Internet Archives Repository Collects Thousands of Books: “In a wooden warehouse in this industrial suburb [Richmond, CA], the 20th century is being stored in case of digital disaster. Forty-foot shipping containers stacked two by two are stuffed with the most enduring, as well as some of the most forgettable, books of the era. Every week,… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Monthly Archives: March 2012
Drupal Open Source CMS now used by 150 federal agencies
Federal Computer Week: “At least 150 federal websites are now operating on the Drupal open source content management system, and more are preparing to migrate. Federal agencies, led by the White House, began adopting Drupal three years ago as a more flexible, open and engaging platform with which to interact with citizens on the Web.… Continue Reading
NOAA-led study: Colorado oil and gas wells emit more pollutants than expected
News release: “When NOAA scientists began routinely monitoring the atmospheres composition at a tower north of Denver a few years ago, their instruments immediately sniffed something strange: plumes of air rich with chemical pollutants including the potent greenhouse gas methane. Some of the pollutants picked up are known to damage air quality. Another, methane, is… Continue Reading
Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress
CRS – Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress, Rebecca M. Nelson, Analyst in International Trade and Finance, February 29, 2012 “Sovereign debt, also called public debt or government debt, refers to debt incurred by governments. Since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, public debt in advanced economies has increased substantially. A… Continue Reading
Pew – Nearly half of American adults are smartphone owners
Smartphone users now outnumber users of more basic mobile phones within the national adult population, Aaron Smith Senior Research Specialist, Pew Internet Project “46% of American adults now own a smartphone of some kind, up from 35% in May 2011; Smartphone owners now outnumber users of more basic phones. Nearly half (46%) of American adults… Continue Reading
HathiTrust – the future of digital libraries has many paths
Grounding Tomorrow’s Digital Library in Traditional Values: “Mr. Wilkin is executive director of HathiTrust, an online digital repository with more than 10 million volumes. Created in 2008 with the help of Google’s ambitious book-scanning project, the effort is housed at Michigan but draws on the collections and resources of more than 60 partner institutions. “From… Continue Reading
Pew – The emerging information landscape – 8 realities of the "new normal"
“Pew Director Lee Rainie gave a keynote at the NFAIS annual conference about the way the internet and mobile connectivity have transformed the worlds of networked individuals. He discussed how normal life has changed in the past decade because of three revolutions in technology: 1) the spread of broadband; 2) the rise of mobile connectivity;… Continue Reading
EPIC: European Justice Minister Says Google Now in Violation of EU Law
“European Justice Minister Vivian Reding said today that Google’s March 1 changes to its terms of service violate European Union law “in numerous respects.” Commissioner Reding pointed to the failure of the company to obtain user consent, the lack of transparency, and the fact that most users do not read privacy policies. European privacy officials… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – DHS Management; Drug Pricing, Endangered Sea Turtles, NASA, Yemen
Department of Homeland Security – Continued Progress Made Improving and Integrating Management Areas, but More Work Remains, GAO-12-365T, Mar 1, 2012 Drug Pricing – Research on Savings from Generic Drug Use, GAO-12-371R, Jan 31, 2012 Endangered Sea Turtles – Better Coordination, Data Collection, and Planning Could Improve Federal Protection and Recovery Efforts, GAO-12-242, Jan 31,… Continue Reading
Regional and State Unemployment, 2011 Annual Average Summary
News release: “In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in 2 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios decreased in 24 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 19 states, and were unchanged in 7 states. The U.S. jobless rate… Continue Reading
Misinformation and Fact-checking: Research Findings from Social Science
Misinformation and Fact-checking: Research Findings from Social Science, by Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler, February 2012 “Citizens and journalists are concerned about the prevalence of misinformation in contemporary politics, which may pollute democratic discourse and undermine citizens ability to cast informed votes and participate meaningfully in public debate. Academic research in this area paints a… Continue Reading
Labor Market Flexibility and Unemployment: New Empirical Evidence of Static and Dynamic Effects
IMF – Labor Market Flexibility and Unemployment: New Empirical Evidence of Static and Dynamic Effects, Lorenzo E. Bernal-Verdugo, Davide Furceri, and Dominique Guillaume March 01, 2012 “The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between labor market flexibility and unemployment outcomes. Using a panel of 97 countries from 1985 to 2008, the results… Continue Reading
