Even when
/Even when strength fails, there is perseverance. And even when perseverance fails, there is hope. And even when hope fails, there is love. And love never fails. -Michael Gerson
ideas that challenge / comfort / inspire
The Beginner's Mind
/A child does not know what is not possible and so was open to exploration, discovery, and experimentation. If you approach create tasks with the beginner's mind, you can see things more clearly as they are, unburden by your fixed views, habits, or what conventional wisdom says it is (or should be).
One who possesses a beginner's mind is not burdened by old habits or obsessed about "the way things are done around here" or with the way things could have or should have been done.
If you approach a task with a beginner's mind, you’re not afraid of being wrong. The fear of making a mistake, of risking an error, or of being told you’re wrong is constantly with us. And that’s a shame. Making mistakes is not the same thing as being creative, but if you’re not willing to make mistakes then it is impossible to be truly creative.
Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen
Early in your career
/Especially when you are early in your career, one of the worst things you can do is sacrifice learning opportunities, growth, and valuable connections for ego. You owe it to your future self to make decisions today for the right reasons and the long term. -Clara Shih
Everyone
/Everyone you meet in life is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
Articles of interest about religion - May 9
/***COVID-19
Workers Refusing Covid Vaccine Could Lose Their Jobs
Are weddings safe to go to or plan in a pandemic? A guide
Most U.S. companies will require proof of Covid vaccination from employees, survey finds
What we know and don't know about Covid-19
***RELIGION & THE VIRUS
74 sickened in COVID outbreak at Peoples Church in Oregon
Pastor's wife advocates for vaccines and receives death threats
Wisconsin Catholic priest warns congregants against Covid vaccine, defying pope and his bishop
Connecticut Gov. signs bill ending religious vaccine exemptions
For evangelical leader Jamie Aten, advocating for vaccines led to a death threat
Religious Leaders Had To Fight Disinformation To Get Their Communities Vaccinated
Francis Collins urges evangelicals: ‘Love your neighbor,’ get COVID-19 vaccine
***BIBLE
New museum tells American history through the Bible
***RELIGION AND POLITICS
Virginia GOP won’t let Orthodox Jews vote absentee in Sabbath-day convention
A Pennsylvania Lawmaker and the Resurgence of Christian Nationalism
***RELIGION & SCIENCE
Evangelicals are losing their climate skepticism
***RELIGION & BUSINESS
Religious Discrimination Complaints Hit 10-Year Low
***RELIGION & RACIAL ISSUES
153 years later, Christian fraternal group started by slaves still thrives
***DENOMINATIONS
Christian and Missionary Alliance Considers Calling Women Pastors
Most Black Protestants say denominational affiliation is less important than inspiring sermons
First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale implodes over challenge to pastor’s iron rule
***CATHOLIC
Coalition' of Catholics Protest Music Format of Seton Hall's student radio station
***MEGACHURCHES
Dallas Megachurch Pastor Resigns after Confessing to the Sin of Pride
Georgia megachurch votes to disaffiliate from UMC after lead pastor was reassigned
***RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Plagiarism in sermons among pastors
Is Praise And Worship Music Driving Guitar Sales?
***TELEVANGELIST
Televangelist Ernest Angley dies at 99
Great-grandson of televangelist Kenneth Copeland drowns in swimming pool accident
***ISLAM
American Airlines CEO Fasts For Ramadan To Honor Muslim Employees
Yale University student body elects first Muslim president
**NONRELIGIOUS
Nonreligious Americans Are A Growing Political Force
***RELIGION & CRIME
D.C. pastor misused $1.5 million in pandemic relief loans
***RELIGION & SOCIAL MEDIA
Articles of interest about higher ed - May 8
/***COVID-19
Only a small portion of law enforcement officers have been vaccinated against COVID-19
How COVID-19 is changing the world of beauty
***HIGHER ED & COVID
Rutgers professor, doctor dies of COVID while helping family in India
100 U.S. colleges will require vaccinations to attend in-person classes in the fall ($)
College Health Group Recommends Requiring COVID Vaccines
***LAYOFFS & CLOSURES
Judson College closing amid enrollment and debt woes
Becker College Will Lay Off More Than 300 When It Closes
Laurentian University's financial insolvency leads to 110 faculty layoffs
***COLLEGE FINANCES
USF St. Petersburg student journalists dive into university’s finances in yearlong investigation
College leaders praise Biden’s free-tuition plan
Pennsylvania higher ed system releases consolidation plans
***HIGHER ED
Ohio Community Colleges Cancel 2021-22 Sports
No College, No Problem. Some Employers Drop Degree Requirements To Diversify Staffs
Colleges slowly bringing back study abroad programs after pandemic
***HUMANITIES
UVM approaches record enrollment in the liberal arts
Is it the end of history in universities?
***HIGHER ED IN COURT
Courts view COVID-19 tuition refund lawsuits skeptically
In Lawsuit Doctor Alleges U of Rochester Robbed Her of Research Time
Yeshiva students sue, seeking recognition of LGBTQ+ student club
Supreme Court to Hear Debate Over Houston College Board’s Censure of Trustee
Lawsuit accuses VMI of racial discrimination
***TEACHING
The Controversial but Useful Practice of ‘Ungrading’ in Teaching Writing ($)
Will a Rise in Online Learning Open Remote Teaching Opportunities for Faculty?
***ACADEMIC LIFE
Northwestern Faculty Oppose New Athletic Director Selection
Oregon Tech faculty strike ends
Cypress College instructor on leave after interrupting, objecting to student’s pro-police argument
Oregon Institute of Technology asks state agency to declare tentative faculty strike unlawful
***ACADEMICS & CRIME
Professor at Northern Oklahoma College arrested, accused of sexually abusing students
Former Southern University band director booked into federal prison
Kansas lawmaker asked to resign from board seat at Missouri college following arrest
***LINDFIELD
Complaint against 4th Linfield trustee alleges inappropriate touching, comment
Linfield Cuts Off Mass Faculty Emails Amid Controversy
***FACULTY VS PRESIDENTS
University of Colorado Boulder Faculty Assembly censures system President
Monmouth College faculty votes "No Confidence" in school President
***COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS
LSU picks new leader, naming system’s first Black president
Five new college presidents reflect on their first years in pandemic
Collin College candidates address concerns of free speech, retaliation
***CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS & COVID
Catholic colleges, universities debate COVID-19 vaccine requirements
Kentucky Christian College requiring students to be vaccinated to be on campus for fall semester
Pacific Lutheran to require mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations
***CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
Dr. Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. to Become Sixth President of Houghton College
Why Nathan Cartagena teaches critical race theory to evangelicals
Houghton College names new president
***LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Liberty University’s lawsuit against Falwell is an admission of guilt (opinion)
Jerry Falwell Jr. cancels graduation event due to respiratory emboli symptoms
The Ohio Lawmaker Caught Zooming & DRiving is a Liberty U Graduate
***RESEARCH
How to navigate authorship of scientific manuscripts
Good research begins long before papers get written
Which Scientific Disciplines Cite Philosophy of Science?
Covid-19 and the evolution of scientific publishing
Do senior faculty members produce fewer research publications than their younger colleagues?
New study says more abstract, jargony articles get cited less
What I learned writing a science paper for a 10-year-old
Big-name scientists surprised to find themselves on journal board
***RETRACTIONS
Mask study was “misleading” and misquotes citations, says Elsevier
Academic Journal Retractions and the COVID-19 Pandemic
***STUDENT LIFE
How Marriage and College Switched Places
As Campus Life Resumes, So Does Concern Over Hazing
Pomona College student government passes sweeping anti-Zionism bill
International Students See Visa Struggles As Colleges Return To In Person Learning
I graduated from San Diego State University without student debt, but it nearly killed me
No Change in Guidance on Foreign Students and Online Learning
***FREE SPEECH
Boston College student organization protest delayed due to COVID-19 policy
University of San Diego: Professor's comments in blog protected by academic freedom policy
***SEXUAL HARASSMENT & ASSAULT
Marist students call for increased Title IX funding, transparency in claims of abuse
LSU conspired to cover up sexual misconduct, seven women claim in suit
LSU changes Title IX policy, says it will fire employees who don't report violations
***RACIAL ISSUES ON CAMPUS
Faculty union: Cypress college failed to be ‘anti-racist’ by not defending professor in viral video
Eastern NC colleges release statement on Andrew Brown Jr.
Tensions at UT-Austin over "The Eyes of Texas"
Debate Erupts at N.J. Law School After White Student Quotes Racial Slur ($)
NYU Politics professor denies anti-Asian sentiment then asks for retraction
College football coach fired over tweet mocking Stacey Abrams fights back with lawsuit
Morehouse leaves debate tournament following anti-Black mockery
TCU confronts its history with the Confederacy, racism on campus
***CRIME ON CAMPUS
Fontbonne University accused of failing to warn students over repeated residence hall break ins
U of Oregon Sue’s one of its former police officers for unlawful arrest of a Hispanic man
Third York College student now charged with robbery and conspiracy
A pessimist & an optimist
/A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. -Harry Truman (born May 8, 1884)
Enemies
/Enemies are people whose story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen. -Irene Butter
Making a living
/Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. -Dolly Parton
The Way of Transition
/Life fishtails its way across an undulating landscape. If you want to live, you need to give yourself over to the way of transition—to let go when life presents you with a time of ending, to abandon yourself to the neutral zone when that is where you find yourself, to seize the opportunity to make a new beginning when that moment presents itself.
William Bridges, The Way of Transition
83 Audio Tech Tools
/The list below includes links to a variety of audio tools—from podcasting helps to recording phone interviews, from microphones to audio editing software. Find more Tech Tools here and this list in particular here.
Ableton Live
Audio editing program especially for music.
Acast (formally Pippa)
A podcasting platform focused on ease of use. Doesn’t include some of the extras of other sites but low learning curve. Monthly fees from $12-50,
Acoustica
Audio editing program. Basic version is free and includes MP4 and AAC import and export filters.
Alitu
Edit podcasts. Automates things like editing out mistakes and silence, adding and fading music, etc. This also means there is a lack of control over some details of the process. Does not record the audio so your file must be uploaded. Online, no phone app. For those who want to focus on content rather than editing. Free trial then $28 a month.
Amadeus Pro
Multi-track recorder. Can pull audio off of videos. Includes options for cleaning up noisy audio. No mobile option but easy to use. $59.99
Anchor
An app for recording short-form audio snippets and podcasts. Similar to Alitu. Free but Anchor changed its terms of service to claim ownership of any material published on the site.
Audacity*
Audio editing software. Free and open source.
Audio Hijack*
Record video conferences on your Mac with this long-time favorite. It can record from designated applications, or simply record any system sound coming through your computer. Total Recorder does the same thing for Windows.
Audioboom
Podcast hosting service with monetization options. Starts at 9.99 a month.
AudioNote*
Searching for a section of audio corresponding to a note is easy to find. The recording time is insertedat the beginning of each line oftext. $9.99.
Adobe Audition*
Audio editing program. Formerly Cool Edit Pro. $349 but it can be purchased as part of Creative Suite.
Avid Pro Tools*
An industry-standard, studio-grade audio editing tool. $699 for the base version.
BlogTalkRadio
Using phones, you can interview someone and it both streams and records downloadable MP3 of the interview.
Bobler (no longer available)
App for creating shareable audio packages of up to two minutes in length. Ad text, images and geo-tags. Use the app to search for audio uploads from a specific location. Not embeddable (as is audio uploaded on Soundcloud or Audioboo).
Cast
All-in-one podcast solution: Record, edit, and publish. Great interfaces. No free account. Only works in Chrome. Starts at $10 per month.
Cogi*
Mobile app to record meetings, interviews. Records and sincs audio (from news conferences, for instance) with typing so you can find quotes easier. Allows for tags and annotations. Always recording so picks up the 15 secs before you turn on recording. Enables recording calls, highlighting key parts of the conversation, and transcription. Free. $5 for more features.
Deepgram
Transcrption service uses artificial intelligence to transcribe large audio files and allow users to search them using keywords. Free.
DivShare
Post your audio here link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog.
Dragon Anywhere
Voice to text app for iOS. Have to finish dictation before seeing the text. Free.
Ecamm
App that records Skype and Facetime. It lets you convert your calls into MP3 files for podcasting or easily move the video to YouTube and Vimeo. Split the audio tracks after a call for easy editing. $39.95.
Evernote*
Access notes on any computer, tablet or phone. Search function lets you find a note in either text or audio format. Free for iOS and Android. For more options there is Evernote Plus $2.99 a month, while Premium is $5.80 per month.
Final Cut Pro
Video editing program from which you can rip the audio.
FL Studio
Digital audio workstation formally known as FruityLoops. Create multi-track music projects. Can be used for vocal projects as well. Bit of a learning curve. Starting at $99.
GarageBand
Intended for music editing. Only 5 minutes of audio can be edited.
Giant Squid Audio Lab Omnidirectional Mic*
Great quality sound but requires an adapter for it to work with a phone. $49.99.
Google Docs Voice Typing*
This free Google Docs tool under the drop-down menu for 'tools', (the 'voice typing’ icon) will transcribe your dictation or the audio you are playing in real time.
Google Voice
Your own phone number. Can be used to record interviews but sometimes not reliable and they have to call you. Free.
Hindenburg Journalist*
A multitrack audio editor designed for podcasters, audio producers and radio journalists. The design and features are tailored spoken-word productions. Set markers and add notes as you record interviews with uncompressed sound to give you the best audio quality. Drag any audio file into Hindenburg and start editing. There are some great features. However, there are also some limitations (read more here) which makes other options more attractive. Overpriced at $95 and $375 for the pro version.
Horrorli
Background horror noise generator.
Hokusai
iOS audio editing app for interviews, podcasts, or voiceovers. Can import clips from other applications and export directly to Dropbox and iTunes. Free.
iAudition (no longer available)
Record high quality audio using external mic for better quality. Includes easy-to-use single-track audio editor. Export audio file as as MP3 or WAV. Free.
iRig Handheld Mic*
A handheld microphone with a built-in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio and control levels when paired with the iRig Recorder app. $59.99.
iRig Mic Studio*
Professional studio mic that comes with many adaptors including a lightning port plug so it will work with the iPhone 7 (which is it smaller than). Includes gain control, level indicator, and headphone output (with its own level control). Tripod stand included. $179.
iRig Pre*
A preamp which allows you to plug your quality mic into an your iOS device. It takes an XLR input and turns it into a 3.5mm jack. A built in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio when paired with the iRig Recorder app, which also gives audio control levels. Very simple to use. Uses 9-volt battery. $39.99. If you want better sound quality, and control, try the iRig Pro or even better theiRig Pro Duo.
iRig Pro Duo*
User can plug two XLR microphones into an iPhone through the lightning port. You and the person you are interviewing can be mic’ed with separate gains. A headphone port allows you to monitor the audio. Uses two AA batteries so it does not draw power from your iPhone. $199.95
Keep Vid
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog.
Krisp
App that reduces noise on both ends of a phone call on your phone or when recording audio. There’s a free version.
Launchpad
This Novation creation allows users to make and remix music on the go. Simple enough for non-musicians to use. The Launchpad Mini is a smaller and much less expensive version and the Launchpad Pro is more sophisticated. $299.
Libsyn*
Podcast Hosting Services. Starting at $5 a month.
Listen Notes
Podcast search engine.
Logic Pro
Audio editing program, especially music.
Loopback
Rogue Amoeba’s Loopback 2 will rout any audio on your computer from one application to another. For instance, take the output from audio playing in Safari and record it with QuickTime. Or on a podcast, you can play background music or snippets so everyone (or only you) hears it. And many more options. Easy-to-use but only for Macs. The Windows alternative would be VoiceMeeter. Pricey but meant for professionals. $99.
Miro
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog.
MixCraft
Audio editing program, especially music. $75.
Mixlr*
Live internet audio app. Share in social media, text with listeners, embed player on your website. Free.
Mp3DirectCut
Audio editing program.
MP3Gain
Audio editing program designed to normalise MP3 files so that they all have the same loudness in a more effective way than other programs.
MP3 Quailty Modifier
Audio editing program to adjust the quality of your MP3 files so you can save disk space.
Music Editor Free
Free audio editing program. You'll need a converter since it can only save WAV files.
Ocenaudio
Simple audio editor made for users who do not need all the options offered by Audacity free.
oTranscribe
Transcribe recorded interviews.
pCloud Transfer
Like WeTransfer, quickly transfer files up to 5GB. No account required. Free.
Podomatic
Podcasting made easy. Some users have said it rather clunky.
Reaper
Audio Editing program. $225 full commercial license. $60 for discounted license.
RecordiaPro
Record your incoming and outgoing phone conversations on any phone without needing equipment. Works for interviews.
Recup (formally DropVox)
Records audio and sends it directly to your Dropbox account. $1.99.
Rev Voice Recorder*
Quality voice recorder and editor for both iPhone and Android. Includes Dropbox and Evernote integration. Free but voice-to-text human transcriptions in 12-hours for $1 a minute.
Ringr
App to record conversations on your phone for podcasts and interviews. Guests receive an email and just click a link to join the call. Uploads separate files to the cloud, then syncs them to avoid long distance glitches. Unlimited calls, storage. Both iOS and Android apps. $8 basic plan has some limitations. Premium plan includes conference calling, better sound quality, and split tracks.
Rode i-XLR*
A broadcast quality XLR adaptor that lets you connect it to the lightning port of the iPhone. The cable is about 10 feet long in order to reach an interview subject. You can adjust the headphone volume but there is no preamp or gain control. $149.
Shotgun Mic*
Popular RodeVMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone SuperCardiod. Lightweight directional microphone. Adaptor and extension cord needed as well for it to work with a iPhone 7. $99.
SlideShare*
Popular resentation tool owned by LinkedIn. Use documents, PDFs and video to create webinars, audio presentations, for online lectures etc. Solid analytics for free. Watch a slide show about SlideShare here.
Smart Voice Recorder
Android recording app. Good for memos and group meetings. Decent audio quality. Allows users to skip silences, test the mic, determine where recordings are saved, etc. Free.
SoundCite
A project of Northwestern University's Knight Lab, it lets users embed audio into posts. So, for instance if you write "..thick, one-note guitar riffs shuffle and stomp with a heavy beat" you can make it so that when someone clicks on "thick, one-note guitar riffs" they will hear a short example. Watch a video explanation here.
SoundCloud*
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog. Limited space free, more for a fee.
SoundForge
Free. Audio editing program. Especially for music.
SoundGecko (no longer available)
Convert text story into an MP3 audio file.
SoundSlides (no longer available)
Creates audio slideshows. Basic $40, Plus $70. There's a free version but it will display "demo" at the beginning. resizes your images for you, can reorder them, etc. but doesn't edit photos.
Steller*
Create photo and video stories on an iPhone with an emphasis on mobile design. Create collections and share on social networks. Free. Sample.
Shure Mic for iOS*
Shure MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone for iOS. Stereo and mono options. Small and portable, it plugs directly into the iPhone’s Lightning Port. A 90-degree hinge allows you to adjust it to different angles to capture the best sound. Comes with an app that controls the gain, EQ, and stereo width. $129.
TapeACall*
Record cell phone calls and export the audio for editing, to email or upload to Google Drive or Dropbox. IoS and Android. Dial the TapeACall line, then dial the person you want to talk to, and merge the two calls into a conference. The recording is saved on the app. $24.99 a year. Watch a video here.
TalkShoe
For call-in podcasts. Samples.
Temi*
Speech to text transcription in 5 minutes Advanced speech recognition software. 10 cents a minute.
TinyVox (no longer available)
Allows users to record, store, listen and share MP3 audio files in social media. Can be used to record interviews as well.
TLDR
A scientific search engine that generates one-sentence summaries of research papers.
Total Recorder
Record video conferences on your PC with this long-time favorite. It can record from designated applications, or simply record any system sound coming through your computer. Audio Hijack does the same thing for Mac.
Transom*
All things audio. A performance space, editorial session, an audition stage, a library, and a hangout. How to guides for podcast beginners.
TwistedWave
Audio editing program (Mac only). $80.
VoiceBase*
Transcribes audio to text.
VoiceMeeter
Rout any audio on your Windows computer from one application to another. The Macs alterntive is Loopback.
VideoMic ME*
Compact and lightweight, directional microphone for smartphones. Adaptor and extension cord needed.
Voice Record Pro*
Professional voice recorder. Record audio from events, voice memos and on-site sounds at unlimited length, add markers, share or upload. Will transcribe the audio into text if there’s little background noise. iOS. Free though the paid version ($6.99) has no ads. An explanation for journalists here.
WavePad
Free audio editing program.
WaveShop
Free audio editing program. Bit-perfect, minimizing the loss of quality by altering files only when absolutely necessary.
Wavosaur
Free Audio editing program.
WeTransfer*
A file transfer service, Dropbox has more options for the price. WeTransfer is free for individual users, but $12 for companies needing more.
Zamzar
Video and audio file converter.
Zencastr
For recording podcasts. The interviewee doesn’t need to download and install an app, they can just click on a link, and run it in a browser. No editing, hosting, and publishing, however. Limited free version or $20 a month for the pro version.
Zoom iQ7 Mic*
This compact condenser mic is portable. Can be set to record a source from the front with or without the surrounding ambiance from the sides. $99.
Good Samaritan jumps into water from bridge to save toddler
/#GOODNEWS
A man who is choosing to remain anonymous jumped into the water after a multi-vehicle crash on a bridge in Ocean City, Maryland, in order to save a child who fell out of a car. Read the story here.
Hold me
/Don’t hold me accountable… hold me close. -Bob Goff
Articles of interest about journalism, writing, conspiracy theories & more - May 3
/***COVID-19
Reaching ‘Herd Immunity’ Is Unlikely in the U.S., Experts Now ($)
Vaccines could be approved for children by summer
The Covid-19 Pandemic Ends With Exponential Decay ($)
How Pfizer manufactures its COVID-19 vaccine (data visualization)
U.S. May Have Hit The Mark With Vaccinations To Beat Back COVID-19
CDC says it is safe for vaccinated people to unmask outdoors
What ‘Taking the Pandemic Seriously’ Means Now (opinion)
***JOURNALISM
‘1619 Project’ writer to join UNC journalism school faculty
Reporter resigns over story that claimed migrant kids were being given VP's books ($)
Why the New York Times's Opinion Redesign Drops 'Op-Ed' ($)
How do audiences decide what news to trust? Fairness and accuracy aren’t the only things that matter
News deserts and weak ethics laws allow corruption to run rampant in SC
Science journalism grows up (opinion)
Why do people still get print newspapers? Well, partly to start up the grill (seriously)
***THE BUSINESS OF JOURNALISM
Do newsrooms have to be in … newsrooms?
A Gannett union study shows major gender and racial pay gaps in 14 of its newsrooms
Major media is taking millions from Facebook — and keeping the details secret
How local TV stations plan to remain relevant as viewers shift to streaming
Wave of New Newspapers Sue Google and Facebook
***SUBSTACK
What Substack is really doing to the media
Substack cofounders discuss $1 million local news plan
***FREE SPEECH
Cheerleader's case could shape workplace social media policies
Wave Of 'Anti-Protest' Bills Could Threaten First Amendment
***PRODUCING MEDIA
A Complete Guide: How To Save on Professional Video Production Costs
Apple will let podcasters sell subscriptions and keep a cut for itself
***WRITING & READING
This Is How Reading Rewires Your Brain, According to Neuroscience
Where should you buy books? ($)
Is It OK When Passive Voice Is Used?
When the Plagiarist Sends the DMCA Notice
A Joy Of Reading, Sparked By a Special Librarian
11 books to pull you out of a reading rut
Be careful about what you give away in your excitement about signing a contract for a book ($)
***COVID CONSPIRACIES
Study: COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs increased among users of conservative and social media
How conspiracy theories about COVID-19 prey on Latinos (opinion) ($)
***SCIENCE CONSPIRACIES
What’s the secret science of conspiracy theories?
Misinformation in and about science
***FAKES, FRAUDS & SCAMS
The slow, painful death of Trump allies’ voting-machine conspiracy theories
Scam sends threatening texts about drug cartels
How QAnon Conspiracy Theorists Are Winning Local Elections
Study lacks evidence on masks, isn’t linked to Stanford
***SOCIAL MEDIA
Parler's New iPhone App Will Block Posts That Apple Prohibits
Facebook announces Clubhouse clone, podcast features, Spotify integration, and more
***PRIVACY & SECURITY
Experian exposes credit scores through unprotected API
Internet industry braces for new privacy rules
Stop using your work laptop or phone for personal stuff, because I know you are
D.C. Police Department Victim Of Apparent Ransomware Attack
***LITERATURE
The science behind how literature improves our lives
‘A Jane Austen Museum Wants to Discuss Slavery. Will Her Fans Listen?’
***POETRY
How Poetry Has Helped To Guide People During The Pandemic
For National Poetry Month, five poets reflect on the seasons ($)
Searching for Happiness
/Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue… as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.
Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
The difference between God and us
/The difference between God and us is that he never thinks that he’s us.
Data Science articles from April 2021
/Reverse engineering the Hamiltonian model to shed light on quantum systems
Deepfake satellite imagery poses a not-so-distant threat, warn geographers
The challenges of applied machine learning
Latest neural nets solve world’s hardest equations faster than ever before
Apache Software Foundation retires 13 Hadoop-related projects including Sentry, Tajo and Falcon
Overhyping artificial intelligence: For AI to succeed, it first must be able to fail
C at the top (C++ not far behind)—& Fortran rises from the dead
Researchers demonstrate first human use of high-bandwidth wireless brain-computer interface
Neural network models for combined classification and regression
The not-so-secret value of sharing commercial geospatial and open-source information
Machine-Learning Pioneer Michael I. Jordan: Stop Calling Everything AI
a Call for Help
/Asking for help is smart. It's also the answer to fatigue and the "I'm indispensable" image. But something keeps us from this wise course of action, and that something is pride. Plain, stubborn unwillingness to admit need. The result, painful though it is to admit, is a lifestyle of impatience. We become easily irritated- often angry. We work long hours. Take less time off. Forget how to laugh. Cancel vacations. And all the while the specter of discouragement looms across our horizon like a dark storm front,- threatening to choke out any remaining sunshine.
Say, my friend, it's time to declare it. You are not the Messiah of the twentieth century! There is no way you can keep pushing your life at that pace and expect to stay effective. Analyze yourself any way you please, you are H-U-M-A-M... nothing more. So? So slow down. So give yourself a break. So stop trying to cover all the bases and sell popcorn in the stands at the same time. So relax for a change!
Charles Swindoll, Encourage Me
Former Alabama Football Player returns to homeless shelter where he spent time for NFL draft party
/#GOODNEWS
Steelers Draft Pick Najee Harris Hosts Draft Party at Homeless Shelter Where He Used to Live.
"There was a time I needed a helping hand. They gave us an opportunity to get back on our feet. So it is my job to give back."
Whatever team drafts Alabama's Najee Harris is getting a special person. Today he threw a draft party for kids at the homeless shelter where he lived for several years growing up. He told me it was emotional the first time he went back to visit. @kron4news #NFLDraft #RollTide pic.twitter.com/JadBIFh4pd
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) April 30, 2021
Read the story here.
Your Comfortable Web
/Many young people have stopped learning in the religious or spiritual dimensions of their lives long before they graduate from college. Some settle into rigid and unchanging political and economic views by the time they are twenty-five or thirty. By their mid-thirties most will have stopped acquiring new skills or new attitudes in any central aspect of their lives.
As we mature we progressively narrow the scope and variety of our lives. Of all the interests we might pursue, we settle on a few. Of all the people with whom we might associate, we select a small number. We become caught in a web of fixed relationships. We develop set ways of doing things. As the years go by we view our familiar surrounding with less and less freshness of perception. We no longer look with a wakeful, perceiving eye at the faces of people we see every day, nor at any other features of our everyday world.
That is why travel is a vivid experience for most of us. At home we have lost the capacity to see what is before us. Travel shakes us out of our apathy, and we regain an attentiveness that heightens every experience. The exhilaration of travel has many sources, but surely one of them is that we recapture in some measure the unspoiled awareness of children.
It is not unusual to find that the major changes in life - marriage, a move to a new city, a new job, or a national emergency - reveal to us quite suddenly how much we have been imprisoned by the comfortable web we had woven around ourselves. Unlike the jailbird, we don't know that we have been imprisoned until after we have broken out.
John Gardner, Self-Renewal