MakeUseOf: “If you’re like me, nothing beats the thrill of discovering a book that’s a little off the beaten path. Whether it’s a rare edition, an obscure title, or a self-published chef-d’oeuvre, I’ve found that some of the most interesting reads come from places that aren’t your typical big-name bookstores…Sometimes, the best recommendations come straight… Continue Reading
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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici
FHFA Releases Mortgage Loan and Natural Disaster Dashboard
“The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released an online risk analysis tool [and a FAQ] that provides geographic estimates for physical risks from various types of natural disasters as well as nationwide data on housing and the mortgage market. The tool — known as the Mortgage Loan and Natural Disaster Dashboard — is intended to give… Continue Reading
This Tool Finds Matching Usernames Across 400 Social Media Networks
Lifehacker: “Want to check if a particular internet handle you encountered online (or created yourself) is being used on any other social networks or websites? Sherlock is a free command line application that scans around 400 social networks and finds accounts that match whatever username you type in. Using this service couldn’t be simpler: Just… Continue Reading
Brevity is money when using AI for data analysis
Cornell Chronicle: ” “It pays to be brief when asking artificial intelligence tools to mine massive datasets for insights, according to Cornell researcher Immanuel Trummer. That’s why Trummer, associate professor of computer science in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, has developed a new computational system, called Schemonic, that cuts… Continue Reading
Discrimination: Considerations for Machine Learning, AI Models, and Underlying Data
American Academy of Actuaries primer on Discrimination: Considerations for Machine Learning, AI Models, and Underlying Data. This issue brief explores the topic of discrimination in machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, and the underlying data of these models. It will define discrimination (including distinguishing between discrimination, unfair discrimination, and unjust discrimination); present practical… Continue Reading
Your Phone Has a Free, Hidden Scanning Feature
Wirecutter: “Smartphones are the Swiss Army knives of the digital world, but not all of their tools are obvious. Case in point: Your camera app is clearly designed to snap photos and capture videos, but did you know that it’s also a mobile scanning app? If you’re like me, you may have spent years just… Continue Reading
Today is the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks
AP – US commemorates 9/11 attacks with victims in focus and politics in view – “The U.S. is remembering the lives taken and those reshaped by 9/11, marking an anniversary laced with presidential campaign politics as President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris stood together in the plaza where the… Continue Reading
Monthly crime trends
Jeremy Vine – Data is Plural “The Real-Time Crime Index, launched last week by a team of crime-data analysts, presents a “sample of reported crime data from hundreds of law enforcement agencies nationwide which mimics national crime trends with as little lag and the most accuracy possible.” Framed as a supplement to the FBI’s slow-to-update official… Continue Reading
Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: Five things to watch for in the presidential debate
FT.com – unlocked: “Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will meet face to face for the first time on Tuesday as they take the stage for the US presidential debate. Harris has upended the race since she replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket in July, revitalising her party’s campaign. But while… Continue Reading
These Household Brands Want to Redefine What Counts as “Recyclable”
ProPublica:”Most of the products in the typical kitchen use plastics that are virtually impossible to recycle. The film that acts as a lid on Dole Sunshine fruit bowls, the rings securing jars of McCormick dried herbs, the straws attached to Juicy Juice boxes, the bags that hold Cheez-Its and Cheerios — they’re all destined for… Continue Reading
On Slicks and Satellites: An Open Source Guide to Marine Oil Spill Detection
Bellingcat: “Almost every week, oil spills are reported somewhere in the world. From ships dumping contaminating ballast water or breaking down on coral reefs, to direct attacks on oil pipelines and tankers. The larger the spill, the bigger the media attention. This year alone, off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, a Bellingcat investigation found… Continue Reading
Executive Excess 2024
Institute for Policy Studies – The “Low Wage 100” corporations are enriching CEOs at the expense of workers and long-term investment. Introduction Key findings Recommendations Social Toolkit Download full report At a time of intense political divisions, Americans across the political spectrum share enormous common ground on at least one problem facing our nation: the… Continue Reading
