Technology • Innovation • Publishing — Issue #208
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Important Items
Louisiana Delays Critical Flood Response Funds to New Orleans Over Abortion Politics
Louisiana’s attorney general just delayed a $39 million line of credit for the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board — which the city needs for its flood response — because the city won’t enforce the state’s abortion ban.
Public schools receive ‘In God We Trust’ poster donations as new Texas law requires their display — www.cnn.com
Texas school districts have begun receiving donated posters and framed copies of the national motto, “In God We Trust,” that they will now be required to display in accordance with a new state law.
Innovation
MIT Researchers Create Artificial Synapses 10,000x Faster Than Biological Ones
singularityhub.com
By building chips whose components act more like natural neurons and synapses, we might be able to approach the efficiency of the human brain.
How The New York Times Uses Machine Learning To Make Its Paywall Smarter
When The New York Times paywall launched , its meter count was the same for all users. Since then, The Times has transformed into a data-driven digital company, and its paywall is now successfully using a causal machine learning model called the Dynamic Meter to set personalized meter limits, making for a smarter paywall. #ML
Ethereum’s ‘Merge’ Is a Big Deal for Crypto — and the Planet
One of the most influential cryptocurrency projects is set to finally ditch proof-of-work mining. #blockchain
Technology
Apple warns of security flaw for iPhones, iPads and Macs
Apple disclosed serious security vulnerabilities for iPhones, iPads and Macs that could potentially allow attackers to take complete control of these devices. Apple released two security reports about the issue, although they didn’t receive wide attention outside of tech publications.
TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research
www.nytimes.com
In the web browser used within the TikTok app, supplementary code lets the company track every character typed by users. The company said the capability was for troubleshooting.
Amazon is internally testing a TikTok-like feed in its app — techcrunch.com
Amazon is testing a (TikTok-like) vertical photo and video feed in its app among staff.
Inside Facebook’s encryption conundrum
www.platformer.news
The company is moving quickly to make Messenger more secure — but selling it to average users could prove to be a challenge
Meta Didn’t Bother to Translate Horizon Worlds Into Spanish When It Launched the Game in Spain
When asked about the lack of Spanish and bad Spanish in Horizon Worlds, Meta clarified that it was launching the game in an “English-only capacity” first. #Meta #gaming
Microsoft open sources its 3D emoji to let creators remix and customize them — www.theverge.com
Microsoft is open sourcing more than 1,500 of its emoji designs. Creators will be able to remix the emoji and customize them for their own content.
Publishing & Media
What Is Going On With Barnes & Noble?
bookriot.com
Writers sounded the alarm after learning Barnes & Noble stores would only be stocking hardcovers with proven sales records. Here’s more on what this means.
Windows, Mirrors and Glasses: Grace Lin on Seeing the World Through Diverse Books — www.publishersweekly.com
Grace Lin is the author-illustrator of numerous award-winning books for young readers; these remarks, slightly adapted, were given during the Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Literature on June 23 in Washington, D.C.
Big Tech Can Help the Book Biz with Accessibility
Silicon Valley is doing its part to improve accessibility for all, and the book business can benefit. #accessibility
One World Presents #Read&Vote — global.penguinrandomhouse.com
Keller ISD is pulling copies of the Bible and an Anne Frank graphic novel from shelves following a months-long audit of challenged books within the district
Keller ISD has opted to remove all challenged books from its schools, seemingly voiding the results of a long and meticulous review undertaken by staff and parents.
Schools Block Donated Dictionaries Amid Ron DeSantis’ Book Crackdown
When they came for the librarians: My profession is under attack — what happens now?
www.salon.com
People in my profession are used to mockery and low salaries. We didn’t expect constant insults and real danger
Educational Gag Order Proposals Spike by 250% in 2022
State legislative proposals to restrict the freedom to learn and teach have increased by 250% in 2022 compared to last year, according to a report released today by PEN America, the free expression and literary organization. These educational gag orders are now law in 19 different states where 122 million Americans reside, underscoring the rapidly escalating threats to students’ First Amendment rights. #StudentsRights #EdScare
‘State-sponsored purging of ideas’: Students are losing access to books
www.washingtonpost.com
Measures across the country aim to restrict what children can read.
Wanted-student-plaintiffs-to-fight-back-in-court-against-districts-removing-books — www.slj.com
HT @sljournal The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression is ready to go to court against school boards and districts taking books off the shelves, but they need high schoolers to lead the way.
Cosmopolitan has launched a travel booking service
The launch of its new travel booking service is its latest and most ambitious foray into the sector. #BrandExtensions
Vice World News To Launch Channel On Twitch
Vice World News will launch a news channel on the streaming platform Twitch, including live shows twice a week.
“Making sure that we are reaching new audiences”: How publishers are innovating with audio
Audio is evolving rapidly. Going beyond podcasts, publishers are experimenting with audio articles, live/social audio, flash briefings, and so on.
The Podcasting Problem Hiding in Plain Sight: Churn
HT @michellemanafy Survey after survey tell us that people continue to discover podcasting every year. But is podcasting growth really a case of three steps forward, two steps back?
Walmart Reaches Video-Streaming Deal to Offer Paramount+ to Members
Walmart to make ad-supported Paramount+ streaming service available as a perk for their membership program’s subscribers
New network aims to boost media literacy and solutions journalism
HT @michellemanafy #journalism
Resources & Opportunities
Latinx Kidlit Book Festival
www.latinxkidlitbookfestival.com
The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival is a virtual celebration of Latinx KidLit authors, illustrators, and books for all students, educators and book lovers everywhere, created by Las Musas.
Codex Writers’ Group FREE virtual mentoring program
RT @effies ✨Attention Fledgling BIPOC Writers! Codex Writers’ Group is hosting a FREE virtual mentoring program from Sep 15 to Dec 15. If you’re interested in having a writing mentor for speculative fiction, email codexmentoring@gmail.com Everyone else: please help spread the word!
Emergency Fund for Diverse Creatives and Educators
RT @diversebooks Applications for the Emergency Fund are open! Diverse creatives, publishing professionals (including freelancers and interns), and now also K-12 educators can apply for grants
Grants For Creators
From @thethoughtcard: Funding For Astrologers, Freelancers, Foodies, Personal Finance Creators, Community-Led Educators, and More. 32 awards ranging from $250 to $500,000 with deadlines through September 1st. Subscribe to get funding opportunities relevant to bloggers, podcasters, writers, authors, influencers, and YouTubers every other Monday.
Debut Author Boot Camp
Scholarships available — click here.
Bystander Intervention: How To Be An Ally When You Witness Online Abuse — pen.org
@PENAmerica and @righttobeorg are leading a free virtual #onlineabuse Bystander Intervention training on 8/23 at 3 pm ET. #FightOnlineAbuseNow
NYC: Don’t forget to vote Tues. 8/23 in the 2nd primary — www.nycvotes.org
Meet the candidates, how to cast your ballot, and why your vote matters.
