The Miami Herald is lifting its paywall in advance of Hurricane Dorian.Details here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article234511972.html .
NEW RESOURCES
National Library of New Zealand: Black sheep in the family? .“What do Agnes Vallance, Agnes Skervington, Amy Laing, Amy Bennett, Amy Cameron, Amy Shannon, Amy Chanel, and Percy Redwood all have in common? Well, they are all aliases used by confidence trickster and male impersonator Amy Bock as she romped her way through New Zealand, defrauding her employees and, most notoriously, marrying a young woman in South Otago.You can now trace Amy’s career in and out of prison by searching the New Zealand Police Gazette (1877-1945).We have just made this title, along with the Canterbury Police Gazette (1863-1877) and the Otago Police Gazette (1861-1877) available and fully text searchable on Papers Past.”
Columbia University Libraries: Gems from the new Carnegie Corporation of New York Digital Archive .“The updated Carnegie Corporation of New York finding aid, along with the newly released Carnegie Corporation of New York Digital Archive is a breath of fresh air.
The Corporation, founded in 1911, has been granting projects within its mission for over 100 years.The records are vast and touch on many different subjects, people, and institutions.
These materials will appeal to researchers in just about any field of study, but especially genealogy, philanthropy, the history of education, social science, international peace and security, and democracy.”
TWEAKS AND UPDATES
Lifehacker: Earn Thousands of Dollars for Finding Bugs in Facebook’s Libra Cryptocurrency .“While we’re still waiting on a specific release date for Facebook’s upcoming cryptocurrency, Libra, the company is aiming for an early 2020 release.That gives you plenty of time to find bugs in the currency’s infrastructure—a project that could reward you handsomely.”
Australian Financial Review: ARIA Awards and Google sign streaming deal for YouTube .“Google and the Australian Recording Industry Association have inked a deal for YouTube to broadcast the ARIA Awards and classic clips from live performances from the event from the past three decades.”
The Guardian: Pinterest’s new vaccine search will offer something rare on social media: facts .“On Wednesday, Pinterest announced a new step in its efforts to combat health misinformation on its platform: users will be able to search for 200 terms related to vaccines, but the results displayed will come from major public health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Vaccine Safety Net.”
The Conversation: North Korea: how public execution sites are being mapped with Google Earth satellite images .“The researchers show North Korean escapees Google Earth satellite images of areas of the country where the escapees either lived or spent considerable periods of time.Focusing on images dating from around the time the reported events took place, where available, researchers then ask interviewees to point out the locations of any killing or body disposal sites of which they have knowledge.”
Lemme put something nice in this newsletter for damn once, from BuzzFeed News: Teens Are Using Instagram To Cast Each Other In Fake Broadway Shows .“On Instagram, a whole subculture of ‘fake casting’ has popped up over the last year or so, in which young Broadway stans are auditioning for and casting their own imaginary musicals.”
And sometimes I post things to which I cannot relate at all (also see: all posts about beauty and fashion).
Vanity Fair: Here’s an Idea: Replace Your Social Media With Real Estate Apps .“Not to brag, but I love my apartment.It’s an affordable rental and within walking distance from Brooklyn parks, gardens, museums, as many trains as my heart desires, and a serviceable grocery store.I have no need or desire to move, let alone buy a place elsewhere.I also spend more time on Zillow’s app than on Twitter and Instagram combined, browsing homes for sale across the country, because it’s reliably soothing, especially when those other sites are not.”
SECURITY & LEGAL
CNET: Eight people charged with running illegal streaming services .“A federal grand jury has charged eight people with running the two biggest illegal streaming services in the nation, the US Department of Justice announced Tuesday.The streaming sites named by the Justice Department were Jetflicks and iStreamItAll (ISIA).”
Ars Technica: How insurance companies are fueling a rise in ransomware attacks .“Ransomware is proliferating across America, disabling computer systems of corporations, city governments, schools and police departments.
This month, attackers seeking millions of dollars encrypted the files of 22 Texas municipalities.Overlooked in the ransomware spree is the role of an industry that is both fueling and benefiting from it: insurance.”
Globe and Mail: Pressing Google and Facebook for answers in her son’s death, an Ontario mother stirs the digital-privacy debate .“Maureen Henry thinks her son’s online messages could help explain how he ended up dead in Lake Ontario five years ago.She’s fighting U.S.
technology companies in court to access them in a case with complicated implications.”
RESEARCH & OPINION
Phys .org: Right-wing WhatsApp users in Brazil are more effective at spreading disinformation .“After Brazil’s 2018 presidential election, international political pundits and journalists wondered if social media platform WhatsApp enabled far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro’s rise to power.Northwestern University computer scientists now confirm that WhatsApp use played a key role in the electoral process.” Good morning, .
