Social Security: Improvements to Claims Process Could Help People Make Better Informed Decisions about Retirement Benefits, GAO-16-786: Published: Sep 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 14, 2016. “GAO’s review of nine surveys and academic studies, and interviews with retirement experts, suggest that many individuals do not fully understand key details of Social Security rules that can… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: September 2016
Health Costs 2016 Employer Survey: Premiums Rise Modestly, but Deductibles Climb More Quickly
“Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 3 percent to $18,142 this year, a modest increase at a time when workers’ wages (2.5%) and inflation (1.1%) also grew modestly, according to the benchmark Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) 2016 Employer Health Benefits Survey released today. Workers on average contribute… Continue Reading
Carla Hayden Sworn In as First African American, Woman to Head Library of Congress
NBC News: “When Baltimore was ablaze last year following the funeral of Freddie Gray, many establishments, schools and even churches shut down for days fearing the violence outside. A local library, sitting at the epicenter of the riots over the death of a black man in police custody, stayed open so residents would have safe… Continue Reading
The Research Process – Government Sources
Rob Lopresti, Western Washington University – “At Western Washington University, librarians take turns teaching Library 201, Introduction to Research Strategies. It is a 4 credit GUR course (General University Requirement; each student must take some GURs, but not all of them.) We just created a free electronic textbook for the course. It is very much… Continue Reading
FTC Charges Academic Journal Publisher OMICS Group Deceived Researchers
“The Federal Trade Commission has charged the publisher of hundreds of purported online academic journals with deceiving academics and researchers about the nature of its publications and hiding publication fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The FTC’s complaint alleges that OMICS Group, Inc., along with two affiliated companies and their president and director,… Continue Reading
Google Arts & Culture – An extinct world brought back to life
Google Official Blog: “Many millions of years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth and sea dragons were not just Hollywood creations, but fearsome predators that stalked the oceans. It’s a world that vanished long ago, but one that continues to fascinate those seeking to understand the origins of life on our planet. Starting today, anyone, anywhere… Continue Reading
Examining an elephant: globalisation and the lower middle class of the rich world
Via the Resolution Foundation – Examining an elephant: globalisation and the lower middle class of the rich world, by Adam Corlett, Published on 13 September 2016. “The UK’s vote to leave the EU, the US presidential election and proposed free trade deals have all prompted renewed debate about the winners and losers of globalisation. The… Continue Reading
New polymer five pound note issued by Bank of England
Via FT.com – this YouTube video of the new UK plastic fiver that you can wash, and it will last twice as long as paper notes. Continue Reading
Social Security Administration Cuts Hurt Every State
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – “As the baby boom generation ages into its peak years for retirement and disability, the demands on the Social Security Administration (SSA) are reaching all-time highs. Yet Congress has cut SSA’s core operating budget by 10 percent since 2010, after adjusting for inflation. These cuts hurt SSA’s service… Continue Reading
Top 100 Defense Companies
Via Defense News: Top 100 for 2016 – sort by Rank, Last Year’s Rank, Company, Leadership, Country, Revenue. Continue Reading
PolitiFact – Find out which politicians and pundits are telling the truth
Are you reading lots of tweets, blog postings, online news site articles and viewing social media with scads of photos, charts, videos – all of which have you wondering, are these statements True, or are they, well, Lies (all the while talking to yourself out loud with a growing sense of agitation, concern and an… Continue Reading
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the US 2015
“The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that real median household income increased by 5.2 percent between 2014 and 2015 while the official poverty rate decreased 1.2 percentage points. At the same time, the percentage of people without health insurance coverage decreased. Median household income in the United States in 2015 was $56,516, an increase in… Continue Reading
