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Daily Archives: September 24, 2012

FCW – The 50 most-followed agencies on Twitter

Federal Computer Week: “Twitter has quickly evolved from social media novelty to critical communications channel. This list shows which federal agencies have built the biggest audiences, and where the growth has been fastest over the past year. The data [in this article] was compiled by OhMyGov, a media and technology firm that specializes in providing advanced media intelligence for government agencies, congressional offices, lobbyists, and businesses working with government. Please note that for many agencies, follower totals for multiple Twitter accounts were combined to provide a better sense of total reach. All counts are as of Aug. 31, 2012.”

IRE – Data to fact check candidates' economic claims

Econo Check: “Economic issues have taken center stage in this year’s elections, as the United States continues to stagger from the effects of recession and the 2008 global banking crisis. Candidates for federal, state and local offices are looking to tap into voter discontent about issues like unemployment, home foreclosures and the government spending. It… Continue Reading

CRS – U.S. Implementation of the Basel Capital Regulatory Framework

U.S. Implementation of the Basel Capital Regulatory Framework, Darryl E. Getter, Specialist in Financial Economics. September 20, 2012 “The Basel III international regulatory framework, which was produced in 2010 by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision at the Bank for International Settlements, is the latest in a series of evolving agreements among central banks and… Continue Reading

CRS – Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2012

Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2012, updated September 19, 2012. Richard F. Grimmett, Specialist in International Security, September 19, 2012 “This report lists hundreds of instances in which the United States has used its armed forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential conflict or for other than normal peacetime… Continue Reading

Study finds that ocean acidification is accelerated in nutrient-rich areas

NOAA: “Carbon dioxide released from decaying algal blooms, combined with ongoing increases in atmospheric carbon emissions, leads to increased levels of ocean acidification, and places additional stress on marine resources and the coastal economies that depend on them, according to a new study published today. Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from… Continue Reading

The Debunking Handbook – free download

“The Debunking Handbook, a guide to debunking misinformation, is now freely available to download. Although there is a great deal of psychological research on misinformation, there’s no summary of the literature that offers practical guidelines on the most effective ways of reducing the influence of myths. The Debunking Handbook boils the research down into a… Continue Reading

Brookings – Pathways to the Middle Class: Balancing Personal and Public Responsibilities

Pathways to the Middle Class: Balancing Personal and Public Responsibilities. Isabel V. Sawhill, Scott Winship, and Kerry Searle Grannis. September 20, 2012 “The reality is that economic success in America is not purely meritocratic. We don’t have as much equality of opportunity as we’d like to believe, and we have less mobility than some other… Continue Reading

Airport Body Scanners: The Role of Advanced Imaging Technology in Airline Passenger Screening

Airport Body Scanners: The Role of Advanced Imaging Technology in Airline Passenger Screening. Bart Elias, Specialist in Aviation Policy, September 20, 2012 “Responding to the need to reliably detect explosives, bomb-making components, and other potential security threats concealed by airline passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has focused on the deployment of whole body scanners… Continue Reading

OECD – Pension fund assets at record high but investment returns negative in 2011

“Pension fund assets in OECD countries hit a record USD 20.1 trillion in 2011 but return on investment fell below zero, with an average negative return of -1.7%s, according to the OECD’s latest Pension Markets in Focus. The report says that weak equity markets and low interest rates drove the poor performance. The best performing… Continue Reading