The prohibitive cost of e-journal subscriptions and the wealth of critical research articles available only for fee continues to reverberate in different directions as individuals and groups work to bypass paywalls. Aaron Swartz spearheaded these efforts in 2013 when he downloaded millions of articles through MIT’s JSTOR account. More recently, efforts to broaden access to… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Monthly Archives: October 2015
Creating a Federal Advisory Committee in the Executive Branch
Creating a Federal Advisory Committee in the Executive Branch, Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government. October 19, 2015 “Federal advisory committees allow members of the public to formally provide advice and recommendations to the executive branch of the federal government. These advisory committees, of which about 1,000 operate at any given time, provide advice… Continue Reading
GAO Reports – Medicaid, Medicaid and Insurance Exchanges, NIH
Medicaid: Additional Efforts Needed to Ensure that State Spending is Appropriately Matched with Federal Funds, GAO-16-53: Published: Oct 16, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 23, 2015. Medicaid and Insurance Exchanges: Additional Federal Controls Needed to Minimize Potential for Gaps and Duplication in Coverage, GAO-16-73: Published: Oct 9, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 23, 2015. National Institutes of… Continue Reading
Study – which foods may be addictive and why
Which foods may be addictive? The roles of processing, fat content, and glycemic load. PLoS One. 2015; 10(2): e0117959. Published online 2015 Feb 18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.011795 “We propose that highly processed foods share pharmacokinetic properties (e.g. concentrated dose, rapid rate of absorption) with drugs of abuse, due to the addition of fat and/or refined carbohydrates… Continue Reading
View all the Web and App Activities You Conduct Using Google
TechInsider: “The tech giant collects various user data including search history, location, and voice searches to help improve its services and provide relevant ads. However, some users might be surprised to know they can easily take a look at all of the data Google has on them…To view this information, go to “My Account” then… Continue Reading
JSTOR Daily – free online magazine
“JSTOR Daily offers a fresh way for people to understand and contextualize their world. Our writers provide insight, commentary, and analysis of ideas, research, and current events, tapping into the rich scholarship on JSTOR, a digital library of more than 2,000 academic journals, dating back to the first volume ever published, along with thousands of monographs,… Continue Reading
Can Social Security Be Solvent?
Can Social Security Be Solvent? Karen E. Smith, October 16, 2015. The Urban Institute. “Social Security is expected to run short of funds to pay all promised benefits in less than 20 years. However, none of the most popular reform options, including raising the retirement age, cutting cost-of-living adjustments, and raising the cap on earnings… Continue Reading
22 Former CRS Employees Support Free Public Access to CRS reports
From the October 22, 2015 letter [via Politico]: “Dear Chairman Blunt, Chairman Capito, Chairman Miller, Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Schumer, Ranking Member Schatz, Ranking Member Brady, Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, and Vice Chairman Harper: We are former employees of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), with more than a collective five hundred years with the agency.… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Appointment Process: President’s Selection of a Nominee
CRS – Supreme Court Appointment Process: President’s Selection of a Nominee. Barry J. McMillion, Analyst on the Federal Judiciary. October 19, 2015. “The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the… Continue Reading
Qatar Country Analysis Brief – Energy
EIA: “Qatar is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, and the country’s exports of LNG, crude oil, and petroleum products provide a significant portion of government revenues. Like many of its neighbors, Qatar relies on its energy sector to support its economy. According to the Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar’s… Continue Reading
International banking statistics at end-June 2015
“The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) today released international banking statistics at end-June 2015. • Between end-March and end-June 2015, cross-border bank lending contracted significantly for the first time since late 2013. The $910 billion quarter-on-quarter decline more than offset the $781 billion expansion observed in the first quarter of the year. • Cross-border claims… Continue Reading
Status of Federal Housing Assistance for Low-Income Households
Presentation by Elizabeth Cove Delisle, an analyst in CBO’s Budget Analysis Division, with Natalie Tawil, an analyst in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies Division, to the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. In 2014, the federal government provided about $50 billion in housing assistance specifically designated for low-income households. This presentation describes the ways in which the… Continue Reading
