Democracy Dies Behind Paywalls

The Atlantic [unpaywalled]- “The case for making journalism free—at least during the 2024 election…Paywalls create a two-tiered system: credible, fact-based information for people who are willing to pay for it, and murkier, less-reliable information for everyone else. Simply put, paywalls get in the way of informing the public, which is the mission of journalism. And …

Subjects: Economy, Education, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

New Report on the Nation’s Foreign-Born Population

United States Census April 9, 2024: “From 2010 to 2022, the nation’s foreign-born population increased by 15.6%. According to a new report The Foreign-Born Population in the United States: 2022 released by the U.S. Census Bureau today, the foreign-born population was 46.2 million (13.9% of the total population) in 2022 compared to 40.0 million (12.9% …

Subjects: Economy, Government Documents

Protect Predators on Refuges

Center for Biological Diversity: “Each year across the national wildlife refuge system, scores of carnivores are cruelly killed at the behest of the livestock industry and hunters. This “predator control” is supposed to protect farm animals grazing on public land and increase numbers of elk and deer for hunters. But science shows it doesn’t work.  …

Subjects: Environmental Law, Government Documents

US drug shortages reach record high with 323 meds now in short supply

Ars Technica: “Drug shortages in the US have reached an all-time high, with 323 active and ongoing shortages already tallied this year, according to data collected by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The current drug shortage total surpasses the previous record of 320, set in 2014, and is the highest recorded since ASHP …

Subjects: Economy, Health Care, Medicine

US DOT – PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program Award Recipients

PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program Fact Sheet –  “The vision of the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program is to fund projects that address the climate crisis by improving the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Projects selected under this program should be grounded in the best available scientific …

Subjects: Climate Change, Economy, Environmental Law, Financial System, Government Documents

How to Clean Your Laptop the Right Way

PCMag – Gunk happens! Here’s how to clean up your laptop’s act—from the top bezel to the bottom fan—without inflicting harm. (It’s easy, and you can use products you have around the house.) “Dust, coffee stains, oil from your fingertips, food particles, plain old grime: If your laptop shows any of those, it’s time to …

Subjects: Internet

Thrift Stores Are a Goldmine for Geeky Buys

How to Geek: Here’s What I Look For, By Tim Brookes – Who doesn’t love a bargain? Thrift stores can hold hidden gems like video games, consoles, cameras, vinyl, and electronics. Be sure to check for unique items. Consider looking for rare items like collectible video game cartridges, cameras and lenses, and old PC parts …

Subjects: Internet

Is 2024 the Cicadapocalypse or a Cicadapalooza?

Axios: “In 2024, a double brood of periodical cicadas will appear across the United States. Some have called the emergence a “cicadapocalypse,” but is it really? Why it matters: Axios Visuals fact-checked the insect hype and found that no matter how you crunch the numbers, 2024 will likely offer just a taste of the cicada …

Subjects: Climate Change

BirdCast

USFWS Pacific “About 90-140 million birds are predicted to migrate across the U.S. each night this weekend! Lights at night can be very disorienting to birds during their long spring migration. To help prevent deadly bird collisions, turn off or dim unnecessary lights! Graphic: BirdCast The Pacific Region for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service …

Subjects: Climate Change, Environmental Law

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, April 13, 2024

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, April 13, 2024 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex …

Subjects: AI, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Records, Financial System, Health Care, Privacy, Social Media

Journalistic interventions matter: Understanding how Americans perceive fact-checking labels

Misinformation Review: “While algorithms and crowdsourcing have been increasingly used to debunk or label misinformation on social media, such tasks might be most effective when performed by professional fact checkers or journalists. Drawing on a national survey (N = 1,003), we found that U.S. adults evaluated fact-checking labels created by professional fact checkers as more …

Subjects: Internet, Social Media