Thursday, June 18, 2020

Reviewing Scientific Research-A Few Things I Notice

Every week I spend a little time reviewing research of professors. The studies range in complexity and intent. They come from universities and scientific journals. What I often notice is that there are a few things that seem to be a common problem in many studies. Many of the studies are beneficial and important but miss a few of the finer details. This is what I often see....

1. Not well defined research questions R1, R2, etc...

2. Not a clear connection between Independent and Dependent variables.

3. Not a clear understanding of how researcher bias makes its way into the study and how to control for it.

4. Ill defined literature support.

I'm not a person who expects a ton of work to put forward a good study but there are areas where definite improvement can occur. I make similar mistakes from time to time.

V.P. Pence Visits Macomb

V.P. Pence Visits Michigan. Stopped to talk to John James. Is happy to see Michigan growing and developing again. We do need our economy to come back. Its important for people to work and see a new economy emerge. I might have to look up some of the economic numbers.


Bergman's Bipartisan HACT Act Gains Momentum as Foreign Cyberattacks Increase in Wake of COVID Crisis

We know that foreign nations and people collect records, cyberhack, put them together and create intelligence reports. It isn't that difficult of a concept since there is a lot of data out there about us and we have no idea how much data is there. As a researcher, I can say that companies collect data all the time based on your purchase preferences, online search behavior and much more. When the Internet was growing people didn't know how and where this information was going. At the end of the day, important key officials have lots of loose bits of data that can be scanned with bots, collected and analyzed.

Bergman's Bipartisan HACT Act Gains Momentum as Foreign Cyberattacks Increase in Wake of COVID Crisis 

Washington - In August of 2019, Rep. Jack Bergman and Rep. Andy Kim introduced H.R. 4189, the bipartisan Homeland and Cyber Threat Act (HACT Act) which would remove the immunity of foreign states—including foreign officials, employees, or agents—with regard to money damages sought by a national of the United States for personal injury, harm to reputation, or damage to or loss of property resulting from cyberattacks. The bill now has 63 cosponsors and is building momentum as the most viable means of addressing the epidemic of foreign-sponsored hacking of American citizens and institutions.

Currently, the Foreign Sovereignty Immunities Act (FSIA) shields these foreign state actors from American lawsuits, protecting them from any form of accountability. Recently, we have seen an increase in alerts from both the FBI and DHS warning of the ongoing threat of “hostile foreign actors” exploiting the COVID-19 crisis. This further underscores the need to pass H.R. 4189, the HACT Act, to protect American institutions and citizens from foreign-government sponsored cyber-attacks

“Without accountability, foreign state actors have no deterrent as they continue to prey on the American government, businesses, and individuals, gravely undermining our fight against the virus,” said Rep. Jack Bergman. “Fortunately, Congress has the means to address this by enacting the HACT Act now, before more damage is done to our national security. The prospect of the seizure of foreign assets held in the United States is a strong and practical disincentive to future cyberattacks sponsored by foreign governments aimed at harming our citizens and our institutions.”

Bergman continued, “This bill should be incorporated into the next Coronavirus relief bill and implemented immediately as an essential national security measure to protect the United States government, our health care system, and American citizens from the ongoing cyber-threat, crucially important at this time of national trial. In this crisis, we need effective action that could serve to deter such state-sponsored cyber crime, and we need it now, before the problem continues to get worse and our national security becomes gravely imperiled.”

Governor Whitmer Discusses Schools and Black Lives Matter....We Need to Create a Fair Society!

Interesting discussion on transmissions and mask. It would seem that those who don't wear masks may be the one's mostly likely to get and spread the disease because of a lack of protection. I like the concept of getting everyone to wear mask when there are significant cases present. The graph sort of highlighted the risks of not wearing. We may not be able to shut down the economy again without serious damage but we could require people to wear masks. That would likely factor into a future strategy. We need business to survive and we need people to be safe.

She discusses equity and justice for Black Americans in Michigan. I think this is important...and it should move beyond that to include any race and religion. I've seen serious religious discrimination where Muslims associated with crazy, violent, terrorists and Black children disgusting names and these were acceptable behaviors to a coordinated group of people. Black Lives movements should be more about true equality of all people. I believe that is why it has such wide appeal among different backgrounds. Its a movement pushed by Millennials to improve their world.

Sometimes it seems like we say things and we can work toward them but then ignore real issues among average people because they were not recorded on a camera or have public awareness. I think true justice means we do what is right in any situation regardless of the political risks. I'm an advocate for encouraging a better world where people don't "walk" from their crimes because there is no political boost for holding people accountable. Its important to have integrity and that means we don't just explore those cases that make us look good or bad.

Building a more just world for all human beings, Blacks, Whites, Muslims, Jews, Christians, and other Americans means treating people fairly and with wisdom. Its an ideal that may not be realized in our lifetimes but it is the American thing to work on. It seems that if we are to honor our Constitution and the people who died fighting for it we must fulfill our destiny as an enlightened society. I'm happy Republicans and Democrats are slowly starting to become aware of these issues and take action but lets not ignore how it works in real life with real people. You don't need a video to tell you what the right thing to do is; most bad behaviors are not captured on videos (doesn't matter the perpetrator).

I am still thinking about Climbing Everest to raise awareness about justice/injustice and its meaning in our society. I started this months before this movement because I witnessed things that were not normal. Its about protecting our essential American values, children, and our rights to set ones own destiny without harassment, bigotry, racism, ostracize, reputation ruining, false police complaints and much more. Crimes were committed and the people involved did not receive the help they needed or as an alternative held accountable for those actions (At least as far as I know). These were not accidental crimes but crimes with an intent to do serious harm. I can't say with definite certainty what is right or wrong but it seems wrong to just ignore it because its not popular. I don't think people should fight only for the big media cases. They should be fighting for systematic changes that bring our country to the next level. It depends on if your value system is all about looking good to the public or having a value system that transcends ego needs.


Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Rock Climbing for Super Body Strength-Climbing for Justice

Rock climbing can be simple or difficult. You can also start at easy and move to advanced paths making it versatile for a wide spectrum of people. Indoor rock climbing gyms and a class will get you started with the basics and safety protocol. I moved from V0 to V8 as my upper body strength and dexterity improved. Keep going back and you will gain muscle as "real" movement that impacts stabilizer muscles kicks in.

I'm working on climbing Mount Everest to raise awareness of justice. This is a wider concept of justice; a more theoretical kind. I'm a father of two minority children and I've seen people do some very bad things who didn't seek help nor were they held accountable.  I have been working on this for over a year to no avail. Its important for people to become aware of the roots of their destructive behavior and if they do not have the capacity to get the help they need to live happy non-destructive lives they should be held accountable. Where I come from that is not an easy request when you are the "other" in a small community it is every more difficult. Some people did the right thing and some turned a blind eye. Serving your country doesn't mean silence under bullying behavior...it means standing up for future generations and the protection of those who can't protect themselves; even if you are the only one trying to do whats right.


PREVENTS Task Force Report Includes Bergman's Initiative to End Veteran Suicide

Veterans struggle with issues and we have in the past neglected the whole person in our debate on health. We seem to have taken on the image that strong people have no problems and this mentality leads to hiding and covering problems. The same can be said for the general population in society that could have sought help but didn't because they were deathly afraid of judgement. Furthermore, I know people who lack awareness of mental health to understand their own problems and help those even in their own family. Sometimes people just need a little nudge (loving or more forceful) to get the help they need so they can live full and bountiful lives. Flatness in life, alienation, lack of purpose, lack of focus, and chronic negative viewpoints are important signs someone needs help.

I think we can accept that people are a whole being that may be physically powerful and mentally powerful if they fix the problems they face. We break an arm we go to the doctor and we break our spirits and we hit the drug of our choice. Its time to change that cycle.

Below is the press release on preventing suicide....

President Trump's PREVENTS Task Force Report Includes Bergman's Initiative to End Veteran Suicide 

Washington - Today, President Trump released the President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) Task Force report. The report underscores the need for bold legislative action and includes support for the policy outlined in Rep. Bergman's Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act. The following statement was issued:

"I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to sit down with the PREVENTS Task Force at the White House to discuss ways we can work together to end Veteran suicide. President Trump along with Secretary Wilkie have taken this issue to heart and have put together an unprecedented effort to destigmatize and bring this important issue to the front of the American conscience. I applaud the Task Force report calling for more bold action from Congress - passing the IMPROVE Act is a perfect start to do what is right by those who have sacrificed so much for our nation," 
said Rep. Bergman. 

"The release of the PREVENTS Task Force report today once again makes it clear that Congress must pass General Bergman's bipartisan Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act without any further delay. The status quo has left 20 of our nation's veterans dying by suicide everyday for two decades. General Bergman's bill is the bold, decisive action we need to save their lives," said Ranking Member, Dr. Phil Roe.
To read the full PREVENTS Task Force report, click here.

To learn more about the Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act, as introduced, click here
Background:
  • Over the past 15 years, billions of dollars have been appropriated by Congress for mental health services within the VA —with the most recent budget request reaching $9.4 billion— but the statistic has remained unchanged: more than 20 Veteran and Servicemember suicides per day.
  • On June 26, 2019, Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced the IMPROVE Well-Being for Veterans Act (Incorporating Measurements and Providing Resources for Outreach to Veterans Everywhere) in the U.S. House of Representatives as a companion to legislation of the same name introduced by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Warner (D-VA). [See the original release HERE for more background]
To address the status quo, the “IMPROVE” Act would:
  • Enable the VA to directly or indirectly reach more Veterans than it currently does;
  • Increase coordination among currently disparate community resources that serve a wide variety of Veteran needs – all of which play a part in reducing the feeling of purposelessness that ends in suicide; and
  • Create and inspire broad adoption of a measurement tool that will indicate effectiveness of services provided for Veterans suicide prevention.
If you or a Veteran you know is struggling, please contact the Veteran Crisis Line which is available 24/7, 365 days a year at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, or text 838-255.

President Trump Signs Executive Order on Policing

The President discussed merits of the Executive Order on police reform signed June 16th, 2020 at a White House press briefing yesterday. The tone was positive and there were discussions on how to encouraging better policing to create greater equality. We do need police in one form or another; what form is what society is currently debating. What we don't need is people or policing culture that runs counter to the American spirit and values.  Thus improvement is helpful not only to the disadvantages but also to the nation at large.

I looked through what was offered within the order and highlighted some of the main concepts below. Those include connection to communities, credentialing, recruiting, database, mental health for police, social workers, and more. I like the social worker idea because it will challenge macho police culture. That is important because culture helps determine the expectations of action. Some cultures focus on help while others may be more rough and tumble.

We may also include the database that tracks those who have done serious misconduct so they don't go from one police department to another. There should be be additional consideration (if it isn't in there now somewhere) on reviewing complaints to resolve those with merit. Most people will never complain for a multitude of reasons and some will complain about everything and then falsify claims to damage. However, it isn't impossible to conduct searches for themes among complaints on an individual, departmental, or city/state/national level to see what types of issues are coming up.

Why is this important? It can uncover latent themes not only among certain departments and individuals but or further training. I don't think someone should have their career destroyed by a frivolous complaint but we can't sweep under the carpet legitimate complaints. Therefore, its important to review these and come to conclusions on those that indicate harm, dysfunctional patterns and/or abuse.  Thus an officer that has similar type complaints may need discipline, removal, retraining, and/or prosecution. On the flip side we may also find some officers that went beyond the call of duty and need praise through similar type channels.

We also want to combat culture through metric changing and ensuring that people have a responsibility to "check" another officer when they are out of line. That can be difficult if a culture of us vs. the outside infects a department. Including social workers who are "cut from a different kind of cloth" than police can have a positive influence on policing in general.

Where can such money come from? Well we might want to save it from the prison budget. We should rethink the system and ensure volume for violent criminals and/or repeat offenders and save outpatient rehabilitation for low level offenders that have opportunities for reform. There may be other very good places where this money could come from. People with knowledge would need to take a good look.

Hiring the right kind of officer is a big step. We don't want sadists and masochists running around with a gun. While they may not be getting caught on camera they very well may be using manipulation, intimidation and other illicit tactics for personal benefit (or act out their own anger issues). The goal is not to "get" someone at all costs but to understand and apply that force or help which is necessary and beneficial for society at large.

This is not the "cure all" but is a significant contribution to the policing debate. Congress will need to discuss long-term systematic changes in economic opportunities and policing in general to tweak the system for a more universal and global value approach that encourages truer capitalism where individuals can rise at their own merit. The underlining economic assumptions are part of why people accept and buy into a system or seek to mentally separate from it and find alternative systems. We have to incorporate the concepts of equal justice to advance to future controversies that further lead to a stronger society.





Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities

June 16, 2020

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1.  Purpose.  As Americans, we believe that all persons are created equal and endowed with the inalienable rights to life and liberty.  A fundamental purpose of government is to secure these inalienable rights.  Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers place their lives at risk every day to ensure that these rights are preserved.
Law enforcement officers provide the essential protection that all Americans require to raise their families and lead productive lives.  The relationship between our fellow citizens and law enforcement officers is an important element in their ability to provide that protection.  By working directly with their communities, law enforcement officers can help foster a safe environment where we all can prosper.
Unfortunately, there have been instances in which some officers have misused their authority, challenging the trust of the American people, with tragic consequences for individual victims, their communities, and our Nation.  All Americans are entitled to live with the confidence that the law enforcement officers and agencies in their communities will live up to our Nation’s founding ideals and will protect the rights of all persons.  Particularly in African-American communities, we must redouble our efforts as a Nation to swiftly address instances of misconduct.
The Constitution declares in its preamble that one of its primary purposes was to establish Justice.  Generations of Americans have marched, fought, bled, and died to safeguard the promise of our founding document and protect our shared inalienable rights.  Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial leaders must act in furtherance of that legacy.
Sec2.  Certification and Credentialing.  (a)  State and local law enforcement agencies must constantly assess and improve their practices and policies to ensure transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of law enforcement services to their communities.  Independent credentialing bodies can accelerate these assessments, enhance citizen confidence in law enforcement practices, and allow for the identification and correction of internal deficiencies before those deficiencies result in injury to the public or to law enforcement officers.
(b)  The Attorney General shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, allocate Department of Justice discretionary grant funding only to those State and local law enforcement agencies that have sought or are in the process of seeking appropriate credentials from a reputable independent credentialing body certified by the Attorney General.
(c)  The Attorney General shall certify independent credentialing bodies that meet standards to be set by the Attorney General.  Reputable, independent credentialing bodies, eligible for certification by the Attorney General, should address certain topics in their reviews, such as policies and training regarding use–of-force and de-escalation techniques; performance management tools, such as early warning systems that help to identify officers who may require intervention; and best practices regarding community engagement.  The Attorney General’s standards for certification shall require independent credentialing bodies to, at a minimum, confirm that:
(i)   the State or local law enforcement agency’s use-of-force policies adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and local laws; and
(ii)  the State or local law enforcement agency’s use-of-force policies prohibit the use of chokeholds — a physical maneuver that restricts an individual’s ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation — except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law.
(d)  The Attorney General shall engage with existing and prospective independent credentialing bodies to encourage them to offer a cost-effective, targeted credentialing process regarding appropriate use-of-force policies that law enforcement agencies of all sizes in urban and rural jurisdictions may access.
Sec3.  Information Sharing.  (a)  The Attorney General shall create a database to coordinate the sharing of information between and among Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies concerning instances of excessive use of force related to law enforcement matters, accounting for applicable privacy and due process rights.
(b)  The database described in subsection (a) of this section shall include a mechanism to track, as permissible, terminations or de-certifications of law enforcement officers, criminal convictions of law enforcement officers for on-duty conduct, and civil judgments against law enforcement officers for improper use of force.  The database described in subsection (a) of this section shall account for instances where a law enforcement officer resigns or retires while under active investigation related to the use of force.  The Attorney General shall take appropriate steps to ensure that the information in the database consists only of instances in which law enforcement officers were afforded fair process.
(c)  The Attorney General shall regularly and periodically make available to the public aggregated and anonymized data from the database described in subsection (a) of this section, as consistent with applicable law.
(d)  The Attorney General shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, allocate Department of Justice discretionary grant funding only to those law enforcement agencies that submit the information described in subsection (b) of this section.
Sec4.  Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addiction.  (a)  Since the mid-twentieth century, America has witnessed a reduction in targeted mental health treatment.  Ineffective policies have left more individuals with mental health needs on our Nation’s streets, which has expanded the responsibilities of law enforcement officers.  As a society, we must take steps to safely and humanely care for those who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse in a manner that addresses such individuals’ needs and the needs of their communities.  It is the policy of the United States to promote the use of appropriate social services as the primary response to individuals who suffer from impaired mental health, homelessness, and addiction, recognizing that, because law enforcement officers often encounter such individuals suffering from these conditions in the course of their duties, all officers should be properly trained for such encounters.
(b)  The Attorney General shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services as appropriate, identify and develop opportunities to train law enforcement officers with respect to encounters with individuals suffering from impaired mental health, homelessness, and addiction; to increase the capacity of social workers working directly with law enforcement agencies; and to provide guidance regarding the development and implementation of co-responder programs, which involve social workers or other mental health professionals working alongside law enforcement officers so that they arrive and address situations together.  The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall prioritize resources, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to support such opportunities.
(c)  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall survey community-support models addressing mental health, homelessness, and addiction.  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall summarize the results of this survey in a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, which shall include specific recommendations regarding how appropriated funds can be reallocated to support widespread adoption of successful models and recommendations for additional funding, if needed.
(d)  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in coordination with the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, prioritize resources, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to implement community-support models as recommended in the report described in subsection (c) of this section.
Sec5.  Legislation and Grant Programs.  (a)  The Attorney General, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall develop and propose new legislation to the Congress that could be enacted to enhance the tools and resources available to improve law enforcement practices and build community engagement.
(b)  The legislation described in subsection (a) of this section shall include recommendations to enhance current grant programs to improve law enforcement practices and build community engagement, including through:
(i)    assisting State and local law enforcement agencies with implementing the credentialing process described in section 2 of this order, the reporting described in section 3 of this order, and the co responder and community-support models described in section 4 of this order;
(ii)   training and technical assistance required to
adopt and implement improved use–of-force policies and procedures, including scenario-driven de-escalation techniques;
(iii)  retention of high-performing law enforcement officers and recruitment of law enforcement officers who are likely to be high-performing;
(iv)   confidential access to mental health services for law enforcement officers; and
(v)    programs aimed at developing or improving relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, including through community outreach and listening sessions, and supporting non profit organizations that focus on improving stressed relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 16, 2020.