Popular Science: “The network carries petroleum products like gasoline and aviation fuel. Here’s what to know. A surefire way to appreciate the importance of a key piece of infrastructure is to watch what happens when it unexpectedly stops working. For example, most people probably thought very little about the importance of the Suez Canal, but… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Economy
How copyright filters lead to wage-theft
Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow – “…content ID was created to mollify the entertainment industry after Google acquired Youtube. Google would spend $100m on filtering tech that would allow rightsholders to go beyond the simple “takedown” permitted by law, and instead share in revenues from creative uses. But it’s easy to see how this… Continue Reading
The Case for Letting People Work From Home Forever
Wired – “Do you want happier, productive, more engaged, and more fulfilled employees and coworkers? Well, you should campaign to let them work remotely. Here’s why. “In 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost 70 percent of full-time employees worked from home. Many employers that perhaps may never have considered offering a remote work option… Continue Reading
Merriam-Webster Is Selling the Definition of NFT as an NFT
Gizmodo – Which Means You Can Own… Something, Sort Of: “Content creator Merriam-Webster reigns in glorious relevance: the dictionary is auctioning off its definition of NFT, as an NFT, on OpenSea. The definition is objectively boring, so hell, let’s make it interesting! I’ll run a side bet on the buyer and stake my money on… Continue Reading
Work from Home & Productivity: Evidence from Personnel & Analytics Data on IT Professionals
Becker Friedman Institute Working Paper, May 6, 2021: Work from Home & Productivity: Evidence from Personnel & Analytics Data on IT Professionals , Michael Gibbs, Friederike Mengel, Christoph Siemrot. “Using personnel and analytics data from over 10,000 skilled professionals at a large Asian IT services company, we compare productivity before and during the work from… Continue Reading
Amazon blocks 10 billion—yes, billion—listings in massive counterfeit crackdown
AP via Fortune – “Amazon, which has been under pressure from shoppers, brands and lawmakers to crack down on counterfeits on its site, said [in its 2020 Brand Protection Report] Monday that it blocked more than 10 billion suspected phony listings last year before any of their offerings could be sold. The numbers were released… Continue Reading
Nearly 9 out of 10 employers in the US & UK will require or encourage vaccination for employees
The Rockefeller Foundation: Arizona State University Survey of Employers Shows Companies Doubling Down on Covid-19 Testing and Support Vaccinations to Achieve a Post-Pandemic Workplace – “A comprehensive business survey, conducted by Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, finds that nearly 9 out of 10 employers in the United… Continue Reading
Science and Technology Issues in the 117th Congress
CRS Report – Science and Technology Issues in the 117th Congress. May 5, 2021: “The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding and performing research and development, and indirectly by creating and maintaining policies that encourage private sector efforts. Additionally, the federal government regulates many aspects of S&T activities. This report briefly… Continue Reading
Social Security: Who Is Covered Under the Program?
CRS In Focus – Social Security: Who Is Covered Under the Program? May 6, 2021: “Social Security pays cash benefits to about 65 million people each month. In all cases, a Social Security beneficiary becomes eligible for benefits either by working in a job that is covered by Social Security (a covered worker), by having… Continue Reading
US supports vaccine patent waiver proposal at World Trade Organization
CNN: “The Biden administration, in a major decision Wednesday, said it would support easing patent rules on Covid-19 vaccines after intense internal debate and strong pushback from American drugmakers, potentially expanding the global supply and narrowing the vaccination gap between rich and poor nations. The move is preliminary and will not guarantee the global patent… Continue Reading
Over the Line: Asset Thresholds in Bank Regulation
CRS Report – Over the Line: Asset Thresholds in Bank Regulation, May 3, 2021: “As of December 31, 2020, there were over 5,000 banks in the United States. While certain kinds of banks may be similar to each other,the industry as a whole is made of up institutions that differ in a variety of ways,… Continue Reading
AI.gov, home of the National AI Initiative
“Welcome to AI.gov, home of the National AI Initiative and connection point to ongoing activities to advance U.S. leadership in AI. The National AI Initiative Act of 2020 became law on January 1, 2021, providing for a coordinated program across the entire Federal government to accelerate AI research and application for the Nation’s economic prosperity… Continue Reading
