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Category: Assertion

Wild fires: Is everything a single variable problem?

Wild fires: Is everything a single variable problem?

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Western state Governors are increasingly blaming climate change for western wild fires, as if the wild fires are a single variable. If only we could control the climate, we would no longer have wild land fires. Realistically, there is no magic control knob on climate that we can control and which will reduce fire danger for decades to come.

There are concrete steps that can be taken immediately to reduce the threats of future wild fires – but politicians would rather blame climate change – which they do not control – because to acknowledge there are factors which they can control is to acknowledge that their leadership has failed.

A common mistake people make is to focus on a single variable in a multiple variable problem. In this case, the focus is on one variable that cannot be controlled in the near term, while ignoring other variables that can be controlled.

Where do we stand on new Covid-19 cases?

Where do we stand on new Covid-19 cases?

Recent news reports emphasize the spike or surge in new Covid-19 cases, and often continue to focus on that narrative for days to weeks after the trend has reversed. According to the CDC, the trend in new cases recently plateaued in the U.S. and may now be in decline. But don’t expect to see that widely reported 🙂

False: Full-time low income wage earners cannot afford a 2 bedroom rental anywhere in the U.S.

False: Full-time low income wage earners cannot afford a 2 bedroom rental anywhere in the U.S.

This claim comes out every year, from the same activist lobbying organization. They use misleading language and obfuscated definitions to imply a conclusion that is not true – a conclusion that the media laps up like good little puppies and uses to make false conclusions. This blog has covered this item twice previously. Nothing has changed.

Journalism: I don’t think that word means what you think it means

Journalism: I don’t think that word means what you think it means

“27 police officers injured during largely peaceful” protests. Or something. Several examples of creative reporting, including the MSNBC reporting saying protests are not unruly as a building burns behind him. Words used to have common meanings but apparently not any more. This post is not about the protests about the reporting.

MISLEADING: “The economist who’s warning of a 40% drop in the stock market this year just took credit for predicting the riots

MISLEADING: “The economist who’s warning of a 40% drop in the stock market this year just took credit for predicting the riots

The economist they cite predicted riots AFTER the November 2020 election, due to allegations of a rigged election or foreign interference. This prediction has nothing to do with the riots occurring in May of 2020. But it makes for an inflammatory headline, good for click-bait ad revenue.

“Fact-checking viral photos, claims”

“Fact-checking viral photos, claims”

As with past events, you cannot trust what you see on social media, when people wishing to make points or instigate further violence begin spreading photos that are from other events occurring months or years earlier. Always, always, always be skeptical of what you see on social media. Always think through whether each point is verified or verifiable – question what you are looking out, even if you want to believe it to be true.

Study used cherry picked data to prove a false conclusion

Study used cherry picked data to prove a false conclusion

A fake study cherry picks the start date of the pandemic to make a false claim that billionaires became far richer due to the pandemic. The actual purpose of the “study” is propaganda messaging using the methods of cherry picking, appeal to authority, and emotion. The errors made are large enough to be treated as lies, as well.