Tuesday, November 27, 2018
History for November 27
History for November 27 - On-This-Day.com
Mona Washbourne 1903, James Agee 1909, "Buffalo" Bob Smith 1917
Bruce Lee 1940, Eddie Rabbit 1941, Jimi Hendrix 1942 - Musician
1889 - Curtis P. Brady was issued the first permit to drive an automobile through Central Park in New York City.
1973 - The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Gerald R. Ford as vice president after the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew.
Monday, November 26, 2018
The Media's Credibility Is Dead
The Media's Credibility Is Dead:
In the old days, when a publication or outlet was caught lying, that would spell disaster. It would be blackballed by not only the public, but by other media entities, who would begin to look down on their competitor for being unethical. Now groupthink is proving difficult to break as the media share a certain camaraderie about their anti-conservative bias.
Proof of the establishment media's refusal to break this cycle is the way they treated the Jim Acosta-W.H. intern tug-of-war for the microphone at President Trump's post-midterm election press conference.
In the old days, when a publication or outlet was caught lying, that would spell disaster. It would be blackballed by not only the public, but by other media entities, who would begin to look down on their competitor for being unethical. Now groupthink is proving difficult to break as the media share a certain camaraderie about their anti-conservative bias.Proof of the establishment media's refusal to break this cycle is the way they treated the Jim Acosta-W.H. intern tug-of-war for the microphone at President Trump's post-midterm election press conference.
Beijing to Judge Every Resident Based on Behavior by End of 2020 - Bloomberg
Beijing to Judge Every Resident Based on Behavior by End of 2020 - Bloomberg
"China’s plan to judge each of its 1.3 billion people based on their social behavior is moving a step closer to reality, with Beijing set to adopt a lifelong points program by 2021 that assigns personalized ratings for each resident.
The capital city will pool data from several departments to reward and punish some 22 million citizens based on their actions and reputations by the end of 2020, according to a plan posted on the Beijing municipal government’s website on Monday.
Those with better so-called social credit will get “green channel” benefits while those who violate laws will find life more difficult.
The Beijing project will improve blacklist systems so that those deemed untrustworthy will be “unable to move even a single step,” according to the government’s plan..."
Read on.
The capital city will pool data from several departments to reward and punish some 22 million citizens based on their actions and reputations by the end of 2020, according to a plan posted on the Beijing municipal government’s website on Monday.
Those with better so-called social credit will get “green channel” benefits while those who violate laws will find life more difficult.
The Beijing project will improve blacklist systems so that those deemed untrustworthy will be “unable to move even a single step,” according to the government’s plan..."
Read on.
No-fault insurance fraud in Michigan: How they got caught
No-fault insurance fraud in Michigan: How they got caught
"Private eye Chris Charow has seen hundreds of instances of exaggerated injuries, faked injuries and outright fraud that contribute to Michigan's highest-in-the-nation auto insurance rates.
He photographs people who pretend to slowly limp across parking lots on their way to medical exams for no-fault insurance benefits.
Hours later, Charow, 47, will spy these same individuals appearing healthy and injury-free as they stroll supermarkets or move around their driveway at home. And the visual props that they pulled out for the doctor's office — walkers, canes, cervical collars — have disappeared...
...Caught at the amusement park
...In one case, a 34-year-old Sterling Heights woman claimed that she needed eight hours a day of insurance-paid attendant care, provided by her out-of-work brother-in-law, for devastating injuries from her car accident. The brother-in-law supposedly helped her get dressed, get in and out of the shower and even with the toilet, according to court documents.
The woman claimed that she couldn't walk more than 20 or 25 minutes without pain, and for enjoyment could only sit in her backyard and drink coffee or stay inside and watch TV.
Yet only weeks before her August 2015 deposition, an undercover investigator with Lexington-based Quest Research Group caught the woman traveling with a group to the Michigan's Adventure theme park in Muskegon.
She was photographed walking around the park for nine hours without any assistance and at times pushed a stroller. The investigator took video of her on the park's log ride, waving a hand in the air and bracing for the final plunge, court documents say.
She also went on the Sea Dragon ride and the Corkscrew roller coaster, infamous for its "dizzying speeds and endless loops that will turn you inside out," according to description on the park's website.
The undercover video was devastating to the woman's lawsuit, which had sought more than $25,000 in no-fault benefits from Safeco Insurance Co.
“It is impossible to believe that (she) was able to walk about an amusement park and ride roller coasters for nine hours, but just days later she was so injured that she needed help getting in and out of the shower and with toileting and getting dressed,” Michael Martinico, an attorney representing Safeco, wrote in court documents.
The woman later signed an affidavit saying that she never lied and that the surveillance video couldn't show whether or not she was in pain.
Her lawsuit against the insurance company was ultimately settled for $6,709, with Safeco paying some medical bills but not the brother-in-law's attendant care services, court records show.
...Time to get aggressive?
Charow, the private investigator, said he believes that more aggressive prosecution of insurance fraudsters could have a strong deterrent effect.
Right now, many individuals who are caught in schemes go unpunished. The worst that generally happens to them is their insurance benefits get cut off and they have to take settlements, he said.
"What happens when you catch somebody? They get a big settlement check and there are no criminal charges filed," Charow said. "Start putting some penalties on this and the fraud will slow down. That's how we're going to get it to be an affordable, honest system."...
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Surprise Trump House Victory - Gerard Lameiro, Ph.D.
Surprise Trump House Victory - Gerard Lameiro, Ph.D.:
Looking at the 2018 election results in detail, you will find some surprises including an important and subtle surprise Trump House victory. Contrary to some analyst opinions, Trump did not lose the House. In fact, Trump was not the cause of the loss of the House from Republican control to Democratic control.
Similarly, there’s no reason for the Democrats to celebrate for too long because it is highly likely they will lose control of the House in 2020.
Similarly, there’s no reason for the Democrats to celebrate for too long because it is highly likely they will lose control of the House in 2020.
The "It's man's fault" argument----- How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
What the science says...
How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2emissions?
| Select a level... |  Basic |  Intermediate | |||
The natural cycle adds and removes CO2 to keep a balance; humans add extra CO2without removing any.
| |||||
Human CO2 is a tiny % of CO2 emissions
“The oceans contain 37,400 billion tons (GT) of suspended carbon, land biomass has 2000-3000 GT. The atpmosphere contains 720 billion tons of CO2 and humans contribute only 6 GT additional load on this balance. The oceans, land and atpmosphere exchange CO2 continuously so the additional load by humans is incredibly small. A small shift in the balance between oceans and air would cause a CO2 much more severe rise than anything we could produce.” (Jeff Id)
“The oceans contain 37,400 billion tons (GT) of suspended carbon, land biomass has 2000-3000 GT. The atpmosphere contains 720 billion tons of CO2 and humans contribute only 6 GT additional load on this balance. The oceans, land and atpmosphere exchange CO2 continuously so the additional load by humans is incredibly small. A small shift in the balance between oceans and air would cause a CO2 much more severe rise than anything we could produce.” (Jeff Id)
Before the industrial revolution, the CO2 content in the air remained quite steady for thousands of years. Natural CO2 is not static, however. It is generated by natural processes, and absorbed by others.
As you can see in Figure 1, natural land and ocean carbon remains roughly in balance and have done so for a long time – and we know this because we can measure historic levels of CO2 in the atmosphere both directly (in ice cores) and indirectly (through proxies).
Figure 1: Global carbon cycle. Numbers represent flux of carbon dioxide in gigatons (Source: Figure 7.3, IPCC AR4).
But consider what happens when more CO2 is released from outside of the natural carbon cycle – by burning fossil fuels. Although our output of 29 gigatons of CO2 is tiny compared to the 750 gigatons moving through the carbon cycle each year, it adds up because the land and ocean cannot absorb all of the extra CO2. About 40% of this additional CO2 is absorbed. The rest remains in the atmosphere, and as a consequence, atmospheric CO2 is at its highest level in 15 to 20 million years (Tripati 2009). (A natural change of 100ppm normally takes 5,000 to 20,000 years. The recent increase of 100ppm has taken just 120 years).
Human CO2 emissions upset the natural balance of the carbon cycle. Man-made CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by a third since the pre-industrial era, creating an artificial forcing of global temperatures which is warming the planet. While fossil-fuel derived CO2 is a very small component of the global carbon cycle, the extra CO2 is cumulative because the natural carbon exchange cannot absorb all the additional CO2.
The level of atmospheric CO2 is building up, the additional CO2 is being produced by burning fossil fuels, and that build up is accelerating.
Basic rebuttal written by GPWayne.
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Fans of Best of the Web Today
Fans of Best of the Web Today
"It is fun to make light of AOC and her comic flights of political fancy - but we should understand that while the Bolshevik Bronx Barbie is somewhat ignorant about most things, she is representative of the ignorance on which progressivism feeds.
Progressivism is growing - and we would be fools not to see that it is - and that it is out in the open now.
I once said that a openly socialist politician from Vermont could never be nominated for president by a major party, nor could he win.
Of that, I am no longer confident.
It is no longer a political death sentence to be a collectivist.
The kiddies now think socialism is cool...and they have academia and the media on their side.
“A Republic, if you can keep it.”
In the face of growing progressive movement, whether we can keep it is the relevant question of our times.
It is no longer a political death sentence to be a collectivist.
The kiddies now think socialism is cool...and they have academia and the media on their side.
- Democrat Senators Spartacus Booker and Willie Brown's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Harris have offered up a UBI (Universal Basic Income) program that is not universal or income. It's a massive wealth transfer via tax credit scheme targeted to the Free Sh*t Army Democrat base.
- Democrat Congressman Robert Francis (Beta) O'Rourke, the Great White Irish Hispanic, captured 49% of the vote in economically booming Texas (yes, kids - in TEXAS) while running a soft socialist, anti-oil industry campaign.
- Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Crazie Mazie Hirono's partner in the Senate said a progressive would be nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 2020
“A Republic, if you can keep it.”
In the face of growing progressive movement, whether we can keep it is the relevant question of our times.
We are closer to losing it today than at any other time in American history..."
Read all!
‘Creepy Line’ Google Documentary: Disturbing | National Review
‘Creepy Line’ Google Documentary: Disturbing | National Review:
“If they have this kind of power then democracy is an illusion,” says Epstein (who describes himself as apolitical but allows that he thought Clinton was a more qualified presidential candidate than Donald Trump). “There have to be in place numerous safeguards to make sure not only that they don’t exercise these powers but that they can’t exercise these powers.” Adds Schweizer, “These tech giants have a level of control and an ability to manipulate us that Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Mussolini could only have dreamed of.”
The greatest threat to American journalism: the loss of neutral reporting | TheHill
The greatest threat to American journalism: the loss of neutral reporting | TheHill
"Over the past several months, I’ve watched, read and heard much about the potential Armageddon facing the profession of journalism.
I’ve watched colleagues proclaim that “fake news” attacks by President Trump, crowd chants of “enemies” and the expulsion of CNN’s Jim Acosta from the White House press room pose the greatest threats to news reporting in history.
I respectfully disagree.
...We journalists have more freedom, more reach, and more ability to inform today than ever before. But with those advantages comes an even greater responsibility to the public, one I fear is being denigrated by journalists who substitute opinion for facts and emotion for dispassion.
Beyond the killings, the threats, and the vitriol, what most threatens journalism today is the behavior of its own practitioners.
We have become too full of our own opinions, too enthralled with our own celebrity, too emotionally offended by warranted and unwarranted criticism, and too astray from the neutral, factual voice our teachers in journalism school insisted we practice.
...The traits that have made journalism great and respected and impactful for most of the past century are sorely lacking in many of today’s practitioners.
...Fox News anchor Shepard Smith declared: “President Trump stands with Saudi Arabia. Today the president insulted the murder victim and sided with the Saudis, who said our CIA is wrong.”
On CNN, anchor Brianna Keilar suggested there was little difference in Trump’s annual rite of pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey and his treatment of Saudi Arabia...
...My old Irish aunt once admonished me in a slightly different, but equally effective, way. She used to say, “If you want to have people listen to your opinion, become a politician. Otherwise, just stick to some damn facts, Mr. Reporter.”
"Over the past several months, I’ve watched, read and heard much about the potential Armageddon facing the profession of journalism.
I’ve watched colleagues proclaim that “fake news” attacks by President Trump, crowd chants of “enemies” and the expulsion of CNN’s Jim Acosta from the White House press room pose the greatest threats to news reporting in history.
I respectfully disagree.
...We journalists have more freedom, more reach, and more ability to inform today than ever before. But with those advantages comes an even greater responsibility to the public, one I fear is being denigrated by journalists who substitute opinion for facts and emotion for dispassion.
Beyond the killings, the threats, and the vitriol, what most threatens journalism today is the behavior of its own practitioners.We have become too full of our own opinions, too enthralled with our own celebrity, too emotionally offended by warranted and unwarranted criticism, and too astray from the neutral, factual voice our teachers in journalism school insisted we practice.
...The traits that have made journalism great and respected and impactful for most of the past century are sorely lacking in many of today’s practitioners.
- Instead of facts, many journalists today trade in supposition and opinion.
- Instead of dispassionate neutral coverage, many have offered emotional rants that border on disrespect.
- Instead of covering all sides of the story, entire news organizations have chosen to pick one side over another.
...Fox News anchor Shepard Smith declared: “President Trump stands with Saudi Arabia. Today the president insulted the murder victim and sided with the Saudis, who said our CIA is wrong.”
On CNN, anchor Brianna Keilar suggested there was little difference in Trump’s annual rite of pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey and his treatment of Saudi Arabia...
...My old Irish aunt once admonished me in a slightly different, but equally effective, way. She used to say, “If you want to have people listen to your opinion, become a politician. Otherwise, just stick to some damn facts, Mr. Reporter.”
They have "cow horns". We have "microaggressions".-----Cow horn initiative rejected by Swiss voters - The Local
Cow horn initiative rejected by Swiss voters - The Local
"An initiative designed to stop Swiss farmers dehorning cows and goats has been rejected by voters at a referendum.
The initiative would have seen farmers who choose not to dehorn their cows and goats given extra subsidies to cover additional associated costs.
...However, Capaul – who has always said his initiative is about dignity for animals – refused to talk of defeat after the result became clear.
“The cow horn interest group is still in existence. We will get together soon and discuss the next step,” the farmer told national broadcaster SRF in an interview.
...However, animals with horns need more space and are more labour intensive which is why Capaul and his supporters had called for an additional subsidy for farmers who chose not to dehorn..."
Read on.
"An initiative designed to stop Swiss farmers dehorning cows and goats has been rejected by voters at a referendum.
The initiative would have seen farmers who choose not to dehorn their cows and goats given extra subsidies to cover additional associated costs....However, Capaul – who has always said his initiative is about dignity for animals – refused to talk of defeat after the result became clear.
“The cow horn interest group is still in existence. We will get together soon and discuss the next step,” the farmer told national broadcaster SRF in an interview.
...However, animals with horns need more space and are more labour intensive which is why Capaul and his supporters had called for an additional subsidy for farmers who chose not to dehorn..."
Read on.
The Lefty Lies About a World Without Borders | Trending
The Lefty Lies About a World Without Borders | Trending
"My husband recently noticed a lot of movies with the UN in a positive role, and basically a world-government role.
Even though Husband is largely apolitical, this made him snort.
Because even people who are mostly apolitical know the disaster that child-trafficking, aid-stealing UN “troops” are...
...I told him that’s because the left always telegraphs their intentions.
Before they were ready for Hilary! for instance, they ran movies and wrote books about a president that was basically Hillary for at least a decade and probably more.
...And right now the left is so near that one-world-government, no borders, give peace a chance, John Lennon’s Imagine world they can taste it.
Or so they think.
Of course, they’re nowhere near it.
What they are actually enabling is the plundering of the first world by the third and the destruction of civilization and the engine of creation and production that has lifted most of the world population to a level our ancestors would consider unimaginable wealth.
...This is akin to someone who has a house that outstrips its neighborhood by several levels deciding to leave their door open day and night.
Particularly you know, if the house is in the middle of blighted Detroit, which metaphorically speaking, the United States is..."
Read all!
"My husband recently noticed a lot of movies with the UN in a positive role, and basically a world-government role.
Even though Husband is largely apolitical, this made him snort.
Because even people who are mostly apolitical know the disaster that child-trafficking, aid-stealing UN “troops” are......I told him that’s because the left always telegraphs their intentions.
Before they were ready for Hilary! for instance, they ran movies and wrote books about a president that was basically Hillary for at least a decade and probably more.
...And right now the left is so near that one-world-government, no borders, give peace a chance, John Lennon’s Imagine world they can taste it.
Or so they think.
Of course, they’re nowhere near it.
What they are actually enabling is the plundering of the first world by the third and the destruction of civilization and the engine of creation and production that has lifted most of the world population to a level our ancestors would consider unimaginable wealth.
...This is akin to someone who has a house that outstrips its neighborhood by several levels deciding to leave their door open day and night.
Particularly you know, if the house is in the middle of blighted Detroit, which metaphorically speaking, the United States is..."
Read all!
WILLIAMS: Fruits Of College Indoctrination | Daily Wire
Much of today's incivility and contempt for personal liberty has its roots on college campuses, and most of the uncivil and contemptuous are people with college backgrounds. Let's look at a few highly publicized recent examples of incivility and attacks on free speech.
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