* Oh, for crying out loud…
Check out those engagement numbers. Sheesh.
* So, I sent a quick email to the Illinois State Board of Elections asking if this was true…
No. They do not connect to the internet. They use a cellular signal to send a one-way, handshake-encrypted transmission of UNOFFICIAL results on election night. There is no Internet connectivity on either end.
These are used by a handful of jurisdictions (Cook, Chicago and some of the collar counties; I’m not sure at the moment which ones) for the sole purpose of providing unofficial results as quickly as possible on election night.
I am watching that tweet to determine whether it warrants a reply. Twitter is not a good forum for technical explanations and I’m not interested in an extended back-and-forth that invites virality.
I posted the response and reported the tweet to Twitter, but it’s obviously still up.
* Meanwhile, Brenden Moore has a story about the Trump boat parade on Lake Springfield over Labor Day weekend…
Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso asked City Water, Light and Power officials and city attorney Jim Zerkle at Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting if a permit was necessary for the event and if one had been obtained. […]
The question was asked and answered, and the discussion was seemingly over within five minutes. But, it turns out, it was only the beginning.
On Thursday, DiCenso became the target of fierce criticism from Sangamon County Republican Party chairwoman Rosemarie Long, who was responding to information on a flier that’s been making the rounds on social media.
The flier claimed that DiCenso, following Tuesday’s meeting, had described the boat parade as “horrid and unacceptable” and that she had plans to propose an ordinance that would prevent the displaying of political signs and flags on lake property.
The flier has been distributed to various lake clubs and to lake lease owners. Long, speaking at the party’s committee call, said she was “getting goosebumps because I’m so mad” about the claims.
“I cannot tell you how upsetting this is to me,” Long said. “What happened to freedom in this country, in this town, in this county when they just think about not letting you place your American flag in your yard?”
And, of course, the “flier” is completely overblown. But some people will believe anything they see, apparently.
- don the legend - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:03 am:
===“I cannot tell you how upsetting this is to me,” Long said. “What happened to freedom in this country, in this town, in this county when they just think about not letting you place your American flag in your yard?”===
Trump’s lying is not so upsetting to Ms. Long. That tells me all I need to know.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:04 am:
Can’t help stupid; identifying and appealing to low information voters is a campaign strategy for some.
- Steve Rogers - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:08 am:
To the DiCenso story: it’s just terrible that rich, white victimhood will never end. /s
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:11 am:
“Trump boat parade on Lake Springfield”
Saw a video of a small boat sinking at the Texas Trump parade about a week or so ago, probably because of the wake created by a lot of boats. The people were not wearing life jackets and were lucky other boats were nearby.
Serious question: Who would die for Donald Trump? Who is willing to risk life and go without masks to rallies, or on boats without safety equipment and in unsafe conditions?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:13 am:
=== Kristin DiCenso asked===
A person can’t ask?
=== Long, speaking at the party’s committee call, said she was “getting goosebumps because I’m so mad” about the claims.===
What about sending an email? Making a phone call to verify this. Goosebumps getting in the way?
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:15 am:
Think oversight and regulation is bad for “boat parades?”
Look at Austin:
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/06/910322916/5-boats-sink-at-trump-boat-parade-in-texas
There was no weather.
They just couldn’t stay out each other’s wakes.
Did they complain when firefighters had to pull them out of the water? I don’t think so.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:16 am:
Once Kellyanne Conway told us about these “alternative facts”, it allowed ridiculous rumors, lies, falsehoods, any and all conspiracies to have an opportunity to *seem* true.
The lack of accepted facts, and arguing with the accepted is almost gone from all things in life right now.
The need to get to the majority to dismiss alternative facts, that could be our biggest challenge in politics going forward.
- The W.A. - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:21 am:
The DiCenso is many things. Ridiculous is not one.
- Roadiepig - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:34 am:
Amen OW- The need to get to the majority to dismiss alternative facts, that could be our biggest challenge in politics going forward.
I have been saying this to anyone who will listen for the last few months. I try to talk with my lifelong friends about this, but they seem to only want to hear what their favorite “entertainers” (talk show host) tell them, so they just don’t trust in scientists, doctors, federal government watchdogs, etc. I am reaching the point that we might not get back to a functioning society after the votes are counted this November , regardless of the final tally. Bi-partisanship is now seen as weakness or being a traitor to your “cause”. Thanks, Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdich…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:45 am:
(Tips cap to - Roadiepig -)
This is the other shoe that needs addressing too as it drops.
===Bi-partisanship is now seen as weakness or being a traitor to your “cause”.===
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Good governing and good politics hinges around a peaceful resolution to find compromise.
That’s why not everyone can be statesmen… or deal makers.
Be well.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:52 am:
“Once Kellyanne Conway told us about these “alternative facts”, it allowed ridiculous rumors, lies, falsehoods, any and all conspiracies to have an opportunity to *seem* true.
The lack of accepted facts, and arguing with the accepted is almost gone from all things in life right now.
The need to get to the majority to dismiss alternative facts, that could be our biggest challenge in politics going forward.”
Every word that OW said. Absolutely every freakin’ word. Facts have been dying in this country for some time. But it’s gotten ridiculous.
- JoanP - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:57 am:
=The people were not wearing life jackets =
Of course not. Only wimps wear life jackets. We are free Americans, not sheep. /snark/
- Steve Rogers - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:59 am:
OW et al.: truthiness is the ancestor of alternative facts. Except it was parody in 2005 but reality in 2017.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/63ite2/the-colbert-report-the-word—truthiness
- wayward - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:32 am:
Oh, Jennifer Cohn is notorious for inflammatory and inaccurate posts. Nothing new.
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:38 am:
@Steve Rogers, is it possible that Colbert is actually Nostradamus?
to the post, I spent the better part of yesterday evening arguing with my parents over a bunch of this nonsense. They are both good, honest people who worked incredibly hard their whole lives. They raised their kids right and are incredible grand parents. My Mom and Dad have always been exceptionally honest people. And yet, they seem angrier by the day and support Trump.
- Illini backside - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:39 am:
“The need to get to the majority to dismiss alternative facts, that could be our biggest challenge in politics going forward.”
Truer words have not been spoken. And the face of this is seen in the video of Nick Sandman that presented facts exactly the opposite of what was true. (Washington Post, NYT, and many others are hugely guilty)
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:07 pm:
=== Truer words have not been spoken. And the face of this is seen in the video of Nick Sandman that presented facts exactly the opposite of what was true.===
Not exactly opposite of what was true. The truth was nuanced. Sandmann’s lawyers sued a lot of people. Most cases were dismissed, mostly because media reports covered Nathan Philips’s opinion of events as, well, opinion. True Bezos settled, why wouldn’t the richest man in the works settle, it must have been like you or me getting a gun all from the gym ball machine.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:07 pm:
(Hat tip to - Chicago Cynic - and - Illini backside -)
- Steve Rogers -
The best parody is when the absurd and truth find common ground.
Not unlike how the world sees American leadership;
We are a parody of ourselves, our ideals, and truth.
When we can square that the parody stays in the comic realm and away from reality, we will find our role as a leader again.
- revvedup - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:15 pm:
“But I feel/believe” overrides all facts, science, and logic in the U.S.A. I’ve learned over the years on the Internet to verify, verify, verify, and question, question, question anything I read, hear, and see.
- btowntruthfromforgottonia - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:29 pm:
“Who would die for Donald Trump?”
I am starting to think more people than I ever thought possible would.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:30 pm:
I don’t think stupid is confined to any particular party. Way back in the old days, like 30 years ago you could only spread your ignorance locally or in the neighborhood. Now you can do it around the world in no time.
- Nadine - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:09 pm:
I was watching this documentary on NetFlix over the weekend called The Social Dilemma. I think everyone should watch it, especially if you have kids. They claim that Fake news travels 6 times faster than real news on social media. Also, when you google things, previous look up history is used to show you the articles that you already believe in. So, if you are conservative, then if you google something or check news feeds, it will automatically send you more conservative takes on the news. So, social media can perpetuate selective exposure and thus confirmation bias and a person may never even hear what the other side has to say. so what occurs is more polarization. Very interesting and discusses other things about social media. It’s stuff that you kind of already know, but I still think everyone should watch it.
- Proud Sucker - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:47 pm:
===Who would die for Donald Trump?===
Unfortunately, I think Herman Cain did.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:59 pm:
===when you google things, previous look up history is used to show you the articles that you already believe in. So, if you are conservative, then if you google something or check news feeds, it will automatically send you more conservative takes on the news.===
Use the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart.
- CEA - Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 9:50 pm:
“Serious question: Who would die for Donald Trump?”
At last count, somewhere between 40 and 45 percent of the electorate.