Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Monthly Archives: February 2015

Why Do Many Reasonable People Doubt Science?

National Geographic – March 2015: “We live in an age when all manner of scientific knowledge—from the safety of fluoride and vaccines to the reality of climate change—faces organized and often furious opposition. Empowered by their own sources of information and their own interpretations of research, doubters have declared war on the consensus of experts.… Continue Reading

68% of US Smartphone Users Concerned – Activity Tracked for Use in Targeted Ads

“According to new findings in an online study conducted by Ipsos on behalf of TRUSTe, 68% of US smartphone users are concerned about having their activity tracked to serve them targeted ads, suggesting that most smartphone users are uncomfortable with the idea of online behavioral advertising (OBA). However, research also showed that awareness of the… Continue Reading

The Impact of the Dark Web on Internet Governance and Cyber Security

Global Commission on Internet Governance, The Impact of the Dark Web on Internet Governance and Cyber Security, Michael Chertoff and Tobby Simon, Paper Series: No. 6, February 2015. “With the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ contract with the United States Department of Commerce due to expire in 2015, the international debate on Internet… Continue Reading

How Different Groups Think about Scientific Issues

Complete Pew Report – “…By a 57%-37% margin, the public believes that genetically-modified foods (GM foods) are generally unsafe to eat. This is a major contrast with scientists Pew Research surveyed. Some 3,748 U.S.-based members of the AAAS were surveyed from September 11 to October 13, 2014 and they said such foods were generally safe… Continue Reading

Employee Tenure Trends, 1983–2014

Employee Benefit Research Institute – Employee Tenure Trends, 1983–2014 “The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data show that the overall median tenure of workers—the midpoint of wage and salary workers’ length of employment in their current jobs—was slightly higher in 2014, at 5.5 years, compared with 5.0 years in 1983 However, the median tenure for… Continue Reading

The Presidential Libraries Act and the Establishment of Presidential Libraries

CRS Report – The Presidential Libraries Act and the Establishment of Presidential Libraries – Wendy R. Ginsberg, Analyst in Government Organization and Management; Erika K. Lunder, Legislative Attorney; Daniel J. Richardson, Research Assistant. February 6, 2015. “The Presidential Libraries Act and the Establishment of Presidential Libraries Congressional Research Service Summary The Presidential Libraries Act (P.L.… Continue Reading

NISO Webinar: Authority Control: Are You Who We Say You Are?

NISO Webinar Authority Control: Are You Who We Say You Are? Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Speakers: Simeon Warner, Director of Repository Development, Cornell University Library Laura Dawson, Product Manager, ProQuest Thomas Hickey, Chief Scientist, OCLC http://www.niso.org/news/events/2015/webinars/authority_control/ “In the world of authority control, it is a bit of an alphabet soup of acronyms. ORCID (Open Researcher… Continue Reading

Risk Classification’s Big Data (R)Evolution

Swedloff, Rick, Risk Classification’s Big Data (R)Evolution (2014). Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, Vol. 21, 2014. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2566594 “Insurers can no longer ignore the promise that the algorithms driving big data will offer greater predictive accuracy than traditional statistical analysis alone. Big data represents a natural evolutionary advancement of insurers trying to… Continue Reading

Economic Report of the President 2015

“This morning, the Council of Economic Advisers released the 69th-annual Economic Report of the President, which reviews the United States’ accelerating recovery and ways to further support middle-class families as the recovery continues. The economy is recovering from the Great Recession at an increasing pace, growing at an annual rate of 2.8 percent over the past… Continue Reading

Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

“The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee) submitted the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Advisory Report) to the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in February 2015. The purpose of the Advisory Report is to inform the Federal government… Continue Reading