Archive for 2020
February 25, 2020
PRIVACY: Facebook’s privacy tools are riddled with missing data. “More than anything they’re a ploy to placate users’ concerns.”
The obvious holes in Facebook’s privacy data exports paint a picture of a company that aims to placate users’ concerns without actually doing anything to change its practices.
DATA LISTS ARE INCOMPLETE — The most pressing issue with Facebook’s downloadable privacy data is that it’s incomplete. Privacy International’s investigation tested the “Ads and Business” section on Facebook’s “Download Your Information” page, which purports to tell users which advertisers have been targeting them with ads.
The investigation found that the list of advertisers actually changes over time, seemingly at random. This essentially makes it impossible for users to develop a full understanding of which advertisers are using their data. In this sense, Facebook’s claims of transparency are inaccurate and misleading.
Well, Facebook.
THERE’S A LOT OF DODGING GOING ON: Sanders Campaign Manager Dodges on Whether Dem Leaders Who Spoke at AIPAC Support ‘Bigotry.’
“ON THE CULT OF PERSONALITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES”: Most speeches by politicians don’t say much, and what they do say often isn’t true. But on this day in 1956, First Secretary of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party Nikita Khrushchev shocked the members of the 20th Party Congress by doing something completely novel: He laid some truth on them about their late leader Joseph Stalin:
Stalin acted not through persuasion, explanation, and patient cooperation with people, but by … demanding absolute submission to his opinion. Whoever opposed this concept … was doomed to removal from the leading collective and to subsequent moral and physical annihilation. …
…
Lenin used severe methods only in the most necessary cases …
Stalin, on the other hand, used extreme methods and mass repressions at a time when the revolution was already victorious. … It is clear that here Stalin showed in a whole series of cases his intolerance, his brutality, and his abuse of power. …
…
Stalin’s willfulness vis-à-vis the party and its central committee became fully evident after the 17th party congress, which took place in 1934….
It was determined that of the 139 members and candidates of the party’s Central Committee who were elected at the 17th congress, 98 persons, that is, 70 percent, were arrested and shot ….
The same fate met not only the central committee members, but also the majority of the delegates to the 17th party congress. Of 1,966 delegates with either voting or advisory rights, 1,108 persons were arrested on charges of anti-revolutionary crimes, i.e. decidedly more than majority. This very fact shows how absurd, wild, and contrary to common sense were the charges ….
(Note that there are different versions/translations of what Khrushchev said. This is one of them.)
The speech was intended to be secret. But it was leaked. Its effects were shattering all over the Soviet Union. Riots in Stalin’s homeland of Georgia had to be suppressed.
Here in the United States, its effects among Communists were sweeping. In a 2017 New York Times article entitled “When Communism Inspired Americans,” Vivian Gornick (a red diaper baby herself) wrote of the devastating effect the speech had on American Communists: “Night after night the people at my father’s table raged or wept or sat staring into space.” Gornick reported that within weeks of the speech’s publication in the West, 30,000 members of the party in the United States had quit.
Note that Khrushchev’s speech has been criticized (and for good reason). What he said about Stalin was true, but he concentrated on the horrors of Stalin’s actions against party members. What about the millions of non-party members who died at the hands of the party? And he repeatedly contrasted Stalin with Lenin, whom he praised, when both deserved to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Still, it was a step forward for a nation that had seen nothing but horror from its leaders for decades.
I KNOW: The evidence doesn’t back Democrats’ panic that Bernie can’t win.
I don’t think Sanders will win but also won’t discount the possibility. The scariest part of a Sanders Administration — and apparently he and his team are already preparing for this — would be a raft of executive orders which would be happily put into action by the Democrats and progressives who dominate the all-too-powerful executive branch.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Trump: Coronavirus Threat Remains ‘Very Much Under Control’ Across United States.
Deaths related to coronavirus have risen to more than 2,500 in China.
Wuhan’s easing of coronavirus lockdown measures lasted all of three hours. “The confusion over the lockdown measures suggest ongoing divisions between local governments and the central government in Beijing in managing the crisis.”
Iran confirms two more coronavirus deaths.
Coronavirus further isolates Iran, strains South Korea, Italy.
One of Korean Air’s cabin crew tests positive for coronavirus.
Fourth person from quarantined ship dies as Japan plans new measures.
Coronavirus ‘knocking at the door’ as travellers from lockdown zones in Italy told to self-isolate.
Coronavirus: Why did infections shoot up in South Korea?
CDC tells Americans to avoid unessential travel to South Korea amid coronavirus outbreak.
Coronavirus: Worst-hit countries boost containment efforts.
All 16 of Vietnam’s coronavirus sufferers cured.
Battle against coronavirus turns to Italy; Wall Street falls on pandemic fears.
Nikkei closes at 4-month low as coronavirus spreads beyond Asia.
ELECTING SANDERS MEANS MORE, NOT LESS CORRUPTION: More regulation creates more opportunities for political corruption, Issues & Insights notes this morning, and it follows as logically as night follows day that electing Bernie Sanders will result in more of the very things he promises to get rid of in government. There’s even objective evidence of this process at work around the world.
OBAMA ATE DOG: Trump’s Meat Heavy Diet Isn’t Playing So Well in India.
No need to click.
I KNEW IT ALL ALONG: So it turns out tofu and all these other vegan foods are ruining the planet.
Nina Planck knows.
HAVE YOU HUGGED A FRACKER TODAY? America continues to lead in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmentalists aren’t all that excited about this, of course, because their agenda isn’t actually about cleaning up the planet.
NEWS YOU CAN USE: Remembering How to Be (Without Your Phone). I know Anya Pechko and we’ve had some interesting discussions about social media addiction.
IN A SANE WORLD: John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ Rereleased With More Realistic Description Of Communism.
I mean, truth in advertising, right?
Imagine there’s no bread
It’s easy if you try
No tacos or hot sauce,
Nothing cold or fried,
Imagine all the people living in the gulags
WHILE, IN RETURN, I’LL TELL THEM TO GAZE UPON MY VERY ARTISTIC MIDDLE FINGERS: Feminist Art Activists the Guerrilla Girls Will Tell You What Kind of Art You Are Allowed to Enjoy.
When I want their opinion, I’ll…. Never mind. No call to talk about the impossible.
SHE’S NOT AMERICAN IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD. IMMIGRATION FRAUD IS REASON TO DEPORT, ISN’T IT? American Ingrate: Ilhan Omar.
WEREN’T WE PROMISED THAT CASUAL, INTIMACY-FREE SEX WOULD BE FULFILLING? Most women experience sexual distress, new study finds.
IT’S NOT NATURAL. OUR KIDS ARE TAUGHT NOT TO THINK: How Dumb Are America’s College Students?
FIRST, THERE ARE NO EX-MARINES. A MARINE IS A MARINE IS A MARINE. SECOND, HARD TO BELIEVE HE DID THIS WITHOUT THE AID OF AN AUDIO BOOK: Ex-US Marine sets Guinness record by holding plank for more than 8 hours.
THAT MOST OF THEM ARE COMMUNISTS SPECIFICALLY RECRUITED TO COME HERE AND CHANGE US? ALSO THAT MOST OF THEM ARE ILLEGAL? OR DO YOU MEAN THAT LIKE CALIFORNIANS THEY BRING THE POLITICS THAT DESTROYED THEIR PLACE OF ORIGIN TO THEIR NEW HOMES. EITHER WAY, I INVITE THOSE PEOPLE TO GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM WITH ALL POSSIBLE EXPEDIENCY. WE’LL BUY THEM TICKETS: What the Nevada vote tells us about Latino Democrats.
(On the serious side. Don’t come here to then accuse people here of “racism” for not treating you as if they owe you something. If you’re a Latin immigrant, FIFO (Fit in or F off.) And if you and yours have been here for generations and wish to remain here, then assume your responsibility for the American project and for your own life. Stop trying to play the part of victim. It’s not cute, it’s not funny, and it destroys not just you but the nation. Also, as someone others — including the State Department — associate with Latin immigrants, I’m sick and tired of it.)
BEHOLD MY FACE! THOU SHALT SEE THAT IT’S SHOCKED! Mayor Pete: Red Diaper Baby.