Monday, January 30, 2017

Hmmm … how would you respond if you were told to keep your mouth shut?


Well, that’s what Trump Senior Strategist Stephen Bannon said recently. “The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while,” Mr. Bannon said on Wednesday during an interview. Respectfully, our first response is “No”. Our second response would be to ask why we should keep our mouths shut. 
We think you know the answer to the latter. It’s because as investigative journalists, we know there is work to do to keep government and corporations accountable to the people. We know that if we don’t do our jobs, then you don’t have the information you need to make informed decisions about your health care needs, about who you want making decisions concerning your children’s education, about the environment and health hazards posed by increased toxic emissions, about the security of our networks, and about who’s contributing to what campaign and who is now being offered plumb positions in the new administration. We can’t give you that information if our mouths are taped shut or our access to critical information is denied.
 

No, we’re not going to keep our mouths shut and we’re not going away. We’re going deeper into the nooks and crannies of government to uncover the truth. And we’re doing more to get you the information you need and deserve.

Apple joins Amazon, Facebook, Google, IBM and Microsoft in AI initiative

In Brief
Apple joins with other tech giants in the Partnership on AI to Benefit People and Society to help steer the direction of artificial intelligence research.
With the absence of regulations in the field, the group will work toward developing standards and ethics around the development and implementation of AI.
This AI “A-Team” promises to push the field even further. However, as more money, power, and capable scientists get behind this initiative, it is important to stop, take a step back, and reevaluate. While we might seem to be worlds away from a sci-fi fueled AI takeover, there are legitimate ethical issues that arise when dealing with AI.
This technology and its potential could revolutionize life as we know it, which is a massive, but positive change. However, as more and more companies get on board with AI, it is important for some amount of ethical supervision, some rules and regulations to ensure that, as we make incredible progress, we do so with care. It is important, that we ask both what we can, and what we should do.
Link >> https://futurism.com/apple-joins-amazon-facebook-google-ibm-and-microsoft-in-ai-initiative/

KEEPING YOU INFORMED: Notification of the FY 2017 Section 5310 Phoenix-Mesa Urbanized Area Application

The FY 2017 Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities application for the Phoenix-Mesa Urbanized Area (UZA) can now be accessed at the following link.
An application training workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at the MAG offices, second floor Saguaro Room from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The application training workshop agenda can be found here.
 
  • For information regarding the Section 5310 application process or how to participate in regional coordination efforts, contact DeDe Gaisthea, MAG Human Services Transportation Planner II, at dgaisthea@azmag.gov or (602) 254-6300.
  • The 2017 Section 5310 Handbook and Program Guidelines for the Phoenix-Mesa UZA application process can be found at the following link
  • For information regarding the Section 5310 application for areas outside of the Phoenix-Mesa UZA boundary, contact Clem Ligocki, ADOT Interim Transit Manager-Planning and Programming Manager, at CLigocki@azdot.gov.
 
Please note regional coordination participation is a requirement for the Section 5310 program.
The next MAG Transportation Ambassador Program meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. at the at the MAG offices, second floor Saguaro Room.
 




Transit's Dirty Little Secret: Analyzing Patterns of Transit Use [2007]
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/otrec/transits-dirty-little-secret-analyzing-patterns-of-transit-use
 

KEEPING YOU INFORMED: The Federal Register

The Office of the Federal Register
Website: https://www.federalregister.gov/ 

"The Office of the Federal Register is the one-stop location, whether online or in print, to keep abreast of all of the substantive actions of the executive branch and the Congress. It is an exciting and challenging place to be," said Charley Barth, director of the Federal Register.
 
 
 
 
The Federal Register provides access to the official text of:
  • Federal Laws
  • Presidential Documents
  • Administrative Regulations and Notices
  • Descriptions of Federal Organizations, Programs and Activities

For Monday January 30, 2017
USE THIS LINK https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/current

94 documents from 35 agencies (147 Pages)

An extract from some of Today's notices

Executive Order

Defense and National Security:

Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements (EO 13767)

Immigration and Naturalization:

Immigration Law Reform; United States Public Safety in the Interior, Enhancement (EO 13768)

Infrastructure Projects of High Priority, Environmental Reviews and Approvals; Efforts To Expedite (EO 13766)

Administrative Order

American Pipelines; Construction Requirements (Memorandum of January 24, 2017)

Dakota Access Pipeline; Construction Guidelines (Memorandum of January 24, 2017)

Domestic Manufacturing; Streamlining Permitting and Reducing Regulatory Burdens (Memorandum of January 24, 2017)

Keystone XL Pipeline; Construction (Memorandum of January 24, 2017)



 
 

Sunday, January 29, 2017

LOOKING BACK > State of the City 2015

Giles was excited about most things and felt the pain about some others ....Are you better off now?
Downtown has been part of his whole life and he can visualize it all by talking about his old truck - his most favorite thing
Published on Feb 3, 2015
Mesa Arizona, State of the City Breakfast with Mayor John Giles. Presented by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

National Healthcare Headache in Not-So-Jolly Old England

Privatization, mebbe>
Published on Jan 29, 2017
Views:21,254
Pie defends the NHS whilst the Tories sell it off.
 

3rd Wave of Energy Strikes the Earth!

Hit from behind
Published on Jan 29, 2017
Views: 7,376
 

Cartoon Carousel The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics | By POLITICO STAFF 01/23/2026 05:00 AM EST

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