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Daily Archives: July 12, 2023

Why parents are trying to ban so many picture books

Children’s picture books are the next targets for book bans [free link] – The Washington Post – “The Post requested and analyzed roughly 2,500 pages of book challenges filed in more than 100 districts nationwide throughout the 2021-2022 academic year. Picture books made up nearly 10 percent of all the titles challenged in the 1,000-plus complaints, The Post found. The free expression advocacy group PEN America, too, concluded that more than 300 picture books were challenged at school in the 2021-2022 school year.”

About this series and soaring book challenges in the U.S. Schoolbook challenges have risen to unprecedented levels over the past three years. To understand what and who is driving objections to K-12 texts, Washington Post K-12 Education reporter Hannah Natanson filed records requests with 150 school districts nationwide, seeking copies of every book challenge they received in the 2021-2022 school year. If your school is seeing book challenges and you have a story to share, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] — or fill out this submission form.”

Report – Meta and Tax Prep Companies “Recklessly” Shared Taxpayers’ Data

Elizabeth Warren: “Today I released a new 54-page report revealing that Big Tax Prep companies have recklessly shared personal and financial data of millions of taxpayers with Big Tech for years. Regulators need to fully investigate and prosecute those who violated the law… Via The MarkUp: “Meta and major tax preparation companies inappropriately shared millions… Continue Reading

FDA Approves First Nonprescription Daily Oral Contraceptive

“Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Opill (norgestrel) tablet for nonprescription use to prevent pregnancy— the first daily oral contraceptive approved for use in the U.S. without a prescription. Approval of this progestin-only oral contraceptive pill provides an option for consumers to purchase oral contraceptive medicine without a prescription at drug stores, convenience… Continue Reading

Report: U.S. is 32nd Worldwide on Broadband Affordability

Broadband Genie via telecompetitor: “The United States ranks thirty-second in the world on internet affordability, according to new research from Broadband Genie, a provider of data about broadband services. Broadband affordability is defined by the percentage of a country’s average salary that would need to be spent to cover the average cost of internet connectivity.… Continue Reading

FTC is investigating whether ChatGPT harms consumers

Washington Post [read free]: “The Federal Trade Commission has opened an expansive investigation into OpenAI, probing whether the maker of the popular ChatGPT bot has run afoul of consumer protection laws by putting personal reputations and data at risk.The agency this week sent the San Francisco company a 20-page demand for records about how it… Continue Reading

Reminder to me your Venmo transactions private, courtesy of Clarence Thomas

The Verge: “Lawyers appearing before the Supreme Court sent money to a Clarence Thomas aide via Venmo, according to the aide’s profile. Don’t be like him… The most recent example of poor Venmo security comes from Rajan Vasisht, a former aide to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The Guardian tracked down Vasisht’s Venmo account and… Continue Reading