Privacy Concerns
The Province of Ontario's Privacy Commissioner says online privacy needs strengthening. With information so prevalent across various sources, it is now possible to gather the data to build a detailed profile. The Commissioner urges people to be careful with what info they give out. The Federal Privacy Commissioner said pretty much the same thing at a local school. The Federal Commissioner is concerned that today's youth, while growing up admidst the most socially wired time in history, may not fully understand why their privacy needs to be protected.

Ebook Selection for Libraries to Improve
OverDrive Inc, a distributor of ebooks to libraries, will expand their catalogue. Along with a wider selection of books available for lending, the company will include hundreds of thousands that aren't. The program is expected to start in two weeks in New York City, Boston, and Cuyahoga County in Ohio. The move to ebook readers and tablet computing is forcing a change.

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook
A halt in the trading of Facebook shares has prompted rumours of an IPO.  It is believed by insiders that Facebook wants to raise $10 billion. Facebook has declined to comment on the rumours.

Meanwhile, Facebook Timeline continues to be rolled out despite users' concerns and complaints. The main concern is that events and photos previously hidden could become visible. However, once users get the announcement of the changeover on their Facebook page, they can go in and change the settings with a week before having to make the changeover to the new UI.

Social Media and Law Enforcement
Social media, like Facebook and Twitter, can be both a help and a hindrence in an investigation. While situations where people post their crimes on Facebook seem like shooting oneself in the foot, it does happen from time to time. However, most law enforcement agents use the social media to search for secual predators. At the same time, friends and family of people under investigation have inadvertantly spoiled the work of investigators by mentioning the investigation on social media.

Apple Most Valuable
Apple has surpassed Exxon as the world's most valuable company. Record sales encouraged investors to push shares up. Now, the downer from me – when other companies catch up, will Apple's bubble burst?

Video Games Drove Retail
Retail sales last November were up 0.3% over the previous year, thanks mainly to video games. Both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim were released in November, helping drive sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores. Video games, not just a niche market anymore.

–Scott D