EFF – “You shouldn’t have to do this. You shouldn’t have to wade through complicated privacy settings in order to ensure that the companies with which you’ve entrusted your personal information are making reasonable, legal efforts to protect it. But Facebook has allowed third parties to violate user privacy on an unprecedented scale, and, while… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: March 2018
Zillow Research – Home Values and Rents by Congressional District
“Housing costs, both home values and rents, rose nationwide and in a majority of Congressional districts in 2017. Median home values rose last year in 421 of 426 (99 percent) total Congressional districts analyzed by Zillow; rents were up in 295 of 434 (68 percent) total districts analyzed. Home values and rents tend to be… Continue Reading
Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, the 2016 Election, and a colossal misappropriation of social media data
Update – March 21, 2018 via Mark Zukerberg posting on FB: “I want to share an update on the Cambridge Analytica situation — including the steps we’ve already taken and our next steps to address this important issue. We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can’t then we don’t deserve to… Continue Reading
Wide Gender Gap, Growing Educational Divide in Voters’ Party Identification
College graduates increasingly align with Democratic Party – “As the 2018 midterm elections approach, women and especially college graduates have moved toward the Democratic Party. By contrast, the Republican Party’s advantage in leaned party identification among white voters without a college degree has never been greater, dating back more than two decades. While partisanship among… Continue Reading
Iraq War continues to divide the U.S. public, 15 years after it began
“Fifteen years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the American public is divided over whether using military force was the right decision. Nearly half (48%) of Americans say the decision to use military force was wrong, while slightly fewer (43%) say it was the right decision, according to a Pew Research Center… Continue Reading
Google News Initiative: Building a stronger future for news
Google Blog: “…we’re launching the Google News Initiative (GNI), our effort to help journalism thrive in the digital age. The GNI signifies a major milestone in Google’s 15-year commitment to the news industry, and will bring together everything we do in collaboration with the industry—across products, partnerships, and programs—to help build a stronger future for… Continue Reading
How to Locate the Bills and Amendments a Member of Congress has Sponsored or Cosponsored in Congress.gov
In Custodia Legis – Robert Brammer: “One of the questions we are frequently asked is how to locate a bill or amendment that a member of Congress has sponsored or cosponsored. There are a few ways to do this on Congress.gov…” Continue Reading
ABA releases sexual harassment handbook for lawyers
“Amid renewed national attention on workplace sexual misconduct and bullying, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession has released a manual to help legal employers and victims fight sexual harassment. The manual, “Zero Tolerance: Best Practices for Combating Sex-Based Harassment in the Legal Profession,” contains practical advice for legal employers and employees,… Continue Reading
March 24 2018 March For Our Lives – Find an event by location
A reminder that Saturday March 24 there will be a march in Washington DC, and in other cities and towns throughout the country. The March For Our Lives site states: “On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets to demand that their lives and safety become… Continue Reading
Report – Opioid Deaths Continue to Surge in New York State
“The opioid epidemic continues to ravage the nation. The sad fact is no matter the region of the country, there are people struggling with opioid addiction. Not only is every region touched, no group — rich or poor, rural or urban, black or white, men or women — is immune from the epidemic’s devastating effects.… Continue Reading
Dire predictions for current and forthcoming tax seasons as IRS IT systems decline
NextGov – The IRS System Processing Your Taxes is Almost 60 Years Old: “One of the IRS’ most important tax-processing applications is old enough to be a grandparent, and officials warn a failure during tax season could have dire economic ramifications or delay tax refunds for 100 million Americans. The Individual Master File, a massive… Continue Reading
Climate Change Could Force Over 140 Million to Migrate Within Countries by 2050
“The worsening impacts of climate change in three densely populated regions of the world could see over 140 million people move within their countries’ borders by 2050, creating a looming human crisis and threatening the development process, a new World Bank Group report finds. But with concerted action – including global efforts to cut greenhouse… Continue Reading
