Monday Moaning: Crunching Numbers!

Monday Moaning: Crunching Numbers! 

It very well be a returning item this kind of moan but the reality is that the most numbers despite the our so sophisticated computers and brains it takes at least a year to fully understand the numbers. Registering everything may take time but are we not full of ourselves when we say this is the era of information and the speed in which we can generate outcomes to publicizes to the outer world.

For medicine I can understand we take a little longer before we have any real data and the numbers to say it either works or does not. Though the testing of that is pretty much still done on the person instead of putting it all through a algorithm in a computer. Our phones get faster and data is sped around in speeds we can’t even start to imagine. But a dedicated computer takes years to calculate and crunch some numbers involving registration.

All registration is done through the digital mediums, hell every damn citizen of this country, next to their passport also have a digital ID to use for tax and all other national related things like parking. And even than in this day and age they can’t tell within an hour how many have a parking ticket.

Could it be some town still live in the stone age and does everything on parchment and use a courier on foot like ancient Greece.

To be honest the reason for this rant is because of some numbers that have been made public and the ugly truth of humans and the fact that the sightings of people are being told as untrue.

One must understand this is a dig at the government and a very personal view on the war in Syria and the presumptuous people who look down on us commoners, who and as it turned out in truth were concerned about their safety.

The large flow of fugitives that flooded Europe and sure even now people will still look angry at me when I say these things. But my mind also said back when it started that the flow will be a good hiding place to send in suicide bombers and what not. And though many said this the government said that was untrue.

Until now where the public has ben notified that some extremist have landed in Europe while hiding in the flow of refugees.

These numbers came to light because of a backdrop at the digital registration and checking of identity. Fair enough there was no way to check the same identity in Syria since it was pretty much closed down. Even than a light should have been turned on when you look at who came over.

Seriously this has been observation that anyone else could have been doing with their own eyes and create some conclusion no matter how one sided it may look. I had this discussion before with someone about a couple years ago when it all started.

I was said to be cold towards the refugees who were in need of help. And I also had said that we can’t help others if we can’t even help ourselves or have things in order for us. It would only add to the chaos. And though every word we uttered was said to be unfair and untrue.

Apparently we weren’t so wrong.

The numbers that are being named are that in the beginning of the refugees flow the majority was male. Take note it was about a 65%. For a country at war to watch the male population flee first is looking at a bunch of cowards who leave behind their women and children in a war zone. To watch them abandon ship, home and country and not even consider family is low in my opinion. To think they even complain the most but were not willing to fight for what they lost is beyond me.

Should they not defend the retreat of women and children?

Funny to see though, that the central bureau of statistics can add a number of only half a year old because they can now say that in the beginning of the year the majority though still weird in my eyes is that now the refugees consist of 55% women and children. It is barely more than half.

Conclusions are yours to be made but why does one number take up to 5 years to be created and the next one is only half a year old. I am not saying we should not help but we should look at who we help and how.

Theories about conspiracy are old and if we ever will understand the human brain we might discover we are not so smart as we look and like to be fooled.

Question being if we are being fooled right now? Were we being fooled back then and get a convenient warm blanket to sooth some aching with a small apology in the form of ‘you were right’ but now it has turned out better?

I know this is rambling and some kind of spewing with the adding of a conspiracy and the fact we are being lied to.

Ooh right that is nothing new right. We already know we are being lied to and we even let it happen. And at the same time gives us reason to think up conspiracy theories and other crap. Because we like the intrique.

Okay getting of topic.

Crunching numbers.

The other reason for this rant is the nursing homes. About half year ago they were controlled, checked, weighted and had their faults written down into a thick pile of paper. Each home got a grade and there was a nasty discovery though the numbers were kept secret.

About a month ago the numbers came up and some homes were put down as failing and disgusting. Whether it was about a dirty toilet they found or the fact people were eating with shit on their hands it all was put into the papers.

Once the children or grandchildren found this out they started asking questions and now the homes listen.

Alternatively their has been a little snag. Though they pretend to be listening behind the scenes they already have been moving wanting to get their grade up as the home knew about them in march. The study took about 4 years.

In 4 years a lot can change and now they are changing it within the 5 months. Adding more managers who sit behind a desk to control and inspect while cutting cost by throwing out real nurses who are there for the patient.

Yes when it comes to numbers we are all about that and go to such lengths we forget about the people.

Crunching numbers is something that only reflects what happened in the past but we use them as if they are fortunes and things of the present. I am pretty sure that when we something is strange we will want to change it directly instead of wait for the numbers to appear. I might even go as far that the homes that were put down as bad had been struggling to improve way before the report. And might even have already yet their grade is 4 years old and is counted as the present.

Yes my Nonna is one of those homes and the nurses are doing one hell of a job and yet due to the numbers these great men and women have to make way. 20 people over the age of 80 have to move and already have been moved while negotiations with relatives are still going on. And in the future the changes they will have to move more than once is growing. This is a number given already and ridiculous as it may be they stick to it.

Maybe in the future we will hear that we have been punching in the wrong numbers.

Not to mention about the medicines where people complain when they get different meds every single month. Side effects of a cheaper pill and they were told to shut it and pretty much fucking swallow whatever the insurance told them to take.

Each patient was told to be a liar and it was all a bunch of bullshit. Until last week a doctor came forward with some colleagues and showed the numbers of the patient and the result of changing pills to often. These patients turned out to be right, but for some it is to late, they have a permanent side effect turned chronicle.

To listen to a human being is asking for a very personal view on things and we already know we are not all the same and think the same. But there must be some truth in their words we should listen to instead of waiting 10 years for a report to finish and come up with number that is old and lost all meaning. In this day and age of technological advancement we sure are slow minded.

We are a silly bunch. We compare the past with the present.

So go lucky number 13.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

PS. Still trying to find my flow back.

Monday Moaning: Numbers Game!

Monday Moaning: Numbers Game!

Roulette might be one of the famous number games but it is not what I’ll be talking about.

It is all about the numbers. More and more we rely on these crunched numbers. Though how real are they. Can they be trusted, because what if the numbers are simply used to come to an outcome that always benefits the one crunching.

The reason I am talking about this is because it isn’t always as fair as we like to believe. Second they are being used to deceive us.

First number and lately the best known number is our friends list on facebook or twitter. The number on that is used to see how important we are or can call ourselves. Is it that much of a boost up ones ass if they have more than a 1000 friends. (if one can call them that).

I be honest. I to have a account on Ranting Crow but not on a personal one. The thing I noticed is that when you add, let us say a school, you get notification if you know a person who went there as well. But they graduated 10 years earlier. To add them only makes me to have that school in common. I don’t know them. Same goes for music artists it is but one single connection.

Still the numbers somehow indicate how well you are doing and your status towards the rest of the world seem to be effected as well. The more friends you have the more people want to be friends? Now it might have some benefits as to find people who like the same thing but would they like you if you listen to Bach beside One Direction? It is weird to think that way but numbers count on there.

For example on twitter it is even crazier. Can we keep up if we have more than a 1000 people we follow. Can we keep up and read each and every tweet. It becomes easy to overlook one that might really have been one to read and meant something to you. Sure enough to promote it is a way good platform.

Blogging sites do the same. The 101 is meant to connect people help each other and connect with those who have a similar interest. Wait there is the same indication again. Similar interest. I am not a one side bird so I guess I fit in nothing or to much. Either way what do numbers tell us.

My mind always works and tries to come up with explanations. Numbers are no different. It is a no-brainer I do like Math.

This is where percentage comes in and WordPress has started to use that as well for you convenience. That being if one is a company or else it does not matter in my honest opinion. Numbers shown on the stats are only but a percentage. Twenty likes may only result in ten views. It is than up to you whether what number to go after. Would  it be more important to have lots of likes or have that one person comment and actually have read your post.

Showing when the most people show up and around what time is again more profitable for companies than an average joe like me.

And this is where it gets funny and weird. Soon as we name corporations or companies, numbers start to mean something completely different.

For them it is making money by the numbers.

It is here where numbers are not always what they seem to be and yet we believe them without a doubt.

The best examples given are those of research papers telling us something is healthy. While we look at these numbers and explanations there is another report that states the exact opposite. Now who to believe all numbers add up. Or that is how they suppose to look.

Let me elaborate by using two simple examples that are accruing more often then we like to admit.

First is election time. It is the best way to show numbers may add up but do not complete a picture. You must have heard of the blanc votes. Or that is how I call them. They usually are being evenly distributed among the winners.

They are the people who do not vote. They have thoughts like, It doesn’t matter anyway what I vote once they are seated they don’t care about me any more and do what they like. Breaking promises and stuff.

Clearly these votes could disrupt an outcome. If 60% of the people show up for vote it already means 40% didn’t. If by any change the wining team had a 60% of the votes out of an 1000 it still means only a 360. Leaving a 240 for the opposite team and the 400 none votes who might have given their vote to the 240. In this case it doesn’t seem that realistic or meaning full. Yet it does.

This principal of none voters or none complainers is also used at companies. A change in looks may be liked or disliked. But if no one says something these numbers will be used in the most profitable manner. Unlike an election this is where money is made.

Numbers become deceiving and used almost at random.

The looks and articles have changed of a webpage. 1000 people follow it. Now if only a hand full, let us say a 200, complain or say something. That same page might use the none complainers in the following manner.
Use them as agreeing people who do not mind. So the change is kept. It is to benefit the page because there might not be a roll back or this means more money in the pocket.
They could look at the 200 who said something if by any chance a 150 people complained they might see a figure of a 75% complaining. It should mean changing back but there is no way back so they change the changes in the hope not to lose costumers.

Reason enough to wait to see what numbers say and give them a twist to suit their needs. When that happens, what is the use of these numbers. Numbers should not be treated as a game. Neither as knowledge to achieve profits.

I know it is weird thinking when we don’t think in profits, but it might well be the only way to come to a true solution. If we hold so much meaning to the numbers should we not use them appropriately and honestly.

Stop associating status to numbers. Or use numbers to deceive.
Maybe life is more like roulette. A game of chance and not calculation.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow