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The Best of Ontario-Educators Daily
The best of ontario-educators daily is out! https://t.co/R9DSVdCWvR Stories via @TCDSB_PAguiar @mjwheelerali #inaugurationday
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The latest Ontario Educators 6 Daily! https://t.co/giVWGKNsYn Thanks to @MisterW68 @eccerheinheimer @AndresMusta
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 5 Daily
The latest The Doug Peterson Daily! https://t.co/34RXIcSmpR Thanks to @NishVPKwe
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The Best of Ontario-Educators Daily
The best of ontario-educators daily is out! https://t.co/zFmEVh0b45 Stories via @BealsyLaura
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 4 Daily
The latest The Best of Ontario-Educators 4 Daily! https://t.co/dx4sxvrAH7
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 2 daily
The best of ontario-educators2 daily is out! is out! https://t.co/sxDWV0BO2R Stories via @NEFeghali #risks21 #davosagenda
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 3 Daily
The latest Best of Ontario-Educators3 Daily! https://t.co/88bbibEXiT Thanks to @sdja3 @hirschw1
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The Doug Peterson Community News
The latest The Doug Peterson Community News! https://t.co/UNxkUKskQr Thanks to @JenniferNKing
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GM teams up with Microsoft on driverless cars | CTV News | Autos
GM teams up with Microsoft on driverless cars | CTV News | Autos – https://t.co/OXgbWuFwy5 via @shareaholic
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Microsoft Defender is boosting its response to malware attacks by changing a key setting | ZDNet
Microsoft Defender is boosting its response to malware attacks by changing a key setting | ZDNet – https://t.co/gO8OHrSEdk via @shareaholic
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Windows 10X: A closer look at Microsoft’s new operating system
Windows 10X: A closer look at Microsoft’s new operating system – https://t.co/QOyWRbtJY6 via @shareaholic
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How to secure your Google account and keep it safe from attacks | ZDNet
How to secure your Google account and keep it safe from attacks | ZDNet – https://t.co/Q6eD0DlbxY via @shareaholic
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The new resource for remote learning in Manitoba | CTV News
The new resource for remote learning in Manitoba | CTV News – https://t.co/J8Os2Ic3oA via @shareaholic
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HP launches Intel and MediaTek Chromebooks for the 2021 school year
HP launches Intel and MediaTek Chromebooks for the 2021 school year – https://t.co/CSu4qNMK7U via @shareaholic
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Education technologies are making learning more accessible | World Economic Forum
Education technologies are making learning more accessible | World Economic Forum – https://t.co/V09ozKtynT via @shareaholic
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Microsoft Teams update will make remote learning a little less tricky | TechRadar
Microsoft Teams update will make remote learning a little less tricky | TechRadar – https://t.co/BJ8Y0kmiq9 via @shareaholic
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Microsoft Debuts Cheap Windows Laptops to Fight Chromebooks | Digital Trends
Microsoft Debuts Cheap Windows Laptops to Fight Chromebooks | Digital Trends – https://t.co/38bCeke7YH via @shareaholic
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Some Schools Are Refusing to Show Students the Inauguration This Year
Some Schools Are Refusing to Show Students the Inauguration This Year – https://t.co/5Sj769LMVb via @shareaholic
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St. Thomas, Ont. unveils ‘compassionate’ plan to combat homelessness crisis | CTV News
St. Thomas, Ont. unveils ‘compassionate’ plan to combat homelessness crisis | CTV News – https://t.co/3QG46uXQAG via @shareaholic
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Investigation launched after Windsor woman dies following vaccination | Windsor Star
Investigation launched after Windsor woman dies following vaccination | Windsor Star – https://t.co/eNbYWazxWU via @shareaholic
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This is when the lockdown in Ontario could end
This is when the lockdown in Ontario could end – https://t.co/dYPmFiJbPq via @shareaholic
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Walmart, Costco, Shoppers Drug Mart among businesses fined for COVID violations: York Region – CityNews Toronto – https://t.co/tLCYeDU7lL via @shareaholic
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Ontario’s first major COVID-19 vaccine site will stop administering shots immediately | CTV News
Ontario’s first major COVID-19 vaccine site will stop administering shots immediately | CTV News – https://t.co/5Pls48g3eO via @shareaholic
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Retailers drop My Pillow after pro-Trump CEO’s election claims – Flipboard
Retailers drop My Pillow after pro-Trump CEO’s election claims https://t.co/1rk8bgWpUX via @flipboard
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Donald Trump causes logistical nightmare for nuclear codes by leaving Washington early | Daily Mail Online – https://t.co/XbTHFdzY4u via @shareaholic
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Inauguration Day a palindrome that won’t happen again for 1,000 years – CNET
Inauguration Day a palindrome that won’t happen again for 1,000 years – CNET – https://t.co/stXPAlICws via @shareaholic
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What One Teacher Thinks of the Privacy Implications of GoGuardian and ProctorU | OneZero – https://t.co/J24Ydk88NU via @shareaholic
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Ontario expected to decide today when students can return to class | CBC News
Ontario expected to decide today when students can return to class | CBC News – https://t.co/brEcJrEYqG via @shareaholic
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Trump pardons and commutations – the full list | US news | The Guardian
Trump pardons and commutations – the full list | Donald Trump | The Guardian – https://t.co/n64xWqjCco via @shareaholic
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Pence’s Farewell Message Contains A Glaring Omission And People Have Noticed | HuffPost Canada
Pence’s Farewell Message Contains A Glaring Omission And People Have Noticed | HuffPost Canada – https://t.co/7ntRJXsfCT via @shareaholic
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Steve Bannon pardon: Trump pardons Steve Bannon as one of his final acts in office – CNNPolitics
Steve Bannon pardon: Trump pardons Steve Bannon as one of his final acts in office – CNNPolitics – https://t.co/ffxuYZg2ic via @shareaholic
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A global visualisation – doug — off the record
A global visualisation https://t.co/c6M0l00ABa
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OTR Links 01/20/2021 – doug — off the record
OTR Links 01/20/2021 https://t.co/EuyyTljg6g
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A global visualisation
I knew that this was coming from some of the reading that I’d done but it hadn’t hit my instance of Google Maps until yesterday. Or at least I noticed it yesterday.
Those who use Maps a lot know that Google puts layers over the basic map to show things like traffic. Quite frankly, that’s what I use the most. Or, I used to use it when planning trips. That’s a redundant feature during stay at home times.
It’s the COVID-10 info layer that really caught my attention. Just like viewing traffic, it lets you take a look at the latest plotted on the maps and, if you zoom out, on the globe.

And then, of course, you want to spin the world.
That lets you view the rates per 100 000 in colour and a view of the trend in that country. Data always tells a story and you can see quite a number of stories just in this screen capture.
- Canada versus United States
- Greenland
- Spain
- Algeria
I know that we get reports periodically about the way things are happening in Europe but typically when it’s some sort of sensational bent to it. There are some good news countries, some bad news countries, and some no news countries.
I hope that this layer is enabled for your account so that you can check out how things are going world-wide.
OTR Links 01/20/2021
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Here’s to all educators who are embracing every change with positivity, strength and a sense of purpose! pic.twitter.com/tMQ7zqlGIp
— Sue Bruyns (@sbruyns) January 19, 2021
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The Best of Ontario-Educators Daily
The best of ontario-educators daily is out! https://t.co/Dy1neSJpUi Stories via @brmf_rm @msvalois #risks21 #davosagenda
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The latest Ontario Educators 6 Daily! https://t.co/Yd5JBKHDUV Thanks to @corvinellia @AZTeaches
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 5 Daily
The latest The Doug Peterson Daily! https://t.co/TM5uDYVckI Thanks to @rlambr @dawnellismobbs @nadine1osborne #cdnpoli #onpoli
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The Best of Ontario-Educators Daily
The best of ontario-educators daily is out! https://t.co/ycRhr5DKU5 Stories via @DavidSpencerEdu #yyc #cdnpoli
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 4 Daily
The latest The Best of Ontario-Educators 4 Daily! https://t.co/W4zTA8kRtd Thanks to @mrmartinEDU @Ojibray #breaking #ottnews
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 2 daily
The best of ontario-educators2 daily is out! is out! https://t.co/17IGzB670x Stories via @minifancarl
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 3 Daily
The latest Best of Ontario-Educators3 Daily! https://t.co/MYaE75QAFs Thanks to @TCDSB @MelissaSeco #breaking
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The Doug Peterson Community News
The latest The Doug Peterson Community News! https://t.co/bvgU5SHRn7 #organisationapprenante #km
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After missing migration, Freddy the monarch butterfly settles in for winter with Manitoba family | CBC News – https://t.co/Lnl27fO36g via @shareaholic
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The Trump years: Mike Thompson’s cartoon look at the Trump presidency
The Trump years: Mike Thompson’s cartoon look at the Trump presidency – https://t.co/2dO183qkLh via @shareaholic
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Who Can Track Your Data When Using a VPN?
Who Can Track Your Data When Using a VPN? – https://t.co/Uv1mBPj0o5 via @shareaholic
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Best Google Photos alternatives in 2021 | TechRadar
Best Google Photos alternatives in 2021 | TechRadar – https://t.co/jz9MNIOMiv via @shareaholic
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Upgrade rage: why you may have to buy a new device whether you want to or not
Upgrade rage: why you may have to buy a new device whether you want to or not – https://t.co/9wQJiS8ScN via @shareaholic
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Meet the Cape Breton teen who wants to build tech for Google | CBC News
Meet the Cape Breton teen who wants to build tech for Google | CBC News – https://t.co/CrWmLBl0Yp via @shareaholic
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An exciting new Google Maps feature is finally rolling out – BGR
An exciting new Google Maps feature is finally rolling out – BGR – https://t.co/Pl7gcm9Ofp via @shareaholic
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Parler website is back online thanks to support from Russian tech firm, report says – Flipboard
Parler website is back online thanks to support from Russian tech firm, report says https://t.co/oQAzsIYOPK via @flipboard
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Dell’s latest Chromebook is all about democratizing internet access | TechRadar
Dell’s latest Chromebook is all about democratizing internet access | TechRadar – https://t.co/HZCjiQcOG5 via @shareaholic
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Teachers voice concerns over parents interfering during online classes – The Globe and Mail
Teachers voice concerns over parents interfering during online classes – The Globe and Mail – https://t.co/sApm5oWnrO via @shareaholic
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Teachers are the unsung heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic | GroundUp
Teachers are the unsung heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic | GroundUp – https://t.co/GJ99UxaESF via @shareaholic
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6 Essential EdTech Tools for Teachers in 2021 | Educational Technology and Mobile Learning
6 Essential EdTech Tools for Teachers in 2021 | Educational Technology and Mobile Learning – https://t.co/1rPZHu4GhZ via @shareaholic
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To learn at home, kids need more than just teaching materials. Their brain must also adapt to the context – https://t.co/XsNSKik3tO via @shareaholic
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Lockdown restrictions are working in Toronto: de Villa – NOW Magazine
Lockdown restrictions are working in Toronto: de Villa – NOW Magazine – https://t.co/hZ5fj0XYPq via @shareaholic
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A border city stripped of its neighbour: Here’s what Windsorites are doing without Detroit | CBC News – https://t.co/5knpNZxxnN via @shareaholic
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Ford says there is ‘no reason’ for Ontario to offer paid sick leave program despite criticsim https://t.co/UkXsIgZU3Y via @flipboard
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How to watch the U.S. presidential inauguration on CTV News | CTV News
How to watch the U.S. presidential inauguration on CTV News | CTV News – https://t.co/iEruD3eKiN via @shareaholic
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What Is Google Dorking And How To Use It
What Is Google Dorking And How To Use It – https://t.co/0broj41Eev via @shareaholic
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Coronavirus: Ontario mother fined $880 for allegedly violating provincial stay-at-home order | https://t.co/UijMS5NZb5 – https://t.co/9jhQmZRkju via @shareaholic
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ERROR: The request could not be satisfied
Donald Trump orders construction of 250 statues including Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash – https://t.co/PFeQN7rYBz via @shareaholic
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Public shouldn’t be ‘blamed’ for COVID-19 pandemic situation in Ontario, infectious disease expert warns – https://t.co/8yDZBibuX3 via @shareaholic
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NFL Reportedly Decides On Possible Suspension For Chiefs Defender
NFL Reportedly Decides On Possible Suspension For Chiefs Defender – https://t.co/CaVlp8VWgF via @shareaholic
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Google’s Secret Sound School That Could Change The Way You Listen To Music Forever
Google’s Secret Sound School That Could Change The Way You Listen To Music Forever – https://t.co/enxHE6f2dt via @shareaholic
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OTR Links 01/19/2021 – doug — off the record
OTR Links 01/19/2021 https://t.co/35GGczkp7n
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How did you search?
One of my morning indulgences, thanks to my friend Craig is playing 7 Little Words. And, one of the clues in one of the bonus puzzles this morning was:
early search engine – 9 letters
Of course, I threw out Google right away for two reasons. It’s not 9 letters and it wasn’t one of the early search engines.
I didn’t have to think too long until I came up with the answer – Altavista.
That certainly took me back a ways.
In the district, we had a group of CAITs that met with me every Friday to plan what initiatives and resources would be discussed with their schools in the upcoming week. In the late 1900s, we had rolled out internet access to schools and everyone was excited about using it in the classroom.
After all, you didn’t need to go to the library any longer and book out the encyclopedia volume for your topics; you could just search for it. One of the activities that we did was evaluate search engines because we wanted to get the best resource in the hands of students.
Altavista was part of the group we looked at. But not the only one. Courtesy of the Wayback Machine, here are some screen captures. It’s interesting to see what was important to have on the page of the day.
Altavista

Excite

Lycos

Yahoo!

Looking back now, it’s very clear that, not only were they search engines, but they were also web portals to information. You could easily find something by searching by category.
And there always was a shopping offer on the page.
One morning one of the CAITs, Ric, came in and shared that he’d heard about this new resource called Google. We tried it and liked it. Like millions of others, it became the default and off we went.
It’s still the default search engine for many web browsers who support it in that manner. Of course, the skillful know that every browser has the ability to change that to other ones. A popular one that respects privacy is DuckDuckGo. But there are others.
In fact, there are lots of options these days including Ecosia which plants trees just by you using it. Privacy takes on importance to many and here’s a list of privacy focused search engines.
As for my original list, I checked them out to see where they are today.
- Altavista now resolves to Yahoo!
- Excite is still there working as a portal and search
- Lycos is there as a search engine and link to other services
- Yahoo! is still active as well serving both search and a portal. It nicely has a Canadian landing page
Searching and search engines have been intriguing to me and I’ve probably done way more experimenting than I needed! In a way, it saddens me that many students these days just go with the defaults and use Google or Bing depending upon their browser. There is another world out there.
There’s a rich history of innovation, design, searching philosophy and concerns about privacy that they may never know.
How about you? Did you start out in Google-land or does your history go back further?
OTR Links 01/19/2021
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Biden to block Trump’s plan to lift COVID-19 European travel restrictions | CP24.com
Trump lifting COVID-19 travel restrictions on Europe, UK, Brazil https://t.co/fNuOQ5mzpj pic.twitter.com/nYskmG7ky8
— CP24 (@CP24) January 19, 2021
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Trump lifting COVID-19 travel restrictions on Europe, UK, Brazil https://t.co/fNuOQ5mzpj pic.twitter.com/nYskmG7ky8
— CP24 (@CP24) January 19, 2021
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The Best of Ontario-Educators Daily
The best of ontario-educators daily is out! https://t.co/oTjIVmo0wd Stories via @cgill2010 @Hmason36
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The latest Ontario Educators 6 Daily! https://t.co/awFarS6qBh Thanks to @eccerheinheimer @wonderstaples @stefcyclops #teachertwitter
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The Power List: 50 Canadians who are shaping how we think and live – Macleans.ca
The Power List: 50 Canadians who are shaping how we think and live – https://t.co/5ys4trVUmw – https://t.co/rG5FfeaN77 via @shareaholic
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 5 Daily
The latest The Doug Peterson Daily! https://t.co/Z3cjJJvIgF Thanks to @Kimkirk20 @GeorgeSaarinen @normsworld #hw
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The Best of Ontario-Educators Daily
The best of ontario-educators daily is out! https://t.co/NVOyn0Oqhy Stories via @audouallard @wheeler_laura @MsScotchmer #leadped #tlme1l
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 4 Daily
The latest The Best of Ontario-Educators 4 Daily! https://t.co/nw8lf9A3Bx Thanks to @emcedy @SimoneROliver @HeatherMeadCamp #ditchbook #ocsb
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 2 daily
The best of ontario-educators2 daily is out! is out! https://t.co/ABGXhM82eQ #math #ocsb
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The Best of Ontario-Educators 3 Daily
The latest Best of Ontario-Educators3 Daily! https://t.co/CmO0I5MHmo Thanks to @sdja3 @Barbara_Robson #breaking
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The Doug Peterson Community News
The latest The Doug Peterson Community News! https://t.co/1rwVyoiwE1
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This Principal Knows How the Virus Can Upend a School. He Caught It Himself
This Principal Knows How the Virus Can Upend a School. He Caught It Himself – https://t.co/OhxbUsooTu via @shareaholic
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How to Improve Your Blog Writing Skills in 2021 – Chart Attack
How to Improve Your Blog Writing Skills in 2021 – Chart Attack – https://t.co/jy0XUTId8W via @shareaholic
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The Best Browser for Mac in 2021 | Digital Trends
The Best Browser for Mac in 2021 | Digital Trends – https://t.co/3UDqOQNiRf via @shareaholic
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Kevin Stefanski on Rashard Higgins’ fumble-touchback: “Our rule is to not reach the ball out” – ProFootballTalk – https://t.co/9loRdUn251 via @shareaholic
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Toronto library employees reach out to seniors through new service
Toronto library employees reach out to seniors through new service – https://t.co/huLHh9nUyf via @shareaholic
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10 photo archive websites that let you lose yourself in history
10 photo archive websites that let you lose yourself in history – https://t.co/3igx4YPz9n via @shareaholic
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Trump buried in ridicule for seeking $2 billion for his presidential library – Flipboard
Trump buried in ridicule for seeking $2 billion for his presidential library https://t.co/hWfL3h5PEF via @flipboard
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Nine must-have Products For Your Home Office In 2021
Nine must-have Products For Your Home Office In 2021 – https://t.co/DpE07hpVCq via @shareaholic
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Google Home: 5 ways to fix the problem when Google Assistant doesn’t understand you – CNET
Google Home: 5 ways to fix the problem when Google Assistant doesn’t understand you – CNET – https://t.co/jpeAhtgvg3 via @shareaholic
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Google Doodle celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021 – 9to5Google
Google Doodle celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021 – 9to5Google – https://t.co/wWN2dPmBcK via @shareaholic
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Tim Cook: Why I kicked Parler off Apple’s App Store – CNN
Tim Cook: Why I kicked Parler off Apple’s App Store – CNN – https://t.co/r5t1DexIu6 via @shareaholic
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Hundreds of Parler videos from Capitol riot republished in chronological timeline – The Verge
Hundreds of Parler videos from Capitol riot republished in chronological timeline – The Verge – https://t.co/w9hkZO3X4x via @shareaholic
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10 Useful Tips for When Your VPN Speed Is Slow
10 Useful Tips for When Your VPN Speed Is Slow – https://t.co/E12Vrx56Km via @shareaholic
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Parler’s website is ONLINE as CEO ‘who went into hiding because of death threats’ sends message to ‘lovers and haters’ – https://t.co/oLrj4NUDU6 via @shareaholic
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‘Be patient and kind with ourselves’: How you can avoid having the bluest Blue Monday of them all | The Star – https://t.co/8pbvIg2M9x via @shareaholic
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Ontario to open dedicated pandemic hospital in Vaughan as COVID-19 surges – The Globe and Mail
Ontario to open dedicated pandemic hospital in Vaughan as COVID-19 surges – The Globe and Mail – https://t.co/ZplBPqDdFF via @shareaholic
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The Apple on the Back of Your iPhone Has Wildly Underused Functions
A Reminder the Apple on the Back of Your iPhone Has Wildly Underused Functions – https://t.co/ZJ04YsL3yo via @shareaholic
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Tickets handed out, charges laid for first stay-at-home order weekend in Waterloo Region | CTV News
Tickets handed out, charges laid for first stay-at-home order weekend in Waterloo Region | CTV News – https://t.co/FZ7HCiOynu via @shareaholic
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15 North America Landmarks I How Many Have you Visited? I The Boutique Adventurer
15 North America Landmarks I How Many Have you Visited? I The Boutique Adventurer – https://t.co/IIbsr32fZZ via @shareaholic
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Mike Pence’s Final Trump Brag Gets Hit With An Immediate Fact-Check | HuffPost Canada
Mike Pence’s Final Trump Brag Gets Hit With An Immediate Fact-Check | HuffPost Canada – https://t.co/GqiV5SOX61 via @shareaholic
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Fauci says U.S. will likely return to ‘some degree of normality’ at same time as Canada | CTV News
Fauci says U.S. will likely return to ‘some degree of normality’ at same time as Canada | CTV News – https://t.co/MjKJL3pkIC via @shareaholic
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Pentagon denies Donald Trump’s request for a military-style farewell parade | Daily Mail Online
Pentagon denies Donald Trump’s request for a military-style farewell parade | Daily Mail Online – https://t.co/DJEZUsbWA4 via @shareaholic
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Ontario inspectors find 36 stores violating COVID-19 rules during big-box safety blitz | CTV News
Ontario inspectors find 36 stores violating COVID-19 rules during big-box safety blitz | CTV News – https://t.co/CfnFAb289G via @shareaholic
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Trump to issue around 100 pardons and commutations Tuesday, sources say – CNNPolitics
Trump to issue around 100 pardons and commutations Tuesday, sources say – CNNPolitics – https://t.co/2srtp4ImZg via @shareaholic
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12 cool classes to take on Khan Academy for free
12 cool classes to take on Khan Academy for free – https://t.co/eJITmLZiCk via @shareaholic
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I looked at all the ways Microsoft Teams tracks users and my head is spinning | ZDNet
I looked at all the ways Microsoft Teams tracks users and my head is spinning | ZDNet – https://t.co/YYMDlqzomR via @shareaholic
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OTR Links 01/18/2021 – doug — off the record
OTR Links 01/18/2021 https://t.co/Zb5gXzeqIp
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