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Archive for March, 2018
A nice time to take a break and reflect…
March 30, 2018Hacked: Identity thieves target Millennials …
March 29, 2018The Facebook brouhaha reminded me that it has been awhile since we’ve posted about identity theft.
Obviously, the problem hasn’t gone away, so it’s time for a booster shot.
According to a Javelin Strategy Identity Fraud report, thieves stole $16 billion from 12.7 million U.S. consumers in 2014.
With a new identity fraud victim every two seconds, there is still significant risk to consumers.
The FTC reports that Americans age 20-29 make up 15% of identity theft complaints.
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Javelin agrees that millennials are particularly ripe targets for identity thieves.
Why I think that the Facebook brouhaha re: privacy will fade.
March 28, 2018According to Pew, teens don’t care (and, they’re in control now, right?)
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Thanks to social media, today’s teens are the first to have a complete record of their whole lives — their thoughts, their actions, and their friends.
Eric Schmidt — Google chairman and ex-CEO — worries, however, that they’ll be the first who’ll never be allowed to forget their mistakes.
Schmidt says: “People are now sharing too much.”
More specifically, privacy pundits say that it just takes your name, zip code and birth date to ID you and start linking your online and offline personal data … forever.
Now, Pew has published a research study re: teen’s online habits .
Here are the Pew results …
Pew: 3/4 of adults are on the internet daily …
March 27, 2018Over 25% say that they are on the internet “constantly”
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According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, 88% of American adults use the internet … and about 90% of the users are online daily.
26% of American adults are constantly online … and another 43% go online several times a day.
Source: Pew Research
The profile of heavy users (constantly online) follows conventional wisdom … with a notable exception.
Facebook’s addictive dopamine hits “exploit a vulnerability in human psychology."
March 26, 2018Co-founder admits: ‘God only knows what it’s doing to our children’s brains’
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Loyal readers know that I’m not a big fan of Facebook.
Besides the obvious privacy issues, I’ve been swayed by the mounting evidence that mental health deteriorates with heavy Facebook “engagement” … and that heavy Facebook engagement is becoming the norm … especially among teens.
So, I wasn’t surprised — but, I was shocked — when Sean Parker – one of Facebook’s co-founders – “unloaded on Facebook” … confirming many suspicions and bluntly admitting that it was all part of a master plan that may have “created a monster”.
Here are some highlights of Parker’s catharsis (and a link to the chilling video) …
Happy? Sad? Excited? … Facebook can tell.
March 23, 2018And, has been caught doing just that.
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The recent Facebook brouhaha reminded me …
It always amazes me what people post on Facebook. Their daily activities, their deepest emotions – you name it.
By now, every Facebook user should know that FB sifts through their content – posts, pictures, links, emojis – to determine, for example, what topics are hot; what people are doing; which brands people are buying, recommending, trashing or considering; whether users are feeling happy, sad, scared, excited.
The latter is called “sentiment analysis” using computer algorithms to take users’ “emotional pulse”.
Of course, FB promises that they’ll protect users’ privacy and would never even consider divulging that information to outsiders, say, advertisers or political campaigns.
Bad news for believers: FB was caught “sharing” sentiment analysis data.
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According to USA Today …
Documents leaked to a newspaper, The Australian, indicate that Facebook executives prepared a report for one of the country’s top banks.
The report described how Facebook gleans psychological insights into the mood shifts of millions of young people in Australia and New Zealand by monitoring their status updates and photos.
The 23-page report showed Facebook’s ability to detect when users as young as 14 are feeling emotions such as defeat, stress, anxiety or being overwhelmed … and. other information on young people’s emotional well-being such as when they exhibit “nervous-excitement” are “conquering fears“.
FB claimed that it can track how emotions fluctuate during the week.
Anticipatory emotions are more likely to be expressed early in the week.
Reflective emotions increase on the weekend.
Monday-Thursday is about building confidence.
The weekend is for broadcasting achievements.
At a relatively benign level, advertisers can use that information to target ads to certain age groups … and they can time them to run on a certain day.
That’s apparently what FB got caught doing – revealing anonymous and aggregated data – to a potential advertising client.
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Let’s go a step further…
According to the article: “Facebook has also come under heavy scrutiny in the past for secretly conducting research that manipulated the emotions of users by altering what they see in their News Feed without their consent.”
So, it doesn’t take much creativity to imagine the collection and dissemination of individuals’ sentiment data that could be used to target advertising to specific individuals at specific times – say, when they’re feeling down and are vulnerable to buying certain products geared to giving them a pick-me-up, say, some new clothes, a fancy car or miracle drug.
Pretty unnerving, right?
Of course, FB assures users that it would never consider divulging that sort of data.
Yeah, right.
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Connecting dots
In a prior post, we reported on a study that concluded time on Facebook can be hazardous to your mental health.
For details see Studies: More time on Facebook … and it’s not good for you.
So, being on Facebook can make you emotionally vulnerable.
Facebook can determine when you’re vulnerable.
Facebook can sell that info to advertisers.
But, FB assures us that it won’t sell that data.
Whew … that’s a relief.
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Studies: More time on Facebook … and it’s not good for you.
March 22, 2018“Negatively associated with overall well-being … particularly mental health”.
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In light of the recent Facebook brouhaha, let’s connect a couple of recently reported studies …
First, the BLS periodically reports how Americans spend their leisure time.
According to the NYT, channeling the most recent BLS report:
The average time that users spend on Facebook is nearing an hour.
Putting that hour of Facebook in perspective:
That’s more than any other leisure activity surveyed … with the exception of watching television programs and movies (an average per day of 2.8 hours).
It’s more time than people spend reading (19 minutes); participating in sports or exercise (17 minutes); or social events (four minutes).
It’s almost as much time as people spend eating and drinking (1.07 hours). NYT
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And, a recent study published by the Harvard Business Review indicates that all that Facebook time is unhealthy.
Facebook: Has the storm passed already?
March 21, 2018A fast trip from ‘hair on fire’ to ‘whatever’
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The follow up to the Facebook story can be summarized in a couple of headlines.
The Washington Post started walking back the Trump angle:
Of course, one had to read to the bottom couple of paragraphs for the revelation of who the “more” were.
OMG: Your private Facebook info isn’t so private …
March 20, 2018And, to boot, there’s some clear evidence of collusion.
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Loyal readers know that I’m not a big fan of Facebook.
I’m amazed by the amount of sensitive information that people post and, for most, the lack of interest (or sophistication) in protecting the privacy of that information.
So, I wasn’t surprised when yesterday’s “shocking” headlines started rolling about FB’s massive data breach.
By mid-day, the previous “no big news” climate shifted to near market hysteria
Why?
Bang … a Trump connection headlined in the NY Times:
In a nutshell, a data outfit called Cambridge Analytica “harvested” the personal information of more than 50 million Facebook users … and fed the information to Trump digital campaigners.
OK, data breaches are bad … it’s horrible to have your private info fall into the wrong hands (i.e. Trump’s)
Hmmm.
But, Trump and his supporters are all Neaderthals, right?
How did they do it … and where did they get the idea?
Uh-oh: Did McCabe inadvertently out Comey for lying (under oath)?
March 19, 2018According to middle-of-the-road law professor Jonathon Turley (GWU)…
The answer is: Yes.
After he was fired, McCabe issued a statement saying that his firing was politically motivated, unfounded and unjust.
OK, it’s his right to fight back … no issue with that
But, according to Prof. Turley, McCabe may have also opened a Pandora’s box …
Hey, McCabe: You’re fired !
March 17, 2018Here’s what you need to know …
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Last might, around 10 p.m., AG Sessions issued a press release indicating that Andrew McCabe was being fired.
Here’s Session’s statement (with my emphasis added):
After an extensive and fair investigation and according to Department of Justice procedure, the Department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) provided its report on allegations of misconduct by Andrew McCabe to the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
The FBI’s OPR then reviewed the report and underlying documents and issued a disciplinary proposal recommending the dismissal of Mr. McCabe. Both the OIG and FBI OPR reports concluded that Mr. McCabe had made an unauthorized disclosure to the news media and lacked candor − including under oath − on multiple occasions.
The FBI expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and accountability. As the OPR proposal stated, ‘all FBI employees know that lacking candor under oath results in dismissal and that our integrity is our brand.’
Pursuant to Department Order 1202, and based on the report of the Inspector General, the findings of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility, and the recommendation of the Department’s senior career official, I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately.
The key points:
1) Inspector General Horowitz – applauded by all (before last nite) as a straight arrow – found that McCabe committed serious transgressions.
2) The IG forwarded some of his conclusions to the OPR – an internal watchdog group with a reputation for cutting transgressors a lot of slack.
3) The OPR recommended to AG Sessions that McCabe be fired for his transgressions.
4) Sessions – acting on the OPR’s recommendation – fired McCabe.
Note: It was the OPR that recommended that Sessions recuse himself from the Russia probe.
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I flipped between Fox ,CNN and online news sites when the announcement came down.
Talk about different worlds and different views …
A couple of headlines tell the story:
McCabe’s pension: How much are we talking about?
March 16, 2018Earlier this week, the FBI’s disciplinary forces recommended that Andrew McCabe be fired for ethical violations that include lying to FBI investigators.
Note: That’s the “crime” that Mueller is charging most often these days.
Most news sources were reporting that Andrew McCabe was at FBI headquarters yesterday pleading that he be able to retire before getting fired.
Why would McCabe put up such a big fight?
Simple math … retirement benefits … starting with his government pension.
Trump doesn’t need to fire Mueller …
March 15, 2018But he does need to fire Sessions … and may have his chance.
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Let’s connect a couple of dots today…
1) AG Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation … putting control in the hands of Obama holdover Rod Rosenstein.
2) Trump – and about half the country – thinks that the Mueller investigation has gone on too long and strayed far off course without scoring a significant direct hit on the original charter “Russian collusion”. (Of course, the Trump-haters and “resisters” think that Mueller is doing a dandy job.)
3) A DOJ “disciplinary office” has recommended to AG Sessions that Andrew McCabe be fired.
4) It’s widely reported that Trump may replace Sessions with Scott Pruitt – current EPA head (and former Oklahoma AG).
OK, let’s put these pieces together …
What percentage of Americans prepare their own taxes? How many of them like it?
March 14, 2018Since we’re heading to tax filing deadlines …
According to Pew Research:
Overall, 33% of Americans say they do their own taxes while 56% say someone else prepares their taxes.
- Note 1: 11% don’t know who does their taxes or were befuddled by the question
- Note 2: The folks in the 11% get to vote in Presidential elections (ouch!)
A majority of Americans (56%) have a negative reaction to doing their income taxes 1 in 4 say they hate doing them.
Among those who dislike or hate doing their taxes, most cite the hassles of the process or the amount of time it takes:
About a third (34%) say they either like (29%) or love (5%) doing their taxes.
Here are some details re: the “likers” and lovers …
What if the undocumented 12 million were Russian … instead of Hispanic ?
March 13, 2018Would everyone keep their same views re: immigration? I think not.
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When President Trump said “take away the guns (from the mentally ill) and worry about due process later” … the MSM had a field day.
“What if President Obama had said that? Everybody on the right would be screaming that he’s coming for our guns.”
Maybe so, but that’s not the point.
I love playing what I call the “Control H” game … tech talk for replacing one word for another.
You know, substitute Obama (or Clinton) for Trump and ask: “would the press be as outraged?”
Usually the answer is “no.”
I recently played a variation of the Control-H game with a buddy who was spewing all of the left-leaners’ talking points about DACA, Sanctuary cities and immigration laws in general…
“We ain’t got no chicken”
March 12, 2018Finally, I can tell one of my favorite stories.
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A couple of weeks ago, due to a “supply chain issue”, KFC ran short of chicken at many of it’s UK stores.
That’s a problem since:
1) The UK is KFC’s 5th biggest market – accounting for about 6% of company sales.
2) KFC is shorthand for Kentucky Fried CHICKEN !!!
That’s a big problem.
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OK, here’s my story ….
America’s safest school …
March 9, 2018Yesterday, we highlighted some of the techno-security innovations at Disney World.
All park attendees (10s of thousands each day) are screened at the entry gate, bag-checked and digitally-fingerprinted.
Guests wear identity-linked Magic Bands that contain RFID chips … allowing their every movement around the park to be real-time tracked.
Cameras are everywhere … and thousands of pictures are snapped by cute Disney characters … (for facial recognition probably.)
Beneath the terrain is an army of well-armed former SWATs and SEALs … ready to deploy instantaneously if a security event arises.
That’s the state-of-the-art at amusement parks.
Here’s the state-of-the-art for schools …
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Southwestern High School in Shelbyville, Indiana is oft-cited as “the safest school in America” Source
The core components in the SHS security system:
1) Cameras mounted throughout the school providing real-time video feeds to the local law enforcement offices (think: casino video rooms)
2) All teachers have emergency fobs that can be used to set off a school wide alarm and simultaneous alert law enforcement… who rush to the school and ask questions later.
3) If an active shooter is suspected, “students barricade themselves in a corner out of view of a potential shooter who might be looking through the windows of a locked, bullet-proof classroom doors.” (think: submarine compartments)
4) An electronic device in each classroom enables a teacher to signal if students are safe or to signal if medical assistance is needed.tell law enforcement their classroom is safe, signal if they need medical aid or ask for help if they’ve seen the suspect.
5) If a shooter is pinpointed on the real-time videos, the the area can be sealed off and, if appropriate, smoke cannons can be activated to limit the shooter’s visibility.
6) Local law enforcement has clear protocols that direct first-responders to enter the school and “neutralize” the shooter. Police do regular practice runs “just in case”. (think: not Broward County Sheriff’s department)
Click to view a video of the safest school in America
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See, Say. Hear, DO !
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Forget TSA, why not outsource school security to Disney?
March 8, 2018Disney’s technology applications are impressive (and effective)
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This is a flashback post from the HomaFiles that I think provides timely “inspiration” given the current discussions re: school safety.
Later posts will reference back to some of these ideas.
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Last year, I took a fact-finding trip (aka. family vacation) to Disney World.
I was blown away by the park’s technology and security operations ….
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No surprise, there was a huge rush of “guests” entering the Magic Kingdom when the gates opened at 8 a.m.
The crowd measured into the thousands … all needing to be security-screened.
All bags and strollers had to be hand-checked … all kids – big & little – had to be ushered through metal detectors.
Nightmare, right?
Maybe at the airport, but not at Disney.
Our wait & processing time: less than 10 minutes.
Then came the good part…
There’s a common thread through mass murders …
March 7, 2018And, it seems to be much overlooked
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Kentucky’s Gov. Matt Bevin has been vociferously opining that mass shootings are a “cultural problem.”
Bevin says: “We have become desensitized to death, we have become desensitized to killing, we have become desensitized to empathy for our fellow man … we have got to look at the root causes of this.”
During Trump’s televised Governor’s conference, Bevin’s remarks were met with a resounding:
“Yeah, whatever.”
And, the conversation shifted back to an easier topic, gun control. (<=sarcasm)
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But, to Bevin’s point, one researcher has looked at the “Deadliest Mass Shootings in Modern U.S. History” … and identified a common thread …
Almost everybody agrees that the mentally ill shouldn’t own guns …
March 6, 2018But, the issue isn’t nearly as straightforward as it seems.
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Everybody agrees that the Florida school-shooter shouldn’t have been allowed to buy a gun … and, that there was a strong case to take his rifle away from him.
More broadly, a Pew poll taken in March-April 2017 indicates that almost 9 in 10 Americans agree that “the mentally ill should be prevented from purchasing guns”.
That’s the highest level of agreement re: discussed changes to gun laws.
Since there’s overwhelming support, this one should be a slam dunk, right?
Not so fast …
Gun ownership in the U.S.
March 5, 2018A couple of charts provide some statistical context.
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Pew conducted an extensive survey in March-April 2017.
Here are some of the key findings.
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Roughly 1 in 3 American adults currently own a gun.
40% live in a household that has at least one gun owner.
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In addition to the 30% of American adults who own a gun, 36% “could see owning a gun in the future”.
Said differently, about 2 of 3 Americans are inclined towards gun ownership.
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Digging a bit deeper …
Seriously, is this good marketing?
March 2, 2018Here’s the answer to yesterday/s question
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Yesterday, we posted that several companies have announced that they are cutting any ties that they had with the NRA.
We argued that the the number of gun owners and NRA-supporters was sufficiently large that the move might backfire.
Well, the first results are in.
Left-leaning Morning Consult polled 2,200 adults and asked them whether they view companies favorably or unfavorably … both before they split with the NRA … and after.
Gotta believe that Morning Consult (MC) expected a groundswell in favor of the companies that ditched the NRA.
To MC’s credit, they published the results … which are exactly the opposite.
Specifically, MC calculated each company’s “net favorability” … the percentage rating the company favorably, less those who rated the company unfavorably.
All of the companies experienced a drop in net favorability.
The biggest loser: Enterprise Rent-A-Car:
“Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s favorability rating slid from 61% to 50% , while its unfavorability rating jumped from 12% to 25%.
So, I ask again: “Seriously, is this good marketing.”
Rarely does it pay to tell half of your customers that you don’t want their business.””
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See, Say. Hear, DO !
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Seriously, is this good marketing?
March 1, 2018This week, a handful of companies ended co-branding arrangements with the NRA (think: NRA-brand credit cards) … or stopped offering discounts to NRA members.
Companies include airlines (United and Delta); car rental agencies (Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo), insurance companies (Met Life & Chubb).
I understand the current level of hysteria and pressure being brought to bear on the companies
But, the country is pretty evenly spilt on the guns issue.
So, I scratch my head wondering why the companies would explicitly carve tens of millions of NRA-supporters out of their market.
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One company that specifically caught my eye is SimpliSafe … the internet-based home monitoring system.
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