NEW RESOURCES

Premium Times (Nigeria): Josplay launches database for African music. “The library is launching on 1st September, with data on over 3,000 artists across Africa, and over 10 million data points on recorded musical works.”

Illinois State University: Musselman Family Photographs now available through Milner Library’s digital collections. “In a recent addition to Milner Library’s digital repository of historical circus materials, a singular collection of photographs and ephemera relating to the Musselman family and their long-running trapeze act has been scanned and made available online for public research. The collection includes photos of the family both on and off the trapeze, offering an intimate glimpse into the life of a troupe that was different from most.”

EVENTS

Tubefilter: More than 100 VTubers are taking over Twitch for a week-long celebration of virtual streamers. “VTubers are so hot right now, and Twitch is taking a week to celebrate that ascendant community. Between August 29 and September 2, the streaming platform is hosting a ‘VTuber takeover,’ which will bring together more than 100 virtual creators for workshops, spotlights, and tournaments.” I was not clear on VTuber so I looked it up. VirtualHumans.org had both an explanation and a ton of examples.

TWEAKS AND UPDATES

WordPress: WordPress 6.0.2 Security and Maintenance Release. “WordPress 6.0.2 is now available! This security and maintenance release features 12 bug fixes on Core, 5 bug fixes for the Block Editor, and 3 security fixes. Because this is a security release, it is recommended that you update your sites immediately. All versions since WordPress 3.7 have also been updated.”

Engadget: Elon Musk has a backup plan to kill his Twitter takeover. “Elon Musk has filed an updated notice to kill his $44 billion Twitter acquisition by citing whistleblower Peiter Zatko, Twitter’s former head of security.”

AROUND THE INTERNET WORLD

The Verge: Snap plans to lay off 20 percent of employees. “Snap is planning to lay off approximately 20 percent of its more than 6,400 employees, according to people familiar with the matter. The layoffs, which Snap has been planning for the past several weeks, will begin on Wednesday and hit some departments harder than others, the people said.”

University of Texas at San Antonio: UTSA Libraries to lead new federal grant to preserve historical ITC collections. “UTSA has been awarded a two-year, $240,442 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for UTSA Libraries to digitize and catalog audiovisual items that were produced by the Institute of Texan Cultures for classroom and museum instruction, entertainment, and more, over a nearly 50-year span.”

SECURITY & LEGAL

CyberScoop: Most top mobile carriers retain geolocation data for two years on average, FCC findings show. “Ten of the top 15 mobile carriers collect geolocation data and provide no way for consumers to opt-out, according to information from the telecom companies the Federal Communications Commission published Thursday.”

Washington Post: U.S. to clear another $1.5B in debt for Westwood College students. “The Education Department said Tuesday it will grant full, automatic cancellation of $1.5 billion in education debt held by former students of the defunct for-profit chain Westwood College.”

CNBC: My friend was able to unlock my new Google phone with his fingerprint. “The other night I was showing my new Google Pixel 6a smartphone to my friend Pavlo. The phone was locked when I handed it to him. Then, suddenly, he was staring at my home screen. He had placed his finger on the part of the display where the phone scans for fingerprints, and the phone unlocked.”

RESEARCH & OPINION

Bremen University: Making Better Use of Smartwatches and Smartglasses at Work . “Wearables are digital assistance systems worn on the body during work. They provide assistance to companies in assembly or repair, and collect a large amount of sensitive, personal data. There are numerous promising applications for this data, including process optimization or error prevention. However, this potential has yet to be fully realized.”

Yale University: Stablecoins Survived ‘Crypto Winter,’ But That Doesn’t Make Them Safe. “Cryptocurrencies such as Tether, which is pegged to the dollar, have held on as others crashed. But according to new research by Yale SOM’s Gary Gorton, these ‘stablecoins’ still pose major risks to the global financial system.” Good morning, Internet…

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