The Spill: An Olympic Question of Style

2021 Olympic Uniforms Spark Discussion

The new uniforms for the U.S. and Canadian teams have been revealed ahead of the 2021 Olympic showdown in Tokyo. Are they too casual? Too white and crisply boring? Or are they perfect for an Olympic ceremony that was delayed due to the worldwide pandemic? These questions about the style – or lack thereof – of the new clothes for the Olympic teams of the U.S. and Canada are all over social media.

Ralph Lauren has been the U.S. team’s designer since 2008. For the 2021 games, 600 Team USA athletes have a white uniform with red and blue accents and the U.S. flag displayed on shirts and jackets, along with the symbolic embroidered image of the polo player and pony of the Ralph Lauren brand.

“Every four years, Ralph Lauren does its best to dress up our greatest athletes in the most swagless outfits possible,” one angry journalist tweeted – but the cool factor isn’t what the designer was going for. It was a more socially conscious decision.

David Lauren, son of the founder, told reporters that the company opted for more “sustainable materials” and “manufacturing processes.”

Canada opted for denim – again – with a street vibe of scrawled messages that appear to be graffiti. Their look was designed by Levi Strauss – a U.S. company – and Hudson’s Bay of Ontario. Sports journalist Jenna Harner tweeted, “Ahhh yes, Canada going with the ‘20-something girl at brunch’ lewk for the closing ceremonies this Olympics.”

It just proves once again that you can’t please everybody.

A Symbolic Withdrawal of Troops

President Joe Biden is withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan on September 11, two decades after the attack on U.S. soil that prompted what is now the longest war in American history. President Trump had already negotiated with the Taliban a May 1 date for full withdrawal of American troops, however, and Biden will miss that deadline by many months.

The U.S. military invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to destroy the Taliban and al-Qaeda, terrorist organizations believed to be behind the September 11 attack that killed nearly 3,000 Americans. The number of troops increased over the years as congressional leaders continued to fund the effort to keep the Taliban weak and without strength or resources to commit any more attacks on the country. The U.S. also spent billions of dollars in aid to help Afghanistan rebuild. The goals were simple: Remove al-Qaida, remove the Taliban, take out all groups of terrorists, and establish civil protections.

There are 2,600 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan with an additional 7,000 foreign forces – many with NATO. A senior government official said the withdrawal would be coordinated with NATO by following the organization’s slogan “in together, out together.”

Retired Gen. Colin L. Powell agrees with the decision to leave Afghanistan: “I wouldn’t say enough is enough.” Powell was the leader of the State Department during the September 11 attacks and the beginning of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. “I’d say we’ve done all we can do … What are those troops being told they’re there for? It’s time to bring it to an end.”

We Have UFO Footage!

The Pentagon has confirmed leaked images are unidentified vehicles flying over U.S. airspace. These Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), reportedly harassed at least three U.S. warships during military exercises. The footage of three pyramid shaped UAPs was leaked in July 2019 and showed the unidentified objects hovering above the USS Russell off the San Diego coast. More disturbing are the reported bold moves against the ship now on file.

The explosive footage was leaked to documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, who told FOX News, “This is probably the best UFO military filmed footage certainly that I’ve ever seen, but I think also that the world has ever seen.” Former intelligence director John Ratcliffe also has viewed the footage and says these UAPs move at speeds that current technology cannot replicate. At times, movements cannot be explained.

Analysis shows UAPs traveling from space to earth to sea without destruction. Corbell says, “They are gravitationally propelled craft that is trans medium.” After witnessing one UAP plunge into the sea, the Navy sent a submarine to find the wreckage. Nothing was found.

The call from UFO enthusiasts is for the government to open research files and admit there are indeed unidentified flying objects – whether from outer space or our own backyard.

“UFOs are real, and they are here, but we don’t know who they are or the intent,” Corbell said. “That’s no longer a question. You have just not been paying attention.”