Digital information's explosive growth, and more

Digital information's explosive growth

In 2006, the world produced 161 “exabytes” of digital information—3 million times the amount of information contained in all the books ever

written. Next year, the world will produce 988 exabytes of data.

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Columbia Journalism Review

"Drowsy driving" accidents surge

As Americans have been cutting back on sleep, there has been a surge in traffic accidents caused by sleep deprivation. “Drowsy driving” is now a factor in more than 100,000 accidents a year, resulting in 1,500 deaths and 40,000 injuries.

USA Today

Boat owners hit by recession dump their craft

Thousands of boat owners hit hard by the recession are abandoning their pleasure craft, rather than pay for their upkeep and mooring, by sandpapering off their registration numbers and sinking them at sea or ditching them in harbors or on the shoreline. “Our waters have become dumping grounds,” says Florida maritime official Paul Ouellette.

The New York Times

New Orleans dodges the recession

Thanks to the massive investments that followed Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has largely dodged the ravages of the recession. With major building and renovation projects underway, home prices in the city have dipped only slightly, and the unemployment rate is 5.3 percent, compared with 8.5 percent nationally.

Los Angeles Times

1,200 car dealers to fail in 2009

With automakers expecting to sell 6 million fewer cars this year than five years ago, 1,200 car dealers will go out of business this year; 900 went out of business last year.

The Washington Post