NEW RESOURCES

Insider: 1,133 people who work for the queen. "Our searchable database of 1,133 staff, volunteer, and ceremonial roles in the royal household shows our best estimate of the entirety of the firm, from the tight circle of Queen Elizabeth II's closest aides to hundreds of daily staff. (Insider did not include staff for other working royals, including Prince Charles and the Cambridges, or staff paid out of the Queen's private wealth, in the database.)"

The Verge: Wikitrivia is a web game that challenges your knowledge of historical dates. "If you're a history buff, or are looking for a new web game to play, Wikitrivia may be worth your time. The game's creator, Tom Watson, describes it on his site as 'Wikidata as a trivia card game,' and the tweet that brought it to our attention called it an 'online clone of the card game Timeline.'"

TWEAKS AND UPDATES

Reuters: Google bumps up vacation days and parental leaves. "Google has long been known as a global trailblazer in workplace benefits. But unlike many companies in Silicon Valley, it does not offer unlimited paid time off. Employees also have grown frustrated during the pandemic about long work hours, without being able to enjoy free meals and other Google office perks. Employees will now receive a minimum of 20 paid vacation days annually, up from 15 days." I couldn't infer from the article if this includes contract workers or only people directly employed by Google.

Liam O'Dell: Twitter finally explains its new verification categories – a month after I asked about them . "The latest update, reported by this website in late December, sees the activist category split into two separate categories: 'activists and organisers' and 'content creators and other influential individuals'. Specific information for freelance journalists has also been added under the 'news organisation or individual' category. However, for both content creators and activists in the UK and US, the controversial 100,000 follower target remains."

USEFUL STUFF

KnowTechie: Stuck on a specific Wordle? These tools will help. "Everyone in the world gets the same Wordle, and you can only try solving it once. Once the next day dawns, a new Wordle appears, ready for a new challenger. If you are having a hard time with a puzzle, or simply want to play more Wordle each day, we found six free tools that will help you on your way to becoming a Wordle master."

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

WPDE: Google to create one-of-a-kind cable connecting Myrtle Beach to South America. "Google officials have chosen the Grand Strand as their US location for a one-of-a-kind cable. It will run from Myrtle Beach State Park and will connect to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay."

SECURITY & LEGAL

The Art Newspaper: New Twitter safety rules banning non-consensual imagery branded 'a declaration of war against photojournalists' . "Members of the street photography community have reacted with concern at new rules published by Twitter that aim to stop malicious users from doxxing victims by declaring images will now only be publishable with the subject's consent."

AFP: India to launch state-backed 'digital rupee', tax crypto. "India will introduce a state-backed 'digital rupee' and impose a 30 percent tax on profits from virtual currencies, the government announced Tuesday while unveiling the next financial year's budget."

ProPublica: Despite Decades of Hacking Attacks, Companies Leave Vast Amounts of Sensitive Data Unprotected. "A surge in identity theft during the pandemic underscores how easy it has become to obtain people's private data. As hackers are all too happy to explain, many of them are cashing in on it."

RESEARCH & OPINION

StateTech Magazine: GIS in State and Local Government: How Geographic Information Systems Aid Agencies. "A recent report from the National States Geographic Information Council revealed that states are making progress on developing their geospatial data capabilities, even though the creation of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure to share geospatial data between states is still out of reach." Good afternoon, Internet...

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