Daniel R. Ballon
Business & Economics
Smart Policies for a Smarter Grid
President Obama’s vision for economic recovery centers on creating “green collar” jobs through substantial investment in clean technologies. Upon signing his “green stimulus” bill in February, Obama touted a $4.5- billion provision to “create a newer, smarter electric grid that will allow for broader use of alternative energy.”1 Despite the ...
Business & Economics
The Taxman Clicketh
State lawmakers last week passed the largest tax increase in California history, and will soon consider taking their expanding quest for revenue online. A proposal by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) would force many Internet retailers to collect sales tax on all orders placed by California consumers. Based on a similar ...
Business & Economics
Keep an eye on the Obama administration
The Boston Globe (MA), February 17, 2009 PETER FUNT raises serious privacy concerns about Google’s use of surveillance technologies (“Google is watching,” Op-ed, Feb. 9), but unlike George Orwell’s Big Brother, the Internet giant does not function as an arm of the government. This could soon change, however, if the ...
Business & Economics
Google.gov? The Perils of Technology and Government Transparency
Barack Obama led the most tech savvy presidential campaign in American history, using the Internet to recruit, mobilize, and engage more than 13 million supporters. As president, Obama has pledged to “integrate technology into every aspect of government,” and usher in “a new level of transparency, accountability and participation for ...
Business & Economics
Dumping Waste Board Will Help California’s Tech Sector
Facing a projected $40-billion budget shortfall, Governor Schwarzenegger last week proposed eliminating a redundant state board that has become a symbol of cronyism and inefficiency in Sacramento. Unlike most boards and commissions, which offer a stipend of $100 per meeting, the six members of the California Integrated Waste Management Board ...
Agriculture
Synthetic biology is a key to energy independence
Barack Obama recently pledged to establish a $150 billion “Apollo project” for energy independence. A new field known as synthetic biology presents one of the most promising opportunities to achieve his goal, but influential interest groups within his own party are fighting to kill this technology in its cradle. Just ...
Commentary
Don’t give electric cars the inside track
With the support of Governor Schwarzenegger, the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose last week announced a $1-billion joint plan to make the Bay Area “the electric-vehicle capital of the world.” The announcement follows President-elect Obama’s pledge to reinvigorate the nation’s economy with millions of “green collar” jobs. ...
Business & Economics
Will Electric Cars Jolt California’s Economy?
With the support of Governor Schwarzenegger, the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose last week announced a $1-billion joint plan to make the Bay Area “the electric-vehicle capital of the world.” The announcement follows President-elect Obama’s pledge to reinvigorate the nation’s economy with millions of “green collar” jobs. ...
California
State off course on ‘personal genomics’
California officials recently ordered two “personal genomics” firms to cease and desist operations within the state. The companies eventually were allowed to continue operations – with a few more regulatory conditions – but why did the state demand that they shut down in the first place? The Silicon Valley startups, ...
Business & Economics
Sacramento sellout
Only two weeks after lawmakers in Sacramento passed a budget, the state is already in the red. As Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature debate more spending cuts and accounting tricks, another solution may be right in front of them: more laws. In California, government owns the laws and forces people ...
Smart Policies for a Smarter Grid
President Obama’s vision for economic recovery centers on creating “green collar” jobs through substantial investment in clean technologies. Upon signing his “green stimulus” bill in February, Obama touted a $4.5- billion provision to “create a newer, smarter electric grid that will allow for broader use of alternative energy.”1 Despite the ...
The Taxman Clicketh
State lawmakers last week passed the largest tax increase in California history, and will soon consider taking their expanding quest for revenue online. A proposal by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) would force many Internet retailers to collect sales tax on all orders placed by California consumers. Based on a similar ...
Keep an eye on the Obama administration
The Boston Globe (MA), February 17, 2009 PETER FUNT raises serious privacy concerns about Google’s use of surveillance technologies (“Google is watching,” Op-ed, Feb. 9), but unlike George Orwell’s Big Brother, the Internet giant does not function as an arm of the government. This could soon change, however, if the ...
Google.gov? The Perils of Technology and Government Transparency
Barack Obama led the most tech savvy presidential campaign in American history, using the Internet to recruit, mobilize, and engage more than 13 million supporters. As president, Obama has pledged to “integrate technology into every aspect of government,” and usher in “a new level of transparency, accountability and participation for ...
Dumping Waste Board Will Help California’s Tech Sector
Facing a projected $40-billion budget shortfall, Governor Schwarzenegger last week proposed eliminating a redundant state board that has become a symbol of cronyism and inefficiency in Sacramento. Unlike most boards and commissions, which offer a stipend of $100 per meeting, the six members of the California Integrated Waste Management Board ...
Synthetic biology is a key to energy independence
Barack Obama recently pledged to establish a $150 billion “Apollo project” for energy independence. A new field known as synthetic biology presents one of the most promising opportunities to achieve his goal, but influential interest groups within his own party are fighting to kill this technology in its cradle. Just ...
Don’t give electric cars the inside track
With the support of Governor Schwarzenegger, the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose last week announced a $1-billion joint plan to make the Bay Area “the electric-vehicle capital of the world.” The announcement follows President-elect Obama’s pledge to reinvigorate the nation’s economy with millions of “green collar” jobs. ...
Will Electric Cars Jolt California’s Economy?
With the support of Governor Schwarzenegger, the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose last week announced a $1-billion joint plan to make the Bay Area “the electric-vehicle capital of the world.” The announcement follows President-elect Obama’s pledge to reinvigorate the nation’s economy with millions of “green collar” jobs. ...
State off course on ‘personal genomics’
California officials recently ordered two “personal genomics” firms to cease and desist operations within the state. The companies eventually were allowed to continue operations – with a few more regulatory conditions – but why did the state demand that they shut down in the first place? The Silicon Valley startups, ...
Sacramento sellout
Only two weeks after lawmakers in Sacramento passed a budget, the state is already in the red. As Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature debate more spending cuts and accounting tricks, another solution may be right in front of them: more laws. In California, government owns the laws and forces people ...
