tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post7889460301927515498..comments2024-03-28T16:31:23.093-07:00Comments on Books in Northport: If It Quacks Like a Duck, Who Is It?P. J. Grathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-24348489944782310392016-12-19T07:13:11.393-08:002016-12-19T07:13:11.393-08:00I heard about that, Helen. Glad they are doing it!...I heard about that, Helen. Glad they are doing it!P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-17121319912930227872016-12-17T21:07:16.953-08:002016-12-17T21:07:16.953-08:00You're write to protect your information; look...You're write to protect your information; look what climate change scientists are doing!<br /><br />https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/13/scientists-are-frantically-copying-u-s-climate-data-fearing-it-might-vanish-under-trump/?utm_term=.317dc1d0323eFarshaw@FineOldBooks.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05663199582891083995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-49753768412783798742016-12-17T07:57:25.164-08:002016-12-17T07:57:25.164-08:00BB, there is a lot of attention focused on Faceboo...BB, there is a lot of attention focused on Facebook right now, regarding the matter of fake news. What most of us have known for a long time, though, but maybe forgotten is the way Google decides what results to show someone doing a search: the results you get are tailored to you, individually, based on past searches you've made and sites, commercial and noncommercial, that you have visited. So a dozen different people may well see a dozen different lists of search results, and everyone will see what fits best with what they've looked at before. Different points of view, challenges to preconceived conclusions? Not so much. I see a big danger there, as well as unfairness (i.e., no "level playing field").P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-89360627289362278292016-12-16T16:15:10.509-08:002016-12-16T16:15:10.509-08:00"In that way, creators of algorithms need to ..."In that way, creators of algorithms need to take their share of the blame for Americans reading only news sources with views matching those they already had.)" That in a nutshell is the problem. Over<br />60% of web users get their news from Facebook. Many believe Fake New and denigrate professional journalists. Orwellian, IMO.BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388509941702241290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-42674287807108799142016-12-15T13:27:25.985-08:002016-12-15T13:27:25.985-08:00Deborah, thanks! Helen, be my guest!Deborah, thanks! Helen, be my guest!P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-36792906088804316502016-12-15T13:24:55.473-08:002016-12-15T13:24:55.473-08:00The positive response to repression and the like i...The positive response to repression and the like is not to sit quietly by and watch, but to mobilize, striking back in small ways every day. . Silence never worked before and will not work now. You expressed that so well,Pamela:<br /><br />"Repressive governments are not interested in our fates as individuals, but they are very interested in restricting, in the most general, sweeping sense, our freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of movement, and the free exchange of ideas. It’s unlikely that darkness and silence will fall on us tomorrow – more likely we will be overwhelmed, day by day, by blinding metaphorical searchlights and fake news and enemies masquerading as friends.<br /><br />If another voice breaks in here one day, though – or if your access is mysteriously denied – I'm telling you now, ahead of time, not to take it lying down. In fact, start now to do what you can. Think about it. What can you do? Now do it!"<br /><br />May I repost it?<br /><br />Farshaw@FineOldBooks.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05663199582891083995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-46481511410190817512016-12-15T13:17:54.966-08:002016-12-15T13:17:54.966-08:00I print your blogs sometimes to give to people. I...I print your blogs sometimes to give to people. I'm thinking I should have printed and kept them all. What will I do? Read, comment and think.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02101133608076884449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-42515258937873167802016-12-15T11:30:28.881-08:002016-12-15T11:30:28.881-08:00I've thought a lot about this, too, Gerry. Of ...I've thought a lot about this, too, Gerry. Of course, the very word (or non-word, depending on your point of view) 'blog' comes from web + log, a log being a kind of journal. For me, as I suspect for you, also, the short blasts on Facebook and such will never be able to duplicate or replace our long, meandering blog visits. And yes, I'd love Books in Northport in a book -- but I think it would take several volumes at this stage of the game! And cost a fortune, no doubt.P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-75379634866940187732016-12-15T11:21:51.734-08:002016-12-15T11:21:51.734-08:00I've given a lot of thought to the probably di...I've given a lot of thought to the probably disappearance of blogs like yours (and mine and those of other real people writing about real life and real places). Blogger and Wordpress apparently found it financially worthwhile to continue all these years, but the digital landscape is changing. I have two plans: (1) I want to be sure I can keep in touch with the "blogfriends" I've made all over the world and (2) I want to make a book of posts. Nothing lasts forever, but I'd like to be able to revisit some of the good conversations all of us have had with each other over the years. I use Torch Lake Views like a journal - a searchable journal! - when I'm trying to remember what it was like in a particular summer, or where it was I found that particular odd mushroom. I want to see Miss Sadie and the Cowboy bouncing around on the beach. I want to find a book you wrote about. I want to see Northport being its utterly quirky self. Books we can hold in our hands will be a good thing I think.Gerryhttp://torchlakeviews.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-65400519409969857522016-12-15T11:20:19.058-08:002016-12-15T11:20:19.058-08:00Well, some of us manage to avoid some of those glo...Well, some of us manage to avoid some of those global links, though it would be a rare person who managed to avoid all of them. Anyway, you will enjoy DEAD SOULS, Peter, and I will forgive you that (cringe!) "incentivises"! THIS time!P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130421352415377273.post-88728458138235384902016-12-15T10:47:46.098-08:002016-12-15T10:47:46.098-08:00All part of the global links we cannot avoid. Pro...All part of the global links we cannot avoid. Probably a broadcast to most innocent bloggers. On a happier note, we are blessed with wintry weather which incentivises us to stay in and read. Maybe I will start "Dead Souls" today. An appropriate title for these times.Ozwolcotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05170896710901993816noreply@blogger.com