The rate at which ice is disappearing across the planet has been speeding up, with 65% since the 1990s, a survey of global ice loss using European Space Agency satellite data reveals. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/esa-satellites-show-record-rate-ice-loss…
Tag: local communities
Screening Travelers For Symptoms of COVID-19 Was Ineffective, CDC Study Says
Temperature and symptom-based screening programs don’t help catch coronavirus cases, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report that took a closer look at the programs used at US airports until mid-September. CNN reports: The CDC said this was a resource-intensive program that had a low case detection rate. Between January 17 and September 13, the…
What If the Government Ran a Social Network?
A publicly-funded social network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation “has been proposed as one possible response if Facebook and Google limit services in Australia when the mandatory news code becomes law this year,” reports the Guardian: Facebook has warned it will block Australians from sharing news if the landmark plan to make digital platforms pay for news content becomes law….
Facebook and Google Serve As Vectors For Misinformation While Hobbling Local Journalism and Collecting Taxpayer Subsidies, Group Says
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Axios: Facebook and Google are hollowing out local communities by serving as vectors for misinformation while hobbling local journalism and collecting taxpayer subsidies, a new paper from progressive think tank the American Economic Liberties Project charges. Both companies cite benefits their platforms offer small businesses as a key defense against critiques of their size…
Hundreds of Hyperpartisan Sites Are Masquerading as Local News
The growth of partisan media masquerading as state and local reporting is a troubling trend we’ve seen emerge amid the financial declines of local news organizations. But what do these outlets mean for journalism in American communities? NiemanLab: Using previous research and news reports as a guide, we’ve mapped the locations of more than 400 partisan media outlets — often funded…
Met Police To Deploy Facial Recognition Cameras
The Metropolitan Police has announced it will use live facial recognition cameras operationally for the first time on London streets. From a report: The cameras will be in use for five to six hours at a time, with bespoke lists of suspects wanted for serious and violent crimes drawn up each time. Police say the cameras identified 70% of suspects but…
Becoming Environmentally Conscious: Meet the edX Sustainability Team
The Sustainability Team, a group of people committed to making the edX workplace more environmentally sustainable, was formed during Hackathon XXII—a quarterly event with the goal of driving innovation and problem solving. The team’s first initiative was measuring edX’s carbon footprint and collecting potential projects to make a positive impact. The group has since grown, and has taken on a wider…
edX Announces Results Of New Survey On Reskilling Trends
Reskilling is a clear necessity for the future of work, and at edX, we are committed to helping learners gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the modern workplace. Today, we’re pleased to announce the results of a new survey of 1,000 consumers aged 18+ on reskilling trends, with 917 employed or previously employed respondents. Our survey found…
65 years after Brown v. Board of Education, school segregation is getting worse
Source: https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/5/10/18566052/school-segregation-brown-board-education-report…
Bookstores band together for Independent Bookstore Day
Source: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/24/18512589/independent-bookstore-day-book-crawl…