Prescription Painkiller Overdoses- A growing epidemic, especially among women – CDC Vital Signs, July 2013 – “About 18 women die every day of a prescription painkiller overdose in the US, more than 6,600 deaths in 2010. Prescription painkiller overdoses are an under-recognized and growing problem for women. Although men are still more likely to die… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: July 2013
CRS – Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information
Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information – Jennifer K. Elsea, Legislative Attorney, June 24, 2013 “The publication of classified information related to National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance activity is the latest in a series of leaks to the press that has riveted Congress’s attention. Press reports describing classified U.S. operations abroad have… Continue Reading
CRS – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Background and Current Issues
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Background and Current Issues – Rena S. Miller – Analyst in Financial Economics, June 24, 2013 “The CFTC witnessed a major expansion of its role in overseeing derivatives markets following passage of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010. This act br ought previously unregulated over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, called swaps, under the… Continue Reading
Report – Sustainability for the Nation: Resource Connection and Governance Linkages
A “sustainable society,” according to one definition, “is one that can persist over generations; one that is far-seeing enough, flexible enough, and wise enough not to undermine either its physical or its social system of support.” As the government sector works hard to ensure sufficient fresh water, food, energy, housing, health, and education for the… Continue Reading
Commentary – Technology, Not Law, Limits Mass Surveillance
Technology, Not Law, Limits Mass Surveillance, by Ashkan Soltani – MIT Technology Review July 2013 “Recent revelations about the extent of surveillance by the U.S. National Security Agency come as no surprise to those with a technical background in the workings of digital communications. The leaked documents show how the NSA has taken advantage of the increased… Continue Reading
Pew – Newspaper newsrooms suffer large staffing decreases
“The American Society of News Editors released its annual newsroom census figures [June 25, 2013] showing a severe decline in the size of newspaper staffs. In all, there were about 2,600 fewer full-time professional editorial jobs at newspapers in 2012, a 6.4% decline from 2011. That leaves the industry at 38,000 full-time professional editorial employees… Continue Reading
National Sustainability Policy Should Be Established To Encourage Greater Collaboration Among Federal Agencies
“The United States should establish a National Sustainability Policy and take additional steps to encourage federal agencies to collaborate on sustainability challenges that demand the expertise of many agencies, such as improving disaster resilience and managing ecosystems, says a new report from the National Research Council. Currently, the government is generally not organized to deal… Continue Reading
Revised Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule Goes Into Effect Today
News release: “The Federal Trade Commission’s revised Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule took effect today, giving parents greater control over the online collection of their children’s personal information. The revised COPPA rule culminates more than two years of review by the agency to modernize the rule. The revised COPPA rule addresses changes in the… Continue Reading
McKinsey – Navigating the new era of Asian retail banking
‘Retail banking in Asia is on the cusp of a new era. By 2015, more personal financial assets will reside there than in Europe, making Asia the world’s second-largest wealth-management region, behind only the United States. Retail-banking revenue in Asia, growing at 9 percent a year since 2010, is expected to reach more than $900… Continue Reading
Banking Agencies Issue Host State Loan-to-Deposit Ratios
News release: “The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today issued the host state loan-to-deposit ratios that the banking agencies will use to determine compliance with section 109 of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994.… Continue Reading
EC Commission sends statement of objections to 13 investment banks, ISDA and Markit in credit default swaps investigation
News release: “The European Commission has informed some of the world’s largest investment banks of its preliminary conclusion that they infringed EU antitrust rules that prohibit anti-competitive agreements by colluding to prevent exchanges from entering the credit derivatives business between 2006 and 2009. The sending of a statement of objections does not prejudge the final… Continue Reading
EIA – The cement industry is the most energy intensive of all manufacturing industries
EIA Report – “The industrial sector, which encompasses manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and construction, accounted for almost a third of total U.S. energy use in 2012. Energy-intensive manufacturing accounted for a little more than half of total industrial energy use. Although the cement industry used only one-quarter of one percent of total U.S. energy, it is the… Continue Reading
