Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, Jonathan Rothwell and Siddharth Kulkarni: “The choice of college is among the most important investment decisions individuals and families make, yet people know little about how institutions of higher learning compare along important dimensions of quality. This is especially true for colleges granting credentials of two years or less, which graduate… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: May 2015
10 Facts About the Internet’s Undersea Cables
“In describing the system of wires that comprises the Internet, Neal Stephenson once compared the earth to a computer motherboard. From telephone poles suspending bundles of cable to signs posted warning of buried fiber optic lines, we are surrounded by evidence that at a basic level, the Internet is really just a spaghetti-work of really… Continue Reading
NARA proposed rules – how Executive Branch offices and agencies handle Controlled Unclassified Information
NARA issues proposed rules on how Executive Branch offices and agencies handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). “President Obama issued a memorandum on January 21, 2009 that articulated his plan to make government activity more open and accessible to ordinary citizens. In that memo, the president explains that a fundamental characteristic of democracy is transparency and… Continue Reading
Immigration Court Backlog Reaches Another New High
“The number of new cases awaiting resolution before the Immigration Courts climbed to a new all-time high of 445,607 as of the end of April 2015, according to very timely government court data obtained by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). The backlog has risen 9.2 percent since the start of FY 2015 and is… Continue Reading
FTC – Recovering from identity theft is easier with a plan
“IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.” What To Do Right Away What To Do Next Other Steps Know Your Rights Sample Letters Warning signs of identity theft What to do if your info is lost… Continue Reading
Two Cheers for Corporate Experimentation: The A/B Illusion and the Virtues of Data-Driven Innovation
Meyer, Michelle N., Two Cheers for Corporate Experimentation: The A/B Illusion and the Virtues of Data-Driven Innovation (May 11, 2015). 13 Colo. Tech. L.J. 273 (2015). Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2605132 “Practitioners” — whether business managers, lawmakers, clinicians, or other actors — are constantly innovating, in the broad sense of introducing new products, services,… Continue Reading
Citizens Against Public Waste Releases 2015 Congressional Pig Book
“[May 13, 2015], Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released its 2015 Congressional Pig Book, the 23rd edition of the group’s exposé on pork-barrel spending. CAGW President Tom Schatz was joined at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Rep.… Continue Reading
What Makes Lawyers Happy?: A Data-Driven Prescription to Redefine Professional Success
Professor Lawrence S. Krieger with Kennon M. Sheldon, Ph.D. 83 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 554 “This is the first theory-guided empirical research seeking to identify the correlates and contributors to the well-being and life satisfaction of lawyers. Data from several thousand lawyers in four states provide insights about diverse factors from law school and one’s… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Coast Guard Acquisitions, Information Management, International Education Assistance, Military Personnel, UN, Unmanned Aerial Systems
Coast Guard Acquisitions: As Major Assets are Fielded, Overall Portfolio Remains Unaffordable, GAO-15-620T: Published: May 14, 2015. Publicly Released: May 14, 2015. Information Management: Additional Actions Are Needed to Meet Requirements of the Managing Government Records Directive, GAO-15-339: Published: May 14, 2015. Publicly Released: May 14, 2015. International Education Assistance: USAID Has Implemented Primary Grade… Continue Reading
Special IG Afghanistan – Security Forces Not Meeting Goals
Travis J. Tritten – Stars and Stripes: “U.S. post-war efforts to rebuild Afghanistan could collapse in a defeat similar to the fall of Saigon in 1975, the federal auditor overseeing reconstruction said Wednesday. The country’s future — and the $62 billion American investment — is threatened by the military’s chronically poor intelligence on Afghan security… Continue Reading
Protecting US Security by Minimizing the Role of Nuclear Weapons: A New US Nuclear Policy
The Stimson Center May 14, 2015 Barry Blechman and Russell Rumbaugh– “Nuclear weapons remain the most potent destructive force known to humanity. Yet, US nuclear policies and doctrines remain encumbered by Cold War beliefs in the potential utility of nuclear weapons, even though the United States enjoys a dominant geopolitical position in the world, underpinned… Continue Reading
TRAC: Holding Federal Agencies Accountable for over 25 Years
“Syracuse University Magazine has just published an article celebrating TRAC’s 25th year as a unique university-based data research center focusing on the workings of federal agencies, federal district courts and immigration courts. We thought this well-written description of TRAC’s history, mission and offerings would be of interest to government officials, members of Congress, scholars, supporters,… Continue Reading
