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Monthly Archives: July 2009

CRS: Federally Funded Innovation Inducement Prizes Deborah D. Stine Specialist in Science and Technology Policy

Federally Funded Innovation Inducement Prizes, Deborah D. Stine, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, June 29, 2009 “Since at least the 18th century, philanthropic organizations, industry, governments, and nongovernmental organizations throughout the world have offered many different kinds of prizes with a variety of objectives to reward accomplishments in science and technology. In the United… Continue Reading

Financial Crisis Advisory Group publishes wide-ranging review of standard-setting activities following the global financial crisis

“The Financial Crisis Advisory Group (FCAG), a high level group of recognised leaders with broad experience in international financial markets, today published its recommendations related to accounting standard-setting activities, and other changes to the international regulatory environment following the global financial crisis.” Report of the Financial Crisis Advisory Group, July 28, 2009: “In our discussions,… Continue Reading

GAO Adds Postal Service's Financial Condition to "High-Risk" List

News release: “Reporting that broad restructuring is urgently needed, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) today added the financial condition of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to its High-Risk List of federal areas in need of transformation…Mail volume fell by 9.5 billion pieces in fiscal year 2008 to a total of 203 billion pieces and… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports: Performance of Nonprime Mortgages, e-Health Records, Home Mortgages, Federally Funded Inventions, Emergency Communications

Characteristics and Performance of Nonprime Mortgages, GAO-09-848R, July 28, 2009 Electronic Health Records: DOD and VA Efforts to Achieve Full Interoperability Are Ongoing; Program Office Management Needs Improvement, GAO-09-775, July 28, 2009 Home Mortgages: Recent Performance of Nonprime Loans Highlights the Potential for Additional Foreclosures, GAO-09-922T, July 28, 2009 Homeland Defense: Preliminary Observations on Defense… Continue Reading

New Data On Cell Phone Use and Driving Distraction

News release: “Several large-scale, naturalistic driving studies (using sophisticated cameras and instrumentation in participants’ personal vehicles) conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), provide a clear picture of driver distraction and cell phone use under real‐world driving conditions. Combined, these studies continuously observed drivers for more than 6 million miles of driving. A snapshot… Continue Reading