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More on Search Engine Bias

I guess at this point I shouldn’t be surprised that the major search engines use different algorithms/formulas to “guess” at what you’re searching for.  I had assumed it was based on popularity, what others were searching for.  I also assumed that if that were true then people would search for the same things on the major search engines.  It appears that there are may be censoring or hiding of obviously likely search phrases.

So on Monday September 12, I went to Google, Yahoo and Bing and typed in “hillary clinton basket of”.  The results were surprising or maybe not:

Google had nothing, guessed absolutely nothing to complete the phrase
Bing suggested “Hillary Clinton Bucket of Chicken”
Yahoo suggested “Hillary Clinton Basket of Deplorables”

See screen shots below:

Bing Basket Search Results
Bing Basket Search Results
Google Basket Search Results
Google Basket Search Results
Yahoo Basket Search Results
Yahoo Basket Search Results

July 15 Networking Event

As many of you know, one of the founding principles of FOCM Networking is “patience”.   Patience is required in several forms – patience to earn/receive your FOCM membership card and patience to wait for events to be posted to the international world wide web public record.  This posting is one such example.  On July 15, 2015 in one of the most emotional ceremonies ever – Brian Horan received his FOCM Membership card.  As I recall (and since it’s been so long, none of those in attendance can really remember how it actually happened), there was nary a dry eye to be seen.  Join me in welcoming Brian Horan.

FOCM welcomes Brian Horan
FOCM welcomes Brian Horan

Present at that evening’s event which occurred at Serena’s on Miami Blvd in Durham, NC were (front row then back row and left to right):  Michelle Pasiecznik, Brad Johnson, Pippa Wilson, Lauren Jones, Christina Alexander Smith, Brian Horan, Nick Macaulay, Rosina Pavia, Renee Brown, Jennifer Ausland, Sharon Braddy, Bernie Linner, a photo bomber and Lisa Monette.

FOCM Networking Group outside at Serena's
FOCM Networking Group outside at Serena’s

 

NCAA Punishes North Carolina

So the NCAA decides to schedule 7 college sports playoffs or championship events outside of North Carolina because North Carolina’s legislature passed a bill they don’t agree with.  Really? Yes, really.  Why the hell is the NCAA getting involved in political BS?  It irritated me enough to write the letter below and send it to them.

NCAA Headquarters
700 W. Washington St.
PO Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN  46206-6222

Dear NCAA Headquarters:

This letter is to recommend that you stick to your dedication to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes and stay out of political side shows.  Rescheduling college playoff and championship events outside of North Carolina is ridiculous.

Two of your seven beliefs – “an inclusive culture” and “respect” for philosophical differences seems to be forgotten in your decision.  You should respect the autonomy and philosophical difference that the state of North Carolina legislature has taken.

North Carolina residents don’t deserve this treatment from you and you certainly have no role in meting out punishment to those with whom you disagree as though you’re an arbiter of social conscience.  I didn’t see that in your seven core beliefs.

Sincerely,

NCAA Core Values

Another birthday

September 3 would have been Peter Holthe’s 57th birthday.  On that day I thought of him and know he would be enjoying the evolution of FOCM.  I miss being able to talk with him.  I know he would have had some great ideas and great stories to contribute to this website.

Happy birthday Peter!

You can read more about how Peter influenced this website and the forming of FOCM in the link below or click on the “about” button in the tabs.

About

 

Google Search is Biased

By now I have seen enough proof of the political bias of Google Search.  It’s easily proven.  Go to yahoo search and type “hillary clinton cri” and see how it suggests what you’re looking for based on the most common searches like that.  You get “crimes”, “criminal”, “criminal charges” and “crimes list” as the most common.  Do the same in Google Search and you get “cries” and “crisis of character”.  See below example based on recent Colin Kaepernick quotes.  I’ve started using other search engines as a result.

“You have Hillary who has called black teens or black kids ‘super predators,’ you have Donald Trump who’s openly racist,” Kaepernick told reporters. “We have a presidential candidate who has deleted emails and done things illegally and is a presidential candidate. That doesn’t make sense to me because if that was any other person you’d be in prison. So, what is this country really standing for?”

So Kaepernick believes Hillary Clinton has used racially insulting terms and belongs in prison.

NewsBusters conducted a Google News search using the terms “Kaepernick, Trump and openly racist” a day later and got 48 results. Yet a search using the terms “Kaepernick, Clinton and prison” returned just four. The only item on the Clinton remarks to appear in a major press outlet was an article in The Washington Post, according to NewsBusters.

The Associated Press ran a story noting Kaepernick’s description of Trump, but left out his remarks about Clinton.

Web Search Engines

Election Year Observations

My family has long subscribed to Readers Digest and I continue to get it.  Here are a few comments made in a recent issue that seem relevant during this unpredictable presidential election.

Americans over the age of 40 are the only citizens with even the dimmest adult memories of the presidency of George H. W. Bush …[so] close to 100 million eligible voters have no firsthand recollection of a time when things worked in Washington.  That might be a starting point for understanding the crippling cynicism that hangs over contemporary politics.
Walter Shapiro, political columnist in a blog post

The basis of democracy is the willingness to assume well about other people.
Marilynne Robinson, PhD, novelist and professor of writing, New York Review of Books

Forcing public figures to instinctively fear saying anything even remotely offensive doesn’t encourage argument or intellectual rigor or even honesty. Instead, it compels people to stick to bland sound bites and safe topics.
Sophie Gilbert, culture writer, The Atlantic

The entry above appears to be followed by everyone in this year’s election, which may be why it’s causing such upheaval and strong feelings.

Amusing obituary

Saw this today and loved it – will give you a chuckle on hump day

Funny Obituary

Obituary of William Ziegler

He assures us he is gone

William Ziegler escaped this mortal realm on Friday, July 29, 2016 at the age of 69.
We think he did it on purpose to avoid having to make a decision in the pending presidential election.

He leaves behind four children, five grandchildren, and the potted meat industry, for which he was an unofficial spokesman until dietary restrictions forced him to eat real food.

William volunteered for service in the United States Navy at the ripe old age of 17 and immediately realized he didn’t much enjoy being bossed around. He only stuck it out for one war.

Before his discharge, however, the government exchanged numerous ribbons and medals for various honorable acts.

Upon his return to the City of New Orleans in 1971, thinking it best to keep an eye on him, government officials hired William as a fireman.

After twenty-five years, he suddenly realized that running away from burning buildings made more sense than running toward them. He promptly retired.

Looking back, William stated that there was no better group of morons and mental patients than those he had the privilege of serving with (except Bob, he never liked you, Bob).

Following his wishes, there will not be a service, but wellwishers are encouraged to write a note of farewell on a Schaefer Light beer can and drink it in his honor.

He was never one for sentiment or religiosity, but he wanted you to know that if he owes you a beer, and if you can find him in Heaven, he will gladly allow you to buy him another.

He can likely be found forwarding tasteless internet jokes (check your spam folder, but don’t open these at work). Expect to find an alcoholic dog named Judge passed out at his feet. Unlike previous times, this is not a ploy to avoid creditors or old girlfriends. He assures us that he is gone. He will be greatly missed.

Fun review of reality TV Show

As some of you know, the founder of FOCM, enjoys reality (or as I refer to it: train wreck) TV shows.  I have some limits – like I no longer watch Survivor or Big Brother – but boy do I love me some Bachelor/Bachelorette drama!  I enjoyed E Online’s review of last night’s show.

On a side note, I think Carly is awesomely funny, her comments and laughter are a highlight each week.

Bachelor in Paradise Review – E Online

First Impressions Matter

First impressions really matter.  I saw this article on-line from a Harvard Business Professor and her focus on first impressions.

Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy has been studying first impressions alongside fellow psychologists Susan Fiske and Peter Glick for more than 15 years, and has discovered patterns in these interactions.

In her new book, “Presence,” Cuddy says that people quickly answer two questions when they first meet you:

Can I trust this person?
Can I respect this person?

Psychologists refer to these dimensions as warmth and competence, respectively, and ideally you want to be perceived as having both.

Interestingly, Cuddy says that most people, especially in a professional context, believe that competence is the more important factor. After all, they want to prove that they are smart and talented enough to handle your business.

But in fact, warmth, or trustworthiness, is the most important factor in how people evaluate you.

“From an evolutionary perspective,” Cuddy says, “it is more crucial to our survival to know whether a person deserves our trust.”

It makes sense when you consider that in cavemen days it was more important to figure out if your fellow man was going to kill you and steal all your possessions than if he was competent enough to build a good fire.
First 2 things noticed when meeting someone new