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Infographic: How to secure your data from mobile apps
Brian Wallace Science & TechnologyHow do apps steal your personal information? It turns out they're not really stealing at all, because in the fine print they tell you what data they are taking and what they plan to do with it — it's just that no one reads the fine print. Additionally, user data is very valuable: more than $100 per user for most platforms. Learn more about how apps compromise privacy with this infographic.
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EPA changes impede environmental justice research
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalEnvironmental justice emphasizes the impacts of environmental deterioration on social groups and the communities on the front lines of climate change. As the concept mainstreams, it clashes with a possible new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy that undermines public health links to industrial pollutants, adverse weather events like hurricanes and wildfires, and other climate change factors. Meanwhile, the U.S. has begun official proceedings to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and a new medical report warns of sustained public health problems due to increased temperatures and other climate-related challenges.
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Busting 3 myths of the ‘21-foot rule’
Mike Ox Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityAlmost everyone who shoots has heard about the "21-foot rule" and how important it is to practice at 21 feet. I used to teach it and I've probably been taught it in more than a dozen classes I've taken. Except, it's a myth. It has no basis in fact or history, and it can actually hurt your ability to effectively handle a threat that’s 21 feet away. So, here are three myths about the 21-foot rule and how to fix them.
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How to avoid security risks from social media
Daniel Markuson Science & TechnologyIn October, a Japanese man was accused of stalking and assaulting a young pop idol. What makes this news shocking is the details of how he found out where she lived. "All a stalker needs to find your whereabouts is pictures from your social media accounts," says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN. And some people upload a great number of them every day without even a thought about possible risks. The case demonstrates the great issue social media users face these days — digital stalking that may outgrow into physical harassment.
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Rural police shortages reach a new level of danger
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityDid you know that violent crime in rural areas is at an all-time high? For example, Alaska has the highest crime rate per capita of any state in the U.S. One in three communities in Alaska have no local cops. One-third of villages lack local emergency services. While Alaska’s situation is indeed a dire one, things aren’t looking good for other states, either. Most rural areas have fewer officers per capita than in past years, which means existing officers are stretched thin.
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Palantir, BP develop concerning ‘data-drilling’ techniques
Michelle R. Matisons Science & TechnologyOne of the most recent developments in Big Tech involves news of "data drilling," as evidenced by a contract between CIA-adjacent data-mining company Palantir Technologies and BP (formerly British Petroleum). The wedding of an older industry like oil with data technology is big news for many trying to keep abreast of the climate effects of the international extraction economy as they relate to elections, foreign policy, and intelligence communities; operations. And, vice versa: data mining is moving into unchartered waters here, and more environmental accountability for the uber-wealthy tech sector is a pressing issue.
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Proposed Chicago teachers’ contract could break new ground in education…
Michelle R. Matisons EducationU.S. labor has been at forefront of the news recently, as the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), along with the allied nonteaching staff from SEIU Local 73, will soon look to ratify a new contract with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). This follows the contract ratification between UAW and GM and a tentative Ford contract. This holiday season could offer a pay increase, workload reduction, and a social justice cornucopia for CTU teachers.
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To fight crime, engage kids in quality after-school programs
Sheilamary Koch Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityWhen kids have access to after-school programs, crime and incarceration go down, shows a new report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a nonpartisan organization of over 5,000 law enforcement professionals. Juvenile arrests around the country have declined 70% while participation in after-school programs has increased by over 50% since 2000. Yet more programs are necessary to meet the need, especially in rural areas and communities of concentrated poverty.
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Tips for planning a reduction in force if the economy loses steam
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOur economy has been hot over the past few years, but signs indicate a slowdown may be coming. Employers planning a reduction in force must consider the possibility that a third party may eventually judge the lawfulness and "fairness" of their decisions and that such judgment could result in significant consequences. It may be impossible to avoid litigation, but employers can do some things to make litigation less likely and reduce potential liability, as outlined in this article.
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Is there a public utility option for California’s PG&E?
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalDamage from 13 different wildfires has affected California during the past week. Sonoma County’s Kincade fire grew to 77,000 acres, ravaging large land swaths, whole neighborhoods, and grape-ripening vineyards. At 80% contained, it is nowhere near the size of 2017’s Thomas fire, which caused $2.2 billion in damages and heated debate about fire prevention. But all the fires combined will yield more damages incurred for the already embattled energy industry in the state. Poor air quality is now commonplace in the health-focused state, and this issue alone may press more people to consider radical solutions.
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