I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Linkee-poo is the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar

Have things to do this afternoon, do an early post.

Chuck Wendig on that adjective order thing. Yeah, pretty much my experience. As I was once told, "all my sentences are (mine)." That's because I tend to break the rules (sometimes intentionally, sometimes it's the way my brain works). Note that the i before e except after c rule has almost as many exceptions as words that follow the rule.

"A group of five goose hunters in Iceland stumbled upon a Viking sword estimated to be more than 1,000 years old on Friday, according to the BBC." (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)

Weapons of Math Destruction. Big data is here, and by itself is not inherently evil. However, how programmers use that data that turns it evil. Because those programmers don't see any feedback to modify and update their models. Instead, the models continue with their initially programmed parameters. On a personal note, I've had my career affected by these things. I was denied jobs because my answers on survey questions didn't match to a company's "top performers". (Grokked from Karl Schroeder)

"'You know that Daniel Radcliffe has declared himself an atheist?' (Gov. John) Kasich said to no one in particular. 'I’m serious. What a weird thing. Why would a guy who has had all that success just, I mean, what the hell is wrong with him?'" The "sensible" alternative to the Trumpster, you all. Let's give him a hand. Just in case you're still wondering just what went wrong with the GOP, it isn't just the Trumpster. (Grokked from Mur Lafferty)

"Republicans are fuming after an internal Pentagon memo that outlines the department's strategies to oppose annual defense policy and spending bills was released Monday." The GOP is in a huff that someone is calling them on an accounting trick that would drain the budget line to continue overseas operations by next April, requiring an emergency request for funds. Of course they're trying to shift blame onto the Obama administration that "they're playing politics" all while trying to get the media to ignore their political play (of which this memo is in response). So, shocked, shocked conservatives are that politics is played in Washington. Or that someone can see through their transparent play and is doing advance planning to counter it. Or something. (Grokked from Vince O'Connor)

The Hidden Brain podcast on the problems with power. Studies show that they very things that can bring someone power within a group are the very things we lose as we gain power."' There's something about the seduction of power that makes you lose sight of ethics and other people's interests,' (Dacher Keltner) says." Power corrupts.

"When it comes to Trump, on the other hand, we’ve seen a very different pattern. Here’s what happens: A story about some kind of corrupt dealing emerges, usually from the dogged efforts of one or a few journalists; it gets discussed for a couple of days; and then it disappears." Trumpster's scandals remain unreported on while Clinton's, having been exonerated by the endless press releases and investigations, continue to clog up the news cycle. Your "liberal media" at work. (Grokked from Vince O'Connor)

"But I do think that the stakes are much higher in this debate and all the debates for Hillary Clinton because the expectations are higher for her because she is a seasoned politician… Yes, we saw Donald Trump in the primaries debate for the first time, but he is a first-time politician. So for lots of reasons… the onus is on her." Grading the Trumpster on a curve. Personally I think being President should be graded on an absolute scale. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)

"In other words, you have a perfunctory one and done from the Times and CNN, basically asking Trump or his representatives whether it was a problem and moving on when they said it was fine." About the Times and CNN looking into the question if the Trumpster improperly bribed the Florida AG to have her drop the case her career lawyers were telling her to pursue. Also, same thing happened in Texas. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)

"So why write a $25,000 check in a state A.G. race?" Rachel Maddow asks the question given the Trumpster's own statements regarding what happened. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)

And it gets worse. "Donald Trump not only donated $25,000 to the Florida Attorney General weighing whether to investigate Trump University, but held a lavish fundraiser for her at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, according to a Huffington Post report out Wednesday."

Have I mentioned the numerous times the Trumpster talked openly during the primary about paying politicians so they'd kiss his ass when he needed something? I guess nobody mentioned that not only is receiving a bribe illegal, so is offering one.

A view into the future if Trumpster wins, "USA Freedom Girls sue Trump Campaign for stiffing them… All they wanted was to hawk some merchandise and money for airfare, but the lawyer for three patriotic girls say all they got was broken promises." And they're not being opportunistic here, oh no. "'We’re not suing for emotional distress and all that other stuff that people do when they trump up—no pun intended—when they trump up a lawsuit. That’s not what this is. This is tangible dollars I spent under false pretenses.'" (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)

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