Digital Life

National

The NSA, Verizon And The Future of Domestic Spying

2:40pm June 06, 2013

According to a top-secret court order obtained by The Guardian, the National Security Agency has collected the phone records of millions of U.S. Verizon customers since late April. The Guardian's Spencer Ackerman explains the coming debate over the scale of domestic spying operations.

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Johana Guardado assembles a laptop on Lenovo's new personal computer production line in Whitsett, N.C.

First U.S. Assembly Plant For China's Lenovo Opens In N.C.

8:14am June 06, 2013

by Leoneda Inge

The Chinese computer maker is trying to boost its brand and U.S. market share as other high-tech firms, including Motorola, plan to manufacture here. North Carolina officials say the plant in Whitsett is a sign of manufacturing's return from overseas.

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Comedian Marc Maron attends an event in New York in 2009.

Politics & Government

How One Patent Could Take Down One Comedian

5:32pm June 05, 2013

by Zoe Chace

The popular comedian Marc Maron, who works out of his garage in California, faces off with a patent holder who claims to have invented podcasting.

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The Spanish city of Santander is using a network of sensors to help improve services and save money. Incidents reported to Santander's command-and-control center, where the city manages data from sensors and smartphone reports made by citizens, are plotte

High-Tech Sensors Help Old Port City Leap Into Smart Future

1:53pm June 04, 2013

by Lauren Frayer

On Spain's Atlantic coast, the city of Santander has installed 12,000 sensors that measure everything from when streetlights need to be dimmed to when trash dumpsters are full — saving millions for cash-strapped public coffers. It's becoming a model for cities worldwide.

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Once High-Flying Game Company Zynga To Lay Off 520 Workers

8:10am June 04, 2013

by Wendy Kaufman

Zynga, the social game maker behind the popular FarmVille franchise, is struggling. It was late getting into the mobile phone market as gamers moved away from computers. It plans to layoff 18 percent of its workforce by the end of summer.

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Student newspapers may be the latest victims of social media.

Education

High School Newspapers: An Endangered Species

2:49pm June 01, 2013

by Scott Simon

The New York Times reported this week that only 1 in 8 of New York's public high schools still has a student newspaper. National figures are only a bit better. NPR's Scott Simon says student newspapers are the latest victims of social media.

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The University of Tennessee became one of 10 state university systems teaming up with Coursera, a for-profit tech company.

Online College Courses Get A Big Boost, But Doubts Persist

6:01pm May 30, 2013

by Claudio Sanchez

Degree-granting institutions are responding to austere budgets by catapulting themselves into the world of online education. But some professors point to low online completion rates as evidence that these "massive open online courses" do a disservice to students.

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What a potential employer finds when researching an applicant online can make or break a job opportunity.

Fixing Your Online Reputation: There's An Industry For That

7:21am May 30, 2013

by Steve Henn

What an employer finds when researching an applicant online can make or break a job opportunity. Pete Kistler says he found this out the hard way. Since online reputation-management services were too pricey for his college budget, he started his own.

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Arts

What's Happened To Wonder? The Bliss Of Confusion

2:12pm May 28, 2013

As children, we are allowed to be confused, lost, and full of wonder. As adults in the age of Google, we are expected to project confidence, knowledge and understanding. Ta-Nehisi Coates, senior editor for The Atlantic, talks about how learning a foreign language reignited his imagination.

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Tackling New Tech In The Golden Years

2:58pm May 24, 2013

Smartphones, tablets and computers could help seniors stay connected to their communities and families. But a hefty price tag, steep learning curves, and designs meant for younger eyes and hands could keep some older adults from logging on. Guests discuss the best ways for seniors to tackle new technology, and how devices can be adapted to accommodate older users.

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