CRS – Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke, Specialist in Naval Affairs. March 14, 2013 “The Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD… Continue Reading
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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici
Urban Institute Papers on the Changing Wealth of American
“The Great Recession hit family finances from many directions. Housing and stock prices fell sharply, and along with them, family wealth. As economic output dropped and unemployment rose sharply, those who lost their jobs or were underemployed saw their wealth erode. The Great Recession had an especially severe impact on the wealth building of Generations… Continue Reading
New Pew Report on Modern Parenthood
Modern Parenthood – Roles of Moms and Dads Converge as They Balance Work and Family, by Kim Parker and Wendy Wang “The way mothers and fathers spend their time has changed dramatically in the past half century. Dads are doing more housework and child care; moms more paid work outside the home. Neither has overtaken… Continue Reading
Grading Government Transparency Scientists Freedom to Speak (and Tweet) at Federal Agencies
Union of Concerned Scientists – “A strong democracy depends on transparency, accountability, and trust in the government to make evidence-based decisions that protect public health and the environment. Federal scientists play an important role in fulfilling this mandate by providing critical expertise to decision makers and the American people. But sometimes, political or commercial forces… Continue Reading
EFF – National Security Letters Are Unconstitutional, Federal Judge Rules
“A federal district court judge in San Francisco has ruled that National Security Letter (NSL) provisions in federal law violate the Constitution. The decision came in a lawsuit challenging a NSL on behalf of an unnamed telecommunications company represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). In the ruling publicly released [March 15, 2013], Judge Susan… Continue Reading
Paper – The Implausibility of Secrecy
The Implausibility of Secrecy, by Mark Fenster. University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law. February 18, 2013 “Government secrecy frequently fails. Despite the executive branchs obsessive hoarding of certain kinds of documents and its constitutional authority to do so, recent high-profile events among them the WikiLeaks episode, the Obama administrations celebrated… Continue Reading
POGO – Shining a Light on FOIA Practices
“In celebration of Sunshine Week, a number of organizations released Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reviews. These reviews, conducted by National Security Archives, the Center for Effective Government, Cause of Action, Associated Press, and OpenTheGovernment.org, indicate how agencies measure up when it comes to providing the public with information. Although the studies indicate that agencies… Continue Reading
CRS – Guns, Excise Taxes, and Wildlife Restoration
Guns, Excise Taxes, and Wildlife Restoration. M. Lynne Corn, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy; Jane G. Gravelle, Senior Specialist in Economic Policy. March 12, 2013 “As a result of the recent debate over guns, gun rights, and gun-related violence, there has been a marked increase in sales of many weapons as well as ammunition. Through… Continue Reading
Google Spectrum Database
“The rapid growth of connected devices around the world has dramatically increased demand for wireless spectrum. Google is working with industry and regulators to make more spectrum available by enabling dynamic spectrum sharing through a database. This TV white spaces database is part of Google.orgs efforts to make more spectrum available for broadband access. To… Continue Reading
Mobile Search Moments: Understanding How Mobile Drives Conversions
Google Mobile Ads Blog: “In this era of mobility, our smartphones are always with us, keeping us connected anytime and anywhere. With this constant connectivity, weve come to expect information (literally) right at our fingertips just a search away – whether its locating the nearest sushi restaurant or booking flights for your upcoming trip. In… Continue Reading
Economic Report of the President 2013
Economic Report of the President transmitted to the Congress March 2013 together with the Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers, March 15, 2013 “This year’s Economic Report of the President describes the progress we have made recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. After years of grueling recession, our businesses… Continue Reading
Aaron Swartz to be honored with freedom of information award
Follow up to previous postings on Aaron Swartz, news that Aaron is to be honored with freedom of information award by the American Library Association – “A champion of open access rights to documents on the Internet, the 26-year-old activist under prosecution committed suicide earlier this year.” See also Aaron Swartzs Lawyers Accuse Prosecutors of… Continue Reading
