Day: 01/27/2015

The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Join this Exciting Group:

Changing the World when you are Chronically Ill, Disabled, or Homebound

https://lifeinslowmotionblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/the-top-10-reasons-why-you-should-join-this-exciting-group-changing-the-world-when-you-are-chronically-ill-disabled-or-homebound/

Sorry, I’m not on Facebook; and since they have a reputation for censoring content, I don’t wish to join.  However, it would be nice if I could view this Facebook page without having to join FB.

Sundance So Far

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/going-clear-review-sundance_n_6544700.html

“Tig”
Directed by Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York
Written by Jennifer Arnold

This is a movie that will enliven you, entertain you, sadden you and convince you that adversity is not a roadblock. If Tig Notaro can rebound from a double mastectomy to stage a topless set at the New York Comedy Festival, imagine what the rest of us can do.

Facebook Knows You Better Than Your Therapist

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/facebook-knows-you-better_n_6517518.html

In addition, computer personality scores were better at predicting real-life outcomes — such as the likelihood that an individual would abuse drugs — than family or friends. If we treat a pen and paper like a simple computer program, a lot of what therapists do is already governed by a machine, Kosinski says. “They wouldn’t try to judge your depression just by looking at you. They would use a depression questionnaire.”

Like any new technology, the widespread analysis of Facebook likes could have negative implications, too. While Kosinski cautions against fear mongering, he also acknowledges that hyper-accurate predictions based on publicly available information poses privacy concerns, especially if those algorithms can predict sexual orientation, political or religious views…

Republicans Defend Obama’s Trade Pact While Pressing To Deregulate Banks

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/obama-trade-pact-republicans_n_6556114.html

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Tuesday offered to help President Barack Obama pass a sweeping trade package, while pressing for measures to deregulate finance and raise the price of prescription drugs…

By granting pharmaceutical companies long-term monopolies on prescription drugs, moreover, those policies dramatically inflate the cost of medicine. The Indian government, for instance, recently authorized a generic version of a patented cancer medicine for $157 a month. By relying on aggressive IP rules, Bayer had been charging $5,000 a month for the same drug, according to data from the Indian government...

2 Vanderbilt Football Players Found Guilty Of Rape Charges

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/vanderbilt-rape-guilty_n_6558710.html

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A jury convicted two ex-Vanderbilt football players on Tuesday of raping a former student, rejecting claims that they were too drunk to know what they were doing and that a college culture of binge drinking and promiscuous sex should be blamed for the attack…

They also saw cellphone images from the night of the attack that Vandenburg sent to his friends as it was happening…

You have to wonder… If there had been no images, would the verdict be the same?

“Finally, I want to remind other victims of sexual violence: You are not alone. You are not to blame,” she said…