In the News...

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, we could produce 988 exabytes of data. Columbia Journalism Review.

Thousands of boat owners hit hard by the recession are just abandoning their boats rather than paying for mooring or upkeep. Folks sandpaper off the registration numbers and sink the boats, or just ditching them in harbors. - The New York Times.

With automakers expecting to make 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

Nearly half of Major League Baseballs 30 teams had a lower opening day payroll than they did a year ago. The Yankees still lead with a 201.4 million dollar payroll, but its down 8 million from last year. - USA Today

A government worker in Binghamton NY who had to stay at his desk during a recent massacre wants compensation for missing his lunch hour.

When Federal income tax was first established in 1913, the tax code was 400 pages, today it is 70,320 pages. - USA Today

Since 1976, there have been an average of 18 mass murders every year in the US in which gunmen kill four or more people. Nearly 3,000 people have died. - USA Today

Sales of wine, beer and other alcoholic products are on pace to rise 4.8% this year to 79 Million. Many drinkers are just drinking at home to save money. Associated Press

Illegal immigrants have given birth to about 4 million children on US soil. These children are US citizens by right of birth, making about 8.8 million people members of "mixed status" families, in which some members are legal and others face deportation. San Jose Mercury News

Legal firearm sales have soared 27% in the first three months of 2009. Many gun owners fear that the Obama administration will impose new restrictions, so they are buying now. The Wall Street Journal

A glut of stolen credit and debit card numbers is driving down the black market price of illicit financial data. Identity thieves now make about 50 cents per stolen number, down from about $16 per number in mid 2007. Washingtonpost.com