Motherboard: “The California Department of Motor Vehicles is selling drivers’ data to private investigators and bail bondsmen, according to an internal DMV document obtained by Motherboard. The document in all lists nearly 98,000 entities that have had access to some form of DMV data, including trucking companies and insurance firms. The revelation highlights how not… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: August 2020
Google Has a Plan to Disrupt the College Degree
Inc. – Google’s new certificate program takes only six months to complete, and will be a fraction of the cost of college. Google recently made a huge announcement that could change the future of work and higher education: It’s launching a selection of professional courses that teach candidates how to perform in-demand jobs. These courses, which… Continue Reading
Turn off these 6 Alexa features on your Amazon Echo right now
CNET – Just because Alexa is smart doesn’t mean it has to threaten your privacy. Here are the best features to disable. “Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant are getting smarter all the time — Alexa’s third-party skills add even more — and plenty of hidden perks really can improve your experience with those… Continue Reading
Can people who are asymptomatic spread coronavirus? What we know right now
CNET – People can have COVID-19 without knowing it — and that’s a huge threat to public health. “…If you’re an asymptomatic carrier of a disease, it means you have the disease but don’t show any symptoms. In the case of COVID-19, this can be a serious threat because of the way this virus spreads:… Continue Reading
How bad is your state’s Covid-19 outbreak?
Vox – Your state’s Covid-19 epidemic, explained in 5 maps – These maps show how your state is doing. “…A Vox analysis indicates the vast majority of states report alarming trends across all four benchmarks for coronavirus outbreaks. Most states still report a high — sometimes very high — number of daily new Covid-19 cases.… Continue Reading
Government shutdowns of “nonessential” retailers were a huge gift for Amazon, Walmart, and Target
Vox/Recode – “When stay-at-home orders due to the Covid-19 pandemic forced many US brick-and-mortar retailers to close up shop late winter and into this spring, some industry observers feared the government measures would widen the existing gap between the retail industry’s haves and have-nots. A few months later, that fear has become reality. Amazon, Walmart,… Continue Reading
Google has retooled its search and maps with vital wildfire information
Fast Company: “As wildfires rage in California, and Colorado reports the second largest wildfire in that state’s history, Google has announced it will be providing near-real-time information about such conflagrations on its search engine and mapping platform. In addition to breaking news from media sources, information from local government offices, and safety tips from the… Continue Reading
How to Vote by Mail in Every State
WSJ.com – Many states are set to allow voters to take part in the 2020 presidential election by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic: More Americans than ever are expected to vote by mail in this year’s presidential election as states attempt to make voting safer amid the global pandemic. Five states—Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and… Continue Reading
The Trump Campaign Accepted Russian Help to Win in 2016. Case Closed.
“Cooperation” or “collusion” or whatever. It was a plot against American democracy By The Editorial Board of The New York Times: “…There’s no way to sugarcoat it. In less than three months, the American people could re-elect a man who received a foreign government’s help to win one election and has shown neither remorse nor… Continue Reading
Leaders Of ‘We Build The Wall’ Online Fundraising Campaign Charged With Defrauding Hundreds Of Thousands Of Donors
United States Attorney’s Office – Southern District of New York: “Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the unsealing of an indictment charging BRIAN KOLFAGE, STEPHEN BANNON, ANDREW… Continue Reading
Most Americans Think Social Media Sites Censor Political Viewpoints
“Americans have complicated feelings about their relationship with big technology companies. While they have appreciated the impact of technology over recent decades and rely on these companies’ products to communicate, shop and get news, many have also grown critical of the industry and have expressed concerns about the executives who run them. This has become… Continue Reading
Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Say Dating Has Gotten Harder for Most People in the Last 10 Years
“As more Americans turn to online dating and the #MeToo movement leaves its imprint on the dating scene, nearly half of U.S. adults – and a majority of women – say that dating has become harder in the last 10 years. Among those who are on the dating market – the 15% of American adults… Continue Reading
