Deepfake Videos

We all know that videos and photos can be manipulated. Hollywood and the art world have done it for a long time. But the technology to do this has been rapidly advancing, and it’s becoming easier and easier for more people to do.

With computer learning advancing at lightening-speed, it is now possible to have one person morph their voice, facial expressions or body movements on to another person in a video with software. You give the computer videos of the person you want to make talk and interact, and it studies the details to make it happen! Hence, the intense data crunching makes identifying these videos as a fake very challenging.

Experts are now worry about the dark consequences of deepfakes. If you haven’t heard of them before, it’s worth your time to learn about them. The dark uses of these videos can be very scary on many levels! Experts tell us it’s just a matter of time before it gets used in ways that could have huge consequences, such as warfare.

Sure, people have done it before the advances in computer intelligence, but it required massive skills, time and effort, and it didn’t look as convincing. However, that day has changed.

CNN put together information on deepfakes that is absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend reading what they present.

They also have a QUIZ–give it a look! How good are you good at spotting deep fakes?

Gable Tostee and Warriena Wright

Hello! Hello! I’m still here after much silence! I’m feeling better, have made some great progress and I’m feeling hopeful again! I will be sharing that story in the coming weeks. Now for this post!

A reader of the blog sent me the story of Warriena Wright and Gable Tostee out of Australia, and I must tell you the story presented on Australia’s 60 Minutes is JAW-DROPPING!

Gable Tostee’s behavior is utterly stunning, and I am posting this because I think ALL PEOPLE with compassion need to see this with their own eyes to believe it.

We can’t imagine people like Tostee exist, but they do. They take advantage of people, disregard them like a used piece of trash, and some of them kill. Yes, you know it, but you don’t believe what they actually think until you see it so boldly as shown in these videos with your own eyes. I’ve posted two segments–watch both!

We all know murderers exist, of course.

We are well aware of it in our conscious mind, but what our conscious mind doesn’t allow is that WE, ourselves, could KNOW a person that is capable of murder.

We want to think that monster lives far away from us and can’t touch us. They are too rare. We can’t handle the thought that this type of person could be in our group of friends or acquaintances. Or even a member of our own family. It just can’t be!

But I am here to tell you that people with these personality traits are EVERYWHERE and you probably do know people who are like what you see here. They are brothers, sisters, cousins–family members–or family members of people we know–just like everyone else.

They are in highly visible places and esteemed positions mingling among us–eating right along side you. Not all of them kill, but they are capable of it.

It’s just rare to find these cold and callous people speak so openly and so arrogantly. They usually try to hide it with charm, false pretenses and lies.

And our problem? Because we can’t believe it, and we go into denial at the hint of these behaviors when we see “off” behavior, and we excuse it!!!

I’ve heard people defend these types: “It was just a bad day,” or “He really didn’t mean that.” People will get defensive at their isolated selfish displays because we all have moments!

Never excuse cold behavior. Ever. Let the person who transgressed do it for themselves and judge it accordingly.

This story is nauseating to the core. I truly felt sick after watching it but I feel it is that imperative that people see the type of people who live among us.

Never accept people in your life are selfish and arrogant, who put themselves first over others because you will ever ever have a positive outcome in that type of relationship. I promise you. Run and run fast!

My heart goes out to Warriena Wright’s family.

Christine Blasey Ford’s Opening Testimony: Vote

Here is the opening testimony of Dr. Ford, the woman who is accusing Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, of sexually assaulting her.

Do you find her credible?  Please vote below.

Reading the responses online and on twitter, I’m sensing there will be a split in the opinions on this, so let’s see!

I also posted my analysis of Brett Kavanaugh on Fox in the post below if you haven’t seen it. I will also be watching him testify today as well.

Feel free to insert links and time markers if you have questions and you are interested in my thoughts. I will pick a couple and respond.

VOTE

My Thoughts on Brett Kavanaugh’s FOX Interview

Tomorrow we will see the testimony of Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford. Before that fury, I wanted to share my thoughts on Kavanaugh’s FOX interview.

Do I believe Brett Kavanaugh?  I do not.  For many reasons.

When the interview begins, the reporter tells us that Ford doesn’t remember the location or the exact date of what happened, but ironically, as Kavanaugh talks a few minutes later, he DOES. (If this is inaccurately reported by FOX, then my opinion is subject to change).

What on earth?  He says this didn’t happen, he wasn’t with Ford, he didn’t have an encounter with her but HE KNOWS where this non-event happened??

Really? How does that happen?

Kavanaugh says, “This is an allegation about a party in the summer of 1982 at house near Connecticut Avenue and East-West Highway with five people present.  I was never at such party. The other people who were alleged to be present said they do not remember any such party.”

Hmmm…no one was at any such party, but I know where it was! What?

Did Ford every specify this house? Who came up with this?

If it was Kavanaugh, it doesn’t bode well for him on ANY level. It’s a huge slip in that case.  I’m open to receiving more information if FOX reported this incorrectly.

If I never had anything to do with Ford, and I never was at any such party, I would not talk about a party that never happened. But Kavanaugh does.

Kavanaugh goes on to say that he always treated women with dignity and respect.  Yet we have Kavanaugh’s own college roommate in Yale saying what Deborah Ramirez accuses him is not out of line with the Brett Kavanugh he knew. That’s powerful.

According to the FOX reporter herself, this roommate said Kavanaugh was known to drink a lot in high school and college. This directly supports Ford’s account and contradict’s Kavanaugh’s church-boy self-portrait.

If you notice Kavanaugh cannot categorically DENY he didn’t know Ford, either.  He can’t say it. He says he “may have met her.  We may have traveled in the same circles.” This raises eyebrows.

Kavanaugh also brings up Ford’s lifelong friend to say that she didn’t remember the incident, which is true, but he didn’t talk about the fact that this friend of Ford BELIEVES her account as truthful!

Kavanaugh said he was not at the party “described”.  That word choice stands out to me.  Is that what you would say or think if you were honest?  If you were honest, wouldn’t you say something to the effect of I was never at a party with Ms. Ford where any contact between us occurred. Period. That’s clear and precise.

I find Kavanaugh’s answers very selective and evasive many times over.  His behavior to me is slippery.

Add in there is not one, but multiple accusers now.  The odds of him being honest gets more and more remote as more people have made claims that don’t know each other.

Outside of not believing Kavanaugh, it comes down to this for me: We are looking as a country to interview and put a man into one of the most important seats in our judiciary for decades to come. With any job interview, for high positions, we want the best candidate possible. We want a man or woman of high integrity, of supreme ethical value, a person who shows respect and dignity for all people, who has the untarnished character to serve our nation on one of the highest and most influential jobs in our legal system. We want someone we can trust.

Is Kavanaugh that person?  With all the controversy that surrounds him, regardless of whether you believe him or not, with all the people coming forward and saying things in contradiction to what Kavanaugh says, I say the answer is clearly no regardless of your political beliefs.

Many politicians are spinning this job interview into claims its an unfair persecution of Kavanugh.  Don’t be fooled — that makes you want to think Kavanugh is being treated unfair. He is not.  He is interviewing for a job and he owes all of us answers. Interviews for jobs require tough questions about character.

I think most people who would have to hire a person for a position of trust and authority to do the right thing for the good of a country would shy away from someone of such controversy, like Kavanaugh.   He is way too controversial, and frankly not believable on any level.

Though when Kavanaugh claims he is a virgin, I believe him there. That actually fits with his character. The guy who has to brag and act like he has all these conquests (see his yearbook entries) usually doesn’t–that’s what drives him to overcompensate.

Brett Kavanaugh’s Interview

Brett Kavanaugh has spoken out about his sexual assault allegations from Dr. Ford and Deborah Ramirez. There are more accusations coming out on Thursday according to attorney Michael Avenatti.

Kavanaugh’s interview is very interesting to me on many levels. I will be sharing my thoughts in the coming days.

Do you think Brett Kavanaugh is being honest? Vote below. Please keep comments respectful or they will be removed.