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Daily Archives: April 16, 2020

USA Spending tracks federal spending to ensure taxpayers can see how their money is being used

“USAspending.gov is the official source for spending data for the U.S. Government. Its mission is to show the American public what the federal government spends every year and how it spends the money. You can follow the money from the Congressional appropriations to the federal agencies and down to local communities and businesses…” Continue Reading

Study – Students often do not question online information

PHYS.org: “The Internet and social media are among the most frequently used sources of information today. Students, too, often prefer online information rather than traditional teaching materials provided by universities. According to a study conducted by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Goethe University Frankfurt, students struggle to critically assess information from the Internet and… Continue Reading

Coronavirus Tests Science’s Need for Speed Limits

The New York Times –  Preprint servers and peer-reviewed journals are seeing surging audiences, with many new readers not well versed in the limitations of the latest research findings. “Early on Feb. 1, John Inglis picked up his phone and checked Twitter, as he does most mornings. He was shocked at what fresh hell awaited.… Continue Reading

Most Americans Say Trump Was Too Slow in Initial Response to Coronavirus Threat

Pew Survey – Wide concern that states will lift COVID-19 restrictions too quickly – “As the death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spiral, most Americans do not foresee a quick end to the crisis. In fact, 73% say that in thinking about the problems the country is facing from the coronavirus outbreak,… Continue Reading

Making masks at home – what you need to know about how to reduce the transmission of coronavirus

The Conversation via Pete Weiss – “The recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to use cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19 has generated numerous how-to articles and videos. As academics who focus on personal protective equipment (PPE) research and development, we are concerned about the lack of information about… Continue Reading

COVID-19, Digital Surveillance, and Privacy: Fourth Amendment Considerations

CRS Legal Sidebar – COVID-19, Digital Surveillance, and Privacy: Fourth Amendment Considerations, April 16, 2020:  “As COVID-19 has spread across the globe, countries like South Korea and Israel have employed digital surveillance measures using cell phone location data, among other things, in an effort to track and limit the virus’s transmission. In the United States,… Continue Reading

Freedom of Association in the Wake of Coronavirus

CRS Legal Sidebar – Freedom of Association in the Wake of Coronavirus, April 16, 2020: “…At least 42 U.S. states have issued emergency orders directing residents to “stay at home,”with many states prohibiting gatherings of various sizes to control the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). California’s March 19thstay-at-home order effectively banned public gatherings outside… Continue Reading

What Historians Will See When They Look Back on the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020

Universities and institutions are inviting the public to share their experiences during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath. “…Universities, archives and historical societies, ranging from the Smithsonian Natural Museum of American History to a tiny college radio station in Pennsylvania, are rushing to collect and curate the personal accounts of how people are experiencing… Continue Reading

Attacks on press credibility endanger US democracy and global press freedom

“The Trump administration has stepped up prosecutions of news sources, interfered in the business of media owners, harassed journalists crossing U.S. borders, and empowered foreign leaders to restrict their own media. But Trump’s most effective ploy has been to destroy the credibility of the press, dangerously undermining truth and consensus even as the COVID-19 pandemic… Continue Reading