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Daily Archives: November 17, 2020

Turn Off Gmail’s ‘Smart’ Features to Avoid Tracking

Lifehacker: “Google collects data on everything you do while using its products and services. Sometimes this data is sold to advertisers; sometimes it’s used to make it easier to use Google’s products. For example, Google uses data from Gmail, Chat, and Meet to make the entire Google user experience more convenient, like how it’ll learn how you type and suggest automated message replies that (hopefully) sound natural. However, some people don’t want their data tracked and stored, period, no matter what conveniences it brings. While there are already ways to change Gmail’s data collection behavior—more on that in a second—it will soon be easier to opt-out out of Google’s tracking thanks to two new Gmail settings rolling out in the coming weeks. First, users will now have the option to disable Gmail’s “Smart features” like Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and more. While these are handy, Google has to root through your Gmail, Meet, and Chat data for them to work…”

The Climate Transparency Report 2020 – Climate Change Has Hit the U.S. Harder Than Any Other G20 Country

“The Climate Transparency Report (previously known as “Brown to Green Report”) is the world’s most comprehensive annual review of G20 countries’ climate action and their transition to a net-zero emissions economy. The review is based on 100 indicators for adaptation, mitigation and finance and aims to make good practices and gaps transparent. The summary report… Continue Reading

The Substackerati

Did a newsletter company create a more equitable media system—or replicate the flaws of the old one? – “Substack, established in 2017 by three tech-and-media guys—Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi—is a newsletter platform that allows writers and other creative types to distribute their work at tiered subscription rates. Newsletters go back at least… Continue Reading

Why Two Decades of Pandemic Planning Failed

Medium – The Cicero Institute: “At the commencement of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the United States government flailed and then failed in its attempt to respond to the crisis. Americans couldn’t help but ask why the government didn’t have a plan for this situation, a situation that was not only predictable, but which many scientists… Continue Reading

Firefox 83 arrives with HTTPS-Only Mode and faster performance

VentureBeat: “Mozilla today launched Firefox 83 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Firefox 83 includes an HTTPS-Only Mode, performance improvements, and a handful of new developer features. You can download Firefox 83 for desktop now from Firefox.com, and all existing users should be able to upgrade to it automatically. According to Mozilla, Firefox has about 225… Continue Reading

Faculty Perceptions of Online Law Journals

Conklin, Michael, Faculty Perceptions of Online Law Journals (October 2020). Michael Conklin, Faculty Perceptions of Online Law Journals, ___ Midwest L. J. ___ (Forthcoming 2020)., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3716416 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3716416 – “Online-only law journals (OLJs) are sometimes referred to as “companions” or “supplements.” They are law journals that are only distributed in a digital… Continue Reading

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution will be a “logistical nightmare”

CBS News: “The long wait for a vaccine that could eventually spell the end of the coronavirus pandemic appears to be on the horizon. Last week, Pfizer said its vaccine in a trial has been 90% effective in preventing COVID-19, while Moderna on Monday announced similarly encouraging results. The companies could get emergency federal approval within… Continue Reading

Here’s how to ‘fleet’ with Twitter’s new disappearing tweet feature

Fast Company – “Twitter is now catering to the commitment phobic. This morning, the company launched Fleets—a portmanteau of “fleeting” and “tweets”—which exit only for 24 hours. The feature is an effort to engage more people on the social media platform, because Fleets feel less public and less permanent, especially for those new to Twitter.… Continue Reading

Federal Regulators Increase Focus on Patient Risks From Electronic Health Records

Pew -“As part of a federal program to routinely publish data on the capabilities of electronic health record (EHR) systems, the government recently finalized a component that will help collect information from doctors, nurses, and other clinicians about the effects of these technologies on patient safety. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information… Continue Reading