Arizona State University: Zombie narratives can chew through complex topics. “Four-day conference bridging science and the arts explores zombification to engage in potentially frightening aspects of the future.” Weird headline, fascinating article.
Research & Opinion
Wired: I Used Only Bing for 3 Months. Here’s What I Found—and What I Didn’t
Wired: I Used Only Bing for 3 Months. Here’s What I Found—and What I Didn’t. “There’s also never been a better time to give Bing an honest appraisal. If Google’s data-hoovering didn’t creep you out before, its attitude toward location tracking and Google+ privacy failings should. And while privacy-focused search options like DuckDuckGo go further to solve that problem, Bing is the most full-featured alternative out there. It’s the logical first stop on the express train out of Googletown. A minor spoiler: This isn’t an excuse to dunk on Bing. It’s also not an extended ‘Actually, Bing Is Good’ counterpoint. It’s just one person’s attempt to figure out what Bing is today, and why.”
Bloomberg Quint: Why You Should Ditch Google’s Favorite Data Collection Tools
Bloomberg Quint: Why You Should Ditch Google’s Favorite Data Collection Tools. “On Tuesday, Google proposed a remedy to comply with a July European Commission ruling that came with a $5 billion fine. The proposal confirms the validity of the European antitrust regulators’ complaint: The search giant really wants consumers to use only two of its mobile apps — Google Search and Google Chrome. That’s a good reason not to use them.”
BetaNews: Goodbye noisy neighbors, I quit Nextdoor
BetaNews: Goodbye noisy neighbors, I quit Nextdoor. “Six days ago, Facebook notified me that my personal information had been pilfered in a recently revealed hack affecting tens of millions subscribers. Lovely. Why don’t you kick me in the head, too, Mark Zuckerberg? Perhaps you would prefer a baseball bat, so you can beat me to death instead? I responded by removing most of the same information from my FB and started a content purge ahead of possible account deletion. Since then, I have been on a social media account rampage, which turned my sights to Nextdoor, where I joined on Aug. 29, 2017 (my Facebook is 12 years old, for comparison). ”
Children & Young People Now: National child death database to launch next year
Children & Young People Now: National child death database to launch next year. “A new national database recording all child deaths is to launch in April next year in a bid to improve information sharing which will help prevent future deaths, the government has announced.” This is the UK.
Livemint: Why libraries that digitize and expedite the availability of new content will not die
Livemint: Why libraries that digitize and expedite the availability of new content will not die. “…in a world that is becoming increasingly digital, do libraries have a future? The short answer would be: If books have a future, then so do libraries. And libraries are more than just about books. They are safe public spaces where you meet, sit, read and work. Walk into BCL in Delhi and see how crowded it is: young people doing reference work, taking notes from books. Even in the days of internet, a good library is a priceless resource. Sadly, in many parts of the world libraries are struggling for funds; but there are also many enlightened nations where governments are spending millions on new libraries, many of which are designed by world-renowned architects.”
Illinois State University: ISU geology professor awarded $1.7 million NSF grant
Illinois State University: ISU geology professor awarded $1.7 million NSF grant. “Illinois State Associate Professor of Geology Catherine O’Reilly is serving as principal investigator for a $1.7 million National Science Foundation grant to fund Project EDDIE, a series of classroom modules for undergraduate biology, geology, and environmental science students…. Project EDDIE (Environmental Data-Driven Inquiry and Exploration) is designed to help students and faculty work with large data sets. In addition, the project aims to improve students’ skills in quantitative reasoning, understanding of the nature of environmental science, and scientific discourse.”
