Author archives

FDA Pulls Food Additive in Citrus Sodas Over Health Risks

Gizmodo: “A problematic ingredient in some soft drinks is now officially being taken off the market. The Food and Drug Administration has revoked its authorization that allows brominated vegetable oil (BVO) to be used in food, following recent research suggesting that it could potentially harm people’s thyroid health. BVO is vegetable oil that’s been modified …

Subjects: Courts, Food and Nutrition, Government Documents, Health Care, Legal Research

Cloudflare is taking a stand against AI website scrapers

engadget – “Cloudflare has released a new free tool that prevents AI companies’ bots from scraping its clients’ websites for content to train large language models. The cloud service provider is making this tool available to its entire customer base, including those on free plans. “This feature will automatically be updated over time as we …

Subjects: AI, Copyright, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Internet

These cities have the highest share of unaffordable neighborhoods in 2024

creditnews: “Homeownership is one of the key pillars of the American dream. But for many families, the idyllic fantasy of a picket fence and backyard barbecues remains just that—a fantasy. Thanks to elevated mortgage rates, sky-high house prices, and scarce inventory, millions of American families have been locked out of the opportunity to buy a …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Housing

Closer to Vermeer and the Girl

Mauritshuis: “New discoveries and insights from the international scientific examination. Girl with the Pearl Earring (c. 1665) by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Two years ago, an international team of scientists from various museums and institutions examined Vermeer’s masterpiece in full public view. Now, two years later, the …

Subjects: Education

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

“The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project connects 45 non-profit investigative centers in 34 countries, scores of journalists and several major regional news organizations across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. We work to turn the tables on corruption and build greater accountability through exposing the abuse of power at the expense …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

Nearly 60% of Google searches end without a click in 2024

One more time…but likely not the last time…please stop using Google. Via Search engineLand. Nearly 60% of Google searches end without a click in 2024 – “A majority of Google searches – 58.5% in the U.S. and 59.7% in the EU – result in zero clicks. A zero-click search happens when users end their session …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Search Engines

SEC Updates Website to Improve Compliance, Functionality, and User Experience

“The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced enhancements to its website to improve compliance with federal statutes and standards as well as the site’s functionality. The updates will improve the website’s user experience for market participants and the public.  “I’m pleased that these updates will improve our website’s compliance with federal standards,” said SEC Chair …

Subjects: E-Government, Economy, Education, Financial System, Legal Research

Law Clerk vs. AI? Courthouse Test Highlights Judicial Curiosity

Bloomberg Law- Law Clerk vs. AI? Courthouse Test Highlights Judicial Curiosity [paywalled] [unpaywalled] “Law clerks and interns for federal Judge Xavier Rodriguez recently spent weeks poring over evidence from a high-profile trial on challenges to Texas’ voting and election laws, and then summarized key testimony for the court’s official findings of fact and conclusions of …

Subjects: AI, Courts, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

The Secret IRS Files – Inside the Tax Records of the .001%

ProPublica: “In 2007, Jeff Bezos, then a multibillionaire and now the world’s richest man, did not pay a penny in federal income taxes. He achieved the feat again in 2011. In 2018, Tesla founder Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, also paid no federal income taxes. Michael Bloomberg managed to do the same …

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