Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Daily Archives: August 30, 2016

CRS – How Can the Results of a Presidential Election Be Contested?

CRS Reports & Analysis Legal Sidebar – How Can the Results of a Presidential Election Be Contested?, August 26, 2016.
“In the midst of the presidential campaign season, the possibility of election fraud has been raised. This discussion briefly examines how the results of a presidential election may be contested. Although it has national impact, the presidential election is in essence 50 state and District of Columbia elections for presidential electors, held on the same day throughout the country. Therefore—and consistent with the states’ traditional authority over the administration of elections within their jurisdictions—states have the initial responsibility for resolving challenges, recounts, and contests to the results of a presidential election. Specifically, the Electoral Count Act of 1887, as amended, contemplates that contests and challenges to the vote for presidential electors are to be initially handled in the states. Codified in part at 3 U.S.C. § 5 , the law provides that if a contest or challenge in a state to the election or appointment of presidential electors is resolved in that state before the sixth day prior to the meeting of the electors, such determination shall be “conclusive” and shall “govern” when Congress counts the electoral votes as directed by the Twelfth Amendment. The Supreme Court has referred to this as the “safe harbor” provision. This year, the presidential electors are scheduled to meet on December 19. Six days prior is December 13, which therefore, will be the last day for the states to make a final determination in order for it to be conclusive when Congress counts the votes…”

Pew – U.S. Public Wary of Biomedical Technologies to ‘Enhance’ Human Abilities

“Cutting-edge biomedical technologies that could push the boundaries of human abilities may soon be available, making people’s minds sharper and their bodies stronger and healthier than ever before. But a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults shows that majorities greet the possibility of these breakthroughs with more wariness and worry than enthusiasm and… Continue Reading

Bike Index helps to fight bicycle theft

Help us fight bicycle theft—register your bike: “The Bike Index makes stolen bikes harder to sell and easier to recover by making sure important information about your bike is there when you need it the most. The process is simple, secure, and free. Learn more or register your bike now. So far we’ve registered 89,737… Continue Reading

Performance.gov: Long-Term Strategy Needed to Improve Website Usability

Performance.gov: Long-Term Strategy Needed to Improve Website Usability, GAO-16-693: Published: Aug 30, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 30, 2016:  “The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Performance Improvement Council (PIC) took several steps to improve the usefulness of Performance.gov, a website intended to serve as the public window to the… Continue Reading

Washington Post publishes searchable document archive for new book on Trump

Via WaPo – “Trump Revealed, a biography of the Republican presidential nominee published August 23 [2016] by Scribner….The archive is searchable and navigable in a number of ways. It is meant as a resource for other journalists and a trove to explore for our many readers fascinated by original documents.” Continue Reading

Data Breach Aftermath and Recovery for Individuals and Institutions

Anne Johnson and Lynette I. Millett, Rapporteurs; Forum on Cyber Resilience Workshop Series; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: “In January 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted the Workshop on Data Breach Aftermath and Recovery for Individuals and Institutions. Participants examined existing technical and policy remediations, and they discussed possible… Continue Reading

Middle class burden for health care costs continues to grow

Morningstar – Anna Louie Sussman – “Growth in overall health-care spending is slowing, but middle-class families’ share of the tab is getting larger, squeezing households already feeling stretched financially. Overall, health-care spending across the economy reached 18.2% of gross domestic product as of June, up from 13.3% in 2000, according to Altarum Institute, a health… Continue Reading

EC – Ireland gave illegal tax benefits to Apple worth up to 13 billion pounds

European Commission Press Release: “The European Commission has concluded that Ireland granted undue tax benefits of up to €13 billion to Apple. This is illegal under EU state aid rules, because it allowed Apple to pay substantially less tax than other businesses. Ireland must now recover the illegal aid. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of… Continue Reading

Collapse W3C Workshop Report: Blockchains and the Web

On August 26, 2016, “W3C published the report of the W3C Blockchains and the Web workshop held on 29-30 June, 2016, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Participants at the workshop found many topics for possible standardization or incubation, including various aspects of identity and proof-of-existence, as well as smaller blockchain primitives that could increase interoperability across… Continue Reading

Southern Poverty Law Conference – Hate Map

“892 Hate Groups are currently operating in the US. Track them…with our Hate Map. All hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. This list was compiled using hate group publications and websites, citizen and law enforcement reports, field sources and news reports.… Continue Reading

Protect your dog companions from common household products and food that are deadly

Via Preventive Vet:”Which Products Contain Xylitol (a sugar substitute)? Here’s a List! Please exercise extreme caution and keep these products out of reach of your dogs. If you suspect your dog has ingested a product containing xylitol contact your veterinarian, Pet Poison Control or go to your local Animal ER right away. Xylitol toxicity is… Continue Reading