The Freedom Clock, started over a thousand days ago, indicates that we are exactly one year away from the end of George The Worst’s reign. At which point one hopes that the country will rise, blinking, as if shaking off an extended and hideous dream, and return to the land of the living.
Long national nightmare indeed.
PAD
• 
How dare you guys think Bush lied. Bush doesn’t lie. He is the President of the United States. What he says is law. Why, Bush is God. Hearing words from Bush is like hearing words from the Pope: They are words given directly from God.
I’m sorry, but this “study” was a joke. Have Bush and the members of his administration told outright lies? Yes. But holding up the results of a purely done study that has ties to very vocal anti-Bush advocates (while being billed a “neutral” group) has all of the credibility of a Bill O’Reilly “fact” or less.
The press and others trumpeting this study only gives Bush supporters (all 37 of ’em) ammunition to point out the legitimately faulty (in this case) nature of Bush’s detractor’s “facts” and the role of the press in advocating for the other side. While I agree that Bush and crew have lied a lot and fudged the facts even more often then that, you have to choose you attacks better. Everyone that I’m seeing here supporting this study has in the past attacked the equally faulty studies and facts that were used to attack Bill Clinton and John Kerry as well as the supposed neutrality of the sources. You can’t have it both ways or you’re no better then those that you criticize.
Bush has lied. He’s lied quite a lot actually. But this study is faulty in its construction and, owing to those faults, inaccurate in its overall findings. Not a great foundation to attack others with.
Bush has always had good fortune in his opponents. So did Bill Clinton, though Obama seems to have thrown him off into uncharacteristic clumsiness.
I see parallels in this study to the one published in The Lancet that overestimated the number of Iraqi civilian deaths by quite a bit, or at least it would seem. The methodology was flawed and it was only recently that it was revealed that George Soros contributed to the funding.
Now I would not automatically dismiss a report just because Soros helped fund it…any more than I’m sure my liberal friends would automatically dismiss anything that was critical of Bill Clinton just because the researchers accepted money from Richard Mellon Scaife, right? But when that aid is not reported…well, it makes one wonder if maybe they were embarrassed by it and, if so, whether or not there was a reason for that embarrassment.
But you know, Soros and Scaife and partisans on both sides have every right to slant things their way. That’s politics. The ones who really deserve to be ashamed are the reporters who either didn’t do the easy research to investigate the report or did it and deliberately suppressed the information. The conservative bloggers sniffed out the Soros link before the day was old–are they really better at this than the AP or NYT?
Actually, that’s a bit exaggerated. Sure the methodology is flawed, but it was flawed in a way that all survey methods are flawed (and there have been subsequent studies that estimate a lower death toll, but still within the error bars of the Lancet study).
It all comes down to the data. No study is EVER perfect, and it’s a mark of partisanship to expect it out of a study–all you can do is look at the methodology, see where it is weak, and accept the conclusions are only as good as that weak link—but that doesn’t mean that the result are invalid.
It also comes down to the wording of the study and the parameters for the search. This study has some issues as far as how large a net it was willing to cast to allow something to be portrayed as a lie rather then a mistake and how many times a lie could be counted. Rather then saying Bush lied once in a speech that was ten minutes long, they instead counted each actual articulation of an idea in that speech. Before anyone jumps in on that, simplify it, take Bush out of it and think a minute. If it takes three minutes to tell a lie and to reinforce the ideas in the lie, then it’s still only one lie. It is not four, five or six separate lies.
It also matters how you define what you’re looking at and how determined you are to paint a bad (or a worse) picture. It’s kind of like the AFA study that was sent to the media about wrestling back in the late 90’s when wrestling was at an all time popularity boom. They said that there were something like 100 (or some number close to that) sexual acts performed on TV in the five hours of combined TV time that Raw & Nitro had on Monday nights. Thing is, when you looked at there guidelines, they defined a sexual act as, amongst other things, prolonged contact of one persons hand on another’s forearm or thigh. Gee, you don’t think that maybe a wrestling show would have non-sexual activities that involved prolonged contact of one persons hand on another’s forearm or thigh, do yah? There were legitimate complaints to be made about the sexual nature of some of the storylines that were being run from 97-00, but making stuff up only makes your legitimate complaints look like more of the same “crying wolf” and undercuts your credibility. Same thing then, same thing with the Clinton attackers and Swift Boaters and the same thing here.
Look, I’m not really getting on anyone’s case here or trying to defend Bush. God knows that anyone who’s read any of my past posts here about Bush can not believe that I’m a Bush backer, supporter or apologist. But I am getting kind of tired of constantly turning around and seeing people whining about how the evil Conservative hit machine is attacking some noble Democrat with faulty facts and trumped up or exaggerated charges and the turning around and happily doing the same thing. If it’s wrong, then it’s wrong no matter who does it. You either stand for something or you don’t. But, if you’re not going to stand for something, don’t put on the outraged act later when the same dirty tricks are aimed at someone you support.
It all comes down to the data. No study is EVER perfect, and it’s a mark of partisanship to expect it out of a study–all you can do is look at the methodology, see where it is weak, and accept the conclusions are only as good as that weak link—but that doesn’t mean that the result are invalid.
One way to judge the validity of the data is to be allowed to examine it. According to several sources, including a pretty good article at http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/databomb/index.htm
some of the lead researchers on the study have been less than forthcoming: The key person involved in collecting the data — Lafta, the researcher who assembled the survey teams, deployed them throughout Iraq, and assembled the results — has refused to answer questions about his methods.
I never said I expected perfection from this or any other study but this one seems to fall short of even the minimum standard for acceptance, much less worthy of the fanfare it received. Unless one thinks that the political goal of a supposedly scientific report is more important than whether or not it reflects reality.
Roger Tang: “Sure the methodology is flawed… but that doesn’t mean that the result are invalid.”
Actually, it does.
To amplify Jerry’s point: a few decades ago, someone conducted a study of violence on television. The thing is, their definition of “violence” included “verbal violence” like telling someone you don’t like them.
Know what show they concluded was the most violent on T.V. at the time? “The Brady Bunch.”
Well, one reason why is that details of the methodology would allow respondents to be identifiable. I don’t think that’s a good thing to occur in a chaotic area like Iraq.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence…or at least not less evidence.
If what we are left with is a study funded by partisan individuals that is released right before an election, to great fanfare, with a result that is considerably different from all other reports (and different in a way that said partisan funders will find extremely useful) and whose methodologies do not allow for review…I don’t think one has to be one of Allan’s “Bush is God” true believers to think such a report is of limited value, if any.
Alan, not Allan.
And if the methodology of the report is flawed, so are the results, thus they are invalid. Doesn’t mean the results won’t be found to be about the same with the next study.
Question: If Faux Noise does a report, is automatically valid? Or is it automatically invalid?
Because a study is funded by Soros does not automatically make it invalid. If the Main Stream Media refuse to pursue these studies, then who is going to? Somebody has to put up the money.
Or perhaps it would be better if we just let Limpburger and O’Really control the world.
Alan, not Allan.
My apologies.
Question: If Faux Noise does a report, is automatically valid? Or is it automatically invalid?
Neither. Depends on the methodology used, of course. Of course, there are those who would automatically dismiss anything from Fox. Beats thinking about it, I guess. Ditto those who would simply accept anything from Fox, CNN, the Bible, moveon.org, etc. as true simply by virtue of being.
Because a study is funded by Soros does not automatically make it invalid.
That’s true. Witness my comment above–Now I would not automatically dismiss a report just because Soros helped fund it…any more than I’m sure my liberal friends would automatically dismiss anything that was critical of Bill Clinton just because the researchers accepted money from Richard Mellon Scaife, right?
However, I do expect that sources of funding should be made public. Unless the researchers are trying to hide these facts, for whatever reason that might be, such transparency is the only ethical way to go and not following it raises valid questions.
Or perhaps it would be better if we just let Limpburger and O’Really control the world.
Fortunately there is a happy medium between blindly following the extremists of the right and the extremists of the left
The media has no clue, and are only interested in one thing: ratings. Rupert Murdoch saw a market not being served – the non-liberal media – and exploited it. But if you look at the fox entertainment channels, it’s shows hardly model the conservative ideal. Again, it’snot an agenda, just ratings.
If you think the media (Fox, CNN or anyone else) does have a clue, just think about the last time they covered something about your profession. In my case, computer security. The flaws in the reporting are laughable. Then, you have to realize that all their reports are like that. They know very little, but pretend they know quite a bit.
To me it seems that the reason the 24-hour networks are so opinion-based and poll-based is because they have to fill air time, and that’s much easier than “real reporting”. Why pay someone to do investigative journalism, when you can pay a smooth talker to just yap with little research.
On Fox, I actually do like the first half of the Brit Hume news show, but the rest of Fox’s lineup is well worth ignoring. On Sunday’s I enjoy Russert more than any of them – though occasionally watching Juan Williams and Bill Kristol go at each other can be fun.
” If you think the media (Fox, CNN or anyone else) does have a clue, just think about the last time they covered something about your profession.”
What, like how they cover the use of tasers? I swear, it’s considered a bad joke amongst most law enforcement officers that any taser usage will be introduced on the TV news with some idiot going on about “50,000 volts” in the same voice one might use while describing some catastrophic event. Then you get lots of repeating of the 50,000 volts thing as they discuss the incredible, unbelievable and unimaginable force that went through some dipwads body.
News flash folks: 50,000 volts ain’t diddley squat.
A simple static shock from you to a friend is 20,000 – 25,000 volts.
http://www.livescience.com/environment/060417_MM_static_electricity.html
The Van de Graaff Generator (that big metal ball that kids play with at science museums to make their hair stand straight up) is a common toy to most elementary school science teachers. Every time a kid touches it, the thing sends anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 volts through their tiny little bodies.
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/catalog/technology/other-technology-products/p_el-vandegr.html
That wall socket that will knock you on your butt? 100 – 125 volts in America.
http://www.magellans.com/store/util/ElecWiz
Volts mean nothing. It’s all about the amps. The amps delivered by the X26 TASER (the most common model used by police in America) is about 0.0021 amps. The minimum amps needed to kill a human is 0.07 amps and even that’s not always lethal. Ever been shocked by your Christmas tree lights while stringing the tree? A bulb on a string of Christmas tree lights is about 1 amp.
But these little facts never seem to make it into the talking head’s hysterics as they’re burbling on about fascist states, police legally murdering people and 50,000 volts. They also seem to forget that, while talking about how the police should get rid of tasers and stick with safe stuff like pepper spray, the very same media was filled with the very same hysterics over the introduction of pepper spray all those years ago. And, having been hit by both more then once, I’ll take the taser hit over OC spray any day of the week.
Yeah, I just love it when the media talks about my profession.
Posted by Jerry Chandler at January 26, 2008 12:44 AM
What, like how they cover the use of tasers? I swear, it’s considered a bad joke amongst most law enforcement officers that any taser usage will be introduced on the TV news with some idiot going on about “50,000 volts” in the same voice one might use while describing some catastrophic event. Then you get lots of repeating of the 50,000 volts thing as they discuss the incredible, unbelievable and unimaginable force that went through some dipwads body.
I think it grand fun when they then take some poor slob and actually shoot him with the taser to show the audience how effective they are. It always ends up looking like some really bad faith healing scam.
I’ve been that poor slob at demos and training days. It may look like a bad faith healing scam, but it feels like someone breaking every one of your bones in between the two darts with a small sledge hammer.
Still like it better then the OC spray. Five seconds of charge and you’re done with the taser. OC spray kicks your butt for hours and hours after you’ve been tagged with it. And, as one of my academy mates found out, washing it off in the shower only makes it flair up again and it makes it worse. How? The oil follows the flow of the water down/along your body and burns whatever it hits. And, as much as the guys are crossing their legs right now at that thought, the academy mate in question was a woman.
You can all say “ouch” now.
OUCH!!!!
I work in an emergency department and the police brought this fine upstanding individual who thought for sure he could out run the K-9 and after we patched him up (man those dogs dont kid around either)he started getting his second or third wind, one of the officers sprayed him with pepper spray. We had to shut down one whole side (about 10 rooms) of the ED so we could air it out. Everyone was crying and of course they have to come over and see what all the racket is and they would just walk into it. Not fun!!
See, that’s just an idiot who doesn’t know what he’s doing. One of the basics of OC certification is that you never use it in environments like that foe exactly those reasons. And, beyond the ventilation systems circulating it everywhere, you put at risk anybody in the place who is in there for any kind of respiratory issues.
The Van de Graaff Generator (that big metal ball that kids play with at science museums to make their hair stand straight up) is a common toy to most elementary school science teachers. Every time a kid touches it, the thing sends anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 volts through their tiny little bodies.
Elementary teachers??? Heck, this high school teacher LOVES the Van De Graaff! Having that thing set up in the room is like a Day Without Lesson Plans. The kids love it. They actually begin to use higher level thinking, coming up with all kinds of great experiments like What Happens If I Touch It With My Tongue, Let’s Electrify The Door Handle So We Shock Tyrone When He Comes Back From His Bathroom Break, Who Can Look The Most Like Don King and other classics. They might even accidentally learn something.
Still like it better then the OC spray.
Yeah, we had an incident where one of the resource officers broke up a fight with Pepper Spray. Even though it was outside some of it drifted into the ventilation system of my building and I noticed kids starting to give little coughs. Thought they were being wisenheimers until it hit me too. You could taste it. Had to bug out for an impromptu outdoor lesson.
Hey, wouldn’t it be great to have a giant Tesla Coil? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1553601457651947389&q=tesla+coil&total=1756&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2
It is indeed the amps.
Electricity kills you in 2 ways. It stops your heart, or it destroys so much tissue that you can’t survive. I’ve seen videos that made me turn away.
Electricity can kill you indirectly by causing you to fall: fall into more electricity, fall into machinery, fall from heights, etc.
Had a friend in college, black belt in several arts,in great shape, was sure that he could handle anything. During one of the Martial Arts Club’s demonstrations, someone had a vial of pepper spray. This guy, having just demonstrated how tough he was, jumped right up to take it to show how it worked, and that once again, he could take it.
Thirty five seconds later, it was a different story.
BTW, anybody reading this, Land of the Dead is on TNT at this moment.
As for the tasers, beyond most people not understanding the scientific terminology, what sounds more dangerous? 0.00something or Somety-THOUSAND something? Above all, in media, size is attention getting.
“BTW, anybody reading this, Land of the Dead is on TNT at this moment.”
Or, as it is in my house, Land of the Dead is on TNTHD. I loves my Dish. ~8?)
The one thing that I like about the taser over OC spray is that your martial arts buddy isn’t everybody. I can fight for a good little bit after getting a blast of OC. I had to when was in academy. Some people doen’t even have the slightest problem with it at all. A taser will lock up 100% of the people out there for about 5 seconds and even most of the dumbest SOBs don’t want another blast. It hurts like nothing I’ve ever been hit with.
Scott probably could have fought, but to watch it happen, it was kinda like that scene in A Christmas Story with the pole. “This is nothing, really, I–AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGH!”
Land of the Dead is on TNTHD. Yeah, well, I’m at WORK so all the HD sets are tuned to either basketball, UNC and Maryland currently tied, or horse stuff. At least it’s not snowing, because then I’d get to go out on the roof and sweep off our dishes. Even the great big ones that look like they fell off the Millenium Falcon.
Or, as it is in my house, Land of the Dead is on TNTHD. I loves my Dish. ~8?)
Oh just rub it in…I just spent 5 hours shooting zombie footage in the woods only to find out that the camera has some glitch and the footage is probably ruined…
Anyone seen DIARY OF THE DEAD yet?
Seen it?!? I didn’t even know it was out yet. I haven’t even seen so much as one ad around here.
It’s been at every horror/sci-fi/comics convention (With one notable exception, that being any convention I’m at!). I think the Weinsteins have it which always means it might get shelved for a decade or so. (Romero is apparently already planning a sequel though).
The early reviews are mixed but so were LAND OF THE DEAD’s and I loved that one. Romero has the disadvantage of everyone thinking he’s going to reinvent the genre as he has twice before…c’mon! Who needs that pressure? At least he isn’t Dario Argento, who seems to have forgotten everything it was that made him so freaking great.
Yeah, I’d heard that the Weinsteins had it and were looking at a “limited” release in February or March. With my luck, “limited” means at least an hour’s drive and, while that was once a little more doable, that’s not really an option in my life right now.
BTW, Bill Mulligan, no apology was really needed. After all, I am the one that started this whole “using the wrong name” meme here on this site a few weeks ago.
I just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn’t trying to be cute. I’m bad with names and spelling–just ask my friend Bill Meyers.
So, Peter, will you live blog George W. Bush’s
Last State Of The Union?
— Ken from Chicago
Posted by: Ken
So, Peter, will you live blog George W. Bush’s Last State Of The Union?
The mind bloggles … err, “boggles” … at the thought of what we might read…
If only my last name had one less “e” in it. Then Bill Mulligan might might be my friend, instead of chumming around with this “Bill Meyers” guy.
OK, that last post should have read “If only my last name had one MORE ‘e’ in it…”
Whenever I get sinus infections, I get dizzy and can’t concentrate. It’s Chandler’s fault. He gave me this cold over the phone.
Anyone seen DIARY OF THE DEAD yet?
I’m waiting for BLOG OF THE DEAD.
No, not over the phone, but rather via email. That’s what you get for not keeping your antivirus protection up to date.
~8?P
Too late. Blog of the Dead has been taken. I think it’s dead though.
http://zombiebloggers.blogspot.com/
I think it’s dead though.
DEAD dead or just dead?
BTW, I thought Diary wasn’t being released until 2/15. Has that changed?
I think that’s the plan but evry week I hear from some other friend who has already seen it…and these folks aren’t NEARLY the zombie fanatic I am. It’s just so unfair…