Monthly archives: April, 2020

CBO’s Current Projections of Output, Employment Interest Rates Federal Deficits

CBO’s Current Projections of Output, Employment, and Interest Rates and a Preliminary Look at Federal Deficits for 2020 and 2021 – “The economy will experience a sharp contraction in the second quarter of 2020. In CBO’s current economic projections, inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (real GDP) declines by about 12 percent in that quarter, equivalent to …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research

Librarians Under Pandemic Duress: Layoffs, Napkin Masks, and Fear of Retaliation

Bookriot: “For institutions ranked among the most trustworthy and beloved, it’s shameful how the individuals who comprise libraries are treated as disposable. As the pandemic lurches forward, more and more libraries are doing something unexpected during a period of time when the digital services they provide are vital: they’re laying off workers or pushing them …

Subjects: Economy, Government Documents, Health Care, Libraries

Why Some People Get Sicker Than Others

The Atlantic – COVID-19 is proving to be a disease of the immune system. This could, in theory, be controlled. “…COVID-19 is, in many ways, proving to be a disease of uncertainty. According to a new study from Italy, some 43 percent of people with the virus have no symptoms. Among those who do develop …

Subjects: Health Care, Medicine

Bike lanes provide positive economic impact

Science Daily – “Despite longstanding popular belief, bicycle lanes can actually improve business. At worst, the negative impact on sales and employment is minimal, according to a new study. Researchers studied 14 corridors in 6 cities — Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Memphis, Minneapolis and Indianapolis — and found such improvements had either positive or non-significant …

Subjects: Climate Change, Economy, Environmental Law, Transportation

A Flowchart for Making Impactful Purchases at Your Indie Bookstore

Bookriot: “Looking to support independent bookstores during the pandemic? Here’s a flow chart for how to make your purchases most impactful for your local indie. Order Directly From the Bookstore’s Website – Does your local bookshop have a webstore? If so, shop directly on their website. Purchase branded merch, gift cards, and search for in-stock …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Economy, Internet, Libraries

Misinformation During a Pandemic

Bursztyn, Leonardo and Rao, Aakaash and Roth, Christopher and Yanagizawa-Drott, David, Misinformation During a Pandemic (April 19, 2020). University of Chicago, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics Working Paper No. 2020-44. “We study the effects of news coverage of the novel coronavirus by the two most widely-viewed cable news shows in the United States – Hannity …

Subjects: Free Speech, Health Care, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

What You Should Know About COVID-19 and ADA, Rehabilitation Act, Other EEO Laws

EEOC – Technical Assistance Questions and Answers – Updated on April 23, 2020 – “All EEOC materials related to COVID-19 are collected at www.eeoc.gov/coronavirus. The EEOC enforces workplace anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act (which include the requirement for reasonable accommodation and non-discrimination based on disability, and rules …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Health Care, Legal Research, Medicine, Privacy

Description Of The Tax Provisions Of Public Law 116-136, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act

Joint Committee on Taxation – Description Of The Tax Provisions Of Public Law 116-136, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, April 22, 2020: “This document, prepared by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation in consultation with the staffs of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Survey – 49% of People Don’t Disinfect Electronics

Panda Security: “Cell phones, tablets, and keyboards are a daily part of life. However, the same procedures that go with cleaning common household items do not follow-suit for everyday handheld devices. A study published in Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials explores the contamination levels of handheld devices. It concludes that 94% of phones show …

Subjects: Health Care, Internet, Knowledge Management