“The global coronavirus pandemic upended life in the United States and around the world in 2020, disrupting how people work, go to school, attend religious services, socialize with friends and family, and much more. But the pandemic wasn’t the only event that shaped the year. The videotaped killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis sparked an international outcry and focused new attention on the treatment of racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. And November’s presidential election appears to have shattered turnout records as around 160 million Americans cast ballots and elected Joe Biden the 46th president. As 2020 draws to a close, here are 20 striking findings from Pew Research Center’s studies this year, covering the pandemic, race-related tensions, the presidential election and other notable trends that emerged during the year…”
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Daily Archives: January 4, 2021
Road Map for Improvements: GAO’s Transition Webpage Flags Ways to Improve Government, Save Money
“The 117th Congress and the incoming Presidential administration will be taking office in a time that presents significant challenges to the government. Today the U.S. Government Accountability Office launched a new webpage dedicated to informing incoming lawmakers and administration officials about major challenges facing the federal government, as well as possible solutions. This Presidential and… Continue Reading
You can track your new stimulus payment online with two free tools
CNet: “Did you know that the IRS and US Treasury are only making second stimulus check payments through Jan. 15? Well, it’s complicated. But if you’re trying to sort out when exactly your $600 stimulus money will arrive through direct-deposit, paper checks and EIP cards, you’ve come to the right place. (By the way, here’s how to calculate your… Continue Reading
Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, January 3, 2020
Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, January 3, 2020 – Privacy and security issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly… Continue Reading
Surprise Ending for Publishers: In 2020, Business Was Good
The New York Times – “With people stuck at home and so many other activities shut down, a lot of reading — or at least a lot of book buying — happened this year. ” Like everybody else, book publishers will be happy to see the end of 2020. But for many of them, the… Continue Reading
Understanding the origins of COVID-19
New York Magazine – The Intelligencer: “What happened was fairly simple, I’ve come to believe. It was an accident. A virus spent some time in a laboratory, and eventually it got out. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, began its existence inside a bat, then it learned how to infect people in a claustrophobic mine… Continue Reading
CRS – Russian Cyber Units
CRS In Focus – Russian Cyber Units, January 4, 2021: “Russia has deployed sophisticated cyber capabilities to conduct disinformation, propaganda, espionage, and destructive cyberattacks globally. To conduct these operations, Russia maintains numerous units overseen by itsvarious security and intelligence agencies. Russia’s security agencies compete with each other and often conduct similar operations on the same… Continue Reading
COVID-19, Death Records and the Public Interest: Now is the Time to Push for Transparency
Sanders, A. K. (2020). COVID-19, death records and the public interest: Now is the time to push for transparency. Journal of Civic Information, 2(4), 1-22. “As the U.S. has grappled with COVID-19, the government has resisted repeated requests to follow open records laws, which are essential to transparency. Current efforts to reduce access to death… Continue Reading
This clever attachment makes any bike an e-bike in just seconds
Fast Company – “When product designer Somnath Ray started commuting to work by bike to lower his carbon footprint, most of the ride was easy—but a few steep hills were so challenging that he realized that the effort might discourage other people from making the same transportation choice. He started working on a new solution:… Continue Reading
Google launches Question Hub for US publishers
Search Engine Land: “Google Question Hub, accessible at questionhub.withgoogle.com, is now open for US-based publishers to sign up for. In 2018, Google launched Question Hub in regions where the company found it did not have enough content in its search index to answer searchers’ questions. Google then started showing this box to searchers last year… Continue Reading
What to expect when Congress meets to confirm Joe Biden’s win
Washington Post video – “When Congress convenes on Jan. 6 to certify the electoral college vote, President Trump’s allies will mount a final challenge to Joe Biden’s win. But history shows it’s destined to fail, as Capitol Hill reporter Rhonda Colvin explains. Related: How Trump allies in Congress will launch one more challenge to Biden’s… Continue Reading
Maximizing the Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals In All Law
A free webinar on the IFLP on January 13, 2021. It’s open to AALL (American Association of Law Libraries) and non-AALL members, but you must register: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 (12pm – 1pm ET). There will be a post at the IALL (International Association of Law Libraries) website for more information. See also these two… Continue Reading
