The Third Internet: The DC Commercial Internet

2021 ◽  
pp. 103-116
Author(s):  
Kieron O’Hara
Keyword(s):  
Private Equity ◽  
Network Effects ◽  
The United States ◽  
Net Neutrality ◽  
The Public ◽  
Closed Networks ◽  
The Third ◽  
Positive Externalities ◽  
Market Solutions ◽  
The Cost

This chapter describes the DC Commercial Internet. The ideal consists of economic liberty, market solutions to resource allocation problems, property rights over the Internet, and exploitation of positive externalities. The exemplar is the United States, especially its Supreme Court, which has judged networks as private spaces (‘walled gardens’) which can and should be monetized as their owners prefer. Such an approach, it is argued, will lead to greater innovation and value creation for the public, even at the cost of interoperability and net neutrality. Social networks have gained from this view, able to create closed networks within walled gardens benefiting from network effects to collect data about members. Facebook has offered free services in the developing world in order to bring more people online within its boundaries. An attempt to sell the .org domain to a private equity company, however, foundered. This model has been called ‘surveillance capitalism’.

Policy Question: How Can Competition against the Tech Giants Be Fostered?

2021 ◽  
pp. 117-124
Author(s):  
Kieron O’Hara
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Network Effects ◽  
The United States ◽  
Large Network ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Closed Networks ◽  
Positive Externalities ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Policy Question

In the United States, monopoly is often tolerated if the profits are used to create or reward innovation and enhanced customer service. However, where a lack of competition harms the consumer, the government is empowered to step in, and even break companies up, using antitrust law. The tech giants have pushed against these limits, being immensely innovative, but at the cost of creating giant, powerful, and (often) highly profitable closed networks. The chapter considers the difficulties in remedying these problems, as breaking up a large network will lose its network effects and positive externalities. Other possibilities include preventing acquisitions, and forcing divestment of some units. However, if the conditions allowing the network effects to build up are not addressed, new firms may become just as large. The European Union is actively looking at competition law in the tech industry, and by late 2020, so was the Trump administration.

The Internet Trap

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Hindman
Keyword(s):  
The Internet ◽  
Net Neutrality ◽  
The Public ◽  
Attention Economy ◽  
Digital News ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Over Time

The Internet was supposed to fragment audiences and make media monopolies impossible. Instead, behemoths like Google and Facebook now dominate the time we spend online—and grab all the profits from the attention economy. This book explains how this happened. It sheds light on the stunning rise of the digital giants and the online struggles of nearly everyone else—and reveals what small players can do to survive in a game that is rigged against them. The book shows how seemingly tiny advantages in attracting users can snowball over time. The Internet has not reduced the cost of reaching audiences—it has merely shifted who pays and how. Challenging some of the most enduring myths of digital life, the book explains why the Internet is not the postindustrial technology that has been sold to the public, how it has become mathematically impossible for grad students in a garage to beat Google, and why net neutrality alone is no guarantee of an open Internet. It also explains why the challenges for local digital news outlets and other small players are worse than they appear and demonstrates what it really takes to grow a digital audience and stay alive in today's online economy. The book shows why, even on the Internet, there is still no such thing as a free audience.

Health Care Cost Containment in Large American Cities

1989 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perry Moore
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cost Containment ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Health Care Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
The Cost ◽  
American Cities

This research provides information about the health care cost containment efforts of local governments and agencies across the United States, particularly in large American cities. Survey results indicate that while the public sector lags behind the private sector, public agencies are beginning to match the cost containment efforts of private employers. While initiation of these efforts represents considerable recent progress, their tangible benefits are not yet apparent.

scholarly journals Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Accidents - The Problems

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert T. Hintersteiner
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
General Public ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Public ◽  
Railroad Tracks ◽  
Pedestrian Traffic ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Separation ◽  
The Cost

The Paper Will Address The Crisis Of Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Accidents In The United States. A Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Is Where A Public Or Private Roadway Crosses Railroad Tracks. Over The Years, There Have Been Many Studies And Programs To Warn The General Public Of The Hazards Of Crossing Railroad Tracks. However, The Same Types Of Railroad-Highway Crossing Accidents Continue To Occur, Despite Attempts To Educate The Public. As Will Be Discussed, Communication Between Transportation Professionals And Coordination Of Railroad And Highway Operations Also Contributes To The Crisis. The Most Effective Way To Eliminate Grade Crossing Accidents Is To Provide Grade Separation Of The Railroad From Vehicle And Pedestrian Traffic. This Has Been Completed At 39,68 1 Locations. It Is A Very Expensive Proposition. Therefore, It Has Been Done Only In Urban Areas, And Along Limited Access Highways And Arterials. The Cost Of Constructing A Grade Separated Crossing Is Estimated To Be Five Million Dollars Per Location.

scholarly journals Author Middle Initial Correction: "Desensitization to Fear-Inducing COVID-19 Health News on Twitter: Observational Study" (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Stevens ◽  
Yoo Jung Oh ◽  
Laramie D Taylor
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Health News ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Death Toll ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Initial Correction ◽  
Over Time

BACKGROUND As of May 9, 2021, the United States had 32.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 (20.7% of confirmed cases worldwide) and 580,000 deaths (17.7% of deaths worldwide). Early on in the pandemic, widespread social, financial, and mental insecurities led to extreme and irrational coping behaviors, such as panic buying. However, despite the consistent spread of COVID-19 transmission, the public began to violate public safety measures as the pandemic got worse. OBJECTIVE In this work, we examine the effect of fear-inducing news articles on people’s expression of anxiety on Twitter. Additionally, we investigate desensitization to fear-inducing health news over time, despite the steadily rising COVID-19 death toll. METHODS This study examined the anxiety levels in news articles (n=1465) and corresponding user tweets containing “COVID,” “COVID-19,” “pandemic,” and “coronavirus” over 11 months, then correlated that information with the death toll of COVID-19 in the United States. RESULTS Overall, tweets that shared links to anxious articles were more likely to be anxious (odds ratio [OR] 2.65, 95% CI 1.58-4.43, P<.001). These odds decreased (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.2-0.83, P=.01) when the death toll reached the third quartile and fourth quartile (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.85, P=.01). However, user tweet anxiety rose rapidly with articles when the death toll was low and then decreased in the third quartile of deaths (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.37-1.01, P=.06). As predicted, in addition to the increasing death toll being matched by a lower level of article anxiety, the extent to which article anxiety elicited user tweet anxiety decreased when the death count reached the second quartile. CONCLUSIONS The level of anxiety in users’ tweets increased sharply in response to article anxiety early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, but as the casualty count climbed, news articles seemingly lost their ability to elicit anxiety among readers. Desensitization offers an explanation for why the increased threat is not eliciting widespread behavioral compliance with guidance from public health officials. This work investigated how individuals' emotional reactions to news of the COVID-19 pandemic manifest as the death toll increases. Findings suggest individuals became desensitized to the increased COVID-19 threat and their emotional responses were blunted over time.

Beyond Victimhood

2021 ◽  
pp. 73-96
Author(s):  
Richard P. Hiskes
Keyword(s):  
Children's Rights ◽  
The United States ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Public Agency ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
The Us ◽  
First Time

The 1990 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has been ratified by all nations except the United States. The reasons for the US refusal have to do with national sovereignty and the alleged conflict of children’s rights with the rights of parents. Both are explored here. The CRC advances children’s rights by making protection and provision rights universal for all children, but also by adding the “third P,” rights of participation. Rights of participation (Article 12) in decisions that affect them give children for the first time the public agency to be heard in decision-making forums concerned with protecting the “best interests” of the child. Allowing children into the public realm challenges Arendt’s insistence that child security must keep them in the private sphere and away from politics.

Thomas Jefferson

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-14
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Thomas Jefferson ◽  
Blue Ridge ◽  
University Of Virginia ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Blue Ridge Mountains ◽  
Louisiana Purchase ◽  
The University

Both as a private citizen living at the foot of the eastern slope of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and as a public architect of nationhood, Thomas Jefferson witnessed and wrought extraordinary changes in a burgeoning nation. In 1774, Jefferson purchased 157 acres of land in Virginia, including Natural Bridge, for 20 shillings. This private purchase demonstrated Jefferson’s interest in protecting and utilizing the American landscape, echoed later in the public acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase, which Jefferson oversaw in 1803 as the third president of the United States. Jefferson’s particular dedication to Virginia is further evidenced by Monticello, his lifelong home and farm; Poplar Forest, his private retreat; and the University of Virginia, which he established and designed....

Notes on Local Loans

1905 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 387-414
Author(s):  
Thomas Kyd
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
The United States ◽  
Modern History ◽  
National Debt ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Geometrical Progression ◽  
Louis Xvi ◽  
Vain Attempt

Public Debts, whether national or local, belong to modern history. Our National Debt dates from the Revolution of 1688. It is five years after that event until we find the item “Interest and Management of the Public Debt” figuring in the accounts of the Exchequer. At William's death in 1702 the debt was twelve millions, an amount which was increased threefold during the twelve years of the reign of Anne. George the First's thirteen years raised our national obligations to fifty-two millions, while by 1760, when George the Second died, they exceeded one hundred millions. During the long reign of George the Third the burden swelled enormously. The rise was just a geometrical progression, from twelve to a hundred millions in fifty-eight years, and from one to nine hundred millions in the sixty years succeeding. The explanation, of course, is war. We spent a hundred millions in a vain attempt to compel the allegiance of the United States, and more than eight hundred millions in avenging Louis XVI., overthrowing Napoleon, and restoring the Bourbons to the throne of France.

scholarly journals Desensitization to Fear-Inducing COVID-19 Health News on Twitter: Observational Study

10.2196/26876 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. e26876
Author(s):  
Hannah R Stevens ◽  
Yoo Jung Oh ◽  
Laramie D Taylor
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Coping Behaviors ◽  
Health News ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Death Toll ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Over Time

Background As of May 9, 2021, the United States had 32.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 (20.7% of confirmed cases worldwide) and 580,000 deaths (17.7% of deaths worldwide). Early on in the pandemic, widespread social, financial, and mental insecurities led to extreme and irrational coping behaviors, such as panic buying. However, despite the consistent spread of COVID-19 transmission, the public began to violate public safety measures as the pandemic got worse. Objective In this work, we examine the effect of fear-inducing news articles on people’s expression of anxiety on Twitter. Additionally, we investigate desensitization to fear-inducing health news over time, despite the steadily rising COVID-19 death toll. Methods This study examined the anxiety levels in news articles (n=1465) and corresponding user tweets containing “COVID,” “COVID-19,” “pandemic,” and “coronavirus” over 11 months, then correlated that information with the death toll of COVID-19 in the United States. Results Overall, tweets that shared links to anxious articles were more likely to be anxious (odds ratio [OR] 2.65, 95% CI 1.58-4.43, P<.001). These odds decreased (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.2-0.83, P=.01) when the death toll reached the third quartile and fourth quartile (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.85, P=.01). However, user tweet anxiety rose rapidly with articles when the death toll was low and then decreased in the third quartile of deaths (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.37-1.01, P=.06). As predicted, in addition to the increasing death toll being matched by a lower level of article anxiety, the extent to which article anxiety elicited user tweet anxiety decreased when the death count reached the second quartile. Conclusions The level of anxiety in users’ tweets increased sharply in response to article anxiety early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, but as the casualty count climbed, news articles seemingly lost their ability to elicit anxiety among readers. Desensitization offers an explanation for why the increased threat is not eliciting widespread behavioral compliance with guidance from public health officials. This work investigated how individuals' emotional reactions to news of the COVID-19 pandemic manifest as the death toll increases. Findings suggest individuals became desensitized to the increased COVID-19 threat and their emotional responses were blunted over time.

Query Authentication of Outsourced Spatial Database

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-547
Author(s):  
Jun Hong ◽  
Tao Wen ◽  
Quan Guo
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Spatial Database ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Spatial Query ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Data Owner ◽  
Spatial Data Management ◽  
The Third Party ◽  
The Cost

Outsourcing spatial database to a third party is becoming a common practice for more and more individuals and companies to save the cost of managing and maintaining database, where a data owner delegates its spatial data management tasks to a third party and grants it to provide query services. However, the third party is not full trusted. Thus, authentication information should be provided to the client for query authentication. In this paper, we introduce an efficient space authenticated data structure, called Verifiable Similarity Indexing tree (VSS-tree), to support authenticated spatial query. We build VSS-tree based on SS-tree which employs bounding sphere rather than bounding rectangle for region shape and extend it with authentication information. Based on VSS-tree, the third party finds query results and builds their corresponding verification object. The client performs query authentication using the verification object and the public key published. Finally, we evaluate the performance and validity of our algorithms, the experiment results show that VSS-tree can efficiently support spatial query and have better performance than Merkle R tree (MR-tree)

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document