Privacy and security issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, health/medical, to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways our privacy and security is diminished, often without our situational awareness.
Chris Meadows explains the rapid descent of the only remaining national bookstore chain and the impending impact on the bookselling landscape, including on the stores’ employees and customers.
Chris Meadows calls our attention to a Yale Law Journal by Lina M. Khan published in January 2017 titled Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox. The author presents an argument in favor of modifying antitrust law in light of the realm of competition created by a burgeoning, powerful and often narrow group of players in specific e-commerce marketplaces. For librarians, researchers, professors and student among others, the issue of pricing and competition in the ebook market is particularly salient.
Prof. Annemarie Bridy comments on a dynamic new area of online copyright and licensing as she focuses on how Netflix is transitioning from an operating model that is clearly covered by an exception to copyright law to one that (very probably) requires permission for every content delivery.
Marcus P. Zillman’s guide, great for holiday and year round shopping, comprises a comprehensive listing of shoppingbot and online shopping resources and sites on the Internet. Comparison shopping for books, electronics, gadgets, clothing, green products, hotels? Looking for coupons, discounts, vouchers or last minute deals? Do you want to support local, regional or national products and services? Marcus’ wide ranging listing highlights reliable, efficient sites and services to compare and contrast your shopping choices, and to make the experience more cost effective and satisfying, now and year round.
Nicole L. Black highlights how our net activities are carefully monitored and meticulously tracked by some of the biggest players, including Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook. Our individual online footprints, from the Web sites we visit, the items we purchase, the people with whom we communicate, to the locations where we access the Internet, are extremely valuable commodities that are increasingly sought after.
Web marketing expert Julia Wotipka reviews a new book on creative, productive and engaging ways to leverage all aspects of web publishing, authored by the co-founder of one of the five most visited blogs on the Web, Boing Boing.
During Kathy Biehl’s foray to the Summer Fancy Food Show this summer in New York City she was introduced to a showcase of unusual new products and trends in specialty foods. The natural and organic foods pavilion yielded interesting finds about which she also shares details.
Kathy Biehl touts the newest offerings from Newman’s Own Organics, recommends a eclectic collection of essays on enjoying wine, and reminds us about the second annual New York City Canine Cruise. One of last year’s participants, Kathy’s nephdog, won the Milkbone “Make You and Your Dog Famous” Contest.
Kathy Biehl highlights niche, premium chocolates which boast not only unique flavors but additional medicinal herbal properties.