No. 269 June 2005
HEALTH STATISTICS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES The U. S. Agency for International Development’s DOLPHN (Data Online for Population, Health and Nutrition) is an online database of over 70 key national health indicators obtained from eleven selected national and international data sources. The DOLPHN website has a search engine which allows selection of any combination of any (or all) health data indicators for any, any combination, or all of the countries covered. The customized search can be tailored and the printed or downloaded report fashioned to the user’s needs. Anyone with less creative statistical needs can select any or all of the already completed Country Health Statistical Reports for any of (over) 60 countries. Each country report is revised biennially, consists of about 12 tables. A Country Profile report consists of: (1)-- “I Statistical Overview” which includes Demographic, Socioeconomic, Family Planning, Maternal Health, Child Survival, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Infectious Diseases Control Indicators. The second section (2) -- “II Trends in Health Indicators” which consists of six charts or tables of estimates and projections which can range from 1950 to 2050. The third section (3) consists of definitions in “Data Notes” and the fourth section lists the statistical “Sources” used. The DOLPHN home page http://www.phnip.com/dolphn/Index.asp?link=1 will provide more basic information and provide links to the “Search Data” option and to the “Country Reports” list of reports in a PDF format. If you like paper copies, the USAID does provide paper copies upon request.
CRIME AND MAPS A close look at one or more of the television criminal investigation and crime analysts’ series such as Law and Order and will reveal the use of Maps and mapping techniques? Frequently, solving a series of crimes by the same individual(s) involves a map showing locations. In some instances the map of a city is marked to show crime occurrence pattern or patterns as to location and timing, and frequency. This mapping technique can present a pictorial view of where the “hot spots” are in the city. Maintenance of such a map can provide a monitoring tool for the effectiveness of law enforcement. During an investigation, the mapping of multiple related crime incidents allows visualization of the series of crime scenes and victims to detect a patterns and relationships which benefit analysis and solution of those crimes. The National Institute of Justice created a Crime Mapping Research Center (CMRC). The CMRC has developed the science of crime mapping and provides crime map educational materials for police officers, crime analysts, or anyone interested in visualizing crime data through maps. Mapping Crime: Principles and Practices by Keith Harries (May 2005) http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS3939 is a guide to mapping crime. Harries prepares you for Mapping Crime: Understanding Hot Spots by John E. Eck (August 2005) (http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/209393.pdf) which shows how the mapping techniques can be applied.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, USE, ABUSE, AND REFORM At birth the individual gets a Social Security Number (SSN) and is usually identified by that number for the rest of his/her life. The SSN number appears on tax forms, insurance policies, consumer credit accounts, drivers’ licenses, in health insurance policies, and banks. It is common practice that company’s list of clients’ names and SSNs may be sold to other companies or institutions. There are federal laws, such as tax law, which require the use of social security numbers, and there are other federal laws which help to protect consumer information and SSNs by restricting the disclosure of and access to SSNs. Kentucky and California are two of the six States which have specific laws restricting the use and display of SSNs. Kentuckians no longer have the SSN on their driver’s license and health insurance identification cards. Information sellers, consumer reporting agencies, and health care organizations are the three major groups which are center of concern in the General Accountability Office’s Social Security Numbers, Private Sector Entities Routinely Obtain and Use SSNs, and Laws Limit the Disclosure of this Information. Issued in January 2004, this 31 page report identifies the previous report which it updates. Together these reports provide current information how the government and private sectors obtain, use, and safeguard Americans SSNs. This report is found on the GAO website at http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-11
PLAIN LANGUAGE MOVEMENT In 1975 John O’Hayre, an employee in the Office of Land Management wrote Gobbledygook Has Gotta Go. Thus plain language movement began and has developed into today’s Plain Language.gov Improving Communication from the Federal Government to the Public http://www.plainlanguage.gov/index.cfm. Sponsored by the Interagency Commission on Government Information, Plain Language.gov is an online attempt to inform the lawmakers and other federal employees about plain language. Written laws, manuals, letters, and instructions, any federal publication which communicates information to the public should be in plain language. Plain language allows the reader to “find what they need, understand what they find, and use what they find to meet their needs.” The writing techniques used by the plain language writer include “logical organization with the reader in mind, you and other pronouns, short sentences, common everyday words, and easy-to-read design features.” There is no single definition, since “plain language is defined by results – it is easy to read, understand, and use.” The Plain Language.gov provides definitions, examples, and historical information. Other features include “How to/Tools” for plain language writers, as well as benefits, pros and cons, and examples of where plain language publications are found. Resource literature and materials include a bibliography and information on plain language training.
BANK FAILURES “We live in the best of times, and we live in the worst of times.” That is what Charles Dickens said in 19th London. The “Crash of 1929” which began with Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929 was the beginning of America’s Great Depression 1929-1939 which was a period remembered for the many bank failures. Band failures resulted from the economic conditions which resulted in the Crash of 1929. Although it is almost a century later and in spite of our rather prosperous economic period, banks can still closed their doors. Did you know the Bank of Honolulu closed its doors on October 13, 2000? The Malta National Bank, (Malta, Ohio) closed its doors on May 3, 2001. In 1929, when the banks failed some people recovered their savings or other funds held by the bank, but many people were not so lucky. The banks were not covered by Federal sponsored insurance. To quote the FDIC: “An independent agency of the federal government, the FDIC was created in 1933 in response to the thousands of bank failures that occurred in the 1920s and early 1930s. Since the start of FDIC insurance on January 1, 1934, no depositor has lost a single cent of insured funds as a result of a failure.” Yet, over 20 of the banks which failed since 2000 are under the receivership of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Each bank failure has a set of unique characteristics as to its impact on the people with accounts and loans, and the FDIC website has bank failure information. At the FDIC Failed Banks website, you can find the list of banks. Failed Banks http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/index.html links to Failed Banks List which shows the closing date of banks that failed since October 1, 2000. Bank Failures & Assistance includes a brief summary of each bank failure from 1991 to present. If your bank or savings and loan has failed, Obtaining a Lien Release will provide a needed ‘Release of Lien’ which one may need for real or other property secured by a loan. Bank and Thrift Failure Reports is a searchable database which dates back to 1934 which is the year the FDIC was created. This database within the Historical Statistics on Banking pages http://www2.fdic.gov/hsob/index.asp provides historical statistics for Commercial banks from 1934-2004 and for Savings institutions from 1934-2004.
MARRIED PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIEST Charlotte A. Schoenborn, M.P.H. at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Health Interview Statistics conducted a national survey of Americans who are married, widowed, divorced or separated, never married, and living with a partner. Traditionally there are two major theories about the health status of married adults. The theories are called Marriage Protection and Marital Selection. The Marriage Protection theory is that married people have more advantages in terms of economic resources, social and psychological support, and support for healthy lifestyles. Marital Selection is the theory that (1) healthier people get married and stay married, whereas (2) less healthy people either do not marry or are more likely to become separated, divorced, or widowed. However, the research shows our answer is not limited to these two alternatives; and now, household composition and living arrangements are now two elements which are to be considered in further research. After the survey was completed, the data in, and analysis complete, Schoenborn’s conclusion is “Regardless of population subgroup…or health indicator…married adults were generally found to be healthier than adults in other marital categories.” Yet, married adults, particularly men, had high rates of overweight or obesity, relative to men who were divorced, separated, or widowed. Adults who were never married were among the least likely to be overweight or obese. Marital Status and Health: United States, 1999-2002, issued December 15, 2004 is the 32 page Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics No. 351 found as a PDF file at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad351.pdf. Married people may be the healthiest, but are they the happiest?
FEDERAL CAR THEFT ESTIMATES: BEFORE AND AFTER What are the chances of your (model) being stolen? How interested are car thieves in your car? Are you are going to buy a 2006? If you have an older car, no one may have stolen it, but why? Was it too low on their list? (1) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes estimates of theft rates each year as a Notice in the, a list of the automobile models to be built (during the next calendar year) If you go to “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 49 CFR Part 541 Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; Final Listing of Model Year 2006 High-Theft Vehicle Lines,” Federal Register, V. 70, No. 75, April 20, 2005, pages 20481-20484 (AE 2.106:70/152) for the 2006 models, you will find the ranking theft rate for your car.. This annually issued list of projected theft rates for earlier years are in the Federal Register and though the Index to the Federal Register. However, how valid are the NHTSA list’s projections? Also, your car was not stolen? (2) The NHTSA also publishes annually a “Final Theft Statistics” in the Federal Register. For example: “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 49 CFR Part 541 Final, Final Theft Data; Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, Publication of the final theft data,” Federal Register, V. 70, No. 152, August 9, 2005, pages 46092-46097 (AE 2.106:70/152) This list provides actual theft rate statistics for each model line. The 2005 Federal Register issues carry projections for 2006 and final theft rate data for the 2003 model cars. The Final theft rate data list is first issued as Preliminary and then a Final Listing appears as a Final Rule. It seems to require two years in its compilation and issuance. However, it is possible to see what the (theft rate) chances are of your new car being stolen is also two years or look back to see what kinds of cars the thieves actually liked and stole.
GO FISHING, AVOID PHISHING, AND DON’T GET HOOKED Fishing is a great sport and pastime to be always enjoyed. Phishing, however, is the sport of the Internet scammers not enjoyed by those people caught. Online scammers cast out spam or pop-up messages to see who will “swallow the bait” and get hooked. Have you received "phishie" email message? Phishing involves sending out messages to lure worrisome people to respond to unsolicited messages with personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information). The messages, which appear legitimate, ask you to update some personal or financial information. Never provide personal information of any kind unless it is a response to a request you have initiated. The FTC Consumer Alert How Not to Get Hooked by a “Phishing” Scam http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm issued in June 2005 provides all the details as to what to identify, avoid, report incidents, and get help from the FTC in regard to spam, phishing, and identify theft.
A STAR IS BORN The phrase “a star is born” was used as the title of a Hollywood motion picture which has appeared in 1937, 1954, and 1976. Now, as of January, 2005, the title “a star is born” takes on a new meaning. The 21st century astronomical observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope (Spitzer) with it infrared viewing camera and imaging capabilities have uncovered 30 embryonic stars in the Trifid Nebula’s four cores and dark clouds. Spitzer has also uncovered about 120 small baby stars buried outside the clouds of the Trifid Nebula. The Trifid Nebula is a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light years away in the constellation Sagittarius. Everyone knows about the constellation Sagittarius, but the baby stars are 21st century news. Sptizer Finds Stellar “Incubators” with Massive Embryos is the January 12, 2005 NASA News Release: 2005-214 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2005-014 which provides all the new about the Spitzer Space Telescope and the newborn stars. If you go to the Spitzer Space Telescope website http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/spitzer/index.shtml you will find the latest information and more photos of the stellar births.
March 30, 2006
http://www.nku.edu/~yannarella/news0506.htm