Sunday Sundries

Miscellaneous items I found of interest during the week.

Who does, and doesn’t, want a DNA ancestry test
A survey of nearly 110,000 US residents find those who feel most certain of their heritage are more likely to decline a free test because they believe the results would confirm what they already know – even if their perception of their ancestry might not be accurate.

DNA in health and disease
New on the ISOGG Wiki is an article by Lasse Folkersenon on DNA's implications for our health and life. What can you expect to find out – and what advice would be good to know?

Milestones: journeying into adulthood
Trends in modern markers of adulthood – from working life to living arrangements in the UK.

The anglocentric view we have of British history is unsustainable
From BBC History Magazine, Misha Glenny explores Britain's complex formation and the roots of its current identity crisis.

Resourcewatch
Monitoring the Planet’s Pulse

Should Libraries Be the Keepers of Their Cities’ Public Data?
The Toronto Public Library is in a unique position because it may soon sit inside one of North America’s “smartest” cities. Last month, the city’s board of trade published a 17-page report titled “BiblioTech,” calling for the library to oversee data governance for all smart city projects.

Purely evidence-based policy doesn’t exist
"Prudent and smart decisions don’t require full knowledge. They require that you assess the uncertainty and figure out its potential consequences. The uncertainty doesn’t mean that you simply cross your arms, close your eyes, and do nothing while you wait for complete certainty."

WeatherCAN provides important weather data & information directly from Canada's Weather Service
The first version of the app offers the following features:

·         Current conditions, hourly-and-7-day forecasts for over 10,000 locations in Canada.
·         Push notifications for all official weather alerts for your location and saved locations.
·         Weather information for your location (following you as you travel) as well as for saved locations anywhere in Canada.
·         High-resolution radar animation on a zoomable map background.
·         A message centre providing weather facts and climate information relevant to the current weather.
·         Today and short-range forecast widgets for quick, at-a-glance weather information.
·         Accessible in English and French, and an in-app ability to switch between languages.

Download WeatherCAN from the App Store and Google Play.

OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING FROM THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS $20 LESS PER HOUSEHOLD THAN THE AVERAGE OF ONTARIO'S 9 LARGEST COMMUNITIES.