Monday Open Thread

by afew Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 11:47:49 AM EST

Let's be having the truth

Monday Open Thread | 90 comments (90 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Well, approximately.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 11:48:10 AM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Are you suggesting wulffing?

by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:07:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Why should we make more effort than those who are set in power over us?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:15:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

At least no one posted the iconic Nicholson video.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:25:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

You want the video? You can't handle the video.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:30:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

lol

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:45:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Why should we make more effort than those who are set in power over us?

Well, they are quartering the truth, if not drawing and quartering it. So half truths are at least twice as good as official truths.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:11:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Oh bugger it. The HD in the media behemoth upstairs booted up with a nasty clacking noise and then came up with that existential Apple message - the blinking question mark. Nasty.

However, within 75 minutes of my calling Applecare this morning, a van was at my door to pick it up and take it to service. And then I called the nice lady at MacHuolto and she switched neatly to English (which is a boon when you don't remember any technical terms in Finnish), to fix a backup of the HD - if recovered. Very chatty, she was, as had been the guy at the end of the Applecare line. So all in all, so far, Apple service in Finland has been a good UX.

I don't mind losing the files - I have backups </fingercrossing>. But it's a pain to reinstall all the software. Final Cut Pro takes an interminable time, somewhat adjacent to 20 minutes.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:08:52 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Ouch. Condolences. But wait and see what's actually happened.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:24:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

My hardware suppliers were somewhat more lethargic

ring at 12:00 48 minutes of hold music later get cut off

ring and listen to hold music for another ten minutes get pissed

ring off

ring sales line. phone picked up within 10 seconds guy says he can't promise that they will be back in touch this afternoon.

at 5 ring back as there has been no contact. get hold music.

home at 20 past look at website to find that support closes at five

ring sales who are open till six

I am now expecting a call at 9 AM

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:29:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Spanish students getting their heads bashed in (none / 1)

El Pais: El PSOE pide que Fernández Díaz explique los incidentes en Valencia

En tres días de protestas, los choques entre estudiantes y policías se saldaron con 17 personas detenidas y al menos una decena de heridos. Jóvenes valencianos habían convocado a través de las redes sociales una nueva concentración para hoy en el centro de Valencia en protesta por los recortes y los enfrentamientos con la policía de la semana pasada. Ya hay diez personas detenidas en esta nueva protesta.

The PSOE demands that [Interior Minister] Fernández Díaz explain the incidents in Valencia

In three days of protests [last Wednesday and Thursday, and today], clashes between students and police have yielded 17 arrests and at least 10 injured. Valencian youth had called through social networks to a new gathering today in the centre of Valencia to protest against the cuts and the clashes with police last week. There are already 10 people arrested in this new protest.

With the PSOE out of power, clearly the National Police has a zero tolerance policy.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:29:58 PM EST

Re: Spanish students getting their heads bashed in (none / 0)

Here's Spanish police pushing two teenage girls against a car

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:08:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Spanish students getting their heads bashed in (none / 0)

More police action in Valencia today:

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:44:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Spanish students getting their heads bashed in (none / 0)

Actually, last Thursday.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:48:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Spanish students getting their heads bashed in (none / 0)

When I was living in NYC I would hang with some FAI/CNT comrades who had to GTFO of Spain. They would always tell me, when I was bitching about the Red Squad and other NYPD hassles, "At least they aren't shooting you, yet."

Gives me not a lot of pleasure to pass down to the next generation ...

At least they aren't shooting you, yet.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 06:04:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Spanish students getting their heads bashed in (none / 1)

The head of police famously called the demonstrators "the enemy" in a press appearance yesterday.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 01:20:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Rosenmontag (4.00 / 4)

Here's a photo essay of Rosenmontag parade floats with a political theme. I don't know how to pull samples from it, but worth a visit and perhaps a smile.

German Humor

Oh wait,

Der Spiegel has a photo essay also, HERE

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:45:01 PM EST

Re: Rosenmontag (4.00 / 5)

The Wulff one is fantastic.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 12:46:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Rosenmontag (4.00 / 7)

The Ego has landed

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:43:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Rosenmontag (none / 0)

I'm really glad I had dinner last night before seeing the first of those images.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 06:12:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

is anyone here aware that there is a very large "persuasion teaching" industry out there?

they teach people to become "persuasion artists".

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:16:19 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

"Persuasion artists" sounds better than "propagandists."

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:27:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

was thinking it more along the lines of persuading people to pay debts under the threat of re-arranged limbs

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:31:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

there's some insinuation of that too, as well as techniques to use that sound like what con men do.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:40:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

We must all pay heed to bifurcation:

Persuasion

A. Mental
B. Physical
C. Mental and Physical

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:33:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

interestingly, this one guy says that if you use an ethical/moral purpose for your actions, you can defend yourself against anything, for example, prostitute who wants to feed her family, drug dealer who has a sick mother, etc.

Now I understand Rick Santorum and his attachment to religion.

But the whole thing is fascinating - for example, they advise you to change your appearance often, because there is apparently a love/hate cycle going on, and that is why some famous people are always toying with their appearance.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:34:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

check out this web site

http://persuasionmonthly.com/

of course there is some seduction in there, but surprisingly, it does not seem to be the most popular offering.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:37:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Moy Open Thread (none / 0)

oh, I forgot to add, this is recommended as the number 1 motivating force. so companies that donate a percentage of their profits to a charity are using this method.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:38:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

You'd be surprised what creepy-crawlies one can find by turning over stones in the garden of the persuasion industries.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:34:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

I'm listening to an audio tape now - I'm at the section "Get other people to do your work for you and claim credit for it"

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:35:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Persueders (none / 0)

If you take a shark out of the ocean, the shark will die because it has been removed from its environment. This same rule pertains to Ericksonian hypnosis because out of a clinical setting, Ericksonian hypnosis will die and will not yield any results within the realm of power persuasion because it is a form of hypnosis taken outside of its environment.

QED.

Persueders because the type of person who writes this kind of stuff always wears suede shoes.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:55:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Persueders (none / 0)

blue suede shoes?

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:06:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Persueders (none / 1)

More the Hush Puppy mentality...

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:13:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

ah, the Boris johnston tactic

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:00:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

An aside (none / 0)

I've been out of the loop for the past 2 weeks or so ... tutoring. How did Mission Bulgaria turn out?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:25:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An aside (none / 0)

Very cold but successful.

minor scare in that we had to circle Sofia for 2 hours before we could land due to a blizzard dumping a foot of snow on the runway but we got in.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:28:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An aside (none / 0)

Property gone, bucks under the mattress?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:54:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An aside (4.00 / 3)

Yup, thereabouts. Now looking to open a beer shop of some sort.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 02:48:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An aside (none / 0)

*FAR FUCKIN' OUT!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 04:34:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Again (none / 0)

FAR FUCKIN' OUT!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 04:36:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Fascinating article about the neural and emotional processes of building habits and how companies, specifically Target, uses these habits to influence buying decisions.

How Companies Learn Your Secrets

by ElaineinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:18:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Wow. That is truly a fascinating article. I hope it will help me in changing/building certain habits and routines. It went beyond what I expected from the title. Thanks, Elaine

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 03:09:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Now what is the cue to stop sitting on the internet???

I think people manipulation is fascinating: sales and marketing, and especially politics. I had no idea how much I was being manipulated by stores, though. I get a Staples coupon for poster printing just before I'm due to have a bunch printed for the concert series that I chair. How do they know my schedule!!! Now of course I wait for the coupon before I order.

by ElaineinNM on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 12:42:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Skinner is long gone, but cues > habitual response > bio-reward > neural hardwiring lives on.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 04:17:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Just a bit of trivia.. my Mom got a master's degree from Harvard in the early 1940's and took a couple of classes from Skinner. His daughter of the Skinner's Box fame talked to the class and said that she didn't resent being isolated, or feel that she had any lasting psychological problems from the treatment. My Mom said that Skinner was a "thoroughly disagreeable professor"...which probably meant that she didn't get an A.

by ElaineinNM on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 12:23:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A's all round (none / 0)

(I was forced to use the ungrammatical apostrophe)

Oh, I lurv trivia. With me, you can shovel it on.

Skinner, not unlike many other scientists, but in a lower percentage than among corporate executives, was a sociopath - though the sociopathy of scientists emerges from different behaviours.

IMHO being a sociopath does not exclude you from having interesting insights - it may even be an advantage to have a distorted view of the questions that are worth asking.

Genius (when not self-described) has one of two sources: a physiological abnormality or a perceived physiological abnormality. The nutter and the compensating nutter.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 02:02:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A's all round (none / 0)

???

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 02:10:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A's all round (none / 0)

I'm banned from using smileys, so you'll just have to Rorschach it.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 03:04:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A's all round (none / 0)

Aren't you conflating asocial and antisocial, not to speak of sociopathic?

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 03:34:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

The Guardian: I was not a lab rat (by Deborah Skinner Buzan, 12 March 2004)

I loved my father dearly. He was fantastically devoted and affectionate. But perhaps the stories about me would never have started if he had done a better job with his public image. He believed that, although our genes determine who we are, it is mostly our environment that shapes our personality. A Time Magazine cover story ran the headline "BF Skinner says we can't afford freedom". All he had said was that controls are an everyday reality - traffic lights and a police force, for instance - and that we need to organise our social structures in ways that create more positive controls and fewer aversive ones. As is clear from his utopian novel, Walden Two, the furthest thing from his mind was a totalitarian or fascist state.
His careless descriptions of the aircrib might have contributed to the public's common misconception as well. He was too much the scientist and too little the self-publicist - especially hazardous when you are already a controversial figure. He used the word "apparatus" to describe the aircrib, the same word he used to refer to his experimental "Skinner" boxes for rats and pigeons.
The effect on me? Who knows? I was a remarkably healthy child, and after the first few months of life only cried when injured or inoculated. I didn't have a cold until I was six. I've enjoyed good health since then, too, though that may be my genes. Frankly, I'm surprised the contraption never took off. A few aircribs were built during the late 50s and 60s, and somebody also produced plans for DIY versions, but the traditional cot was always going to be a smaller and cheaper option. My sister used one for her two daughters, as did hundreds of other couples, mostly with some connection to psychology.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 06:05:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 8)

Well, it appears that my efforts towards protecting my spring flowers are rewarded, unless, of course, they were never necessary to begin with. I removed tarps yesterday and cleared away the leafy mulch to behold some blooms - after a five days under opaque tarps. Many more daffodils in bloom today and many of the tulips are starting to emerge. I have left the mulch and the tarps beside the flowers for the day. No freezes are forecast for the next five days.

Speaking of preparation I hope are unnecessary, last week we had a strong room installed in our garage. It is made of what is described as 1/4" plate steel sheets but looks like 12 gauge, welded together with 1" angle iron and bolted to the slab in twelve places. The basic design criteria is to be able to stop 150mph 2X4s, etc. thrown our way by an F5 tornado. I had some junction boxes added so I could bring in power from the same outlet that powers the adjacent freezer on one side and my gasoline emergency generator on the other side.

Now my task is to turn an 8" wide steel C channel bench into something more comfortable with plywood, foam and cloth, rig an antenna for a radio, as the enclosure doubles as a Faraday cage, and bring in a cable drop so we will know when the storm has passed, as they usually go by about 5 to 10 miles to the west. Also have to install some wood so I can knock on wood. Then it will be back to the garden, as potato and onion sets are available in the grocery stores now. Also need to get tomato and pepper, cucumber, etc. seedlings started, along with herb beds.

All of the above will hopefully be made easier by our winter dieting, in which I have shed close to 20 lbs. It is easier to go up and down stairs now, so it is on to 30 lbs weight loss. I am getting back to a 42 inch waist for the first time since the mid '90s. Just had to figure out how to stay hungry longer. This might add a few years to my life and improve the quality, if that is not all trashed by external events. :-)

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 01:35:21 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

85 days to last frost - but who's counting?

_{aspiring to genteel poverty}

by edwin (eeeeeeee222222rrrrreeeeeaaaaadddddd@@@@yyyyaaaaaaa) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:02:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

You are really in a climate where a greenhouse makes a lot of sense.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 07:23:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 1)

they want to monitor Internet usage 24/7 for terrorist threats while letting anyone into the country.

Border security checks have been suspended regularly and applied inconsistently since at least 2007, Home Secretary Theresa May said today.

The official investigation into the relaxation of border checks last year found border staff went "over and beyond" any scheme approved by ministers, Mrs May said.

The head of the UK border force, Brodie Clark, quit his 40-year career in the Home Office in November amid the row over lax border security.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/border-checks-suspended-regularly-7237319.html

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:16:40 PM EST

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 1)

they don't actually scare about our security, after all the odd terrorist outrage never hurts the authoritarians.

but they do want to monitor our lives. Just in case, to make sure we aren't questioning too much, that we're still docile, that we really do love Big brother

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:22:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

No offense intended, but I usually dismiss such talk as exaggeration.

I am seriously beginning to doubt my own logic on that because frankly, the evidence is there to support your thesis, but I find it hard to wrap my mind around the thought that they just think of us as slaves.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:26:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (4.00 / 2)

We have detected unhelpful thoughts of yours, and wish you to avoid the department of retraining services. Remaining an upstanding citizen is so much better than having us remain your upstanding citizenship for you.

it's all clear now, isn't it?

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:33:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 1)

It's mission creep. The technology exists to automatically monitor for phrases and words and so they deploy it, initially for obvious things like "bomb" and "murder" and then they just add words until finally they're just checking for things they ought not. Not so much because they can, but because there's nothing to say they can't.

It doesn't have to put up a red flag a day, it just adds a series of amber warnings to your file which accumulate until you become a target of interest. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:34:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (4.00 / 2)

but the true terrorists never use words such as "bomb" - they use euphemisms that you could never guess such as "candy" or "lasagna". the whole thing is a farce.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:00:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (4.00 / 8)

no, the whole thing is an excuse

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:20:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

you're right about that.

by stevesim on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:57:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (4.00 / 4)

The monitoring is pretty sophisticated in the commercial world. One would think that the various intelligence agencies might be at least as good.

Andrew Pole had just started working as a statistician for Target in 2002, when two colleagues from the marketing department stopped by his desk to ask an odd question: "If we wanted to figure out if a customer is pregnant, even if she didn't want us to know, can you do that? "
...linked to your Guest ID is demographic information like your age, whether you are married and have kids, which part of town you live in, how long it takes you to drive to the store, your estimated salary, whether you've moved recently, what credit cards you carry in your wallet and what Web sites you visit. Target can buy data about your ethnicity, job history, the magazines you read, if you've ever declared bankruptcy or got divorced, the year you bought (or lost) your house, where you went to college, what kinds of topics you talk about online, whether you prefer certain brands of coffee, paper towels, cereal or applesauce, your political leanings, reading habits, charitable giving and the number of cars you own.
...he was able to identify about 25 products that, when analyzed together, allowed him to assign each shopper a "pregnancy prediction" score. More important, he could also estimate her due date to within a small window, so Target could send coupons timed to very specific stages of her pregnancy.
One Target employee I spoke to provided a hypothetical example. Take a fictional Target shopper named Jenny Ward, who is 23, lives in Atlanta and in March bought cocoa-butter lotion, a purse large enough to double as a diaper bag, zinc and magnesium supplements and a bright blue rug. There's, say, an 87 percent chance that she's pregnant and that her delivery date is sometime in late August.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp

by asdf on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:58:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 1)

Intelligence services don't have as much information on people as businesses.

Not all that surprisingly.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 06:07:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

I take it you have never been to Toad Suck, Arkansas, where it is all for sale.

http://acxiom.com/

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/02/23/362182/index.htm

by asdf on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 06:10:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

Toad Suck is a suburb of Conway, Arkansas and is within easy driving distance of Little Rock. We have a local event every year in early summer called Toad Suck Days. It is starting to look like Toad Suck Days for us all.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 07:30:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

Funny, that's the same article, but from a different source, that Elaine linked to above.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 03:22:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

It's originally a NYT article.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 03:38:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

I should have said website, not source, 'cuz the article from the site used by Elaine was still the NYT article.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 06:18:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yet they want to monitor our internet 24/7 (none / 0)

I get something called 'reader supported news' on my facebook page. Usually it has the original link, but this article didn't link to anywhere. Sometimes it links back to NYTimes articles and bypasses the 20 free per month limit.

by ElaineinNM on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 12:07:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

WAB Attack (4.00 / 4)

The Windenergie Agentur Bremerhaven/Bremen met with the state senators today, saying 'Schland needs an offshore energy czar to get the show back on the road. Senator Böhrnsen used the word coordinator, but accepted the need. It will be discussed at the normal meeting of Niedersachesen - Bremen chiefs tomorrow (Kabinettsitzung).

Weser-Kurier

The discussion will move to the north German minister presidents in a few weeks.

Now if we could only get Swabian housewives to knit undersea cable, we'd be getting somewhere.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 02:49:00 PM EST

S/O: TBG (none / 0)

Do you have a link to an overview of the IBM Renaissance Project?

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:00:21 PM EST

Re: S/O: TBG (none / 1)

Here

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 03:13:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Latest PPP news from the GOP race:

Michigan

Santorum 37%
Romney 33%
Ron Paul 15%
Gingrich 10%

Santorum's lead has fallen to 4%

Arizona

Romney 36%
Santorum 33%
Gingrich 16%
Paul 9%

Romney's lead has been cut to 3%

Both of the leads are within the MOE so at this point I'd have to give Santorum the edge to take both based on the fact his supporters are much more likely to actually vote than Romney's.

Gallup's five day moving average:

Santorum 36%
Romney 26%
Gingrich 13%
Paul 11%

Since the beginning of this month Romney's national support has dropped eleven points (37%) back to his 'base support' of ~25%.

It is now safe to say: there is no Front Runner in the GOP Presidential nominating race. There are only a "bunch of dudes" scrabbling for votes. Paul has a solid core of support; Romney has the money; Santorum has the local organizations; Gingrich has ... not sure, tell the truth, but it adds to 13%.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:12:26 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Gingrich has Callista. And a toupet.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:18:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Did I hear that a Republican Govenor has dropped support of Romney, and given his endorsement to Santorum in the last day or two?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:30:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Don't know. Did you?

:-)

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine recently switched his support. Haven't heard of a Governor dumping the Romney_Bot 2012.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:39:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Earlier this month, two mysterious phone calls came into the Toka Salon in Georgetown, a sparkling emporium that tends to the hair atop some of Washington's most powerful and prominent heads. Told that the owner, Nuri Yurt, was with clients, both callers said they sought his opinion of Callista Gingrich's hair -- the strikingly perfect platinum bob, with the distinctive over-the-left-eye swoosh, that has increasingly captured the attention of hairdressers, journalists, and women of a similar demographic worldwide...
So what does the flaxen bob convey?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/fashion/weighing-in-on-the-callista-gingrich.html?pagewanted=all

What it conveys is that there are a lot of people who are unaware of what Martian robots look like.

by asdf on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 06:07:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

She always looked alien to me.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 01:09:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

She's sleeping with Newt, you'd have to be pretty alien to want to do that.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 02:46:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 06:11:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

Romney looks in deep doo doo as the conservative momentum is piling in.

Gingrich is reduced to being a zombie for his donor who wants delegates to wield for the conference

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:46:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Looking at recent history (have to scroll down to see the interactive graph) the fall in Newt's support is almost exactly matched by the rise for Frothy.

As a guess Newt will lose another couple of points and then hang around 10%. I'm guessing his core support are the almost sane Fundie-Cons who won't support Romney and think Santorum is too 'out there.'

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:44:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

And, yeah, Newt is Yesterday's Not-Romney. Aside from Georgia - his home state - I don't see him winning many more delegates since there is a 20% floor in most GOP primaries.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 05:45:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

Mittens is only pulling 16% in Tejas.

Mullah Ricky's at 45.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 06:25:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Day-am.

Meanwhile, in Indiana:

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. on Monday touted the backing of more than 50 ministers, including one who said "political demonic forces" were driving the agenda of Democratic primary opponent Debbie Halvorson.

and

[Rep. Bob] Morris said he found online allegations that the Girl Scouts are a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood, encourage sex and allow transgender females to join. He also wrote that the fact that first lady Michelle Obama is honorary president should give lawmakers pause before they endorse the Girl Scouts.
Morris goes on to say those considered role models by the Girl Scouts are all "feminists, lesbians, or Communists" and claims that troops are no longer allowed to pray or sing Christmas Carols.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 06:43:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

I'm sure the wife will get a kick out of that, given that she and her friend are Girl Scouts leaders.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 08:22:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Oh now this looks like fun for Cameron

News of the World hacking suspect pleads guilty to conspiracy | Technology | The Guardian

A man at the centre of allegations that computers were hacked for the News of the World has been convicted of conspiring to illegally access private information for profit.
Until Monday legal restrictions meant that what is known about Philip Campbell Smith's alleged involvement in computer hacking could not be reported.
Smith is alleged to have hacked the computer of a former British army intelligence officer in 2006 as part of a commission from the News of the World. In a tape recording, Smith says he was in contact with Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor who went on to become David Cameron's director of communications. Smith says Coulson is in his mobile phone directory.
Smith is understood to be under investigation by a Scotland Yard inquiry, Operation Kalmyk, which is examining allegations that email hacking may have been used against several dozen targets.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Feb 20th, 2012 at 04:30:58 PM EST

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

I wish, but the Coulson/Cameron link is really yesterday's news now. Cameron's judgement is facing larger trials than merely that he was seduced by the Mordor sleaze party.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 02:43:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

I thought he was leader of the Mordor sleaze party?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 04:01:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 0)

No, Sauron is a multi-headed corporate monster. Cameron is merely the current leader of the Orc pack

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 at 07:50:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Monday Open Thread | 90 comments (90 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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