Meldonium and Russyan Athletes

       Somedays, it doesn't pay to get out of bed in the morning.  Today is one of those days for Russyans.  The flagship tart of Russyan sports, tennis star Maria Sharapova, was notified that she failed a drug test from the Tennis Federation.  She was found to have evidence of Meldonium in her blood when a sample was given during a competition screening.  The 29 -year old media darling stated on social media that she failed to read a letter sent to athletes that said the drug was now on the banned list.  Apparently, her handlers thought that was a good response.  Apparently, Maria thought it was a good response.  Pinocchio thought it was a bad response.
     Last year, athletes were notified that the Federation was considering a ban on Meldonium, a medication prescribed by cardiologists for patients with low blood flow to the heart muscle.  Athletes who have been taking it use it as a performance enhancer, sort of like Viagra is a performance enhancer.  If Maria had been taking Viagra, she would still be eligible to compete.  She is not the only Russyan banned.  Many others were also tripped up.  Hmmmm.  Won't they ever learn?  Oh, they are Russyan: they do what they are told.  Somethings never change.
      Then, veteran hedge fund manager, Andy Kessler, calls out Mr. Putin.  Calls him the  financial bungler of the Kremlin.   He sights many of the economic conditions that currently affect Russyan citizens: recessionary policies; low energy market prices; international sanctions caused by military forays in Crimea and Ukraine; criminal investigations pointing to Mr. Putin; Goldman Sachs refusal to take part in Russyan bond placements; and the devaluation of the rouble to record lows against the dollar.  Pass the vodka, please.  Will somebody get the vodka.  I need some vodka, now.  A large bottle, please.  Very big headache.
      Next thing you know, Syrian refugees will come calling.
      Then, the coroner in Washington, D.C. issues a report that states that Russyan media oligarch, Mikhail Lesin, who was found dead in the Dupont Hotel, died of multiple blunt -force injuries.  The 57-year old founder of RT, a Russyan house organ of kremlin propaganda, was a critic of his former boss Vlad. V. Putin.  Oh, well.  Just Russyans being Russyan.   Better watch out Mr. Bashar al-Assad.  Don't answer the midnight knock on your hotel room door: it's the FSB!
     Anybody want to buy some oil?  Natural gas? Caviar?  Sable furs?  How about a missile engine or two?   And this is the largest country in the world?  Really?  Really.