Jay GreesonNot sure what to make of this, but a new Department of Homeland Security report is focusing on which terms are offensive to our foes in the war against radicalized terror groups.
The report suggests we spend nine figures - yes, that's $100 million - to focus on American youths; rejecting terms such as "jihad" and "sharia" are big parts of this effort.
Another big effort would be social media campaigns and the use of technology to try to get American young people not to join terrorist organizations.
Do what?
We're now going to try to wage this war on Twitter.
Buckets. This is not an OMG or emoji conflict.
This is a real-life war that continues to ring up casualties at home and across the globe.
And we're worried about proper diction and social media patterns?
Russians banned
The Russian track and field team has been banned from the upcoming summer Olympics in Rio.
The decision by the IAAF was handed down because of long-standing doping allegations and chicanery. (Side note: That chicanery is a fine word, unless of course it is being used to describe your track and field team or your snake oil sales business.)
The IAAF, like all other international committees, Clinton family members and Pinocchio references around the world, is known for its integrity and honesty.
Or maybe not so much.
The IAAF - which could stand for either the International Association of Athletics Fairness or the Independent Alternative to Actual Facts - is headed by former distance running star Sebastian Coe, who may or may not have known about the Russians using performance-enhancing products and may or may not have profited from that knowledge.
Ah, the purity of the Olympics.
In truth, the Russian track and field team should be sending the IAAF thank-you cards. Considering the Rio games are being held amid uncontrollable violence, in water venues so contaminated that the Babe Ruth candy bar commercials could have multiple meanings and with mosquitoes so big and bad they smoke cigarillos and wear their hats backward, the Russians lucked out.
Here's betting that upon hearing the news, one of those 6-foot-10, 310-pound female Slovokian discus throwers asked for an extra "protein" pack from the medicine cabinet.
Tough task gets tougher
For those among us without a high school diploma, the challenges of making a living are tough enough.
Now, in our part of Tennessee, that chore has become even more daunting.
Those trying to get their GED can no longer get it at Chattanooga State. The relocation of the services from off Amnicola Highway to Athens, Tenn., is a sad day, considering Chattanooga State has been providing adult education class for almost the last three decades.
State officials told the TFP that more area locations are being finalized, and that the Chattanooga Career Center is expected to be among those sites.
Still, removing the class from a centrally located spot that has decades of experience and an accompanying passion is another classic governmental over-think.
Alas.
Until next week.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.