News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its most comprehensive study of the nations lakes to date. The draft study, which rated the condition of 56 percent of the lakes in the United States as good and the remainder as fair or poor, marked the first time EPA and its partners used a nationally… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: December 2009
Ben Bernanke – Time's Person of the Year
Person of the Year 2009: “The story of the year was a weak economy that could have been much, much weaker. How the mild-mannered man who runs the Federal Reserve prevented an economic catastrophe.” “The Fed chairman sat down with TIME managing editor Richard Stengel, Time Inc. editor-in-chief John Huey, assistant managing editor Michael Duffy… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Biosurveillance, Veterans Affairs, DOD Civilian Personnel, Softwood Lumber Act of 2008
Biosurveillance: Developing a Collaboration Strategy Is Essential to Fostering Interagency Data and Resource Sharing, GAO-10-171, December 18, 2009 Department of Veterans Affairs’ Implementation of Information Security Education Assistance Program, GAO-10-170R, December 18, 2009 DOD Civilian Personnel: Intelligence Personnel System Incorporates Safeguards, but Opportunities Exist for Improvement, GAO-10-134, December 17, 2009 Overseas Contingency Operations: Funding and… Continue Reading
EPA Releases National Water Program Research Strategy to Advance and Broaden Research Partnerships
News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its National Water Research Strategy to engage a broader range of researchers in meeting the challenges of protecting and improving our nations water resources. The strategy identifies and promotes the research needs of EPAs national water program to potential partners.” See also EPA Releases First-Ever Baseline… Continue Reading
CBO Letter and Cost Estimate: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,
Correction Regarding the Longer-Term Effects of the Manager’s Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, December 20, 2009. Letter to the Honorable Harry Reid. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Incorporating the Manager’s Amendment. Cost estimate for the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 3590, incorporating the effects of changes… Continue Reading
One person in two in the EU27 uses internet daily- three quarters of young people use daily
News release: “In the EU27, 65% of households had access to the internet during the first quarter of 2009, compared with 60% during the first quarter of 2008, and 56% had a broadband internet connection in 2009, compared with 49% in 2008. The se data published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities,… Continue Reading
OCCs Quarterly Report on Bank Trading and Derivatives Activities: Third Quarter 2009
News release: “Credit risk in bank trading activities continued to decline in the third quarter of 2009, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reported today in the OCC’s Quarterly Report on Bank Trading and Derivatives Activities: Third Quarter 2009.” Continue Reading
The eYouGuide now speaks 10 languages
The eYouGuide, Europe’s first online tool giving consumers practical advice on their “digital rights” under EU law is now available in 10 languages. “The eYouGuide was launched in Strasbourg on 5 May 2009 (see IP/09/702). The guide provides information on a number of issues related to online activities, such as shopping online, networking, uploading and… Continue Reading
NIST: Draft Technical Specification for the Security Content Automation Protocol
DRAFT The Technical Specification for the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP): SCAP Version 1.1, December 15, 2009: “NIST announces the public comment release of Special Publication (SP) 800-126 Revision 1, The Technical Specification for the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP): SCAP Version 1.1. The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of specifications that… Continue Reading
CRS The Rise of Chinas Auto Industry and Its Impact on the U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry
The Rise of Chinas Auto Industry and Its Impact on the U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry, Rachel Tang, Analyst in Industrial Organization and Business, November 16, 2009 The automobile industry, a key sector in Chinas industrialization and modernization efforts, has been developing rapidly since the 1990s. In recent years, China has become the worlds fastest growing… Continue Reading
EPIC Defends Privacy of Facebook Users: Files Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
News release: “EPIC has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, urging the FTC to open an investigation into Facebooks revised privacy settings. The EPIC complaint, signed by nine other privacy and consumer organizations, states that the “changes violate user expectations, diminish user privacy, and contradict Facebooks own representations.” EPIC cites widespread opposition from… Continue Reading
CBO: Federal Estate and Gift Taxes
Federal Estate and Gift Taxes, Economic and Budget Issue Brief, December 18, 2009. “The scheduled repeal of the estate tax in 2010, followed by a reversion to a $1 million effective exemption amount thereafter, has raised interest in modifying the estate tax. Proposals include making permanent the repeal of the estate tax; maintaining the current… Continue Reading
