Author archives

Washingtonpost.com To Require More Reader Info

The Washington Post announced that through a section-by-section introdution over the next month, readers of washingtonpost.com will have to provide additional information beyond the familiar triad of zip code, age and gender (this information is referred to as “ZAG”). Joining other major national newspapers including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and the Chicago …

Subjects: E-Commerce

New Database Launched on Past and Present U.S. Governors

National Governors Association (NGA) Launches Governors Legacy Project: “NGA launched a user-friendly comprehensive database of all past and present U.S. governors. Called the “Governors Legacy Project,” this service allows users to search for valuable information about governors…users [can] learn more about these state policymakers by searching a variety of question fields – including term of …

Subjects: E-Government

Data Mining and Your Driver’s License

“The SWIPE Toolkit is a collection of web-based tools that sheds light on personal data collection and usage practices in the United States. The tools demonstrate the value of personal information on the open market and enable people to access information encoded on a driver’s license or stored in some of the many commercial data …

Subjects: Privacy

Carnegie Endowment Report on Iraq and WMDs

WMD in Iraq: Evidence and Implications: “This new Carnegie Report studies what the intelligence community understood about Iraq’s WMD programs before the war and outlines policy reforms designed to improve threat assessments, deter transfer of WMD to terrorists, and avoid politicization of the intelligence process.” (111 pages, pdf) Two-page summary

Subjects: Government Documents

Google How To Guide and Online Tutorial

How to Do Everything With Google, by Fritz Schneider, Eric Fredricksen, Nancy Blachman Google ~Guide: “This online Google tutorial will occupy you from 0.5 to 8 hours, depending on how many sections you elect to skip, and how many of the examples and problems you work through. Most people spend about half an hour at …

Subjects: Search Engines

NYC Tests Online Dispute Resolution System

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. announced a two year pilot program to test an online dispute resolution system to address approximately one third of the more than 20,000 claims and lawsuits filed against the city annually. “The system, called Cybersettle, accelerates the resolution of claims and legal disputes by allowing parties to …

Subjects: E-Government

Report Documents Extensive Security Flaws in State Motor Vehicle Offices Nationwide

The Center for Democracy and Technology investigated problems of ID theft and fraud at state motor vehicle administration offices nationwide. They conclude, in the report referenced below, that driver license information is subject to widespread theft due to fraud and bribery, and recommend remedies to address the widespread availability of false licenses that compromise individual …

Subjects: Government Documents, ID Theft

Fiscal Year 2005 Budget

On Monday, February 2, 2004, the Office of Management and Budget released the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget of the United States. From OMB, this Table of Contents provides links to sections of the budget in pdf and HTML formats. DOJ press release on the budget: President’s Request Supports 19% Increase For Department’s Counter-Terrorism And Homeland …

Subjects: Government Documents

White House Commission to Investigate WMD Intelligence Will Not Report Findings Until After Election

Bush to Seek Intelligence Failures Probe: President Bush to Sign Executive Order Seeking Investigation of Intelligence Failures in Iraq See also this New York Times article that reports the work of the commission will encompass an examination of American intelligence work involving not only Iraq, but Libya and North Korea as well, and will not …

Subjects: Freedom of Information, Government Documents