would have been a major win for Assad; only an idiot would have given the US an excuse to change their minds. An idiot, or an enemy!

There are still several rebel groups fighting in Syria against Assad. Some are supported by the USA, some by Saudi Arabia, some by Turkey, and possibly Israel, although I have seen no evidence or even suggestions of that. But Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel would all like to see the US stay in Syria. They would prefer Syria in a state of war rather than in a state of peace with Iran as a close ally. Iran is already rebuilding schools in Syria, Islamic schools, teaching Iran's version of Islam  - Twelver Shia.

The term Twelver refers to its adherents' belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as the Twelve Imams, and their belief that the last Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, lives in occultation and will reappear as the promised Mahdi. According to Shia tradition, the Mahdi's tenure will coincide with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Isa), who is to assist the Mahdi against the Masih ad-Dajjal (literally, the "false Messiah" or Antichrist). - Wikipedia

In reality, the Mahdi is the antichrist, or, at least, the False Prophet of Revelations, and will be destroyed when Jesus returns. Regardless of what you believe, Iranian leadership believes the 12th Imam is set to return soon and it is their responsibility to create absolute chaos in the world to set the stage. Former President Ahmadinejad was quite out spoken in this belief. His successor is less vocal about it but almost certainly believes the same thing, just as the Ayatollah does.

Who is responsible?

So, you can easily see why Turkey and Israel might not want such an influence on their borders. Iran is attempting to spread their influence elsewhere in the Middle East including Yemen. The proxy war they are fighting there puts them right on the border of Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom does not like it much.

So, there are at least 3 major countries who do not want peace to break out in Syria, plus a number of rebel groups, any of which would prefer the Americans to remain and even become more destructive of Assad's forces. 

They are all losing right now and, I'm sure, would do anything to reverse that trend. If that means gassing a few of their own women and children, well, that's a sacrifice they are willing to pay. Palestinians have been doing that for decades. Besides, they would be considered martyrs for Mohammed; why deprive them of that?

There are other possibilities, perhaps more remote, but I can't help but wonder if Deep State is involved in this. Deep State, I believe, represents many very wealthy manufacturers - vehicles, planes, weapons, etc., who found out way back in WWI that war is extremely profitable. Their influence is profound in most western governments and in NATO. This is not a conspiracy theory! Learn the influence that global industrialists had on WWII. They gleefully made vehicles, airplanes, ships, and weapons for all sides of the war. Hitler could never have accomplished his sweep of Europe without their help.

Whomever is behind the apparent use of chemicals in Douma, they are playing Trump, May, Macron and others for the fools they are. There is no moral imperative to punish someone who did nothing to deserve it; in fact, it is morally reprehensible.

It is very disappointing that Tony Blair has learned nothing from the fiasco in Libya and the disaster Khadaffi's murder had on both Libya and Europe with the hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing the Sahara through Libya. I used to like Tony Blair. I used to think he was reasonably intelligent. Now I just wonder if he is on drugs.

The consequences

As much as I hate the fact that Iran is involved in Syria, they have a right to be there having been invited by the legally elected government. Russia is also there by invitation and has, not only a right, but an obligation to be there as an ally. All other countries and rebel forces in Syria have no right to be there, including the USA.

If Trump attacks Syria again, as he did after Khan Sheikoun, only even more viciously, Russia and Iran have every right to respond. They might respond by attempting to shoot down American missiles, or they might respond by destroying bases from which planes or missiles are launched. This certainly means casualties! And, God forbid, they would attack Navy destroyers or submarines for launching cruise missiles. Then there would be serious casualties and the US would certainly respond in kind.

The sensible thing

The sensible thing would be to investigate the incident thoroughly and investigate it with the idea of not just proving it was a Syrian Army action, but that it was not a false flag operation intended to provoke a stupid, knee-jerk reaction by the west.

It is hard to believe that the west is that stupid. But there is always the possibility that they aren't that stupid but are just hoping their citizens are.

The WHO and the OPCW are both trying to get boots on the ground in Douma and Russia has guaranteed the OPCWs safety. Any western response prior to their preliminary reports would be nothing short of insane.

Women-only Spa Stirs Controversy after Transgender 'Woman' Turned Away

Transgender author Jia Qing Wilson-Yang tweets that her wife was told

she wasn't allowed in

CBC News 

The King Street East location of Body Blitz in Toronto is a women-only spa whose policy around transgender women is under fire. (Google Maps)

A popular women-only spa is at the centre of a social media maelstrom after a transgender woman said she was not allowed to enter because of a policy forbidding male genitalia.

Transgender author Jia Qing Wilson-Yang tweeted on Friday that her wife had hoped to make her a surprise appointment at Body Blitz, a water circuit spa with multiple locations in Toronto, but had been told that Wilson-Yang would not be allowed in.

Since then, a flurry of tweets and posts on the spa's Facebook page have seen people lining up on both sides of the debate, with some slamming the policy as discriminatory and others applauding it.

"My home girls and I love this spa!! Thank you for keeping women safe," reads one post on the Body Blitz Facebook page.

"As this city prepares to celebrate and honour its great wonderful diversities, your cowardly bullying actions are truly a revolting juxtaposition," reads another.

NDP critic for LGBT issues wades in

On Tuesday, High Park member of the Ontario Legislature and NDP critic for LGBT issues Cheri DiNovo released a statement criticizing the spa for what she described as "blatant transphobia and violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code." 

"Remember lesbians and gays banned from change rooms of health clubs? This is the same thing," DiNovo was quoted as saying. 

Other people have shared similar stories to Wilson-Yang, with one commenter reporting that a transgender friend had been called shortly before their booking to tell them not to come due to the spa's rule regarding male genitalia. 

Another woman said a staff member told her that the spa's rule was "as long as this is gone," before waving her hand over her pelvis. 

Former client calls for apologies, training

Adam Abramovich, a transgender man who was a client at Body Blitz before transitioning, expressed disappointment in what he described as a poorly thought out policy, in an appearance on CBC Radio's Here and Now on Tuesday.  

"I think it's archaic and narrow-minded for a facility to grant access to people based on their genitals," he said. 

Abramovich, who works with LGBT youth in his capacity as a doctor at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, said the comments supporting Body Blitz that focus on women's safety are also missing the mark. 

"I don't really understand what people are so afraid of. Are they afraid that a trans woman who was enjoying a day at the spa like anyone else is going to assault them?" he asked. 

At least one in five Canadian women over 18 have been sexually abused. That percentage increases of women in their twenties and thirties. A number of those women suffer from PTSD from the abuse and some are barely hanging onto their sanity. Body Blitz is a safe place for these survivors to feel like a normal woman for a change. 

The sight of male genitalia in the midst of a refuge presents a needless risk of triggering someone's PTSD. Also, it is flagrant sexual assault - exposure is still against the law in Canada, although with far-left governments in Toronto and Ottawa, and an extremely sympathetic media, I'm sure it will come off the books soon.

Liberals tout safe-places for LGBTQs, but the thought of one for normal women seems to be untenable for them.

Abramovich is calling on Body Blitz to apologize to the trans community and give staff a "trans 101" crash course. He said the spa should develop a new policy and "understand that when you open up a service that says women only, that trans women should be included because trans women are women." 

Trans women are women in their heads only; they are men in their genitalia! Isn't that obvious?

Body Blitz responds

Body Blitz, whose management declined an interview with CBC Toronto, wrote in an email that they "support the LGBTQ community and recognize that this is a sensitive issue. However, because Body Blitz Spa is a single-sex facility with full-nudity, we are not like other facilities." 

The spa had also responded previously in a Facebook post, saying that the owners are working with a "civil rights professional" over the summer to help create a "clear and fair policy."

What do other women-only spas do?

A representative of Sweetgrass, another women-only spa in Toronto, told CBC Toronto that it does not have any policy in place regarding transgender women — but it plans to seek legal advice to ensure that it's being inclusive to all clientele. 

The situation is different at Sweetgrass, said spa director Monique Joustra, because clients are not nude together and typically wear robes during treatments. 

She said she was "never aware" of a transgender woman coming to the spa, but that doesn't mean none have come, because it's possible they came in and received services without incident. 

28% of 11-15 Year Olds Using Pot in Canada - Highest Rate in the World

A whole generation of Canada's youth going up in smoke

A 2013 UNICEF report found that the prevalence of self-reported cannabis use among youth aged 11, 13 and 15 in the preceding year was highest in Canada at 28 per cent. Findings in other countries included:

Norway — 4%.
Spain — 24%.
The Netherlands — 17%.
United Kingdom — 18%.
U.S. — 22%.

At 28%, more Canadian kids are lighting up than those in countries where pot is legal!

In the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Journal) paper, the authors also compare the experiences with marijuana policies in the Netherlands, Spain, Uruguay and three U.S. states, where cannabis is legal for recreational use.

For example, Spithoff said Uruguay has a model that could be adapted for use in Canada, because it puts public health first. In contrast, the Dutch model hasn't solved the "back door" illegal supply problem.

Uruguay has licensed producers and a government commission that purchases cannabis from growers. The government sells it to individuals through pharmacies. The commission has control over production, quality and prices and has the ability to undercut the illegal market. Uruguay has also set a cutoff for cannabis-impaired driving.  

Education, Suicide, Sanity, Maturity

Frequent pot use by teens is linked to a greater likelihood of incomplete education, suicide attempts and other harmful effects, say researchers in Australia and New Zealand, who suggest their findings should be considered as countries move to decriminalize or legalize cannabis.

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug worldwide, and statistics suggest that adolescents in some countries are starting to use it at a younger age and more heavily.

In 2013, about 23 per cent of students surveyed in Ontario said they’d used cannabis at least once in the previous year, according to an annual report from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The prevalence of past-year cannabis use among Canadians aged 15 years and older was 10 per cent in 2012, the Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey suggested.

Cannabis use is more common among those with low educational attainment, but there’s a debate about whether marijuana use is a marker or a cause. In other words - does it make you stupid or were you stupid in the first place for using it? A study published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry helps to answer some questions.

Long-running studies

Researchers analyzed data on up to 3,765 participants who used marijuana from three long-running studies in Australia and New Zealand. The studies compared those who had never used pot with those who had and their developmental outcomes, which were assessed for the participants up to 30 years of age.

"Study findings suggest that adolescent cannabis use is linked to difficulties in successfully completing the tasks that mark the transition to adulthood," study author Richard Mattick, a professor of drug and alcohol studies at the University of New South Wales and his co-authors concluded.

This is more confirmation of what I have been saying since the late 1970s - pot retards, or stops cold the maturing process of regular users. In my observations this effect is not restricted to any age group. 

"Prevention or delay of cannabis use in adolescence is likely to have broad health and social benefits."

Not even mentioned in this article is the frightening research on use of pot by young teens and a dramatic increase in the likelihood of developing full-blown, permanent schizophrenia.

The findings are relevant given the move in some countries to decriminalize or legalize cannabis, which raises the possibility that the drug might become more accessible to young people, the researchers said.

In the study, those who used marijuana daily before age 17 were less likely to complete high school or earn a degree compared with those who’d never used it.

Cannabis use was associated with increased risk of suicide attempts and later cannabis dependence and use of other illicit drugs, said Merete Nordentoft, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Copenhagen, in a journal commentary published with the study.

Harms of frequent cannabis use

Nordentoft said the "convincing results" are valuable and appropriate given several U.S. states and countries in Latin America and Europe have decriminalized or legalized cannabis and allow unrestricted marketing of the drug.

Increasing evidence shows that brain development during adolescence can be harmed by frequent cannabis use and cognitive functions can be permanently reduced, she said.

Young people need to develop and mature and prepare themselves to meet demands in adult life.

"Cannabis use, especially frequent use, impairs this development and reduces the likelihood that a young person will be able to establish a satisfactory adult life," Nordentoft concluded.

The researchers acknowledged that the measurements were based on self-reported data, which could lead to over-reporting or under-reporting of cannabis use. They said rates of cannabis use by young people in their study are similar to those in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., but the social and legislative context of cannabis varies between regions.

The study was funded by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council.