Making Google Accessible – “As part of Googles mission to make the worlds information universally accessible and useful, were committed to making accessibility a reality for all of our users, including those with disabilities.” See also The 26th Annual International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: March 2011
PepsiCo Develops World's First 100 Percent Plant-Based, Renewably Sourced PET Bottle
News release: “Building upon its heritage as an innovator and leader in environmental sustainability, PepsiCo today announced it has developed the world’s first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based, fully renewable resources, enabling the company to manufacture a beverage container with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. PepsiCo’s “green” bottle is 100 percent recyclable and… Continue Reading
The 2011 Retirement Confidence Survey: Confidence Drops to Record Lows, Reflecting the New Normal
The 2011 Retirement Confidence Survey: Confidence Drops to Record Lows, Reflecting the New Normal, by Ruth Helman, Mathew Greenwald & Associates, and Craig Copeland and Jack VanDerhei, Employee Benefit Research Institute, March 2011 “The 21st wave of the Retirement Confidence Survey (RCS) finds that Americans confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement has… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: OMB IT Dashboard Improvements Needed
Information Technology: OMB Has Made Improvements to Its Dashboard, but Further Work Is Needed by Agencies and OMB to Ensure Data Accuracy, GAO-11-262, March 15, 2011: “Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent on information technology (IT) investments each year; federal IT spending has now risen to an estimated $79 billion for fiscal year 2011. During… Continue Reading
EIA: Advanced electric meter installations rising in homes and businesses
U.S. Advanced Meter Penetration by end-use sector: “Electric meters with enhanced communication capabilities an essential component of the smart grid are becoming more prevalent. This offers the possibility that electric systems will become more reliable and efficient. In 2009, 39% of all U.S. electrical customers had advanced meters, up from 32% in 2008.… Continue Reading
EIA: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update
Retail gasoline prices rose by 4.7 cents per gallon between March 7 and March 14, 2011 – See this Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, with accompanying charts. Continue Reading
Federal Health Reform: State Legislative Tracking Database
Welcome to the State Legislative Tracking Database on Health Reform: Search 2011 legislation by state, topic, keyword, status, and/or primary sponsor. “The database includes 2011 legislation, including pending, failed and enacted bills and resolutions. The database is intended to capture state actions related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care… Continue Reading
DOJ Launches FOIA.gov
“As the flagship initiative of the Departments Open Government Plan, OIP [Office of Information Policy] is proud to announce the launch of FOIA.Gov, a comprehensive public resource for government-wide FOIA information and data. FOIA.Gov displays graphically a wealth of data on agency FOIA compliance, contains educational material about how the FOIA works, and contact information… Continue Reading
TRAC: New tools provide updates on IRS audits and criminal enforcement
“In anticipation of April 15, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) today posted updates to much of its data on the Internal Revenue Service. Included in this edition are the following features all of which can be reached from TRAC’s IRS Data Tools and Applications page: Audits – two applications graphically display changes in the… Continue Reading
2010 Census Local-Level Data
“2010 Census Local-Level Data Since February, we have begun to see the portrait of America take shape, as each state receives local-level 2010 Census data on race, Hispanic origin, the voting age population and housing units. As required by law, the Census Bureau provides these key demographic data to the states (on a state-by-state… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Nuclear Waste, Prescription Drugs
Nuclear Waste: DOE Needs a Comprehensive Strategy and Guidance on Computer Models that Support Environmental Cleanup Decisions, GAO-11-143, February 10, 2011 Prescription Drugs: Trends in Usual and Customary Prices for Commonly Used Drugs, GAO-11-306R, February 10, 2011 Continue Reading
EPA Announces U.S. Cities with the Most Energy Star Certified Buildings
News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned EPAs Energy Star certification in 2010. The list of 25 cities is headed by Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Chicago; New York; Atlanta; Houston; Sacramento; Detroit; and Dallas-Fort Worth.… Continue Reading
