Life Expectancy at All Time High; Death Rates Reach New Low, New Report Shows
Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)
U.S. life expectancy reached nearly 78 years (77.9), and the age-adjusted death rate dropped to 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population, both records, according to the latest mortality statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report, “Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2007,” was issued today by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The data are based on nearly 90 percent of death certificates in the United States.
The 2007 increase in life expectancy – up from 77.7 in 2006 — represents a continuation of a trend. Over a decade, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years from 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007.
+ Full Report (PDF; 524 KB)
See also: Births: Preliminary Data for 2007
Humane Horse Remains Disposal Options
Source: Humane Society of the United States
This list is provided as a resource for horse owners and is for informational purposes only. Please contact specific vendors for more information on their services.
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The following definitions and guidelines apply:State Regulation: Where applicable, the state regulation is included. Due to space constraints, if a law is extensive, only the link is provided.
Euthanasia Program: Refers to a low-cost euthanasia program.
Equine Crematory/Cemetery Services: Facilities capable of providing cremation and/or burial of horse carcasses.
Rendering/Carcass Disposal: Vendors who will pick up and remove deceased horses from an owner’s property and dispose of the carcass.
HBO Ranks Highest in Third Annual “GLAAD Network Responsibility Index”
Source: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today released its third annual Network Responsibility Index, a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on television. Primetime programming on the five broadcast networks was evaluated as well as original primetime programming on 10 of the highest-rated cable networks.
HBO scored the highest rating of the 15 networks evaluated with LGBT characters on shows including True Blood, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Entourage that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the LGBT community. Of HBO’s 14 original series, 10 included LGBT content and 42 percent of the network’s total programming hours included LGBT representation.
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GLAAD reviewed a total of 4,901 hours of primetime programming for inclusion of LGBT characters or issues on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC) from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009. GLAAD also examined 1,212.5 hours of original primetime programming on 10 highly-rated cable networks. Each hour was reviewed for on-screen LGBT representations. Based on the quantity, overall quality and diversity of these representations, a rating was assigned by GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Program to each network: Excellent,Good, Adequate, or Failing.
+ GLAAD Network Responsibility Index: Primetime Programming 2008 - 2009
Personality Predicts the Brain’s Response to Viewing Appetizing Foods: The Neural Basis of a Risk Factor for Overeating
Source: The Journal of Neuroscience
Eating is not only triggered by hunger but also by the sight of foods. Viewing appetizing foods alone can induce food craving and eating, although there is considerable variation in this “external food sensitivity” (EFS). Because increased EFS is associated with overeating, identifying its neural correlates is important for understanding the current epidemic of obesity. Animal research has identified the ventral striatum, amygdala, hypothalamus, medial prefrontal and premotor cortices as key interacting structures for feeding. However, it is unclear whether a similar network exists in humans and how it is affected by EFS. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we showed that viewing appetizing compared with bland foods produced changes in connectivity among the human ventral striatum, amygdala, anterior cingulate and premotor cortex that were strongly correlated with EFS. Differences in the dynamic interactions within the human appetitive network in response to pictures of appetizing foods may determine an individual’s risk of obesity.
Fast-Forward: Key Issues in Modernizing the U.S. Freight-Transportation System for Future Economic Growth
Source: RAND Corporation
Efficient movement of freight within the United States and across its borders is a critical enabler of future U.S. economic growth and competitiveness. Such efficiency is now threatened by capacity bottlenecks, inefficient use of some components of the freight infrastructure, interference with passenger transport, the system’s vulnerability to disruption, and the need to address important emission and energy constraints. In this volume, the authors provide a broad overview of U.S. freight transportation, discuss its role in the supply chains of various types of businesses, and provide data about its capacity in relation to demand for goods movement. They conclude with a discussion of the need to modernize the freight-transportation system and the overarching issues this involves: increasing capacity through operational improvements and infrastructure enhancement, making the system more adaptable and less vulnerable to disruption, addressing the energy and environmental concerns associated with freight transportation, and building support for public and private investment in the system.
Two New Reports from the Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (PDFs)
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
Stronger Together : A new approach to preventing violent extremism (PDF; 1 MB)
Source: New Local Government Network
Preventing Violent Extremism or ‘Prevent’ is one of the four key pillars of the Government’s CONTEST plan – the UK’s international counter- terrorism strategy developed in response to the 7 July 2005 terror attacks on London, and revised in March this year. The purpose of Prevent is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism. It began with a £6 million Pathfinder Fund in October 2006, funded by Communities and Local Government (CLG), to support priority local authorities in developing programmes of activity to tackle violent extremism at the local level. It was, largely, welcomed by the local government community at the time, as recognition by central government of the importance of a community-based response to violent extremism and an understanding that an isolated security stance was insufficient. It became mainstreamed in June 2008 with the publication of the Government’s full Prevent Strategy alongside £45 million distributed through the Area Based Grant for the 2008- 2011 period. Ninety-four local authorities currently receive the money, with a mean of £85,000 per authority…
However, questions that should be examined further include assessing how achievable the Prevent objective is? Do we know what success looks like and can we measure it? Do negative perceptions of Prevent that claim it unfairly stigmatises the Muslim community undermine its effectiveness? Does Prevent have the community buy-in it needs to be effective? And conversely, is there a danger that it is being used by elements within the community as a tool to stoke up perceptions of injustice and grievance? Is the level of funding fair and proportionate in the light of broader threats to community cohesion from other sectors of society? And is the threat of far-right extremism being sufficiently addressed and should Prevent be formally broadened to tackle this? This paper debates some of these challenges and seeks an alternative local approach to preventing violent extremism that:
- is more closely integrated with wider approaches to building community cohesion
- targets all violent extremist ideologies within our local communities, not just Al Quaeda-inspired ideology;
- has a clearer working framework for engaging with local security and intelligence approaches linked to the Pursue aspect of CONTEST;
- has a clearer expression of the roles and expectations of local partners and front-line public service staff;
- better engages and trusts local government with security information and in developing intelligence-led approaches at the local level; and
- has a stronger place for local government at the national policy-making table
Consumers aren’t so upbeat, new Consumer Reports Index shows
Source: Consumer Reports
Economists–and a stock market rally–may be heralding a turnaround in the American economy, but that news hasn’t reached many consumers, say the latest results from our new Consumer Reports Index, launched today. The monthly Index, actually a composite of several indices, found consumers less in the mood for shopping for major and minor purchases than they were even four months ago. In fact, these most recent results for the Consumer Reports Index reverse upward trends in several aspects of consumer thinking, according to responses from a nationally representative sample of households polled between July 30 and August 2.
+ New Consumer Reports Index Tracks the State of the American Consumer
California Ranks 48th Worst State in Labor Performance
Source: Pacific Research Institute
The Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a free-market think tank based in California, found that California’s labor performance over the last five years is among the worst performing in the nation, ranking 48th and besting only Michigan and Mississippi. The ranking was published in PRI’s new study “Assessing the State of the Golden State” by Jason Clemens, PRI director of research, and Robert P. Murphy, Ph.D., senior policy fellow.
+ Full Report (PDF; 8.5 MB)
New Data Show Nanotechnology-Related Activities in Every U.S. State
Source: Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
Every state can now lay claim to the nanotechnology revolution.
Data released today by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) highlights more than 1,200 companies, universities, government laboratories, and other organizations across all 50 U.S. states and in the District of Columbia that are involved in nanotechnology research, development, and commercialization. This number is up 50 percent from the 800 organizations identified just two years ago.
While many of the original “Nano Metro” clusters—areas with the nation’s highest concentration of nanotechnology companies, universities, research laboratories, and organizations—have maintained their prominence in the field, areas such as Boston have moved up in the rankings, while others, such as Raleigh, N.C., have broken into the top-ranked locations for the first time.
NASAA Identifies Top 10 Investor Traps
Source: North American Securities Administrators Association
With a new school year about to begin, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) reminds investors to take stock of their financial education and arm themselves with the knowledge to sidestep this year’s Top 10 Investor Traps.
Fred Joseph, NASAA President and Colorado Securities Commissioner, said that investors under pressure from the struggling economy need to resist the lure of sales pitches to rebuild their savings. “An educated investor should be alert at all times, but especially when money is tight. Falling into an investment trap makes it harder to get back on solid financial ground,” Joseph said.
Many of the traps identified by NASAA’s Enforcement Trends Project Group promise high returns to cash-strapped investors but provide little if any disclosure of risks and offer high commissions to aggressive sales forces.
Payday Lenders Shut Out in Ohio and Arizona
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics
The payday loan industry has traditionally fought in state legislatures for the right to do business. However, after being banned in 15 states, they tried a new tactic in 2008: the ballot box. In two states, Ohio and Arizona, the industry contributed heavily in support of ballot measures that would allow them to operate, with hopes of securing their survival in the state, despite outspending their opposition by 22 to 1.
A new study by the National Institute on Money in State Politics (FollowTheMoney.org) found that more than $37 million was contributed to support or oppose the measures. The report, “Lenders Couldn’t Buy Laws,” examines the contributions to Arizona’s Proposition 200 and Ohio’s Issue 5, on the ballots in 2008.
Several organizations supporting payday lenders’ interests were major donors to ballot measure campaigns in both states. Most notable was the Community Financial Services Association, which contributed 96 percent ($19.9 million) of the money supporting their interests in Ohio. The state affiliate, Arizona Community Financial Services Association, gave 99 percent ($14.67 million) of the proponents’ money in Arizona.
In Arizona, Proposition 200 would have eliminated the state’s sunset clause on payday loan interest rate exemptions, allowing the industry to operate indefinitely. Despite raising $14.8 million, industry interests were soundly defeated at the ballot box, where the measure received just 40 percent of the votes. By comparison, opponents of the measure raised $1 million, more than half of which came from the Civic Participation Campaign.
Payday lenders were thwarted at the ballot box in Ohio as well, when 64 percent of voters supported Issue 5, which severely limits payday lending practices in the state. Payday lenders contributed nearly $21 million to defeat the measure, outraising opponents by a 38-to-1 margin. Proponents of the measure raised $547,413. The top contributor in support of the measure was the Coalition for Homeless & Housing in Ohio, which gave $362,611.
Broadband Internet’s Value for Rural America
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
As broadband—or high-speed—Internet use has spread, Internet applications requiring high transmission speeds have become an integral part of the “Information Economy,” raising concerns about those who lack broadband access. This report analyzes (1) rural broadband use by consumers, the community-at-large, and businesses; (2) rural broadband availability; and (3) broadband’s social and economic effects on rural areas. It also summarizes results from an ERS-sponsored workshop on rural broadband use, and other ERS-commissioned studies. In general, rural communities have less broadband Internet use than metro communities, with differing degrees of broadband availability across rural communities. Rural communities that had greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth, which conforms to supplemental research on the benefits that rural businesses, consumers, and communities ascribe to broadband Internet use.
Federal Wetlands Mapping Standard Approved
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today the adoption of a Wetlands Mapping Standard that provides minimum requirements and guidelines for wetlands mapping efforts. The new standard is designed to guide current and future wetlands digital mapping projects and enhance the overall quality and consistency of wetlands data. Quality data on wetlands are considered critical for planning effective conservation strategies to benefit fish and wildlife resources now and in the future.
Wetlands are among the Nation’s most biologically productive and economically important habitat types. Major emerging conservation issues, such as changing temperatures, sea-level rise, increasing storm severity, drought, energy development, and species declines are making the need for contemporary geospatial resource information even more important. Wetlands cover approximately five percent of the surface of the conterminous United States and are abundant in certain states and rare in others.
+ FGDC Wetlands Mapping Standard (PDF; 573 KB)
USFA Announces the Release of a Report on Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
The United States Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), announces the release of the Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study. The study report highlights the results of a U.S. Department of Justice - National Institute of Justice (NIJ) supported project intended to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders.
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The study report discusses best practices in emergency vehicle visibility and conspicuity, including cutting edge international efforts. It covers retroreflective striping and chevrons, high-visibility paint, built-in passive light, and other reflectors for law enforcement patrol vehicles, fire apparatus, ambulances and other EMS vehicles, and motorcycles.
+ Full Report (PDF; 2.2 MB)
