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They used to say don’t believe everything you read. These days that maxim applies to just about any story. Especially when it comes to YouTube. We’ll talk about it in YouTube’s Hogwash Motherload-Bob Davis Podcast 815.
Right off the bat, I love YouTube. Furthermore, I spend way too much time going down the rabbit hole of videos in my feed, based on videos I have watched.
Some people love watching videos about how to install motorcycle parts. Some people love crazy theories about the end of the world and conspiracy theories. Especially relevant is my hobby of pointing out propaganda on YouTube. In addition, my questions about Americans joining less educated populations in believing mostly pure nonsense. Propaganda as a purpose. As a result, we’re gonna get into it in YouTube’s Hogwash Motherload-Bob Davis Podcast 815.
Lately the motherlode of propaganda and other hogwash are videos from someone who claims to be a Doctor Claudia Albers. Moreover her claims get more absurd by the day. For instance, the sun is no longer shining. Our light comes from “sun simulators“.
In addition, videos by so called ‘people in the know’. The guy on YouTube who claims to “know someone” in the Defense Department, FEMA or some shadowy agency. “Hey Guys”, they chirp. “I just got a call and it’s about to go down“.
Certainly these videos appear to be pure fantasy. Therefore I wonder how many people are hoodwinked into believing conspiracy theory and pure nonsense. Aside from making YouTube a vast intellectual wasteland, above all is there a rhyme or reason to this madness? I think there is.
Considering the fact that YouTube is the second largest search engine, in the final analysis what is fact or fiction? Who funds these channels? What is their impact?
Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:30 — 69.8MB) | Embed
When it comes to politics these days, it’s hard to find happiness. Especially when it comes to how things really work and true believers. We’ll talk about it in Finding Happiness-Bob Davis Podcast 814.
Minnesota’s 5th District Congressman Ilhan Omar started a firestorm because of a tweet regarding a Vox story that questioned Israeli lobbying. At issue are democrat voters suddenly aghast because of Omar’s comments.
Jewish voters in the 5th district are dependable democrat voters. Moreover they reached out to a growing Somali community in Minneapolis years ago. An effort that has been celebrated in the media here. Somalis as a community were encouraged to come to the Twin Cities through the US State Department, by Lutherns, Catholics and others.
Consequently why is it surprising a Somali politician, elected by an active Somali community might have different views about Israel than a Jewish community smaller than her base? Especially since the president apparently had similar views during his 2016 campaign.
More importantly older and moderate democrats are balking at left wingers like Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio Cortez. When they voted, what did they expect?
It doesn’t end there. Most noteworthy in Minnesota? Democrats have had control of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul for decades. More than 90 percent of democrats support Light Rail Transportation. A new rail project will run right through one of Minneapolis’ most democrat and richest district.
Democrats enthusiastically support Light Rail projects in other parts of the city. Now suddenly they’re upset because of proposed subsidized development and the path of the train through the inner city lakes district.
Finally there are the republicans furious because a newly elected democrat governor wants to raise taxes. Where were they last November? Watching fox news in their La-Z-Boys.
In conclusion, everyone wants what they want from politicians but…you can’t always get what you want.
Sometimes you get what you deserve.
Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating Of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:31 — 60.7MB) | Embed
These days you have to wonder if people are getting dumber. A study done in Norway is the source for much of this discussion. We’ll talk about it in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.
The Norwegian study says IQ scores of young men have been decreasing for three generations. IQ scores in this study are down as much as 8 points. More in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.
Especially relevant is the discussion of what the decline in IQ scores is due to. Is it the environment? Our diet? Technology? Should we be measuring intelligence differently? Grading on a curve? We’ll talk about it in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.
I take a look at some features of our society that make me wonder. From Flat Earther’s to Sovereign Citizens, Vegans and people who are convinced the world has 12 years of existence left. (Big fun to be had watching Sovereign Citizens getting owned. Click here.)
The most noteworthy example of lower intelligence is social media. Certainly this is one of my favorite punching bags. Furthermore one needs only to spend half an hour scanning Twitter or FaceBook to become convinced of the demise of Western Civilization.
Finally Science is usually the go to defense for almost any assertion. Truth is, science is often wrong, and for decades. I was surprised by the number of smart people fooled by ‘science’ and the findings of ‘scientists’.
In conclusion the real question is how do we get smarter? I did some research and certainly diet and exercise are big factors. So are certain activities including community, working with others and being open to new ideas. For men, raising testosterone levels can’t hurt either. I’ll give you a list to think about in Are We Getting Dumber-Bob Davis Podcast 813.
Sponsored by Organo. Change Your Coffee Change Your Life and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:32 — 72.2MB) | Embed
You have to be careful what you say these days. Moreover if you’re a content creator advertising what you say on social media, you face a thicket of protocols and rules. Better to talk about Rainbows, Unicorns and Pixie Dust. That is what we do in Rainbows-Unicorns-Pixie Dust-Bob Davis Podcast 812.
Most noteworthy is the reason for all these new rules and regulations. The Russians!
Since Russia allegedly employed thousands of bots to sway the vote for Donald Trump, something has to be done! Pressure on the big social media companies is immense. At the center of that pressure is FaceBook.
I ran the gauntlet of FaceBook rules recently. As a Podcaster my content generally focuses on Society and Politics. I am a commentator and reporter. I do not advertise or endorse candidate, parties or positions. Even more party political organizations, pressure groups or candidates do not pay for podcasts and do not control my content.
I tried to advertise a podcast recently that objectively reviewed GDP numbers for our economy. FaceBook’s silly rules put me in an impossible position. As a result I withdrew my advertising. Learn more in Rainbows-Unicorns-Pixie Dust-Bob Davis Podcast 812.
Finally it seems to me that FaceBook is increasingly clunky. Difficult to use. Consequently I think it’s time advertisers recognize the user experience on FaceBook is rapidly deteriorating. Some advertising executives have even suggested the era of FaceBook is over.
In conclusion what is the responsibility of the user? Yes, I support the idea that we should be identifiable as real users. However unfortunately speech control often ends up hurting people instead of protecting them.
Much better to drape yourself in Rainbows, Unicorns and Pixie Dust.
Sponsored by Organo Change your Coffee Change Your Life and Reliafund Payment Processors
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:02 — 89.3MB) | Embed
These days Trump cultists love to talk about the booming economy. Time for a reality check. Learn more in Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811.
Especially relevant are Gross Domestic Product numbers from the 4th quarter of 2018. The average for the whole year is predicted to be under three percent.
Boosters like to cherry pick statistics. I like good old Gross Domestic Product numbers. They are released at the end of every quarter. GDP performance for each fiscal year is pretty hard to ignore. Especially when people say this president has ‘fixed’ the economy and worked miracles.
Moreover if I’ve heard it once I have heard it a thousand times. Saying your business is doing well does not mean the economy as a whole is doing any better than it has. The latest retail performance is a good example. This distinction is important only because the president wants us to believe he “blows Ronald Reagan Away”.
In Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811 I objectively list President Trump’s few legislative achievements when it comes to the economy as well as his executive orders concerning the economy.
In 2017 the US Economy grew by 2.2 percent. First quarter of 2018 was 2.2 percent. Second quarter 4.2 percent. Third quarter 3.4 percent. Fourth quarter 2.6 percent. Hardly a boom.
In contrast, President Obama’s best year was 2015, at 2.9 percent. Obama also presided over one quarter of growth of 5.1 percent, followed by another quarter of 4.9 percent growth. Better than Trump’s best two quarters so far.
First of all growth is growth and we’ll take it. However, because of republican claims of great economic success, it’s time for a reality check based on actual GDP numbers.
At issue are claims by the president and his supporters he has done a fantastic job. Truth is so far his numbers are still about the same as Obama’s, which weren’t very good either.
Contrast our time with the 1980’s, 1960’s, or 1950’s.
What we’re living through is not a boom.
Finally a republican in the White House does not guarantee ‘conservative’ economic management. Pushing for a weak dollar. Borrowing to stimulate. Trade Protection. Adding trillions to the national debt. More debt and deficit spending for ‘infrastructure‘ don’t seem like ‘republican‘ ideas.
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:46 — 72.7MB) | Embed
