AI in Finance and Banking, February 17, 2025

AI in Finance and Banking, February 17, 2025 – This semi-monthly column by Sabrina I. Pacifici highlights news, government documents, NGO/IGO papers, conferences, industry white papers and reports, academic papers and speeches, and central bank actions on the subject of AI’s fast paced impact on the banking and finance sectors. The chronological links provided are to …

Subjects: AI, blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Economy, Financial System

The war on DEI is a smoke screen

The Verge – [unpaywalled] “Violent metaphors abound for what’s happening in Washington: Elon Musk and his allies have taken a “slash-and-burn” approach to the government and a “sledgehammer” to government institutions, doing away with supposed waste and excess while leaving the fundamental structure intact. All of this is being done with the stated goal of …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, Courts, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Climate and DEI Deleted From Government Websites, Federal Workers Fired

Via LLRX – Climate and DEI Deleted From Government Websites, Federal Workers Fired – Since January 20, 2025 America has been catapulted into an unimaginable inflection point. Sabrina I. Pacifici chronicles seismic events in recent weeks which have upended America’s democracy, jeopardized our economy, financial system, national security, science and medical communities, and fractured our …

Subjects: Legal Research

Back Up Everything. Even if Elon Musk Isn’t Looking at It.

The New York Times [unpaywalled] – “In recent weeks, Elon Musk and his aides have gained access to many federal agencies’ systems and unknown amounts of data. Many readers have written in to share their fears that the agencies — and the personal data they possess on hundreds of millions of taxpayers — are now …

Subjects: E-Mail, E-Records, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Privacy

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, February 15, 2025

Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, February 15, 2025 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Internet, Privacy, Social Media

Economic Policy Uncertainty Index

The Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index is at an all-time high right now, besting even the economic uncertainty at the start of the pandemic (May 2020). The Economic Policy Uncertainty Index – We develop a new method to measure economic policy uncertainty and test its dynamic relationship with output, investment, and employment. We find that, …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System

Defense Against Dishonest Charts

Flowing Data: “Charts are a window into the world. When done right, we gain an understanding of who we are, where we are, and how we can become better versions of ourselves. However, when done wrong, in the absence of truth, charts can be harmful. This is a guide to protect ourselves and to preserve …

Subjects: Legal Research

Collection of free cut out PNG trees from all four seasons by landscape architect Mikkel Eye

“All the trees are available as high quality PNG’s with transparent background. The trees are free to use for anyone who wants to add plantings to their visualizations, sections, and diagrams within the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, or urban planning. However, your project should be in focus. The trees of Meye are not to …

Subjects: Civil Liberties

What Just Happened: Purges at the DOJ and FBI — How Do and Don’t the Civil Service Laws Apply

Just Security: “The Trump Administration has been on a firing spree inside the Department of Justice. On January 20th, immediately after President Donald Trump took office, the administration fired four career officials in the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EIOR), including the Chief Immigration Judge and the EOIR’s acting Director.  James McHenry, the acting Attorney …

Subjects: Legal Research