Day archives: August 16th, 2009

Report: Economic Crisis Fuels Support for Social Security Americans’ Views on Social Security

News release: “On the eve of the 74th anniversary of Social Security, nearly nine in ten (88%) Americans say Social Security is more important than ever as a result of today’s economic crisis, and three-quarters of Americans say it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means that working Americans have to pay …

Subjects: Government Documents

GreenerComputing Reports Developing Nations May Reuse More Electronics Than Thought

GreenerComputing Staff: “A new article in the journal Environmental Science & Technology looks at the market for reuse of exported computers and other electronics and finds that there is plenty of life in those old machines — although e-waste exports still pose a significant environmental problem. The study [fee based], Product or Waste? Importation and …

Subjects: Government Documents, Knowledge Management

Federal Railroad Administration Proposed Rules to Prevent Train Collisions

News release: “Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo announced proposed rules designed to prevent train collisions through the use of Positive Train Control. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) prescribes how railroads must use Positive Train Control systems to prevent train-to-train collisions. PTC technology is capable of automatically controlling train speeds …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents

Bureau of Justice Statistics: Background Checks for Firearm Transfers

Background Checks for Firearm Transfers, 2008 – Statistical Tables “This web page describes background checks for firearm transfers conducted in 2008. The statistical tables below provide the number of firearm transaction applications checked by state points of contact and local agencies, the number of applications denied and the reasons for denial, and estimates of applications …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents

FCC Chairman Announces Senior Staff for Development of National Broadband Plan

News release: “Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the appointment of several senior staffers who will work on the development of a National Broadband Plan as part of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative…The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, directed the FCC to submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress by February 17, 2010 …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents, Internet

FTC Releases Reports on Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Sales and Marketing Expenditures

News release: “The amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion by the five largest cigarette companies in the United States declined from $13.11 billion in 2005 to $12.49 billion in 2006, according to a report released today by the Federal Trade Commission. The largest spending category – spending on price discounts – fell from $9.78 …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents

Commentary Focuses on Powerful Brain "Seeking" Systems and Internet Usage

Via Slate: Seeking How the brain hard-wires us to love Google, Twitter, and texting. And why that’s dangerous, by Emily Yoffe. “…Actually all our electronic communication devices—e-mail, Facebook feeds, texts, Twitter—are feeding the same drive as our searches. Since we’re restless, easily bored creatures, our gadgets give us in abundance qualities the seeking/wanting system finds …

Subjects: Blogs, E-Mail, Internet, Knowledge Management, Search Engines