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Daily Archives: June 8, 2020

Poll – Large majority of Americans back protests and say police need to change

Washington Post: “Americans overwhelmingly support the nationwide protests that have taken place since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, and they say police forces have not done enough to ensure that blacks are treated equally to whites, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll. President Trump receives negative marks for his handling of the protests, with 61 percent saying they disapprove and 35 percent saying they approve. Much of the opposition to Trump is vehement, as 47 percent of Americans say they strongly disapprove of the way the president has responded to the protests. The poll highlights how attitudes about police treatment of black Americans are changing dramatically. More than 2 in 3 Americans (69 percent) say the killing of Floyd represents a broader problem within law enforcement, compared with fewer than 1 in 3 (29 percent) who say the Minneapolis killing is an isolated incident…”

Read the full Post-Schar School poll results

NYT – Coronavirus Map: Tracking the Global Outbreak

The New York Times Coronavirus Database: “The coronavirus pandemic has sickened more than 7,117,200 people, according to official counts. As of Tuesday morning, at least 406,500 people have died, and the virus has been detected in nearly every country, as these maps show. The coronavirus pandemic is ebbing in some of the countries that were… Continue Reading

How to Track the Tech That’s Tracking You Every Day

Gizmodo: “It’s easy to feel helpless right now. Cities across the country are seeing unarmed protesters maimed by police officers who enjoy both the full support of the current presidential administration and of the American legal system itself. Congress is, in 2020, debating whether to make lynching a federal hate crime. And there’s still a… Continue Reading

Amazon’s New Competitive Advantage: Putting Its Own Products First

Pro Publica – “Brands have long been able to bid for the premier slot at the top left of Amazon’s listings, but during the pandemic the online retailer has begun using this position for its private-label items, raising antitrust concerns. Although customers don’t necessarily realize it, brands have for years been able to bid on… Continue Reading

What to Think About Before You Make That Doctor’s Appointment

Gizmodo: “With states across the U.S. beginning to relax distancing restrictions related to covid-19, plenty of people are probably questioning whether they should get back to normal activities, including scheduling non-urgent medical appointments like physicals and teeth cleanings. So let’s talk about it. In truth, any outing that puts you in close contact with other… Continue Reading

High-Income Nonfilers Owing Billions of Dollars Are Not Being Worked by the Internal Revenue Service

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration – High-Income Nonfilers Owing Billions of Dollars Are Not Being Worked by the Internal Revenue Service May 29, 2020, Reference Number: 2020-30-015: “The gross Tax Gap is the estimated difference between the amount of tax that taxpayers should pay and the amount paid voluntarily and on time. The average… Continue Reading

Sowing seeds of happiness: Emotional well-being while home gardening

Princeton Environmental Institute: As civic leaders and urban planners work to make cities more sustainable and livable by investing in outdoor spaces and recreational activities such as biking and walking, Princeton researchers have identified the benefit of an activity largely overlooked by policymakers — home gardening. The researchers found that, across the study’s population, the level… Continue Reading

Apple adds anonymous symptom and health info sharing to its COVID-19 app and website

TechCrunch: “Apple has updated its own COVID-19 iOS app and website with new features to allow users to anonymously share info including their age, existing health conditions, symptoms, potential exposure risks and the state in which they’re located. This info, which is not associated with any of their personal identifying data in any way according… Continue Reading

Nearly Half of Coronavirus Spread May Be Traced to People Without Any Symptoms

TIME: “One of the more insidious features of the new coronavirus behind COVID-19 is its ability to settle into unsuspecting hosts who never show signs of being sick but are able to spread the virus to others. In a study published June 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers at the Scripps Research Translational… Continue Reading