Life Online – TheMinotVoice.com

West Fargo approves use of AI to gather economic data

by: MinotVoice | December 24, 2024

West Fargo is turning to artificial intelligence to sharpen its economic strategy, tapping into a resource that’s becoming a staple in cities nationwide. By adopting Placer.ai’s software, the city aims to demystify foot traffic patterns and assess whether economic incentives make sense for fostering growth. With this technology, the city can measure the impact of

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

A nation exhausted: The neuroscience of why Americans are tuning out politics

By: Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation | December 20, 2024

“I am definitely not following the news anymore,” one patient told me when I asked about her political news consumption in the weeks before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. This conversation happened around the time I talked with a local TV channel about why we saw I am a psychiatrist who studies and treats fear

Read & Share sourced from: The Conversation

“Brain Rot” Will Make You “Plain Spoken”

by: MinotVoice | December 16, 2024

Ever heard someone say you’ve got that “plain spoken” charm? It’s a nod to your knack for honesty and clarity. This year, though, it’s not just Nebraskans (or North Dakotans) getting straightforward. Oxford University Press’s 2024 Word of the Year, “brain rot,” calls out a modern menace: information overload leading to mental mush, especially from

Read & Share sourced from: Nebraska Examiner

Trailer: There’s Something in the Barn

by: MinotVoice | December 16, 2024

Ready for a twist on traditional yuletide tales? “There’s Something in the Barn” tangles the familiar with the farcical—a holiday horror comedy where Norwegian nisse elves take center stage. It’s all about outrageous laughs and unexpected chills, peppered with comedic gems like a lutefisk dinner gone hilariously wrong. This film flips quaint customs on their

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Iowa City school board approves new cellphone policy

by: MinotVoice | December 12, 2024

When it comes to classroom distractions, cellphones often top the list. In response, the Iowa City school board made a decisive move: phones, earbuds, and headphones must be out of sight during class time starting in 2025. This policy aims to create a focused learning environment, with phones tucked away in bags or lockers. While

Read & Share sourced from: Cedar Rapids Gazette

Stay informed, not overwhelmed

by: MinotVoice | December 9, 2024

In today’s fast-paced world, the news seems to echo our deepest fears, and it’s no surprise that many have chosen to step back. Yet, how do you keep informed without losing your sanity? If worrying headlines and political antics leave you feeling edgy, it’s crucial to find balance. Here are some strategies to manage news

Read & Share sourced from: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Dakota Gardener: The origins of mistletoe kisses

By: Jane Doe, NDSU Extension Service | December 6, 2024

Mistletoe, often romanticized in Christmas lore, is actually a parasitic plant that relies on trees for sustenance. Its name derives from Anglo-Saxon words meaning “dung-on-a-twig,” highlighting its propagation via bird droppings. Mythology and tradition, not biology, link mistletoe to love. Norse myths and ancient cultures like the Greeks and Druids associated it with fertility and

Read & Share sourced from: The Daily Farmer

Influencers Suing Influencers for Stealing Personas

by: MinotVoice | December 3, 2024

Twenty years ago, our headline on this article wouldn’t even make sense. To many, it still won’t today. But in the world of online influence, following too closely could become a problem. We rarely publish “speculative” or “could happen” news, but this is an interesting case that could reshape ideas of copyright and intellectual property.

Read & Share sourced from: Fast Company

Less than half of local IT leaders not ready for AI, survey says

by: MinotVoice | December 3, 2024

A theme of today’s news seems to be the fast-moving digital world around us. And the rate it which AI is shaping it is accelerating. Are our local governments and institutions ready for what’s not just on the horizon, but already here? Not if you ask those who are in charge of information technology for

Read & Share sourced from: Route Fifty

Rethinking Digital Citizenship

by: MinotVoice | December 3, 2024

The world has been changing pretty fast. It’s only going to get faster. And more and more, our worlds are digital. It invites the question: are the curriculums that educate our kids built from the past or for the future? And is it about more than curriculums to begin with? If you’re curious about how

Read & Share sourced from: EdSurge

Retail sector creating big winners and big losers

by: Josh Wolsky | May 22, 2019

With news yesterday of Dressbarn’s closing we have yet another example of how much the retail sector is changing. But not all retailers are struggling; those that are adapting to new shopping practices are thriving. One example is Target as illustrated in this article from the Star Tribune. And these types of stories invite the

Read & Share sourced from: Star Tribune

Everyone hates passwords. Good news: They’re about to die

by: Josh Wolsky | May 7, 2019

If you’re among the high percentage of people who use ‘password’ for your password, don’t worry — your days of the annoying security prompts are numbered. It turns out passwords aren’t the best or even the expected security solution for the future; check out the article linked below from Fast Company to see where we’re

Read & Share sourced from: Fast Company

Google Takes on Cable With ‘YouTube TV’—40 Channels for $35

by: Josh Wolsky | March 1, 2017

It’s a cord cutters delight — 40 channels you can watch directly through Youtube or your internet connected device. If you’re a limited TV viewer and just want the basics, this another competitive option in the cable television marketplace.

Read & Share sourced from: WIRED

Life Online: Cybersecurity report sent to governor

by: Josh Wolsky | November 29, 2016

The State of North Dakota is taking steps to protect itself from cyber threats. A report issued by an interim cybersecurity task force has outlined ten recommendations for the state. of most note is the need for the state to act in whole to protect data rather than having individual agencies working to guard their

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

TV And Videogames Rewire Young Brains, For Better And Worse

by: Josh Wolsky | November 20, 2016

Technology is changing us. New evidence suggests that increased screen time at a young age rewires the brain to need more stimulation in order to really get it cranking. Whether this is a good or bad thing, remains unknown to researchers as there are indicators that suggest both benefit and detriment.

Read & Share sourced from: NPR

Google will try to starve fake news sites of ad dollars

by: Josh Wolsky | November 15, 2016

Few would question the significant impact the news and media had on our last election cycle; even fewer would say the impact was positive. In reaction, Google has set a policy that will attempt to starve disingenuous publishers of the thing they need most — ad revenue.

Read & Share sourced from: Quartz