Benghazi: Where is it?

Of the 41 percent of Republicans who consider Benghazi to be the worst political scandal in American history, 39 percent are unaware that Benghazi is located in Libya. 10 percent said it's in Egypt, 9 percent in Iran, 6 percent in Cuba, 5 percent in Syria, 4 percent in Iraq, and 1 percent each in North Korea and Liberia, with 4 percent unwilling to venture a guess.

Best part of this story? Finding the press release about the poll done by Publi Policy Polling, PPP. It reads at the top:

IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE

And, that last paragraphc reads:

PPP surveyed 576 voters nationwide from May 10th to 12th. The margin of error is +/- 4.1%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

- UPI Blog

NGA: DigitalGlobe Imagery Contract will not be Impacted by Sequestration

Satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe has received word from its principal U.S. government customer [National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, NGA] that the company’s centerpiece imagery-delivery contract will not suffer from the mandatory budget cuts known as sequestration that are sweeping through U.S. government agencies, DigitalGlobe Chief Executive Jeffrey R. Tarr said.

Value added services still might be impacted. But then the notification to DigitalGlobe by NGA is not binding.

- Space News

White House Initiative Takes a Hard Look at GPS as if it’s Critical Infrastructure

While GPS itself is not considered critical infrastructure, a report into the risks its loss might pose was begun in 2010. That reports is not complete, but an update is coming.

The new, more expansive analysis of infrastructure protection will begin hardening 16 essential sectors such as energy and communications against risks that include losing — or losing trust in — the GPS signal. 

What sectors and agencies are we talking about?

The 16 critical sectors and agencies coordinating sector efforts:

Chemical
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Commercial Facilities
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Communications
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Critical Manufacturing
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Dams
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Defense Industrial Base
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Defense

Emergency Services
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Energy
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Energy

Financial Services
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of the Treasury

Food and Agriculture
Co-Sector-Specific Agencies: U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services

Government Facilities
Co-Sector-Specific Agencies: Department of Homeland Security and General Services Administration

Healthcare and Public Health
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Information Technology
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
Sector-Specific Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Transportation Systems
Co-Sector-Specific Agencies: Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation

Water and Wastewater Systems
Sector-Specific Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

- Inside GNSS

UK Police Give Out GPS Trackers to Alzheimer Patients and other Health GIS News

Last week, Sussex police in southeast England announced a plan to buy GPS devices for a few people with dementia who are at high risk of getting lost. The police couldn't say how many devices would be bought but have invested 600 pounds, or $935, into the program. Each tracking device costs about 28 pounds, or $43 a month, which will be paid by the family of the dementia patient.

Police feel the devices will save time, money and worry, while opponents describe the devices as barbaric.

- CBS News

The New York Times offers an interactive map based on data released by the federal government on May 8 that shows that hospitals across the country charge Medicare differing amounts for the same procedure. 

- New York Times

Sherrod Brown, a senator from Ohio is introducing a plan to stop Medicare fraud. In particular he wants to target doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping. Hey, that rhymes! While it has nothing to do with the fraud effort, he's launched a map to help Ohio citizens dispose of unused prescription drugs safely. The press release offers this link.

Why is the senator sending his constituents to ArcGIS Online with all of its sign up, metadata, editing [this data is EDITABLE!!] and other details they need not ever know about? Esri please help our government use ArcGIS Online more effectively! This is not the map/interface citizens should be seeing.

- press release via @micheal_d_gould

Canadian Public Safety Claims First Life Saved by Drone

A man's car had flipped leaving him well offroad in cold Saskatchewan on Thursday night. He called Canadia 911, but traditional manned aircraft could not locate him. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police launched a Draganflyer X4-ES helicopter drone near the last known coordinates from his cell phone. The drone's infrared sensor helped authorities find and treat the accident victim, perhaps saving his life.

The two minute video below includes the footage from the copter.

- The Verge via @jeffharrison