Interesting update from the ever useful BeSpacific blog. Coal mining operations get a semi-schedule for EPA compliance with all deliberate speed.
EPA Administrator letter to Senator Jay D Rockefeller IV, West Virginia, February 22, 2010
http://epa.gov/oar/pdfs/LPJ_letter.pdf
Letter from Senator Jay D Rockefeller IV, West Virginia, to EPA Secreatary concerning compliance with US Supreme Court case Massachusetts v EPA (2007) February 19, 2010.
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/Letter%20to%20Lisa%20Jackson%202-19-10.pdf
["'No facility will be required to address greenhouse gas emissions in Clean Air Act permitting of new construction or modifications before 2011...For the first half of 2011, only facilities that already must apply for Clean Air Act permits as a result of their non-greenhouse gas emissions will need to address their greenhouse gas emissions in their permit applications. EPA is also considering a modification to the rule announced in September requiring large facilities emitting more than 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year to obtain permits demonstrating they are using the best practices and technologies to minimize GHG emissions. EPA is considering raising that threshold substantially to reflect input provided during the public comment process. EPA does not intend to subject smaller facilities to Clean Air Act permitting for greenhouse gas emissions any sooner than 2016.'" Be Spacific (February 23, 2010) http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/023591.html#023591 ]
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Oversight 101: Financial Regulatory Primer
Highly respected Congressional Research Service publishd an overview of federal financial regulation. A taxpayer got access to the restricted Congress only report. Now it is on OpenCRS.
Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision, Mark Jickling and Edward V. Murphy. (Congressional Research Service, Washington DC) December 14, 2009. 40 p.
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40249_20091214.pdf
Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision, Mark Jickling and Edward V. Murphy. (Congressional Research Service, Washington DC) December 14, 2009. 40 p.
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40249_20091214.pdf
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Pain at the Pump
In 1990 California transportation accounted for 41% of California greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. California ARB(See Frame 6).
Will increased fuel costs reduce GHG emissions?
Or put another way, what might be the relationship between buying a car that used less fuel when gasoline prices go up? The Energy Institute at University of California Berkeley Haas Business School has issued an interesting study that proposes an answer. Titled Pain at the Pump, thee economists used the increase of fuel cost from close to $1 in 1999 to $4 in 2008 to perform a study of consumer's vehicle purchasing costs.
Their conclusion? A one dollar ($1.00) increase in fuel cost will increase new car sales among the most fuel efficient cars by 20% and reduce purchases of low mileage new vehicles by -24%.
As the authors put it "In the new car market, the adjustment is primarily in market shares, while in the used car market, the adjustment is primarily in prices. For a $1 increase in gas prices; the price adjustment for used cars is $2839."
"Pain at the Pump: The Differential Effect of Gasoline Prices on New and Used Automobile Markets" Meghan R. Busse, Christopher R. Knittel and Florian Zettelmeyer. Energy Institute at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley. December 2009. 59 p.
http://ei.haas.berkeley.edu/pdf/working_papers/WP201.pdf
Will increased fuel costs reduce GHG emissions?
Or put another way, what might be the relationship between buying a car that used less fuel when gasoline prices go up? The Energy Institute at University of California Berkeley Haas Business School has issued an interesting study that proposes an answer. Titled Pain at the Pump, thee economists used the increase of fuel cost from close to $1 in 1999 to $4 in 2008 to perform a study of consumer's vehicle purchasing costs.
Their conclusion? A one dollar ($1.00) increase in fuel cost will increase new car sales among the most fuel efficient cars by 20% and reduce purchases of low mileage new vehicles by -24%.
As the authors put it "In the new car market, the adjustment is primarily in market shares, while in the used car market, the adjustment is primarily in prices. For a $1 increase in gas prices; the price adjustment for used cars is $2839."
"Pain at the Pump: The Differential Effect of Gasoline Prices on New and Used Automobile Markets" Meghan R. Busse, Christopher R. Knittel and Florian Zettelmeyer. Energy Institute at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley. December 2009. 59 p.
http://ei.haas.berkeley.edu/pdf/working_papers/WP201.pdf
Facebook is your father's Oldsmobile 2.009
An overview article Look back on 2009 includes "Social Networks go Mainstream" where Computerworld announces that Facebook and Twitter are equal opportunity communications tools for all ages and even mainstream corporations. Grandparents are joining high school and college students to use Twitter and Facebook for their own purposes. "While it's been a bit embarrassing for the kids involved to have their Uncle Fred befriend them on Facebook, the broader audience has been a boon to social networking companies." Computerworld goes on to say that Facebook and Twitter seem to have enough revenue to provide a longer term platform for communicating with the world.
Can Government commnications be 2.0 far behind? Apparently not. Governing.com has been covering the adoption of social tools in government for some time. Delicious has a huge bookmark cluster for Government 2.0.
And for automobilisti, please no internal combustion flame wars. Oldsmobile was a great car company, it just got GeeEmd, and died before GM 2.0 arrived.
Can Government commnications be 2.0 far behind? Apparently not. Governing.com has been covering the adoption of social tools in government for some time. Delicious has a huge bookmark cluster for Government 2.0.
And for automobilisti, please no internal combustion flame wars. Oldsmobile was a great car company, it just got GeeEmd, and died before GM 2.0 arrived.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Beyond Goohoo / Yagle to the dark web.
Once you go beyond Yahoo and Google you may have a chance to find more than the easy to locate 20% of internet information. Thats right, only 20%, one of a possible five web or internet items are found by big search engines. So 80% is still out there waiting. Talk about an 80/20 rule! That is like panning for gold assuming there is no gold in the rocks on both sides of the stream.
So how to find that dark matter on the web?
For an overview of emerging Web search in late 2009, wander over to Marcus Zillman's essay on Deep Web Research on the ever interesting llrx site. Chris Sherman and Gary Price coined the phrase Invisible Web back in 2001 to describe information that could not be found on the web.
Nine years later, Zillman outlines the tools that are being developed to enlarge our ability to find that invisible information. Now if only my library's use of Websense software would allow me unfettered access to listen to Zillman, I might be able to recommend "Deep Web - Exploring the Secrets of the Hiddden Internet by Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A., - 23 minutes - Internet/Technology Channel"
http://www.planetearthradio.com/technology.htm But since the omniscient Websence doesn't want my pc to access Zillman's voicefile, let's just say it is itself part of the invisible web.
Bibliorati says for the highly motivated -- willing to go above and beyond the basic search -- some exotic tools for the toolbox.
So how to find that dark matter on the web?
For an overview of emerging Web search in late 2009, wander over to Marcus Zillman's essay on Deep Web Research on the ever interesting llrx site. Chris Sherman and Gary Price coined the phrase Invisible Web back in 2001 to describe information that could not be found on the web.
Nine years later, Zillman outlines the tools that are being developed to enlarge our ability to find that invisible information. Now if only my library's use of Websense software would allow me unfettered access to listen to Zillman, I might be able to recommend "Deep Web - Exploring the Secrets of the Hiddden Internet by Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A., - 23 minutes - Internet/Technology Channel"
http://www.planetearthradio.com/technology.htm But since the omniscient Websence doesn't want my pc to access Zillman's voicefile, let's just say it is itself part of the invisible web.
Bibliorati says for the highly motivated -- willing to go above and beyond the basic search -- some exotic tools for the toolbox.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
US Statistical Abstracts
The newest version of the US Statistical Abstracts just came out December 6. This is one of the top 10 reference books in libraries. Now free on the Web and fee for printed version from US Gov't. Printing Office.
Data charts are generated by the US Census, with a high commitment to accuracy. The charts are consistently numbered, so past charts are easy to find. Trends from the past, up to the date of publication make this is a good tool.
For crucial policy research on emerging issues it may already be outdated as soon as it is published. If outdated why bother using it? Well, glad you asked. There is a second use that is worth exploring.
At the bottom of every table you will find the source of the statistics that have been abstracted. This tells you what federal agency gathers the data, and gives you an opportunity to look up that organization and inquire whether they have newer or perhaps preliminary figures that are more up-to-date.
Bibliorati says -- for statistics a useful starting point. Definite must have for the Policy Toolbox.
Data charts are generated by the US Census, with a high commitment to accuracy. The charts are consistently numbered, so past charts are easy to find. Trends from the past, up to the date of publication make this is a good tool.
For crucial policy research on emerging issues it may already be outdated as soon as it is published. If outdated why bother using it? Well, glad you asked. There is a second use that is worth exploring.
At the bottom of every table you will find the source of the statistics that have been abstracted. This tells you what federal agency gathers the data, and gives you an opportunity to look up that organization and inquire whether they have newer or perhaps preliminary figures that are more up-to-date.
Bibliorati says -- for statistics a useful starting point. Definite must have for the Policy Toolbox.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sources of Information held by the Federal Government
Are you trying to find information that the federal government gathers? Here is a tool to try: GAO/OSI-97-2 Investigators Guide to Sources of Information: Federal Agencies Cabinet-Level Departments and Associated Agencies, published by the General Accountability Office, a.k.a. GAO. Here I was able to find the federal agency that tracks accountants and attorneys-- The Securities & Exchange Commission. Looking for retail stores that accept food stamps? -- Department of Agriculture. Real Estate Appraisers? -- General Services Administration. U.S. Savings Bonds? -- Try the Bureau of Public Debt in the Department of the Treasury.
Bibliorati says - for federal information sources a useful toolbox item.
Bibliorati says - for federal information sources a useful toolbox item.
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