NEW RESOURCES

Now available: a database of unused lab equipment in Atlantic Canada (that is, the four provinces on the Atlantic coast of Canada, excepting Quebec.) “Science Atlantic, a non-profit organization based in Halifax, has created an online open-access database for research facilities and specialized equipment across the provinces. The Atlantic Facilities and Research Equipment Database (AFRED) wants to connect people in need of equipment with those who have it, said program manager Patty King.”

TWEAKS AND UPDATES

There’s a bit of shuffling going on at SoundCloud. “Eric Wahlforss, who co-founded the audio streaming startup with Alexander Ljung, is stepping away from the role of CTO and taking a new position as chief product officer. Meanwhile, SoundCloud has hired a new CTO, Artem Fishman, who most recently had been a vice president of engineering at Yahoo, overseeing mobile engineering. Both will be based out of SoundCloud’s offices in Berlin.”

In addition to Twitter, you’ll also be able to watch the Presidential inauguration live on YouTube. “You’ll also be able to feel what it’s like to be in the center of the action – look out for special coverage from some of the channels above in 360 degrees and amazing 4K quality.”

USEFUL STUFF

Looks like a great list. From Museum Hack: Eleven Must-Listen Museum Podcasts. “Podcasts: perfect for a long commute, road trip, or keeping you company while at work. They’re also one of our favorite ways to discover new museum content and ideas. Here are 11 podcasts (or podcast episodes) that we think are must-listens for any museum lover.”

Search Engine Journal: How to Use Pinterest to Supercharge Your Social Media Presence. “Building your brand on social media will also benefit your SEO by driving qualified traffic to your site. Naturally, a lot of content marketers would fixate on big networks like Facebook and Twitter. But even though these social media giants have over 2 billion active users combined, there are smaller networks that can easily outperform them in terms of driving engagement. Cue in Pinterest.”

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) has an interesting Webinar coming up on February 2nd: Beyond Google – Another Look at Finding Government Information. It’s free as far as I can tell.

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

TechCrunch: Facebook is censoring posts in Thailand that the government has deemed unsuitable. “For millions of people, Facebook is the internet — but many of those who rely on the social network for news and views may not be aware that Facebook isn’t immune to internet censorship itself. That’s become apparent in Thailand, where Facebook is blocking content from a number of users following an apparent request from the government.”

SECURITY/LEGAL ISSUES

You have to be careful everywhere online, even on Amazon. From Naked Security: Beware phishing scams in Amazon listings. “Be careful what you click: There’s a new phishing scam hitting Amazon listings that look like legitimate deals, offering great prices on ‘used – like new’ electronics. If you click these links on Amazon, you’ll be redirected to a very convincing Amazon-looking payment site, where the phishy merchant will grab your money and run.”

Government Technology: Should Social Media Be Banned in Prison? “Some think that social media is a luxury that should not be provided to prisoners for fear of organizing more crime, but others argue that social media is necessary for inmates to return to the public after serving their sentence.”

The latest hack incident victim is Cellebrite. “The breach is the latest chapter in a growing trend of hackers taking matters into their own hands, and stealing information from companies that specialize in surveillance or hacking technologies. Cellebrite is an Israeli company whose main product, a typically laptop-sized device called the Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED), can rip data from thousands of different models of mobile phones. That data can include SMS messages, emails, call logs, and much more, as long as the UFED user is in physical possession of the phone.”

RESEARCH AND OPINION

Um, not me! From NBC News: It’s Not Just You: Why So Many People Lose or Break Their Phone Just as a New One Comes Out. “It might seem strange that smartphone owners would get clumsier right as a new model hits the market, but that’s exactly what happens, according to a forthcoming article in the Journal of Marketing Research. Data on lost iPhones shows that owners are less likely to try and track down their missing devices when a newer version is available, the paper found.”

OTHER STUFF I THINK IS COOL

Here’s a little inspiration for you, from Mashable: Single mom uses YouTube tutorials to build a house from scratch. NBD. “Your dream home is apparently only a year’s worth of physical labor, cost of supplies, and a work crew of children away— if you want it badly enough. In 2008, single mother of four Cara Brookins felt trapped: she was simultaneously living with a violent and abusive husband and being stalked by a mentally ill ex. She knew that even if she left, she couldn’t afford to buy a house big enough for her family.” Good morning, Internet…

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