“On September 21, 2016, the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Committee on Ways and Means convened a hearing at which Director Keith Hall testified about the differences in the timing and magnitude of the financial shortfalls that CBO and the Social Security Trustees project for the Social Security system. After that hearing, Chairman… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: November 2016
Prospects for DoD’s Budget Over the Next Decade
Presentation by David E. Mosher, Assistant Director for CBO’s National Security Division, at the Professional Services Council’s 2016 Vision Federal Market Forecast Conference.November 16, 2016. “Pressure on the Department of Defense’s budget in future years will come from external fiscal constraints as well as growth within the department in the costs of weapon systems, manpower,… Continue Reading
Librarians work to create and defend vital spaces of information exchange
Public In/Formation. Now more than ever, we need to create and defend vital spaces of information exchange. Librarians, step up. Shannon Mattern, November 2016. This is an excellent long read with extensive documentation specific to the management, accessibility, usability and persistence of knowledge created by governments and “urban intelligence.” The author expertly weaves the critical… Continue Reading
Agency Final Rules Submitted After May 30, 2016, May Be Subject to Disapproval in 2017 Under Congressional Review Act
CRS INSIGHT Agency Final Rules Submitted After May 30, 2016, May Be Subject to Disapproval in 2017 Under the Congressional Review Act, November 9, 2016 (IN10437). Christopher M. Davis, Richard S. Beth. “With a change of presidential administrations taking place in January, some in Congress are paying renewed attention to a parliamentary mechanism that might… Continue Reading
ALA President statement on Libraries, the Association, Diversity and Inclusion
American Library Association President Julie Todaro: “After a contentious campaign season filled with divisive rhetoric, we are now hearing from our members and in the news media about incidents of bigotry and harassment within our communities. From children acting out in schools to adults participating in violent acts, it is clear that our nation is… Continue Reading
Challenges to rebuild infrastructure revealed in conflicting data
NYT – Graphic: Looking at infrastructure data from different sources provides conflicting pictures of what needs to be done See also Knowledge@Wharton – Trump’s Planned Economic Policies: What Could Work, and What Won’t? Continue Reading
100,000 android smartphones have backdoor hacking your data sending it to China
Secret Backdoor in Some U.S. Phones Sent Data to China, Analysts Say – “For about $50, you can get a smartphone with a high-definition display, fast data service and, according to security contractors, a secret feature: a backdoor that sends all your text messages to China every 72 hours. Security contractors recently discovered preinstalled software… Continue Reading
Amazon sues resellers of counterfeit goods
WSJ – “Amazon.com Inc. this week filed lawsuits targeting sellers allegedly listing counterfeit goods on its website, publicly cracking down on an issue that has caused increasing friction. The two lawsuits, Amazon’s first legal challenge against its third-party sellers for bogus products, pertain to fake versions of the Forearm Forklift, a strap system that allows… Continue Reading
Hope in the Dark – Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities
Free ebook – Hope in the Dark – Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit “With Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit makes a radical case for hope as a commitment to act in a world whose future remains uncertain and unknowable. Drawing on her decades of activism and a wide reading of environmental, cultural,… Continue Reading
Military Consumer Toolkit for Personal Financial Managers and other counselors
“Military Consumer is a joint initiative to empower active duty and retired servicemembers, military families, veterans and civilians in the military community. Use these free resources as the first line of defense against fraud and make better-informed decisions when managing your money.” Continue Reading
FTC Enforcement Policy Statement – Marketing Claims for Over-the-Counter Homeopathic Drugs
“The Federal Trade Commission today announced a new “Enforcement Policy Statement on Marketing Claims for Over-the-Counter (OTC) Homeopathic Drugs.” The policy statement was informed by an FTC workshop held last year to examine how such drugs are marketed to consumers. The FTC also released its staff report on the workshop, which summarizes the panel presentations… Continue Reading
GAO Reports – Air Traffic Control, Financial Audits of Federal Reserve, CFPB, FHFA, SEC, Preventing llicit Drug Use
Air Traffic Control: Experts’ and Stakeholders’ Views on Key Issues to Consider in a Potential Restructuring, GAO-17-131: Published: Oct 13, 2016. Publicly Released: Nov 15, 2016. Corporate Shareholder Meetings: Proxy Advisory Firms’ Role in Voting and Corporate Governance Practices, GAO-17-47: Published: Nov 15, 2016. Publicly Released: Nov 15, 2016. Federal Reserve: Additional Actions Could Help… Continue Reading
