WTF Happened Today – Trump issued a sweeping executive order pardoning nearly 1,600 people convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and commuting the sentences of 14 others, including members of extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. The move effectively ended the Justice Department’s four-year investigation into the… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: January 2025
The Forgotten Woman Who Transformed Forensics (by inventing the rape kit)
The Atlantic – gift article: “One of the most powerful inventions of the 20th century is also an object that no one ever wants a reason to use. The sexual-assault-evidence collection box, colloquially known as the “rape kit,” is a simple yet potent tool: a small case, perhaps made of cardboard, containing items such as… Continue Reading
The Teacher-Friendly Guideᵀᴹ to Climate Change
Paleontological Research Institution: “Welcome to enhanced and updated digital chapters of The Teacher-Friendly Guideᵀᴹ to Climate Change Links below go to these chapters on PRI’s Digital Encyclopedia of Earth Science and Here on Earth: Regional Guides. A guide for teachers (and others). The Teacher-Friendly Guideᵀᴹ to Climate Change, first published in 2017, includes both the… Continue Reading
About a quarter of U.S. teens have used ChatGPT for schoolwork
“As debates continue over whether chatbots should have a role in the classroom, more teens are turning to ChatGPT to help with schoolwork. The share of teens who say they use ChatGPT for their schoolwork has risen to 26%, according to a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17. That’s up… Continue Reading
What Trump Did on Day 1: Executive Orders
“Here are list of the most significant moves the president made on Day 1. unpaywalled New York Times – [Note – All Presidential actions are published here] Mr. Trump issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all of the nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, issuing… Continue Reading
Who Really Owns the Airbnbs You’re Booking? — Marketing Perception vs Data Analytics Reality
“Over the last 20 years, Airbnb has spent billions on brand building as the authentic, novel and community-led alternative to hotels. But, are they really? In this article, I will use data from InsideAirbnb to reveal Airbnb’s ownership patterns. Then, I’ll walk you through how I came to my conclusions so you can do the… Continue Reading
First Lawsuits Filed Against Trump Administration For DOGE
MediasTouch: “The first lawsuits against the incoming Trump Administration have already been filed by several non-profit groups which allege that the Department of Government Efficiency “DOGE” violates federal transparency laws. The lawsuits allege that DOGE fails to comply with various transparency and ethics requirements as prescribed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. DOGE is not… Continue Reading
The Powerful AI Tool That Cops (or Stalkers) Can Use to Geolocate Photos in Seconds
404 Media: “A powerful AI tool can predict with high accuracy the location of photos based on features inside the image itself—such as vegetation, architecture, and the distance between buildings—in seconds, with the company now marketing the tool to law enforcement officers and government agencies. Called GeoSpy, made by a firm called Graylark Technologies out… Continue Reading
Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, January 18, 2025
Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, January 18, 2025 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on… Continue Reading
FTC Surveillance Pricing Study – Wide Range of Personal Data Used to Set Individualized Consumer Prices
“The agency details interim insights from staff perspective examining how companies track consumer behaviors to inform surveillance pricing. The Federal Trade Commission’s initial findings from its surveillance pricing market study revealed that details like a person’s precise location or browser history can be frequently used to target individual consumers with different prices for the same… Continue Reading
Protecting Your Home From Wildfire
California Chaparral Institute: Please download our comprehensive booklet on wildfire safety that explains how you can take control of saving your home. From The House Outward – Protecting your Home From Wildfire THE 3 FACTORS 1. Flying embers ignite most homes, because most homes are flammable. 2. It’s not the wildland vegetation, it’s the location.… Continue Reading
Perplexity acquires Read.cv, a social media platform for professionals
TechCrunch: “Read.cv, a social media platform for professionals that competed with LinkedIn, has been acquired by AI-powered search engine Perplexity. As part of the deal, Read.cv will begin to wind down operations Friday. Users will be able to export their data, including their profiles, posts, and messages, until May 16. “We’ve long admired Perplexity and… Continue Reading
