Apollo Group, Inc., owner of the for-profit University of Phoenix, persuaded a judge to throw out a $277 million securities-fraud verdict over the company’s failure to disclose a report criticizing the school’s operations. Here’s the order from U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg in Phoenix. And here’s a Bloomberg report.

Government Fleet Cost to Taxpayers In Excess of 3 Billion for 2007
AP report, July 31, 2008: "While Cabinet and other officials say they need the vehicles to do their jobs, watchdogs say mismanagement of the government fleet is costing millions of dollars a year in wasteful spending."
Federal Fleet Report for Fiscal Year 2007, January 31, 2008 [Word doc.]: "Federal departments, agencies, and their contractors use motor vehicles to perform their missions. These vehicles, totaling more than 642,000 for Fiscal Year 2007, are obtained from three primary sources: agency purchase, lease from the GSA Fleet Program, or commercial lease. This report presents inventory, utilization, costs, and fuel use associated with the Federal motor vehicle fleet." [Note: Congressional vehicle reporting is not included.]

The song of the blue whale, one of the eeriest sounds in the ocean, has mysteriously grown deeper. The calls have been steadily dropping in frequency for seven populations of blue whales around the world over the past 40 years, say researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and WhaleAcoustics, a private research company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/29whale.html?ref=science

There isn't one American middle class; there are four. Each is different from the others in its attitudes, outlook and financial circumstance--sometimes in ways that defy traditional stereotypes of the middle class, according to an analysis of a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends Project.
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/911/americas-four-middle-classes

Executive Order: Further Amendments to Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence Activities -
"1.1 Goals. The United States intelligence effort shall provide the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council with the necessary information on which to base decisions concerning the development and conduct of foreign, defense, and economic policies, and the protection of United States national interests from foreign security threats. All departments and agencies shall cooperate fully to fulfill this goal.
Background Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the Revision of Executive Order 12333
"I would say at the outset that this is an exceptionally complex executive order...It's a foundational document for the intelligence community...It has a daily and significant impact on the activities of the intelligence community and the relationships in that important community. At the highest level, of course, the aim here is to create a more effective intelligence community, where these 16 agencies can be better integrated, work more collaboratively with one another, and also share more information freely."
Executive Order 12333: United States Intelligence Activities (as amended)
Statement by the Press Secretary
Fact Sheet: A Lasting Framework for United States Intelligence Activities
Statement by the Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Mike McConnell, on Executive Order 12333

Commission Approves Final Consent Order in Matters of The TJX Companies, Inc., Reed Elsevier, Inc. and Seisint, Inc.
Follow up to March 27, 2008 posting, FTC Announces Settlement of Action Against Data Brokers Reed Elsevier and Seisint for Failing to Provide Adequate Security for Consumers' Data, this August 1, 2008 FTC news release: "Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order and authorized the staff to respond to the commenters of record In The Matter of The TJX Companies, Inc...[and] In The Matter of Reed Elsevier Inc. and Seisint, Inc."
Related from EPIC: "The settlements arose from data breaches, which exposed the sensitive personal information of over 500,000 consumers and resulted in millions of dollars in financial fraud. Earlier this year, EPIC filed comments with the FTC urging the Commission to include civil penalties in the settlements. EPIC wrote that civil penalties are necessary to provide incentives for companies to safeguard personal data. EPIC also noted that the FTC imposed $10 million in civil penalties in the Choicepoint case. The final agreements impose security and audit responsibilities, but no financial penalties."

paper tiger (PAY-puhr TY-guhr)
One who is outwardly strong and powerful but is in fact powerless and ineffectual.
A.Word.A.Day