Monday, February 28, 2011

The New York State School Report Card

The New York State Report Cards consist of three parts:

The Accountability and Overview Report, which shows district/school profile data, accountability statuses, and data on accountability measures like English language arts, mathematics, science, and graduation rate;
The Comprehensive Information Report, which shows non-accountability data; and
The Fiscal Accountability Supplement, which shows expenditures per pupil and some information about students with disabilities.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

High Cholesterol, Hypertension May Harm Memory in Middle Age

Study finds link between cardiovascular disease and lower scores on mental skills tests
By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter

Though the people in the study did not have Alzheimer's, other research suggests that hypertension, diabetes and poor cardiovascular health are a risk factor for both Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Microsoft vs Ikea

Click the image to enlarge
Coolest geek decor
Via: Fixr

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

2009 American Housing Survey for Certain Metro Areas

From one of my favorite gurus: "The few Metropolitan Areas covered by these reports are done on a rotating cycle. The reports included here are based on the 2009 survey. The American Housing Survey contains data found nowhere else. This includes data on the neighborhood’s characteristics and a number of other topics."

Census Bureau Releases Detailed Data on Metro Area Housing:

Chicago

Detroit

New York

Northern New Jersey

Philadelphia

Seattle

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Monday, February 21, 2011

An Analysis of U.S. Household Dairy Demand

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

This report examines retail purchase data for 12 dairy products and margarine from the Nielsen 2007 Homescan retail data. Selected demographic and socioeconomic variables included in the Nielsen data are analyzed for their effects on aggregate demand and expenditure elasticities for the selected products

Friday, February 18, 2011

Generations and their gadgets

Many devices have become popular across generations, with a majority now owning cell phones, laptops and desktop computers. Younger adults are leading the way in increased mobility, preferring laptops to desktops and using their cell phones for a variety of functions, including internet, email, music, games, and video.

Cell phones are by far the most popular device among American adults. Some 85% of adults own cell phones, and 90% of all adults—including 62% of those age 75 and older—live in a household with at least one working cell phone.
Desktop computers are most popular with adults ages 35-65, and Millennials are the only generation that is more likely to own a laptop computer or netbook than a desktop: 70% own a laptop, compared with 57% who own a desktop.
Almost half of all adults own an iPod or other mp3 player, but these are still most popular with Millennials—74% of adults ages 18-34 own an mp3 player, compared with only 56% of the next oldest generation, Gen X (ages 35-46).
Overall, 5% of adults own an e-book reader, and 4% own an iPad or other tablet computer.

More from Pew Internet HERE.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Industry Expects 800 Million More Travelers by 2014

The industry consensus forecast released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that by 2014 there will be 3.3 billion air travelers, up by 800 million from the 2.5 billion in 2009. By 2014 international aviation will handle 38 million tonnes of air cargo, up 12.5 million tonnes from the 26 million tonnes carried in 2009.

China will be the biggest contributor of new travelers...


By 2014, the top five countries for international travel measured by number of passengers will be the United States (at 215 million, an increase of 45 million), the United Kingdom (at 198 million with an increase of 33 million), Germany (at 163 million with an increase of 29 million), Spain (123 million with an increase of 21 million), and France (111 million with an increase of 21 million)...

By 2014 the five largest markets for domestic passengers will be the United States (671 million), China (379 million), Japan (102 million), Brazil (90 million) and India (69 million)...

More HERE.

CCC Copyright Video

Here is Copyright Clearance Center’s new animated video concerning academic copyright. The video educates people, specifically faculty, about copyright laws when distributing materials to students, via course packs or readings uploaded online.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Monday, February 14, 2011

How Do You Define Reading?

From Cheryl Russell, editorial director, New Strategist Publications.

The American Time Use survey, which is taken annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, asks Americans what they did minute by minute during the previous 24 hours. Their activities are classified into categories such as "reading for personal interest" and "computer use for leisure." Here's the question: How does the Time Use Survey classify reading a book on an iPad? Is it computer use or reading?

Not a problem, according to the time use experts at the BLS. Computers, they say, are tools for accomplishing other tasks. When respondents report using a computer, the interviewer then asks what they were doing on the computer. If they were reading a newspaper or book on their iPad, the activity is classified as reading, not computer use. Similarly, if they were using their computer to manage their money, the activity is classified as financial management rather than computer use. In fact, the category "computer use for leisure" is nothing more than a residual--what little remains after assigning all possible computer use to other activities...

This is good news because it means the time use survey category "reading for personal interest" is positioned to capture any changes in time spent reading due to e-readers. An increase in reading might be on the way, according to an analysis posted by Read It Later, an app that allows users to save articles on their computers and phones for later reading. The company's data show a spike in iPad reading between 8 and 10 pm--typically television time. Could e-reading compete with television as a prime-time activity? Maybe, but it is not happening yet. Between 2005 and 2009, the average person spent a lot more time watching TV and slightly less time reading. There is one exception, however. Teenagers aged 15 to 19 spent a bit more time reading and a bit less time watching TV. Is this a blip or a sign of things to come?

For more about American time use see New Strategist's American Time Use or visit the ATUS web site.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

NYC Council Pork is Latest Addition to SeeThroughNY

The New York City Council's pork-barrel member-item spending for fiscal 2011 has been posted on www.SeeThroughNY.net, the transparency website sponsored by the Empire Center for New York State Policy. The $54.4 million in discretionary member items represent projects City Council members sponsored for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

For the full text of the Press Release, click here.
To go right to the database, click here.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Sorry for my absence

...but my mom died last week. Funeral today, burial tomorrow.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Empire Center Offers New Blog

A new blog dedicated to analysis and commentary on public policy in New York was unveiled today by the Empire Center for New York State Policy.

The Torch, available at www.NYTorch.com, will feature commentary on the most important public policy issues affecting the Empire State. It will combine topics and content previously posted to www.NYFiscalWatch.com and www.NYPublicPayrollWatch.com.

E.J. McMahon, senior fellow at the Empire Center and the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, will be editor and principal contributor to The Torch. Other regular contributors will include Tim Hoefer, director of the Empire Center, and various expert guest commentators.

Subscribers to NY Fiscal Watch and NY Public Payroll Watch will receive updates to The Torch without interruption. To subscribe, visit the blog at www.NYTorch.com, and enter an email address.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Adults With College Degrees in the US by County

This Interactive Map Was Recently Published on Chronicle.com
(The Chronicle of Higher Education)

+ Data back to 1940
+ Views (by Gender & Racial/Ethnic)
+ Maps (All Counties, High-Population Counties, Wealthy Counties, Poor Counties, Heavily Black Counties, Heavily Hispanic Counties
+ Click on a County (Each County is Outlined on All Maps) For Detailed Data

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

State of Homelessness in America 2011

Since the release of Homelessness Counts: Changes in Homelessness from 2005 to 2007, the National Alliance to End Homelessness has chronicled changes in the levels of homelessness in the nation and in individual states and communities to chart our progress toward the goal of ending homelessness. This comprehensive examination not only reveals national and state level homeless counts, but also delves into economic indicators and demographic drivers – taking an in-depth look at risk factors for homelessness. Built upon the most recent nationally available data from the federal Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Justice, and other public information sources, this report analyzes the effect the recession has had on homelessness and how it has contributed to an increased risk of homelessness for many Americans.

Current Situation in Egypt

Due to ongoing demonstrations, the U.S. Department of State recommends avoiding travel to Egypt.

If you are a U.S. citizen in Egypt and require help or need assistance leaving the country, contact the U.S. embassy in Cairo by calling 1-202-501-4444 or e-mailing EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov. Please include your name, age, place of birth, U.S. passport number, and any special medical needs.

Family members who are concerned about American citizens in Egypt can e-mail EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov or call 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. or Canada. Family members outside the U.S. or Canada should call 1-202-501-4444. Be sure to provide your name and contact numbers and as much information as possible about your family member in Egypt.