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Sunday, May 26, 2024

Biden Makes A Mockery Of Gender Equality

 As students throughout the country wrap up the school year, they head into summer with the knowledge that their places of learning will likely be vastly different when they return.

On April 29, President Joe Biden’s Department of Education officially published its sweeping rewrite of the Title IX rule, which will go into effect on August 1. As a result of this new policy, the trend of biological males using women’s restrooms and locker rooms, until now mostly confined to far-left jurisdictions, will now be a protected act in the entire country under federal civil rights law.

As Kristen Waggoner, president of the Alliance Defending Freedom, put it in a recent op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, “Virtually every school in the nation that takes federal money will now have to allow boys who identify as girls to enter girls’ physical education classes, locker rooms, showers and bathrooms. Schools will be compelled to disregard the rights of women and girls in favor of a male’s subjective and sometimes temporary feelings.”

Retired lawyer and psychology professor Joachim Mathias Mannheiner, a prominent figure in shaping youth policy for the German government in the 1980s, told me that Biden’s Title IX rewrite is a “treacherous, upside-down rule.” He added that he believes the new rule will “undermine cohesion in American society,” calling it “utterly divisive and unfair,” especially for women and girls.

Attorney Candice Jackson, who served as Acting Assistant Secretary in the Department of Education during the Trump administration, has also warned that Biden’s Title IX rewrite creates a “corollary legal consequence” for schools. Specifically, the new rules, she said, could imply that schools must consider parents who do not “affirm” their child’s self-professed transgender identity to be abusive and report them to child protective services. 

The new Title IX rules will also be particularly detrimental for girls’ sports, denying many the opportunity to compete in school athletics and putting those who do at significantly increased risk of injury.

For instance, during a women’s high school field hockey match in Massachusetts last fall, a male player who identified as a girl hit an opposing player in the face with the ball, causing her to fall to the ground and scream in pain. In February, another male transgender athlete in Massachusetts reportedly injured three girls during a single women’s basketball game, causing that team to forfeit.

In another instance, a female soccer player in Australia had her leg broken in two places by a male who identifies as transgender. According to a report from The Telegraph, the victim was a five-foot-six player who weighed less than 130 pounds, while the male who injured her was six-foot-two and weighed nearly 200 pounds. The injured girl had to retire from her sporting career.

Payton McNabb, a former North Carolina high school volleyball player who was injured by a male during a 2022 match, still suffers from lasting physical and mental injuries.

Men identifying as women have also stolen titles and prizes from female athletes – something which Biden’s Title IX rewrite further paves the way for.

The most famous such case is that of Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who has spoken out against males competing in women’s sports. In 2022, Riley tied male transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the NCAA Division I women’s swimming championships. During the awards ceremony, the NCAA denied Gaines her trophy and spot on the podium, instead giving it to Thomas.

Taylor Silverman, a female skateboarder from Michigan, has spoken out about how males identifying as women are now taking over that niche sport as well. In one instance, a male skateboarder who identifies as a woman beat out Silverman for the top spot at an event in 2022, denying her the $5,000 grand prize.

Earlier this month in Oregon, Aayden Gallagher, a male athlete competing in high school women’s track and field events, won the 200-meter race with a time of 25.49 seconds – shattering the prior 30-second state record set by a biological female. It seems unlikely any female will ever be able to beat that time.

“Instead of inclusion, it is a mockery of women’s sports,” Professor Mannheiner said of the implications of Biden’s Title IX rules, adding that moral leaders in American academia needed to be more vocal. He also said that mandating teachers and students use “preferred pronouns,” as is required in the new Title IX rules, amounts to an attack on democracy since it denies free speech.

French philosopher and mathematician Professor Dr. Roul Descoteaux, who is Catholic, told me he believes the Title IX rule is more than just a legal atrocity, and is in fact a “violation of natural law itself – a denial that all cells of the body testify to a person’s real identity.”

“This is an identity which God created for us,” he continued, adding that what Biden is attempting is a form of thought control straight out of George Orwell’s 1984. “I am at a loss for words, but it would take bravery to oppose [the rules]. It is unfair, it is an injustice,” he said.

Injustice, indeed – but soon it will be the law of the land.

https://amac.us/newsline/society/biden-makes-a-mockery-of-gender-equality/

Dental aligners market to increase by 14 per cent CAGR through 2033 : GlobalData

The dental aligners market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the increasing prevalence of malocclusion and a growing demand for orthodontic treatments. This growth is also fueled by technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, and the psychosocial benefits of dental aligners. With a market value of $6.2 billion in 2023, the sector is poised for significant expansion with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14 per cent during 2023-33, according to GlobalData.

GlobalData’s report, “Dental Aligners Market Size by Segments, Share, Regulatory, Reimbursement, Procedures and Forecast to 2033,” reveals that Align Technology still dominates the aligners market with over 50 per cent market share and its nearest competitors Dentsply Sirona and ClearCorrect (Straumann) at only 5-6 per cent each.

Ashley Clarke, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “In recent years, demand for dental aligners has skyrocketed. They address the health, aesthetic, and psychosocial aspects of malocclusion while often being more comfortable and aesthetic than traditional appliances like braces, making them appealing to adults, and increasingly popular amongst teens and adolescents.”

An influx of patients seeking discreet dental treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the market doubling in value between 2020 and 2021. However, the market is susceptible to volatility due to sensitivity to economic fluctuations that impact consumer spending. Inflation and economic downturns can pose challenges for competitors to maintain their market presence and profitability.

SmileDirectClub, a key player in the market, abruptly shut down at the end of December 2023, opening avenues for competitors to capture market share, while also making consumers uneasy about these direct-to-consumer businesses.

Clarke continues, “In the wake of SmileDirectClub’s exit, there is an opportunity for competitors to refine their practices and enhance care standards to build trust with consumers and the medical community. Reinforcing the perception of dental aligners as a safe and effective treatment option is a key aspect of continuing the recent market growth.”

While aligners offer numerous benefits, they are not suitable for all dental cases, and their success heavily relies on patient compliance. The cost and availability of treatments also remain significant barriers for many potential patients. Technological innovations are making aligner treatments more economical, predictable, and capable of addressing complex dental issues. However, competitors must prioritise innovation, market penetration, and consumer education to succeed.

“Diversity in malocclusion cases presents a wide array of demographic targets, suggesting vast untapped opportunities for those who can effectively address market barriers and adapt to consumer needs. Despite challenges such as economic volatility and treatment limitations, the market’s potential remains expansive. Success will hinge on addressing affordability and access while maintaining high standards of care and patient education,” concludes Clarke.

https://www.expresshealthcare.in/trade-trends/dental-aligners-market-to-increase-by-14-per-cent-cagr-through-2033-globaldata/443593/

Hamas Says It Captured Members Of Israeli Force In Ambush

 Via Middle East Eye

Hamas said Palestinian fighters captured members of an Israeli force in an ambush inside the Gaza Strip on Saturday, a claim denied by the Israeli military. 

Abu Obaida, spokesman for the group's armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, said fighters killed, wounded or captured members of the Israeli force during fighting in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

He did not say how many had been abducted and provided no further information about their identities. He said more details would follow soon. 

"Our fighters lured a Zionist force into an ambush inside a tunnel ... The fighters withdrew after they left all members of the force dead, wounded, and captured," Abu Obaida said in a recorded message broadcast by Al Jazeera early on Sunday.

The Israeli military was quick to deny the claim. "The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) clarifies that there is no incident in which a soldier was abducted," a military spokesperson said in a statement.

Abu Obaida's message was followed by a video released [warning: graphic] by al-Qassam Brigades showing fighters pulling inside a tunnel a man who appeared to be unconscious. He was pulled alongside military gear. 

The video separately showed three semi-automatic rifles and other military gear that Hamas said were taken from the captured Israelis. Middle East Eye could not independently verify when or where the video was filmed.  

The comments by Abu Obaida came after weeks of renewed intense close-quarter combat across the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, according to Israeli and Palestinian media. 

The Israeli military sent tanks and troops to Rafah and north Gaza in fresh attacks early in May. The advances have been met by some of the fiercest resistance by Hamas and other Palestinian groups, especially in the Jabalia refugee camp.

The heavy fighting has coincided with an increase in carpet bombing by Israeli jets, flattening neighborhoods in Jabalia and Rafah

Meanwhile on Sunday rockets were launched from Gaza on Tel Aviv, a first in months:

Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since 7 October, the majority of them children and women according to Gaza Health Ministry figures.

Palestinians have killed more than 1,500 Israelis in the same period, the majority of them during the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on 7 October. 

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/hamas-says-it-captured-members-israeli-force-ambush

Boeing employees' safety, quality concerns after incidents surge as deadline looms

 Boeing released its annual safety report on Friday which showed a dramatic increase in submissions by employees about safety and product quality concerns as the aerospace giant readies a report for regulators to increase its production.

The company's third annual safety report found that in early 2024 there was a 500% increase in the use of Boeing's Speak Up tool for employees to submit reports about their concerns in the wake of a Jan. 5 incident in which a Boeing 737 Max 9 door plug panel blew off in mid-flight, forcing the airliner to return to Oregon's Portland International Airport for an emergency landing. Several other incidents involving Boeing aircraft also intensified the public scrutiny of the company.

The news comes as Boeing prepares to release a plan aimed at assuring regulators that the company has adequately addressed safety concerns in manufacturing processes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February ordered Boeing to compile a comprehensive plan aimed at correcting quality-control issues. 

The report is due on May 30 and will be used by the FAA in determining whether it will allow Boeing to increase production of the 737 Max, including the Max 9 variant.

Boeing referred FOX Business to comments made by outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun at the company's annual meeting this month in which he said: "We proactively seek the inputs of our people, as demonstrated by the active participation and suggestions of our employees during stand downs following the accident and their engagement in various channels for speaking up that are accessible to all of our people. And our policies strictly prohibit retaliation of any kind." 

The report's release comes a day after FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker warned last week in an interview on ABC News that Boeing has a "long road ahead" as it looks to address quality-control issues and ramp up its manufacturing.

"What we're seeing next week is the plan going forward. It's not the end of the process. It's the beginning, and it's going to be a long road to get going back where they need to be making safe airplanes," Whitaker said.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview Sunday on NBC News' "Face the Nation" that there is "an encouraging part and a concerning part" of the Boeing report and the increase in employee submissions.

"The encouraging part is we want Boeing, and any producer in the aviation space, to have a culture of, if you see something, say something. We want to make sure those mechanisms for reporting work. We have both whistleblower mechanisms to let us know something directly at the FAA, but in a healthy company, that should also be happening within the company."

Buttigieg was asked whether the hold would remain in place after Boeing submits its report and responded, "They're gonna have to do more to demonstrate their readiness to safely increase production. And again, obviously, the goal is for them to do so, but only on a safe and healthy basis."

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/boeing-employees-safety-quality-concerns-surge-wake-incidents-deadline-looms

Cocaine, Meth Found In Tractor-Trailers During California Border Searches

 By Trucker News

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a California commercial facility made two major drug seizures recently. The interceptions of illegal drugs found in tractor-trailers included:

  • 400 pounds of cocaine 

  • 11,469 pounds of methamphetamine

Cocaine found in a truck's fuel tank; Source: Custom and Border Protection

Cocaine found in fuel tank

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Port Commercial Facility discovered over 400 pounds of cocaine concealed in a tractor-trailer’s fuel tanks on Friday, May 17.

At approximately 9 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 35-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer and empty trailer applying for entry from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility. The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor and empty trailer.

In the secondary inspection area, a CBP canine unit screened the tractor-trailer and alerted officers to examine the fuel tanks.

After an intensive examination, CBP officers discovered packages hidden in a non-factory compartment inside both fuel tanks of the semi-truck. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as cocaine, with a total of 160 packages extracted weighing 412.26 pounds.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and commercial tractor-trailer while the driver was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation

“The continued success of OFO canine teams in the detection of narcotics is a team effort,” stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Ports of Otay Mesa. “We will continue to conduct operations, including Operation Apollo, while leveraging intelligence and investigative information to target drug traffickers’ supply chains.”

Over $18 million in meth found in squash

CBP officers working at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered $18 million dollars’ worth of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of squash.

On Monday, May 20, at about 6:47 a.m., CBP officers encountered a 44-year-old male driving a commercial tractor-trailer with a shipment manifested for squash. The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor-trailer and shipment.  

Non-intrusive scanning technology was utilized to conduct a full scan of the tractor-trailer. After examination, irregularities were observed and CBP officers requested a CBP human and narcotics detection canine. The canine team responded and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. 

CBP officers discovered and extracted a total of 1,419 packages concealed within the shipment of squash. The narcotics were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a total weight of 11,469 pounds with an estimated street value of $18,350,400.

“Our officers’ commitment to duty, excellence, and the safety of our nation is truly commendable. These results serve as an outstanding display of effectiveness in thwarting the illegal importation of narcotics,” stated Rosa E. Hernandez, Otay Mesa Area Port Director. “Their exceptional efforts truly embody the highest standards of service.”

CBP officers seized the narcotics, commercial tractor, and trailer while the driver was turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) for further investigation.

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/cocaine-meth-found-tractor-trailers-during-california-border-searches

Sinaloa's Top Assassin Extradited To US For Flooding Nation With Fentanyl

 The US Justice Department announced on Saturday the extradition of a top assassin for the Sinaloa drug cartel to the US who was recently arrested by Mexican authorities. The cartel has been responsible for flooding America with fentanyl via the Biden administration's open southern borders, sparking the worst overdose drug crisis this nation has ever seen. 

Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as "El Nini," one of America's most-wanted criminals, was extradited to the US for his role in "illicit fentanyl trafficking."

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland released this statement: 

"This morning, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as 'El Nini,' was extradited to the United States. We allege El Nini was one of the Sinaloa Cartel's lead sicarios, or assassins, and was responsible for the murder, torture, and kidnapping of rivals and witnesses who threatened the cartel's criminal drug trafficking enterprise.

"We also allege El Nini was a part of the Sinaloa Cartel's production and sale of fentanyl, including in the United States. I am grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending and extraditing El Nini. 

"With this enforcement action, El Nini joins the growing list of cartel leaders and associates indicted in, and extradited to, the United States. The Justice Department will continue to go after the cartels responsible for flooding our communities with fentanyl and other drugs."

The majority of Americans will never forget the disastrous open southern borders, flooding the nation with ten million unvetted illegal aliens and fentanyl, that has caused chaos and death from coast to coast. The US drug death catastrophe has now exceeded the entire Vietnam War every six months. Most of this is linked to fentanyl-laced narcotics pushed by Mexican cartels. 

News from Baltimore this week, just north of the White House, shows the imploding metro area run by radical Democrats (half-century of Democratic control) has been crowned the overdose capital of America. 

Source: NYT 

Remember, Nancy Pelosi got her political start in Baltimore - yet she's too focused on trading stocks than actually caring about issues plaguing the working poor and black community. The very fact that federal, state, and local progressive lawmakers care very little about enforcing common sense law and order, not just at the southern border but in metro areas, has sparked monumental failures and led to surges in the drug death catastrophe nationwide. 

Americans must demand accountability at the polls this November for the chaos radical leftists who pushed failed open southern borders, embraced Soros-backed DAs and mayors, and failed criminal and social justice reforms that have only ignited crime and chaos nationwide. 

Don't worry. Americans will never get accountability from the radical left because as they try to install a socialist hellhole, they will flee to their second, third, and or fourth homes on liberal elite islands, such as Martha's Vineyard. 

You know, if Trump wins in November - it's game over for the cartels. It's time to get serious - also, potentially hitting Mexican banks with sanctions. Follow the money. Why can't the Biden team do that? 

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/sinaloas-top-assassin-extradited-us-flooding-nation-fentanyl

Big Tobacco and the Psychiatric Drug Industry

 By Sheila Gallo

The psychiatric drug industry and Big Tobacco share striking similarities in their tactics, particularly when it comes to downplaying the risks associated with their products and targeting vulnerable populations like youths.  The psychiatric community has gotten away with pretending it is based in science and medicine to sell its snake oil, whereas the tobacco industry wasn’t so lucky.

A key difference lies in the government's stance — whereas tobacco companies face increasing regulations and warnings, the psychiatric drug industry enjoys substantial government support and promotion despite the existence of black box warnings on many of its medications.   Both industries have a history of misleading marketing practices and minimizing potential harms.

Big tobacco companies notoriously concealed for decades evidence linking smoking to lung cancer and other diseases.  Similarly, psychiatric drug manufacturers have been accused of selectively publishing favorable trial data and underreporting adverse effects.

Despite black box warnings — the FDA's strongest safety alert — on many psychiatric medications, Big Pharma’s marketing often portrays an overly rosy picture.  A prime example is antidepressants carrying a black box warning about increased suicidality risk in youth.  Yet these drugs continue to be heavily promoted, with limited emphasis on this severe side-effect.  Worse yet, antidepressants are not approved for under-18s, and still they are prescribed off-label to the age group in increasing numbers.  Atypical antipsychotics like Seroquel and Zyprexa also bear a black box warning about increased mortality risk in elderly dementia patients, but their use in this vulnerable population remains widespread.
Moreover, both industries have targeted youth, securing future customers through early exposure and addiction.  Big Tobacco's calculated efforts to market to adolescents are well documented.  Many of us remember getting boxes of candy cigarettes as children.  The tips of the candy cigarettes were even painted red to simulate that they were lit.  Likewise, the psychiatric drug industry has been criticized for driving the dramatic rise in childhood psychiatric diagnoses and medication use, despite limited long-term safety data.

However, a crucial difference emerges in the government's approach.  Tobacco companies face intense scrutiny, with advertising restrictions, graphic health warnings on packaging, and mounting litigation.  In contrast, the psychiatric drug industry enjoys considerable government financial support, and a lack of stringent oversight.
Government agencies like the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) actively promote psychiatric medication use, often minimizing or omitting mention of black box warnings.  School systems and foster care readily embrace psychotropic drugging of children, sometimes without proper consent.  Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies wield immense lobbying power, shaping mental health policies and curricula. 

Whereas the harms of smoking are widely accepted, psychiatric conditions remain poorly defined, lacking any scientific proof that they even exist as an abnormality in the brain, allowing the psychiatric drug industry to operate with less public scrutiny.  Additionally, the medical establishment's embrace of the chemical imbalance theory of mental illness has solidified psychotropic drugs as the dominant treatment paradigm, despite the theory finally being debunked in 2022 by Professor Joanna Moncrieff and Dr. Mark Horowitz.

Unlike Big Tobacco, which profits from maintaining addiction, the psychiatric drug industry can present itself as providing medical treatment for alleged disorders, shielding itself from harsh criticism.  This veneer of therapeutic intent, combined with deep institutional ties and lobbying clout, has allowed the industry to expand relatively unencumbered compared to its tobacco counterpart.  In short, no one — no governing body — has ever requested that the psychiatric community prove that even one diagnosis alleged by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) exists as an abnormality of the brain.  To date, the science of psychiatric diagnosing consists entirely of lists of behaviors, with the APA deciding what behaviors are abnormal.

In essence, although both industries prioritize profits over public health and target vulnerable groups like youths, the psychiatric drug industry has managed to embed itself within the medical-government establishment in a way Big Tobacco never could. 

Black box warnings exist for many psychiatric medications, but unlike tobacco's graphic packaging warnings, these are often overshadowed by aggressive marketing and institutional support for psychotropic treatment.  As public awareness grows regarding psychiatric medication risks, particularly for children and adolescents, increased scrutiny, and regulation akin to Big Tobacco, may become necessary. 

Perhaps prioritizing non-pharmacological interventions, informed consent, and restricting marketing could help realign the system toward a more balanced, ethical approach to mental health care. 

Ultimately, both industries have engaged in unethical practices that undermine public well-being.  However, the psychiatric drug industry's ability to operate under the guise of medical treatment, coupled with powerful institutional backing, has allowed it to avoid the level of public condemnation and stringent regulation faced by big tobacco, despite carrying similarly severe black box warnings.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2024/05/big_tobacco_and_the_psychiatric_drug_industry.html