The Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index is at an all-time high right now, besting even the economic uncertainty at the start of the pandemic (May 2020). The Economic Policy Uncertainty Index – We develop a new method to measure economic policy uncertainty and test its dynamic relationship with output, investment, and employment. We find that,… Continue Reading
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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici
Defense Against Dishonest Charts
Flowing Data: “Charts are a window into the world. When done right, we gain an understanding of who we are, where we are, and how we can become better versions of ourselves. However, when done wrong, in the absence of truth, charts can be harmful. This is a guide to protect ourselves and to preserve… Continue Reading
Collection of free cut out PNG trees from all four seasons by landscape architect Mikkel Eye
“All the trees are available as high quality PNG’s with transparent background. The trees are free to use for anyone who wants to add plantings to their visualizations, sections, and diagrams within the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, or urban planning. However, your project should be in focus. The trees of Meye are not to… Continue Reading
Amazon removing the ability to download your purchased books
The Verge: “Starting on February 26th, 2025, Amazon is removing a feature from its website allowing you to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB. It’s a feature that a lot of Kindle users are probably not aware of, given books can be more easily sent… Continue Reading
What Just Happened: Purges at the DOJ and FBI — How Do and Don’t the Civil Service Laws Apply
Just Security: “The Trump Administration has been on a firing spree inside the Department of Justice. On January 20th, immediately after President Donald Trump took office, the administration fired four career officials in the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EIOR), including the Chief Immigration Judge and the EOIR’s acting Director. James McHenry, the acting Attorney… Continue Reading
A Brief History of Anti-Fascism
Smithsonian Magazine – A Brief History of Anti-Fascism – “As long as the ideology has threatened marginalized communities, groups on the left have pushed back with force.” Continue Reading
How to Prepare for Your Digital Afterlife
The New York Times/unpaywalled: “How do you want your social media pages, smartphone photos and computer files handled after you die? While property and money distribution are usually at the top of the estate-planning list, don’t forget to leave instructions regarding your digital accounts and assets — so your survivors are left with more than… Continue Reading
The SAVE Act Would Disenfranchise Millions of Citizens
CAP: “The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would require all Americans to prove their citizenship status by presenting documentation—in person—when registering to vote or updating their voter registration information. Specifically, the legislation would require the vast majority of Americans to rely on a… Continue Reading
Data Rescue Project
Data Rescue Project – There are many individuals, organizations, and community-based resources that document and assist with rescuing efforts. Below is the list of tools, data sources, library guides, and articles we are aware of and their associated scopes. This list was developed from the original Data Rescue Google Doc. Please email suggestions to [email protected].… Continue Reading
The Best AI-Free, Encrypted Alternatives to Google Docs
Lifehacker: “Face it: with the competition spending hundreds of millions of dollars on it, Google’s recent foray into AI isn’t going to stop anytime soon. While you can hide Google Workspace’s Gemini buttons and prompts for now, you can’t actually stop the company from continuing to build its apps around a technology that revolves around… Continue Reading
The Venn Diagram of Trump’s Authoritarian Actions
Kottke.org: Professor Christina Pagel of University College London has mapped the actions of the Trump administration’s first few weeks into a Venn diagram (above) with “five broad domains that correspond to features of proto-authoritarian states”: Undermining Democratic Institutions & Rule of Law; Dismantling federal government Dismantling Social Protections & Rights; Enrichment & Corruption Suppressing Dissent… Continue Reading
Federal workers say they increasingly distrust platforms like Facebook
The Verge: “As Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have sought to gut and remake the federal government to their liking, federal workers have changed how they communicate with one another and with friends. They have locked down communication channels, migrated to new platforms, and what was once skepticism has grown into deep distrust —… Continue Reading
