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Wayne Gary

Janalu

The Dems. want us to believe they have a better cristal ball than everybody else.

The latest I heard is the covid-19 came in through Europe before it was knowm about.

Steve Keene

Wayne,

Just so you know that A & M hasn't cornered the market on military personnel.

Wayne Gary

Steve,

Good to see a Texan succed.  21,000 Aggies served in WW II with 16,000 officers. More than the academies. Still today more Aggies are commissioned each year than any other Universities

Jerry May

I've been itching for some "blues" and this young man came to mind! He is probably 21 or 22 now. And yes I've played before! 

David Cordell

The murder near my house made national news. The shoes were picked up on Tuesday, but more are arriving.

Jerry May

Lance,

Great article on Mickey Mantle (my all-time favorite) I'll never forget those cryptic words on television. " I'm not doing too good." He looked so drawn and thin......and much older than his 63 years! Of course.....we all learned of the cancer afterward.

I also remember......when he was near the end of his career.....of the Doctors informing him....his "knees" were like a 75 year old man! (pretty sure it all started in the 51' world series when he hooked his cleat in a sprinkler)

As many of you know, he is interred at Sparkman Hillcrest Mausoleum, along with Merlyn and 2 of the sons.

Note: Ellen taught his grand kids how to swim....but Mantle himself could not.

Pat Summerall was a good friend of my brother and did some production work for us for years. His intervention left him very angry with all who participated; especially Tom Brookshire who kind of orchestrated the whole thing. 

Brookshire flew with him on the plane.....to make sure he would go to Betty Ford!

In fact, when his 30 days were up he asked them why he wasn't getting released. They informed him....he would have to stay another 3 days......because he was so angry when he came in....."the first three didn't count"!

Lowell Tuttle

Want to know about TIK TOK, but not sign up?

Here's this from a good Tech writer we have here in Houston...

TECHBURGER DWIGHT SILVERMAN

More dumb than dangerous

Wildly popular social media app TikTok finds itself caught up in digital intrigue

TechBurger

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Courtesy Instagram

As the Trump administration fires shots across TikTok’s bow, Instagram releases its newest feature. Reels lets users shoot and edit videos and watch others in a scrolling feed, posing a major competitive risk for ByteDance.

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Loic Venance / AFP via Getty Images

The social network Instagram made abad week worse for ByteDance, the Chinese owners of TikTok, when it rolled out a competitive service.

This has not been a good week for ByteDance, the Chinese owners of TikTok, a wildly popular social video app.

First, claiming data from the app could be siphoned to the Chinese government and become a national security threat, the White House threatened to ban it in the United States. That kicked off a move by Microsoft to offer to buy its U.S. operations, something ByteDance wasn’t wild about, but would be better than just exiting the American market.

Then, President Donald Trump said if the Microsoft-ByteDance deal indeed went down, the U.S. would expect a cut of the proceeds, just because federal pressure forced the sale in the first place.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, on Wednesday Instagram rolled out a feature within its even-more-popular app that effectively clones TikTok. Reels, as it’s called, is conveniently embedded in the camera feature on Instagram which, by the way, is owned by Facebook.

But wait: Wasn’t it just last week that U.S. legislators were excoriating Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for copying competitors’ features in an attempt to crush them?

Wow, that’s a lot of drama surrounding an app that’s best known for a bunch of teens and twenty-somethings doing elaborate dances for 15 seconds at a pop.

Given that I'm closing in on my mid-60s, it's safe to say I'm not in the intended demographic for TikTok. Though I try to keep up with new social networks as part of my job, I’d avoided TikTok for a long time because of the Chinese connection for which it is now being targeted.

Even though TikTok is owned by Chinese company, it has a U.S.-based CEO (recruited from Disney, no less) and claims to store all its information here. Still, the administration says it is concerned about China having access to data collected on its U.S. users. TikTok swears it would never give the Chinese government U.S. data if requested, but, well … yeah.

While I’m wary, I'm also skeptical of the U.S. government's hysteria over China. A lot of claims get made about the inherent dangers in using Chinese tech, but not a lot of evidence is presented. That's true of TikTok as well. If there's really an issue, prove it, rather than merely pointing fingers and clutching pearls.

And it’s not just the Trump administration — President Barack Obama’s team also spoke ominously of Chinese tech, again without presenting detailed evidence.

(Recent reports that TikTok was accessing the clipboard unnecessarily on Apple's iPhones and iPads doesn't count. So were many other apps, including LinkedIn and Reddit. That was an iOS problem, not a Chinese spying problem.)

Against this backdrop, I decided it was time to check out TikTok for myself.

TikTok contains vertically filmed videos made mostly by everyday folk. There's an innocence to it that's appealing, even addicting. Some of what you see is very funny, much of it is lowbrow, and a lot of it is just flat-out bad. It can also be touching and moving, with emotions laid bare.

TikTok is also home of so-called “trend” videos, in which people take a swing at doing popular sketch routines. For example, one involves throwing hot dogs at people (usually women) who try to catch them with their mouths, in slow motion. Another features men pouring water into Tupperware containers to demonstrate which of their girlfriends' or wives' body parts are more prominent.

I am not making this up.

There are a few people who have harnessed Tik-Tok to create brilliant content, such as comedian Sarah Cooper, who became an internet sensation with videos in which she lip-syncs the president’s public statements.

Some speculate the administration is going after TikTok because of Cooper's success (though she's just as popular on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook), and because of TikTok's use as a platform to organize the mass ordering of tickets for the president's June campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla.

Anti-Trump teens snapped up thousands of tickets with no plans to attend, causing the campaign to crow that a million had been “sold,” but then very few people showed up. Vengeance, not national security, is the true motivation, critics say.

Into this bizarre scenario rides an unlikely white knight: Microsoft. Although that company has focused on business rather than consumer markets lately, it is in talks to buy TikTok’s operations in the United States. Microsoft has until Sept. 15 to finalize a deal.

It's true that TikTok does collect user data, but it's the same type gathered by other social apps such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. How exactly could that data be used to harm Americans, who already spew all kinds of personal info onto the internet with happy abandon?

Let’s face it, China, or any other nation for that matter, doesn't need Tik-Tok to spy on us. We leave it all out there in plain sight.

(A version of this story first appeared in Dwight Silverman’s Release Notes newsletter. Sign up at houstonchronicle.com/releasenotes.) dwight.silverman@ chron.com twitter.com/dsilverman houstonchronicle.com /techburger

Lowell Tuttle

Has anyone wrestled with medicare over making post surgical relase being required too soon for patient's condition? Never mind.

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

David Cordell

I don't think Chicago live would be any better than those guys. How do they sing English so well?

Not to belabor the murder of Sarmistha Sen in my neighborhood, but...

• Night before last I saw two police officers on the trail on Segways.
• Yesterday morning I saw two officers on the trail on bikes.
• Last evening I saw two officers on Segways cruising the neighborhood. 

I say, increase police funding. I like seeing them.

Meanwhile, there was a memorial walk at 6:30 this morning. Check the crowd. Ignore some of the lame camera work. I was dealing with my dog Becky, who was a bit rambunctious. 

Wayne Gary

David,

You wondered about the english on the songs.  I had a friend who majored in voice and was a singing waiter at the Italian restraunt Carusos at Medallion Center in the early 70's.  He once told me they took lessons on pronouncing foreign languages in songs.  He could read the song words and properly sing them even though he could not speak the language. Think about ABBA who could not speak english.

Steve Keene

David and Wayne,

I just watched The Ottoman Lieutenant on Netflix and highly recommend it for a combination chick flick and adventure story.  There is certainly enough action to keep the macho men entertained.  There is some scuttlebutt that the film is propaganda, but it is entertaining anyway.  Recognizable stars are Ben Kingsley and Josh Hartnett.

David Cordell

At least my fingernails were clean.

COVID 19 SELF TEST...

A new and easy self-test for the horror of Covid 19 is doing the rounds and it's simple, quick and positive (or negative if you see what I mean).

Take a glass and pour a decent dram of your favorite whisky into it; then see if you can smell it.  If you can, then you are halfway there.

Then drink it. If you can taste it then it is reasonable to assume you are currently free of the virus because the loss of the sense of smell and taste is a common symptom.

I tested myself 7 times last night and was virus free every time thank goodness.

I will have to test myself again today because I have developed a throbbing headache which can also be one of the symptoms.
 
I'll report my results later.

Steve Keene

Lance

After watching the first half of David's presentation I have concluded that the whole exercise is fictitious make work.  In the beginning he starts talking about taking taxes out of the equation or cancelling it out to come up with a number that describes the equation without taxes.  

As you and I well know, nothing is assurred more than Death and Taxes, so taking one of them out of the equation negates all reality.  In fact as we traverse through the current time frame with government becoming larger, his business calculations should be taught with tax multipliers to come up with business valuations, not removing taxes.

By the way, my other criticism of the article is that I had to magnify it to be able to see the figures and in doing so it became apparent that David needs to only teach kids with 20/20 vision or use  a razor for his hair on the back of his hands to avoid distraction from his message.  Perhaps he could employ a hand model if he is unwilling to shave the back of his hands.

Also, it is apparent that David's testing procedure for Covid 19 is designed to murder people with preexisting conditions such as Cirrhosis of the Liver, like me.

Mike Marks

Lowell,

I am scheduled to have Shoulder replacement Surgery Wedesday. I have been told they will keep me one night, maybe two for observation, including some Cardiology issues. It will be interesting to see if Duke Hospital can override Medicare if needed. It's sad when the bean counters become more important than the Medical team.

Hollis Carolyn Heyn

Steve Keene

Mike,

I won't pray for the peace Lance suggested.  I will pray for a rapid and successful recovery.  If we were to get too fervent in a prayer for peace, you might find yourself in the ulimate peace with the Prince of Peace in Heaven.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Debbie,

Great to have you posting on this forum!

I saw that Michelle Obama is back at it again, with furthering her husband's policy that was declared back during his administration, that we must "spread the wealth," while she connects that cause with the Covid-19 virus, in a round-about way.  Do we not see that the Obamas are once again, "running the show behind Biden's face?"

She thinks it is okay to tax more heavily the wealthy, because she and her husband have decided it it is just fine to do that, since Covid has attacked this country.  She doesn't accept that a person's wealthy should be spread by THAT person, according to THAT person's desires.  Charity is suppose to come from the heart, not from the demands of governmental forcing.  That is what our Bible teaches us, but that is not what the Obamas teach us.  Most of us give generously to others in need, according to how we wish to share our wealth, and we don't need to be forced by the government to do so.  We consider that forcing an invasion of our privacy and our free will, but I see that the Obamas and many others who share THEIR belief, don't want to allow us those freedoms.  Such is the way of socialism creep taking away our freedoms, as is evident here.  The Obamas don't seem to know that our Biblical teachings are in our hearts, minds, and pocketbooks, according to what is best for us individually.  Why wouldn't they know that?

Could it be that the "Christian" church they attended for years led by a loud-mouthed minister who shouted and scolded continuously about the "evil and disgusting America," rarely spoke about the love tenets held in the Bible?  The tenets that taught us to give to those in need, lovingly and from the heart, as generously as we could, which in turn would give us the wonderful feelings we enjoy after doing so.

Steve Keene

Janalu,

I am not sure who is the hidden puppeteer who is directing the limiited Biden appearances, the call for a debateless campaign and the media blitz against the President accusing him of the very things we have tape showing the Democrats doing.  When the Vice Presidential candidate is announced, I am pretty sure it will become self evident.  That is probably why they are dragging it out so long, hoping the media can taint the president before we realize the true power is Hillary Clinton, Michele Obama or Nasty Pelosi.

David Cordell

Lance and Steve,

Those COVID-19 lectures were designed to to address .more  challenging parts of the text. Students watched the videos with a hard copy of the text in front of them. They could stop, start, and backtrack at will. Given the choice of seeing my clean-shaven face or .my hairy hand, I think most would choose the latter. 

Jerry May

Lowell Tuttle

Mike good luck in the operation.  My knee replacement doctor is/was also my shoulder doctor.  Old RHS football injuries and a flight from a bee attack which caused me to fall and dislocate my shoulder had me going in for a shoulder inspection.  He said replacement only solution.  I aksed how long out from golf, he said 12-18 months.  So,k I am delaying till too old for golf.  (With my putting "shakes" may not be too long.)

I think too much in my golf swing.  Scotch used to eliminate that fault.  No more...thinking too much is bad.

On the medicare issue I raised, it was a close relative who had gone in for gal bladder surgery.  She was no eating well before she went in, had the surgery, and was being "forced-kicked-ejectioned" out of her Austin hospital, we thought, too early for her weakened state.   I was asked if it was the insurance supplement or medicare who was making the decision.  I answered, probably not.  We found out shortly after that it was the doctor at the hospital.  He said go home.  In the end, she went home, but had to rent a wheel chair and she is struggling...

One more day in the hospital eating properly would have probably been better...but, I guess hindsight makes it inconsequetial.

I will say this.  Hospitals and medicare advantage, as well as medicare supplement providers are desparate to comply with medicare's guidelines so they get a good rating. 

However, the rating do work both ways.  Ratings for successful post surgical time results (low readmission rate) as well was ratings for keeping admission (and costs) to a minimum time.

Medicare advantage plans carry up to a 5 star rating.  That is hard to get.

Hospitals get paid or penalized based on their medicare ratings.

Jerry May

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Nothing will happen to Medicare or Social Security for the people who are already receiving it.  Any changes that might occur will affect those younger folks behind us, so there is no need for any of us to worry that our benefits will be changed.

Much ado about nothing, is time wasted.

Dems are bleeding us big time?  You bet!  Tell us something we don't know....

What will a loaf of bread cost next summer, due to all of the newly printed legal tender?  Any guesses?

Maybe $6.99?  Dems believe we can just keep printing, and printing, and funding illegals with whatever they might need once they walk into the super generous ol' USA to live forever, no questions asked.......Pelosi wants them to stop by her house for ice cream, on their way to Marin County, to gain safety from ICE.......which Kamala Harris wants to end immediately(!)....horrible and unjust program that it is; a program that insists upon accountability and honesty......Why did we ever establish that wicked mess?

Steve Keene

Lowell

Your tale of shoulder separation has an undercurrent of you being buzzed at the time.