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E-Gov Site Provides Links and Info on Programs Offering Range of Assistance to Those in Need

Press release: “GovBenefits.gov is a free, on-line resource that helps citizens determine their potential eligibility for benefit programs. The site provides information and links to nearly 1,000 federal and state benefit programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Community Food and Nutrition Program, Emergency Food Assistance Program, Food Stamp Program, Housing Counseling Assistance Program, …

Subjects: E-Government

Internal and External Strategic Importance of Blogs Continues to Grow

“Blog use has grown significantly in the past year — online consumers who regularly read blogs increased from 2% in 2003 to 5% in 2004. Although half of all online consumers have never heard of blogging, consumers who use blogs will become an attractive target group for marketers. Blogging will grow in importance, and at …

Subjects: Blogs, Knowledge Management

Shrinking Long URLs and Tracking How They Are Used

Shrinkster.com: “Simply paste your long URL into the box…and a unique, compressed Shrinkster URL will be generated for you. When your new Shrinkster URL is visited, we will simply redirect the requesting browser to your original URL. Your Shrinkster URL can be used as often as you like and will never expire. Additionally, you will …

Subjects: Knowledge Management

Federal Judge Dismisses Internet Archive Challenge to Copyright Renewal Act

As a follow-up to my May 7, 2004 posting, Copyright Regulation and Access to Web Document Archives, a link via LISNews.com to a copy of the United States District Court For the Northern District of California decision (26 pages, PDF), November 19, 2004, BREWSTER KAHLE, et al., Plaintiffs, JOHN ASHCROFT, in his official capacity as …

Subjects: Copyright, Courts

Guide to Firewalls for Home PCs

This straight forward guide from PC World describes why you need to use a firewall, how they work, and hardware and software options.

Subjects: PC Security

Recently Declassified Presidential Papers Shed Light on Fight to Secure Open Access to Gov’t Docs.

For those interested in the FOIA, this National Security Archive resource, Veto Battle 30 Years Ago Set Freedom of Information Norms, provides access to previously classified information, as well as documenting the political hurdles to, and historical milestones and government references about this pivotal legislation. Related reference: please see this Washington Post obituary on Ronald …

Subjects: Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Free Annual Credit Reports Will Be Available in 13 States Tomorrow

When you visit the website AnnualCreditReport.com, there is a graphic on the main page, right hand side, that indicates the time frame, from December 1, 2004 through September 1, 2005, when residents of states, grouped into four regions across the U.S., are eligible by law, to obtain a free annual credit report from each of …

Subjects: Legal Research

Federal Gov’t Wants To Mine College and University Student Data

According to articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the New York Times and the Boston Globe, the National Center for Education Statistics (part of the Dept. of Education) is investigating a new system to significantly broaden the collection of personal data on college and university students beyond the scope of information related to financial …

Subjects: E-Government, Privacy

New Non-Partisan PAC on IP Launched Online

This Wired article profiles the recently launchedIPac, whose mission is described as follows: “We believe that technological innovation and individual creativity are vital to the future of this country. We believe that a prosperous and democratic society depends on freedom for all individuals to pursue scientific invention and artistic expression. Unfortunately, new intellectual property laws …

Subjects: Intellectual Property, Internet

Survey of How Top Companies Rate in Online Transactions With Consumers

The current Online Customer Respect Study, conducted by the Customer Respect Group, provides data on how prominent firms in the U.S. are rated in their online interactions with consumers. “…more than 50 percent of sites say they share personal data without users’ explicit permission. This should concern high-tech firms greatly, since research shows that more …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Privacy

Survey Rates Best Global Websites

An useful addition to a compendium of competitive intelligence resources, the The Web Globalization Report Card 2005 ($$) “…identifies those companies that have developed Web sites that combine global reach with local usability. In all, this report rates the Web sites of 200 companies across 16 industries.” [Link to press release and website]. “The top …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Legal Research

Additional Info on Micro Chips in New US Passports

As a follow-up to this posting, State Department documents obtained through a FOIA request, details of which are publicized in this ACLU white paper, provide broader insight into the privacy and ID theft issues implicit as a result of the new passports’ implementation of Contactless Integrated Circuits.

Subjects: Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

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