TWEAKS AND UPDATES

Google Blog: Learn to build no-code apps quickly to simplify your work. “With AppSheet from Google Cloud, anyone can build custom applications without having to write code. Whether you’re part of a large organization seeking digital transformation or a small team in need of creative solutions to organize events during a pandemic, there’s no limit to what you can create.”

BBC: Uganda election: Internet restored but social media blocked. “Ugandans are celebrating the resumption of internet services after a shutdown was imposed ahead of last week’s election. However, social media platforms remain blocked and are only accessible using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).”

USEFUL STUFF

The Verge: How to set up two-factor authentication on your online accounts. “While 2FA — via text, email, or an authenticator app — does not completely cloak you from potential hackers, it is an important step in preventing your account from being accessed by unauthorized users. Here’s how to enable 2FA on your accounts across the web.”

Lifehacker: How to Take a Digital Break. “We’re entering the ‘doomscrolling and snark’ portion of our collective response, which is fine if it helps you cope; but if you’re like me, though, you get frustrated or anxious when we continue to spin our gears. To counteract this, consider scheduling a digital break. And you have plenty of options, each with varying degrees of severity.”

MakeTechEasier: 4 of the Best Productivity Apps for iOS . “This year is very challenging for many people due to the pandemic, but setting goals when setbacks occur can be a great way of traveling the road to recovery. Also, for many people who by and large continue living a relatively normal life, the change in lifestyle due to social distancing and other restrictions globally means it’s an ideal time to define a new goal or start a new hobby – but you’ll need the right toolkit. Here are some of the best productivity apps for iOS.” If you’re overwhelmed and can’t even think about productivity, you have my permission to cuss right out loud at this article.

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

CNBC: GitHub head of HR resigns after investigation into firing of Jewish employee over Capitol riot comments. “Microsoft-owned GitHub, the code sharing site for software developers, said on Sunday that the company’s head of human resources resigned after an investigation into the company’s dismissal of a Jewish employee found ‘significant errors of judgment and procedure.'”

SECURITY & LEGAL

MakeUseOf: How to Protect Yourself From Fraudulent Stores on Shopify. “A recent Fakespot report found roughly 20 percent of stores on Shopify are ‘related to fraudulent practices.’ This analysis found further startling information: of the nearly 26,000 stores found to be fraudulent, 39 percent percent had counterfeit issues, brand infringements, or a poor reputation; 28 percent had privacy leaks and suspiciously cheap listings; and 17 percent had negative reports from consumers. Here are some of the ways these fraudulent Shopify stores try to scam you.”

Politico: Census Bureau says Trump’s push to exclude undocumented is dead. “Outgoing President Donald Trump’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census totals used to apportion congressional seats is officially dead. The Census Bureau announced Saturday that data on apportionment — and a related calculation of the number of undocumented immigrants Trump has specifically requested — would not be released until after President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.”

RESEARCH & OPINION

Phys .org: New mangrove forest mapping tool puts conservation in reach of coastal communities. “Approximately 35 percent of global mangrove cover was lost in the 1980s and ’90s. While the rate of loss slowed in the past two decades—to an estimated four percent between 1996 and 2016—many regions remain hotspots for mangrove loss, including Myanmar. My colleagues and I use satellite imagery and field measurements to study mangrove ecosystems in several countries. We’ve developed an accessible and intuitive tool that provides coastal managers with the accurate, reliable, up-to-date and locally relevant information they need for effective community-based conservation of these critical blue (marine) forests.”

FedTech: Air Force, Google Strike Agreement to Modernize Flight Training. “The Air Force has invested in virtual reality platforms in recent years to train pilots, and now is taking another leap forward in how it uses technology to prepare airmen to fly in actual, multimillion-dollar aircraft. In December, the Air Force, along with the Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit, announced an agreement with Google Cloud to modernize aspects of flight training via the use of cloud-based tools.” Good evening, Internet…

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