March, 2020 archive
The New Gilded Age 0
Did you know that cheerleading competitions are controlled by a monopoly?
Listen to Harry Shearer’s interview of Matt Stoller, author of Goliath.
(If you’re impatient, know that it opens with the cheerleading story.)
The Bush that Is Beaten Around 0
When someone argues that Confederate Monuments symbolize history, ask him or her to clarify what precisely is the history that they symbolize.
“Activist Judges” 0
They are not the judges you have been told they are.
Misdirection Play, Going Viral Dept. 0
Sam comments–well, more accurately, casts scorn–on a Fox News attempt to market the notion that the coronavirus and precautions against it are parts of a plot to bring down Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, life doesn’t go on.
Afterthought:
The sad and frightening thing is that persons who spend their days hermetically sealed inside the Fox News/AM talk radio bubble will likely be susceptible to this–at least until they self-quarantine.
Dumb Watches 0
El Reg reports that, when it comes to monitoring your health, your smart gadget ain’t so smart. Here’s bit from their story:
However, the technology isn’t foolproof. Like all deep learning models, ECG ones are susceptible to adversarial attacks: miscreants can force algorithms to misclassify the data by manipulating it with noise.
The report goes on to point out that, in tests, properly trained real live human beings did better at identifying and discounting said “noise.”
Out of His Depth and In Over His Head 0
Bob Cesca points out that, as the coronavirus spreads, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the United States is suffering a crisis of competence at the highest levels. A snippet; follow the link for the rest:
“Socialism” 0
Shorter Dan Casey: That word does not mean what they tell you it means.
Bigotry Goes (Corona)Viral 0
I have noted from time to time in these electrons the increase of incidents of cruelty and bigotry directed at persons (who look as if they might be) of Asian descent since stories of the coronavirus entered the news. As if a virus gave a damn . . . .
Valentina Stoycheva, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, examines how persons excuse themselves from culpability for their cruelty during such a health scare. An excerpt (emphasis added):
Drinking Liberally Virginia Beach Thursday 0
Join us for fellowship and camaraderie and to discuss living in an age of actual viral viruses.
When: Thursday, March 12, 6 p. m.
Where:
Croc’s 19 Street Bistro
620 19th Street (Map)
Read the chapter blog and sign up to have your inbox flooded with one or two emails a month here.
