What’s interesting in the news today?
1. Fuzzy Math.
Or if you prefer an alternate headline, Census Helping Cook the Unemployment Books.
From TheNTPost “A field supervisor in the Census Bureau’s Denver region has informed her organization’s higher-ups, the head of the Commerce Department and congressional investigators that she believes economic data collected by her office is being falsified.
And this whistleblower — who asked that I not identify her — said her bosses in Denver ignored her warnings even after she provided details of wrongdoing by three different survey takers. The three continued to collect data even after she reported them.
When I spoke with this whistleblower earlier this year as part of my investigation of Census, she told me that hundreds of interviews that go into the Labor Department’s unemployment rate and inflation surveys would miraculously be completed just hours before deadline.”
“The Denver whistleblower also provided to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform the names of other Census workers who can spill the beans about data fraud in other regions.”
__________________________________________
2. An update on the story from the other day about the electronic records problems in the Texas Ebola case. Another flawed product from another Obama donor and bundler, just like with ObamaCare’s website.
From NationalReview “Here’s what I can tell you for sure: Texas Health contracts with Epic Systems for its electronic-medical-records system — and the Dallas hospital isn’t the only client that has complained about its costly information-sharing flaws and interoperability failures.
Epic was founded by billionaire Judy Faulkner, a top Obama donor whose company is the dominant EMR player in the U.S. health-care market. As I reported last year, Epic employees donated nearly $1 million to political parties and candidates between 1995 and 2012 — 82 percent of it to Democrats. The company’s top ten PAC recipients are all Democratic or left-wing outfits, from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (nearly $230,000) to the DNC Services Corporation (nearly $175,000) and the America’s Families First Action Fund super PAC ($150,000).
Faulkner, an influential Obama campaign-finance bundler, served as an adviser to David Blumenthal. He’s the White House health-information-technology guru in charge of dispensing the federal electronic-medical-records subsidies that Faulkner pushed President Obama to adopt. Faulkner also served on the same committee Blumenthal chaired.”
“Epic and other large firms lobbied aggressively for nearly $30 billion in federal subsidies for their companies under the 2009 Obama stimulus package. The law penalizes medical providers that fail to comply with the one-size-fits-all mandate. Obama claimed that the new rules would cut costs and reduce errors. But health-care analysts at the RAND Corporation admitted last year that their cost-savings predictions of $81 billion a year were vastly inflated.
Epic has been the subject of rising industry and provider complaints about its antiquated closed-end system — so much so that when Texas Health released its first statement about the software glitch in the Ebola case, Jack Shaffer, a health-care IT guru and top official at KRM Associates, immediately snarked on Twitter: “Guess Epic can’t share data even with itself!”
______________________________________________
3. And since we’re on the subject of Obama’s billionaire buddies…
Only someone completely tone-deaf, or a serial liar, can pull this off with a straight face while in the home of a billionaire named Rich Richman. I kid you not. 😆
From TheDailyMail “President Barack Obama chided the Republican Party for catering to the ‘interests of billionaires’ in an email to supporters on Tuesday, then attended a series of high-dollar fundraisers, including one at real estate mogul Rich Richman’s house.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser at Richman’s house in Greenwich, Connecticut, cost as much as $32,400 a person, according to the White House.
The other two events, held in New York and sponsored by the Democratic National Committee, cost between $1,000 and $32,400 to attend.”
“As Obama was yucking it up with wealthy Democratic donors, he sent out a fundraising email slamming the GOP for being in the pocket of billionaires, the Washington Times reports.
‘If the Republicans win, we know who they’ll be fighting for,’ Obama allegedly wrote. ‘Once again, the interests of billionaires will come before the needs of the middle class.'”
They must think their supporters are total morons.
______________________________________________
4. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before….
From TheWashingtonTimes “The EPA is poised to “do an IRS” — similar to what the tax agency had to do with dismissed top official Lois G. Lerner — and officially notify the National Archives that it may have lost key electronic records, according to a think tank that’s suing to get text messages under an open-records request.
Justice Department lawyers told a federal court on Tuesday that the alert will be coming soon, in a case that’s shaping up as a significant battle over whether government agencies are required to keep cellphone text messages as “official” records.
An EPA spokeswoman said agency officials have acknowledged to the court and to the National Archives that the agency doesn’t have the text messages, but they contend the messages never had to be stored in the first place, since they were personal in nature and aren’t required to be preserved under open-records laws, nor turned over under the Freedom of Information Act.
“EPA is not aware of any evidence that federal records have been unlawfully destroyed,” said Liz Purchia, the EPA spokeswoman.”
Nothin’ to see here folks. Again.
______________________________________________
5. Thoughts?
From HotAir “Putting the paddles on the chest of a divisive issue with absolutely no hope of the outcome he promises is a hallmark of Ted Cruz,” says GOP consultant Rick Wilson acidly, the memory of last year’s doomed “defund” effort firmly in mind. Okay, but the fine print on what Cruz wants to do is interesting. Typically when social conservatives start talking up amendments aimed at gay marriage, they’re thinking of a substantive change — namely, a new law of the land that says marriage involves one man and one woman and no other combination. Once that’s in the Constitution, even courts can’t mess with it. (I think!) As The Atlantic notes, though, Cruz’s proposed amendment isn’t substantive. It’s procedural.
“It is beyond dispute that when the 14th Amendment was adopted 146 years ago, as a necessary post-Civil War era reform, it was not imagined to also mandate same-sex marriage, but that is what the Supreme Court is implying today. The Court is making the preposterous assumption that the People of the United States somehow silently redefined marriage in 1868 when they ratified the 14th Amendment.
“Nothing in the text, logic, structure, or original understanding of the 14th Amendment or any other constitutional provision authorizes judges to redefine marriage for the Nation. It is for the elected representatives of the People to make the laws of marriage, acting on the basis of their own constitutional authority, and protecting it, if necessary, from usurpation by the courts.
“Marriage is a question for the States. That is why I have introduced legislation, S. 2024, to protect the authority of state legislatures to define marriage. And that is why, when Congress returns to session, I will be introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent the federal government or the courts from attacking or striking down state marriage laws.”
______________________________________________
6. How tolerant… 🙄
From FoxNews “The Human Rights Commission in Lexington, Kentucky has a chilling message for Christian business owners who refuse service to LGBT organizations: leave your religion at home.”
“On Tuesday, a Lexington Human Rights Commission hearing examiner issued a recommended ruling that the owner of a T-shirt company violated a local ordinance against sexual-orientation discrimination.”
The hearing examiner recommended the following punishment:
First, Hands On Originals cannot discriminate against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In other words, the T-shirt company must service LGBT customers – no questions asked. The examiner also ordered Adamson to attend “diversity training” conducted by – wait for it – the Lexington Human Rights Commission.
“Take just a moment and let that sink in – a Christian business owner is being ordered to attend diversity training – because of his religious beliefs. That’s a pretty frightening concept and a mighty dangerous precedent.”
And I must say, I’m impressed with the updated terminology used. After all, “diversity training” sounds so much nicer than “re-education camp.”
______________________________________________
7. Reason number 6,453,627 not to use the public school system. PC stupidity run amok.
From NationalReview “A Nebraska school district has instructed its teachers to stop referring to students by “gendered expressions” such as “boys and girls,” and use “gender inclusive” ones such as “purple penguins” instead.
“Don’t use phrases such as ‘boys and girls,’ ‘you guys,’ ‘ladies and gentlemen,’ and similarly gendered expressions to get kids’ attention,” instructs a training document given to middle-school teachers at the Lincoln Public Schools.
“Create classroom names and then ask all of the ‘purple penguins’ to meet on the rug,” it advises.
The document also warns against asking students to “line up as boys or girls,” and suggests asking them to line up by whether they prefer “skateboards or bikes/milk or juice/dogs or cats/summer or winter/talking or listening.”
“Always ask yourself . . . ‘Will this configuration create a gendered space?’” the document says.”
A better question for parents is to always ask yourself, “Do I want a wussified kid, that’s totally confused about gender and the differences between boys and girls, because everyone is treated as unisex now?” And if the answer is no, you don’t, then maybe you should find a better schooling option.
______________________________________________
Wandering Views 
Regarding yesterday’s thread about HPV vaccine: there have been 140 confirmed deaths from this vaccine, according to numerous websites. It only protects against four strains of HPV, even though there are many more. My eldest has yet to kiss a boy, yet every time we go to the doctor, they push us to get this vaccine. I always decline.
LikeLike
#3
“They must think their supporters are total morons”
They are.
LikeLike
Regarding #6, (and sorry if this has been posted/linked before), but between the way the terms of the debate have successfully been imposed onto the “national discussion,” and the way the American church has largely gone along with all that, the issue has all the markings of a “lost cause.”
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/08/the-quiet-gay-rights-revolution-in-americas-churches/278646/
LikeLike
Abortion was once considered a lost cause. The tide is turning and has turned for many individuals on that issue. Truth will always win out in the end. In the meantime, we can only stand on truth and let the chips fall where they will.
LikeLike
solar, yep. At least for now, I’m afraid.
The challenge will be how churches now deal with the changing views within their own ranks. I have a few professing Christian FB acquaintances/friends who are very vocal about their support of gay marriage.
LikeLike
If “they” really wanted to do something about HPV transmission and other causes of reproductive disease in women, they would go back to circumcising every male child born.
LikeLike
I agree, Kathaleena and Donna J. The truth certainly does and will win out. I probably should have emphasized the “has the markings of” aspect of my post–the other team has all the momentum, but we walk by faith. Not saying Christians always do it right, but anti-Christian pundits seem to have taken control of HOW to “argue” about things, as sort of referenced here:
http://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2014/10/09/ben_affleck_and_the_end_of_argument.html
I know that article doesn’t exempt Christians from its criticism, but largely, cultural debates are framed on anti-intellectual terms, and in my limited view, its “liberals” who bring that framework. While that article more specifically calls out Affleck for his inane comments, Maher and Sam Harris are also often guilty of not doing their homework and relying on PC-emotion-speak to make their arguments. Point being, *for now,* and *by appearances only,* the culture is in the hands of the bad guys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The infiltration of American churches by perverts and their supporters is shocking and troubling. It reminds me of the infiltration of the German church by Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s. If I was a leader of a church in Africa or Asia, I would be hesitant to invite American missionaries to work with my people as Americans seem to be the prime carriers of this new heresy.
Speaking of Lost Causes, I will spend next week visiting various battlefields and Confederate shrines in Virginia.
LikeLike
Hurrah for South Carolina! First to Secede, Last to Submit!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/09/same-sex-marriage-south-carolina_n_5959642.html
LikeLike
2,3 If you want to get money out of politics, support Bernie Sanders and his attempt at a constitution amendment to over turn Citizens United. I’m sure some Democrats were happy to see it fail dye to the Republicans. They could look good voting for it but still get their donations. Republicans are in the pocket of energy companies while democrats seem to do really well with financial world, and health. Support Sanders if runs for president.
7. Every once in awhile an education bureaucrat comes up with a wonderfully stupid idea that makes great press fodder but barely makes it through a day if school before its ignored.
LikeLike
For the last four or five years, all grade eight girls in Ontario have received the HPV vaccine. If the side effects were as adverse as some groups, parents would have been all over any problems. So far nothing.
For the most part HPV is so prevelant, the extent of a person’s sexual activity should not be a consideration. I have had a few muslim girls allude to this but they line up for the shot like everyone else. As I teach in health class, you really can’t be a 100% sure of what your partner did in the past and in the case of some STI s if he or she is even aware of an infection.
LikeLike
Solar interesting article but let’s face it in some arguments if we agreed on the definitions there would be no debate.
I’m a little surprised about Maher controversy. He’s bad mouthing religions for years.
LikeLike
A different perspective on the “gender free language” suggested by this school board. The language I learned to speak in West Africa has no gender pronouns – the same pronoun is used if one is referring to a boy or girl. Similarly, there is no word for son or daughter, just for child. Those who learn to speak English from that language group continually struggle with he and she and son and daughter, as they do not distinguish gender in their mother tongue. Yet gender is distinguished; men’s and women’s roles and clothing are well defined, sometimes very unfortunately (wife-beating is considered part of life). The West can attempt to eliminate gender in language, but ultimately it makes no difference – only in the rarified atmosphere of the prosperous West can people pretend that gender is a fluid idea.
LikeLike
hwesseli: It may be too late for anyone to return here, but I think the Maher controversy has more to do with two liberal mouthpieces disputing one another, along with the, in my view, untenable position so vociferously taken up by Affleck (as the article depicts).
LikeLike
It is only 9:15 here on the Left Coast. Solar, you are right. It is fun to watch 2 Lefties argue about something that is so obvious. How come none of them can see the obvious in other instances?
I remember having an argument with someone about how raising the minimum wage would raise all prices. It was obvious to me. I am still not sure the other side of that discussion got it.
LikeLike