Via LLRX.com – A national digital library endowment: How Americas billionaires could be modern Carnegies for real – David H. Rothman discusses how e-books, collections of electrons, not atoms, come with special advantages. They eliminate physical-shelving costs and are especially useful for blind people and others with special needs. Digital technology can also help multiply… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: March 2013
EPIC – States Fine Google for Street View Privacy Violations
“Attorneys general for 38 states and the District of Columbia today reached a “$7 Million Settlement” with Google over consumer protection and privacy claims. The company engaged in the unauthorized collection of data from wireless networks, including private WiFi networks of residential Internet users. A detailed Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, setting out the terms of… Continue Reading
2013 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index
News release: “After the Arab springs and other protest movements that prompted many rises and falls in last years index, the 2013 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index marks a return to a more usual configuration. The ranking of most countries is no longer attributable to dramatic political developments. This years index is a… Continue Reading
Monthly Labor Review Online: February 2013
Recent college graduates in the U.S. labor force: data from the Current Population Survey, Thomas Luke Spreen Hispanic/Latino fatal occupational injury rates, Christen G. Byler State labor legislation enacted in 2012, John J. Fitzpatrick, Jr. and James L. Perine Entire February 2013 Monthly Labor Review in one PDF file Continue Reading
Report – Ground-level ozone falling faster than model predicted
“There is good news and better news about ground-level ozone in American cities. While dangerous ozone levels have fallen in places that clamp down on emissions from vehicles and industry, a new study from Rice University suggests that a model widely used to predict the impact of remediation efforts has been too conservative. Particularly in… Continue Reading
CRS – U.S. Immigration Policy: Chart Book of Key Trends
U.S. Immigration Policy: Chart Book of Key Trends, Ruth Ellen Wasem, Specialist in Immigration Policy, March 7, 2013 “This report is a chart book of selected immigration trends that touch on the main elements of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Most policymakers agree that the main issues in CIR include increased border security and immigration enforcement,… Continue Reading
Federal Employees Retirement System: The Role of the Thrift Savings Plan
CRS – Federal Employees Retirement System: The Role of the Thrift Savings Plan, Katelin P. Isaacs, Analyst in Income Security. March 8, 2013 “Federal employees participate in one of two retirement systems. The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was established in 1920 and covers only employees hired before 1984. Participants in the CSRS do not… Continue Reading
Commentary – Why We Miss the First Sale Doctrine in Digital Libraries
John Palfrey: “Publishers, ebook vendors, and libraries are engaged in a tug of war over the lending of electronic books, according to Library Journals recent ebook survey. This clash inhibits most libraries from fulfilling their important institutional missions to provide access to knowledge and preserve our cultural heritage. In the best case, this tug of… Continue Reading
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Welfare Waivers
CRS – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Welfare Waivers. Gene Falk, Specialist in Social Policy. March 7, 2013 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it is willing to waive certain federal work participation standards under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant to permit states to experiment with alternative… Continue Reading
ProPublica Profiles Data Brokers
Lois Beckett – ProPublica: “Data companies are scooping up enormous amounts of information about almost every American. They sell information about whether you’re pregnant or divorced or trying to lose weight, about how rich you are and what kinds of cars you have. Regulators and some in Congress have been taking a closer look at… Continue Reading
Pogo Blog – 5 Great Online Tools for Mining Public Records
Lili Shirley: “Thanks to our open records laws, you can find a treasure trove of information on the webeverything from details about publically traded companies to where stimulus funds are going. You can even submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests online. Take some time this week to educate yourself about the information and data… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – SaferProducts.gov, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Federal Courthouses Construction, TARP, WIC Program
Consumer Product Safety Commission – Awareness, Use, and Usefulness of SaferProducts.gov, GAO-13-306, Mar 11, 2013 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter – Current Outlook Is Improved, but Long-Term Affordability Is a Major Concern, GAO-13-309, Mar 11, 2013 Federal Courthouses Construction – Nationwide Space and Cost Overages Also Apply to Miami Project, GAO-13-461T, Mar 8, 2013 Troubled Asset… Continue Reading
