Author archives

Meta launches Sphere, an AI knowledge tool based on open web content, used initially to verify citations on Wikipedia

TechCrunch: “Facebook may be infamous for helping to usher in the era of “fake news”, but it’s also tried to find a place for itself in the follow-up: the never-ending battle to combat it. In the latest development on that front, Facebook parent Meta today announced a new tool called Sphere, AI built around the …

Subjects: Education, Internet, Knowledge Management, Search Engines, Social Media

Cryptomining Capacity in U.S. Rivals Energy Use of Houston, Findings Show

The New York Times: “…Earlier this year, a group of congressional Democrats launched an investigation into energy use at the country’s largest cryptomining companies. They asked seven cryptomining companies for data on their operations, and the group’s findings, issued Friday, are based on the companies’ responses. That data showed that the seven companies alone had …

Subjects: Climate Change, Congress, Cryptocurrency, Economy, Energy, Environmental Law

Edelman Trust Barometer – The Power of Gen Z

“This isn’t the influencer generation. This isn’t the cancel generation. This isn’t even the TikTok generation. This is the generation of sensibility. Preceding generations have idolized the unrealistic, prioritizing aspirational objectives, and often overlooking basic elements like humanity, our planet, and at times the truth for the sake of self, innovation, wealth, and immediacy. In …

Subjects: Climate Change, Economy, Education, Energy, Environmental Law

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, July 16, 2022

Via LLRX –  Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, July 16, 2022 – Privacy and cybersecurity 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 Weisshighlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly …

Subjects: Cryptocurrency, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Privacy, Search Engines

Young women shifting how they live and love in the post-Roe era

The Generation Lab Report – “Young women will likely change their sexual behavior, their pregnancy prevention protocol and even where they live: “In the era when Roe reigned, a map of abortion access in the United States might have looked like a bird’s eye view of the Atlantic Ocean — some parts dark blue, some …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Health Care, Legal Research, Privacy

The Private Suppression of Constitutional Rights

Huq, Aziz Z., The Private Suppression of Constitutional Rights (April 1, 2022). Texas Law Review, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4072800 “On September 1. 2021, Texas’s abortion ban S.B.8 went into effect, not only prohibiting almost all abortions after six weeks but also allowing any private party to sue those who, knowingly or unwittingly, aid or …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Courts, Government Documents, Health Care, Legal Research, Privacy

It’s been a hard time for librarians. Enter an epic sleepover of stuffed toys.

Washington Post: “With book bans, heated political debates and a pandemic to deal with, it isn’t an easy time to be a librarian. In cities and small towns across the country, librarians have become increasingly maligned for simply keeping the shelves stocked and doing their jobs, which includes everything from organizing yoga classes and book …

Subjects: Libraries

What Happens When Americans Don’t Trust Institutions?

FiveThirtyEight: “Americans are feeling uneasy, and it’s hard to blame them. The things they want to change — inflation, COVID-19 case numbers, rising violent crime in some cities — seem more and more intractable. There was one big, abrupt shift in American life at the end of June, when the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

New Research – E-Bikes Are Outpacing Electric Cars Sales in the US

Bicycling: “People in urban areas are starting to realize that sometimes, it’s faster to go by bike than to drive from place to place. Especially when the bike is electric-assisted and capable of zooming through traffic at the same speed as most city speed limits, without the hassle of finding parking. And now that e-cargo …

Subjects: Climate Change, Environmental Law, Transportation

FSB Roadmap for Addressing Financial Risks from Climate Change: 2022 progress report

Financial Stability Board: “One year after the G20 endorsed the FSB Roadmap to address climate-related financial risks, policy action to address such risks is more urgent than ever. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate-related events, and the intense debate about current and future energy policies in many jurisdictions, highlights that financial …

Subjects: Climate Change, Data Governance, Economy, Environmental Law, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research

Some VPNs can’t be trusted. These are best at privacy and security.

Washington Post: “Interest in virtual private networks, a technology that helps you hide what you do online, surged after the Supreme Court ended legal abortion in some states and dramatically raised the stakes for digital privacy. There’s just one problem: There are hundreds of VPNs, and some of them are snake oil. Many over-promise, making …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Internet, Privacy