Saturday, March 31, 2018
Cambridge Analytica, Catalist and Soros
The media are trying to make a scandal where there is none. The same media that swooned over Obama’s use of technology for data mining in 2012 and 2008. Scott Walter of CRC reports:
“Obama’s 2008 social media juggernaut was powered by a little-known entity that my organization, the Capital Research Center, has reported on extensively: a for-profit (therefore non-disclosing) data firm named Catalist.
Catalist is arguably the professional Left’s best-kept secret. The company was started in 2006 by two Clinton operatives with $1 million in seed money from George Soros. Because Soros and groups like the Tides Foundation keep Catalist well-funded, it can apparently afford to sell its political services to Democratic campaigns at below-market rates, which led to complaints being lodged with the Federal Election Commission in 2015, claiming Catalist violated campaign collusion laws.
This data giant enjoys close ties to the Democracy Alliance, a network of the biggest donors in left-wing politics. In-house Democracy Alliance strategy slides obtained in 2014 by the Washington Free Beacon show how the “legal firewall” separating campaigns from outside nonprofits can be bypassed by friendly “data, analytics, and research LLCs” like Catalist (and by political “investors”).
. . . In short, don’t buy the story that Zuckerberg and the mainstream media are peddling. It’s just untrue that one political outfit uncorked a genie in 2016 that no one had ever seen before”
http://dailycaller.com/2018/03/26/hey-zuck-cambridge-analytica-wasnt-the-first-of-its-kind/?
New Hampshire, Ohio, and West Virginia experiencing the highest drug overdose death rates
“Death rates for overdoses involving highly potent synthetic opioids other than methadone -- including illicitly manufactured fentanyl as well as the prescription kind -- more than doubled from 2015 to 2016, propelling an overall increase in opioid deaths of 27.9% in that one-year period, according to the CDC.
Synthetic opioids were present in 19,413 overdose deaths in 2016, up from 9,580 deaths in 2015, reported Puja Seth, PhD, of the CDC in Atlanta and colleagues in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. They accounted for 30.5% of all drug overdose deaths and 45.9% of all opioid-involved deaths in 2016.” Summary from Medpage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/opioids/72068
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/fentanyl
At least in Ohio, where we often hear evening news reports on the problems of drug abuse in the suburbs, there needs to be a new approach and for researchers to do something other than looking at poverty, lack of education, various political disparities, and ghetto or rural life styles. Researchers have pathologized certain races, neighborhoods and income groups for so long, they’ve lost their way or just have no new ideas to meet this crisis.
Here’s an example from NIDA: “Opioid addiction is often described as an “equal opportunity” problem that can afflict people from all races and walks of life, but while true enough, this obscures the fact that the opioid crisis has particularly affected some of the poorest regions of the country, such as Appalachia, and that people living in poverty are especially at risk for addiction and its consequences like overdose or spread of HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers people on Medicaid and other people with low-income to be at high risk for prescription drug overdose.” That may be true—but that doesn’t answer what’s happening in Worthington and Upper Arlington.
Read the comments to this NIDA explanation. It’s worth your time.
This Columbus area rehab center has an interesting blog. https://www.columbusrecoverycenter.com/2018/03/
Friday, March 30, 2018
Soros tentacles are everywhere
When the U.S. destabilizes other governments with the help of George Soros funded organizations, refugees flood other countries—even our own. https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-sues-soros-documents-files-foia-lawsuits-state-department-usaid-records-funding-political-activities-george-soros-open-society-founda/
Our tax dollars go to NGOs such as:
The Soros Open Society Foundations of Romania
The Romanian Center for Independent Journalism (Soros funded)
The Soros Open Society Foundations of Colombia
“Judicial Watch is pursuing information about Soros’ activities in Macedonia and Albania, as well. The former Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski reportedly called for a “de-Sorosization” of society. In February 2017, Judicial Watch reported that the U.S. government has quietly spent millions of taxpayer dollars to destabilize the democratically elected, center-right government in Macedonia in collusion with George Soros.”
Sugar or starch
“The distinction between sugar and starch is largely meaningless from a biological perspective. The key public health challenge today is to reduce intake of all highly processed carbohydrates in favor of whole carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, legumes and minimally processed grains) and healthful fats (like nuts, avocado and olive oil).” I think he doesn’t want me to enjoy French Fries at the Rusty Bucket (our Friday night date site).
Dr. David Ludwig
See entire interview about refined carbs. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2015/12/16/dr-david-ludwig-clears-up-carbohydrate-confusion/
He says you can eat cereal without sugar, or sugar without the cereal, but below the neck, it’s all the same.
Why privacy matters
Watch this YouTube video by Glenn Greenwald to find out why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=pcSlowAhvUk It's 4 years old and yet really applies to millions of people giving up not only their own privacy, but that of their friends.
Watching HGTV—and all that stuff
We have friends whose mother lived in Arizona in a tiny mobile home the last decade of her life. She used to come and spend several weeks at Lakeside with them in the summer in her 90s. Just as sharp as a tack. She had so pared down her material goods, that she had almost nothing—by choice. She said when she died, they should just roll her “home” over a cliff. Now obviously, they didn’t do that, but she’d had a full life, and at the end, didn’t want to spend her moments left taking care of things.
I’m not there yet. Still have a problem with print and paper. . . everywhere. Every time I pull books to donate (like this week) I can always suggest things for Bob to toss, but Monday he asked me about my Latin I and II books from high school, and they are still here on the shelf. But it did get me to thinking. Don’t know if the library sale really wants textbooks from the 1950s when I used to scribble in margins.
One of our favorite cable channels is HGTV (particularly Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna) and although it’s been an evolution, I can hardly believe how much more luxuriously Americans live than in the 1970-1980s when everyone was talking about how we had too much stuff! Fixer Upper has its own blog. We just loved the show this week about redoing a 100 year old restaurant. https://www.hgtv.com/shows/fixer-upper
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Cleaning out the book shelves--again
3 novels in Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop, HC
Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken, PB
Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer, PB
Alan Bloom, Closing of the American Mind, 1987, HC
Ulrich Kellerer, One moment can change your life, 2017, PB
Viral Dalal, Choosing light, 2017, PB
Rebecca Smith|Galli, Rethinking possible, 2017, PB
Bret Stephens, America in retreat, 2014, HC
And one in the pile went back on the shelf as I was typing the list. That’s what’s so hard about clearing out my office.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Sex is not a social policy
“Modern science shows that our sexual organization begins with our DNA and development in the womb, and that sex differences manifest themselves in many bodily systems and organs, all the way down to the molecular level. In other words, our physical organization for one of two functions in reproduction shapes us organically, from the beginning of life, at every level of our being.
Cosmetic surgery and cross-sex hormones can’t change us into the opposite sex. They can affect appearances. They can stunt or damage some outward expressions of our reproductive organization. But they can’t transform it. They can’t turn us from one sex into the other.”
You’re missing the point if you believe this is about Trump’s campaign
Eight years ago, Ian Bogost created a silly app for Facebook called Cow Clicker, and inadvertently collected a lot of data on people who signed on the play his time waster (by his admission). He still has it. This is not, in my opinion, about the Cambridge Analytica “scandal.” That hyperbolic hysteria only exists because of Trump’s presidency. Obama’s campaign did the same thing in 2012. It’s a problem because millions of apps have been created, so no one really knows what has happened to that data Facebook users willingly gave away. If they weren’t trying to bring down Trump, it probably would have become an issue, although it shouldn’t have been happening.
He writes, “Cow Clicker’s example is so modest, it might not even seem like a problem. What does it matter if a simple diversion has your Facebook ID, education, and work affiliations? Especially since its solo creator (that’s me) was too dumb or too lazy to exploit that data toward pernicious ends. But even if I hadn’t thought about it at the time, I could have done so years later, long after the cows vanished, and once Cow Clicker players forgot that they’d ever installed my app.
This is also why Zuckerberg’s response to the present controversy feels so toothless. Facebook has vowed to audit companies that have collected, shared, or sold large volumes of data in violation of its policy, but the company cannot close the Pandora’s box it opened a decade ago, when it first allowed external apps to collect Facebook user data. That information is now in the hands of thousands, maybe millions of people.”
In some ways, this reminds me of the Henrietta Lacks story, where her cell line was used without compensation to her and her dependents. FB users gave away the data; FB then sold them and Zuckerberg became one of the richest people in the world.
Baltimore has highest murder rate—helps illegals with special fund
“Less than a year after Baltimore prosecutors ordered staff not to charge illegal immigrants with minor, non-violent crimes because it could get the offenders deported, Maryland’s largest city will hire immigration attorneys to help those facing removal. It’s important to note that Baltimore has the nation’s highest per capita homicide rate and has been coined the deadliest big city in the United States by a mainstream newspaper. Nevertheless, a city panel approved spending $200,000 this month to pay for lawyers to represent illegal aliens with deportation orders. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh says in a local news report that the goal is for everyone to get due process. “We’re not making a decision as to their status, we’re making the decision to be supportive of individuals who live in our city,” according to the mayor.”
Sentences that make you go, Hmmmm. “During the early years of the Obama administration, Highlandtown residents were occasionally targeted, though by the end of his second term, Martinez and other immigrants here said, they felt more at ease.” Yes, I imagine they did.
The mayor of Baltimore needs an expensive PR campaign to explain all of this. https://baltimorebrew.com/2018/01/10/pugh-hires-240-per-hour-media-consultant-with-city-funds/
Comparing Trump to Reagan--Heritage
“2017 was a banner year for conservative policy victories. On that score, President Trump can confidently stack his record right up there next to President Reagan’s first year.”
“By year’s end, the Trump administration had withdrawn or delayed 1,500 proposed regulations. It has made a difference. On Dec. 14, the administration reported that the regulatory rollback had saved the American economy $8.1 billion, and would save another $9.8 billion in fiscal 2019.”
Toys R Us eliminated its customer base—blames low birth rate!
“Competition is fierce among retail stores, and Toys R Us tried to respond.
“Just a few months ago,” reports USA Today, “Toys R Us CEO David Brandon had mapped out a goal of upgrading online sales, renovating stores and introducing augmented reality into the shopping experience.” It didn’t work. And in any case, that’s only part of the story.
Toys R Us did not just fall behind its competition. It promoted the eradication of its future customer base. One doesn’t need a Harvard MBA to see that that’s a bad idea.
You see, for years, Toys R Us funded Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading promoter and provider of abortions and contraception. This is a company that has many stores called Babies R Us!”
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/toys-r-us-contributes-to-its-corporate-death-wish
Also supports gay marriage. https://www.2ndvote.com/business-entity/toys-r-us/
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Facebook, Zuckerberg and data mining for votes
More housecleaning
We took a load to Volunteers of America this morning, saying good-by to:
Kitty carrier—served our 3 cats from 1976-2016
Kitty litter box with detachable lid, bright pink
Small pillow with sides for the cat
Black drapery pole
Black men’s dress shoes size 8
Robert Bruce label sweater
Singer Sewing machine purchase in 1960
Rubber ring chair seat for surgery
puppy pads
small coffee maker
And then on to the Lane Rd branch of our library to drop off recent issues in big boxes of
various artist magazines
Architect
Preservation
JAMA
At the last minute I pulled out the 12 cup coffee maker that my mom gave me in the 1970s. Not for sentimental reasons, but we have company coming, and I can always give it away later.
The bathtub grab bar will go up to the lake house.
My friend Sue wants the toilet seat and Marti wants the 4” rise for a toilet seat.
Monday, March 26, 2018
The children of Parkland
Actually, a lot of them are--but the MSM don't want to interview them because it might hurt the anti-gun lobby. Layers and layers of government failed them. Laws are useless if no one from the criminal to the sheriff to the school board don't follow them.
Sonja Ness says, “Why aren’t the folks marching to protest the complete and utter failure of “see something, say something”?
Why aren’t they marching in support of kids that have been bullied to the point of mental breakdown?
Why aren’t they marching for the repeal of the law that forces schools to turn a blind eye to corrupt students because Obama ruled it racist? (Oh wait, they did address this by going after Marco Rubio and his faith, who is leading the way in trying to get Obama’s law repealed)
Guess it makes way more sense to march to take away a Constitutional right for millions of Americans than to address the real problems..."
Washington Post—hysterical as usual
I could only laugh when WaPo's headline flashed on my I-pad. Cambridge Analytica had sent foreigners (gasp) to work in the U.S. Isn't that a racist allusion? Doesn't the Left love foreigners coming to our country, especially without "documents" and doing the work of Americans? Don't Google and Facebook hire foreigners with special visas to do jobs Americans are too dumb and uneducated to do, like computer programming, data mining and app design? And the very MSM folks who want global government and global economy are horrified that in 2014, before Trump was even in their sights and playing with their minds "Whistleblower Christopher Wylie said the “dirty little secret was that there was no one American involved in it, that it was a de facto foreign agent, working on an American election.” Obama's campaign had raised the bar for data mining in 2012, and WaPo just can't imagine that anyone could be more clever or devious than Obama!
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Reflections on the Pied Piper March
The majority of gun deaths are suicides, not homicides. And the suicide rate for older white men is higher than any other group. Just keep that in mind as you reflect on the time media spent covering the march yesterday. It's as true today as it was 26 years ago when this article was written.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1578415
You won't see any people organizing for men, but you will see them demonized and ridiculed in our media, in academe and by the left. Yesterday's march was solicitation for Democrat voters, not a response to a tragedy. (Never waste a crisis.) We saw children used and manipulated by the very organizations that have put them at risk.
On Valentine's day there was a massive failure of federal, state, county, and local governments. Yesterday we saw the pink hats, Planned Parenthood, the anti-gun and anti-Trump forces. That said, children are safer at school than anywhere else; but many are not safe at home. A child is more likely to be injured or killed by the fists and feet of a parent/guardian than a rifle smuggled in to his school.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Spring cleaning, 2018
I like to think I'm not a hoarder, but you should see what's coming up from the basement! A sewing machine (purchased in 1960) that I haven't used for 30 years. It was called a "portable," but could be used in a weight lifting class. I remember walking into a store in downtown Indianapolis and buying it, but have no idea how I got it home. A 12 cup coffee maker that I haven't used in this house where we've lived since 2002. A gift from my mother who was so sure I could make a good cup of coffee if I just had the right maker. A bread maker—don’t know where the directions are. A bathtub grab bar that I bought for my dad's visit in 2000. Two very large pots for making chili (or something big like canning), never used. An electric skillet received as a wedding gift--1960. Punch bowl with 12 cups, maybe used twice in 50 years. A toilet seat, still in the box.
The rest of the accumulation under the stair well will have to wait for another day. We’re tired.
Listen to this NPR interview with the author of “Coming Clean,” and what it was like to live with parents who were hoarders.
https://www.npr.org/2013/07/29/206654538/-coming-clean-about-growing-up-in-a-hoarding-household
"Call Me By Your Name" and the phony MeToo movement
I guess with boys it’s OK? This movie normalizes having sex with kids.
Matt Kessler, guest blogger, writes”
I saw this Oscar-nominated movie and I can't live with myself if I don't warn you all about it.
I was aware that it dealt with a gay relationship, but not that it glamorizes pederasty: A 17-year-old boy has sex with a man about twice his age.
Rotten Tomatoes gives it 95% (critics) and 86% (audience), but I don't believe that. In fact I don't believe *anyone* could like this movie. Milo Yiannopolous would find it offensive. Kevin Spacey would walk out.
It literally normalizes sex between a man and a boy. It's set in Italy; was it easier to shoot it in a country where that's legal, than to change one digit in the dialogue to make the boy 18?
The setting and atmosphere are the only good things about the movie. Oh and there's a pretty waterfall in one scene.
The dialogue is tedious, and the pacing would bore a sloth.
In one scene near the end, the boy's father takes five minutes to say "I know and it's OK." He's the worst imaginable parent, and sitting through that speech was the longest five minutes of my life (and I've had root canal).
The best character in the movie was a photograph of Mussolini.
If the two main characters in "Call Me By Your Name" were edited out, leaving only pretty shots of the Italian countryside, the movie would be just a few minutes long and much better.
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