Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Daily Archives: September 12, 2018

12+ tools and resources useful during hurricanes and other disasters

Poynter, : “After a quiet summer, hurricane season seems to have awoken with a vengeance. Three hurricanes are churning in the Atlantic, and at least one seems likely to make a destructive landfall on the United States. At the same time, the Pacific is also oddly active. We know this script. On this day last year, I was working remotely from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after a grueling 19-hour evacuation from Florida. I was one of the millions of Floridians fleeing Hurricane Irma, then poised to strike Florida as a category four or five hurricane. A handful of tools and resources made our preparation, evacuation, coverage and recovery a little bit easier and more complete. I shared some of them in this newsletter last year, but following is an updated list with additional resources and context. If you’re not in the hurricane zones of the world, note that many of these tools are handy for any type of natural or manmade disaster. I hope you never have to use them…”

California Climate Tracker – 1895 to present

“The analysis of climate variability and trends is necessary in managing natural resources and monitoring and understanding the role of climate change. California has a diverse climate, driven by its latitudinal extent, proximity to the Pacific Ocean and cold coastal waters, and complex terrain. From the snow-capped Sierra Nevada to the agricultural lands of the… Continue Reading

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2017

“The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that real median household income increased by 1.8 percent between 2016 and 2017, while the official poverty rate decreased 0.4 percentage points. At the same time, the number of people without health insurance coverage and the uninsured rate were not statistically different from 2016. Median household income in the… Continue Reading

AP – EU proposed to give internet firms 1 hour to remove extremist content

Via ABCNews.com: “European authorities are planning to slap internet companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook with big fines if they don’t take down extremist content within one hour. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a speech Wednesday that the Commission is proposing the new rules as part of efforts to step up the bloc’s… Continue Reading

Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote

EveryCRSReport.com – Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote. September 7, 2018 “The procedure for appointing a Justice to the Supreme Court is provided for in the U.S. Constitution in only a few words. The “Appointments Clause” in the Constitution (Article II, Section 2, clause 2) states that the President “shall nominate, and… Continue Reading

Federal Role in U.S. Campaigns and Elections: An Overview

EveryCRSReport.com – Federal Role in U.S. Campaigns and Elections: An Overview R. Sam Garrett, Specialist in American National Government. September 4, 2018. “Conventional wisdom holds that the federal government plays relatively little role in U.S. campaigns and elections. Although states retain authority for most aspects of election administration, a closer look reveals that the federal… Continue Reading

Decentralisation: the next big step for the world wide web

The Guardian – “The decentralised web, or DWeb, could be a chance to take control of our data back from the big tech firms. So how does it work and when will it be here? What is the decentralised web? It is supposed to be like the web you know but without relying on centralised… Continue Reading

Project Fi, a phone plan from Google.

FAQ: “Through new technology developed with our partners, Project Fi puts you on the best available network between Wi-Fi and three 4G LTE networks. This means you get access to more cell towers and 4G LTE in more places. Project Fi is available on the Pixel, Android One Moto X4, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and… Continue Reading

An Assessment of Minority Voting Rights Access in the US

Via The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress in 1957 – Minority Voting Rights Access – 2018 Report, September 12, 2018: “The report examines the current and recent state of voter access and voting discrimination for communities of color, voters with disabilities, and limited-English proficient citizens. It also… Continue Reading