Author archives

Study Focuses on Understanding the Political Influence of Blogs

Understanding the Political Influence of Blogs: A Study of the Growing Importance of the Blogosphere in the U.S. Congress, April 2006, by T. Neil Sroka. Abstract: “Using a survey of congressional offices conducted between January and March 2006, I attempt to gain a picture of the readership, usage, and opinion of blogs and blogging on …

Subjects: Blogs, Congress, Knowledge Management

FTC Issues Updated Franchise Rule

Press release: “The Federal Trade Commission has approved amendments to the Franchise Rule, which was originally promulgated in 1978. The amended Rule has a phased-in effective date: as of July 1, 2007, franchisors may follow the amended Rule, or they may continue their current practice of complying with the original Rule or individual state franchise …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research

US v Libby Legal Proceedings

Libby Trial Exhibits: “Due to public interest in this case, the Department of Justice is releasing the government exhibits in the format admitted in the court. The Department recognizes that these documents are in some cases not in an accessible format.” Related postings on Libby Legal Times (registration free), Prosecution Calls Libby a Liar During …

Subjects: Courts, E-Government, Legal Research

Hearing Will Question Political Influence on Government Climate Change Scientists

“The Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on January 30 regarding political interference in the work of government climate change scientists. In preparation for the hearing, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis have requested documents from the Council on Environmental Quality [Letter to CEQ Chairman James Connaughton] related to allegations that officials edited scientific reports …

Subjects: Congress

GAO Comptroller General Testimony on Deficits

Long-Term Budget Outlook: Deficits Matter–Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today, GAO-07-389T, January 23, 2007. “The Comptroller General testified before Congress [House Budget Committee] for a hearing entitled “Why Deficits Matter.” The presentation touched on several points. First, the current financial condition in the United States is worse than is widely understood. Second, the current …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents

EU eGovernment Action Plan Roadmaps

“The European Commission in co-operation with the Member States has finalised the roadmaps for the action plans on Pan-European Electronic Identity Management, Electronic Procurement and Inclusive eGovernment. In view of the continuous and fast evolution in these areas, we shall conduct an annual revision of these roadmaps. Electronic Identity Management roadmap table and paper Electronic …

Subjects: E-Government, EU Data Protection, Government Documents

Challenges to Copyright Law Rejected By 9th Circuit

Stanford Center for Internet and Society: ” Kahle v. Gonzales – In this case, two archives ask the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to hold that statutes that extended copyright terms unconditionally — the Copyright Renewal Act and the Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA)— are unconstitutional under the Free Speech Clause …

Subjects: Copyright, Courts, Legal Research, Libraries

Corporations and Environmental Groups Call For System to Combat Global Warming

Press release: “United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) urges lawmakers to enact a policy framework for mandatory reductions of GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions from major emitting sectors, including large stationary sources, transportation, and energy use in commercial and residential buildings. The cornerstone of this approach would be a cap-and-trade program. The environmental goal is to …

Subjects: Congress, Legislation