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Monthly Archives: March 2003

More Campaign Data From PoliticalWeb.com

As mentioned in my previous posting on PoliticalWeb.com, this site is offering a wealth of analysis on campaign related data. Newly available is this resource, 2002 Campaign Web Sphere Analysis, which details how “candidates for House, Senate and Governor used the Web in the 2002 campaign to facilitate civic engagement, establish connections to other political… Continue Reading

Students at Brown Lose Net Access for File Sharing

Brown University temporarily terminated Internet access for 67 students after they were identified as having downloaded files using P2P applications through the campus network. See also this Message to the Brown Community on Illegal Downloading of Music and Videos and Your Vulnerability, which links to the Using Computing Resources at Brown University guidelines. Continue Reading

Gov't Websites Attract Growing Number of Users

According to a new survey by Nielsen//NetRatings, almost 45 percent of Internet users accessed federal government websites in February 2003, which accounted for a 26 percent increase in web traffic from December 2002. The Treasury Department’s site experienced a 176 percent increase in traffic in the past three months (although not clearly indicated, I believe… Continue Reading

Quartet of KM Articles

From InfoWorld on March 14, four useful articles on KM: Technical trends bode well for KM: “Making knowledge more available gets easier with Weblogs, improved information sorting, better user connections.” Knowledge managing: “The technology to make KM work is available; now is the time to reconsider old implementation hurdles and reap the benefits of knowledge… Continue Reading

MD Libraries Launch Live Reference Service

See Md. libraries to connect with patrons via the Internet for news about the new AskUsNow! 24/7 live online interactive service. Maryland is the second state to launch an Internet chat-based reference service for patrons, that also uses e-mail follow-up if required. New Jersey’s service has been available for over one year. Continue Reading

Conflict Between Teach Act and DMCA

According to this article in the March 18 Chronicle of Higher Education, an important conflict has been identified between the Teach Act (2002), which lifts specific copyright restrictions for the purposes of distance learning, and the DMCA (1998), that has a provision preventing the circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. Continue Reading

Freedom of Information Resource

EPIC has launched the Online FOIA Gallery 2003, providing “scanned images of documents obtained by EPIC through the Freedom of Infomation Act, including evidence of the misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, video monitoring of political protesters in Washington, DC, and the names and project titles of the organizations receiving funding from John Poindexter… Continue Reading

War on Terrorism and Freedom of Information

A new White Paper from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, released March 14: How the War on Terrorism Affects Access to Information and the Public’s Right to Know Covering the war. Topics covered include: Military tribunals, Access to terrorism & immigration proceedings, Domestic coverage, The USA PATRIOT Act, The reporter’s privilege, Freedom… Continue Reading

RIAA Expands Efforts to Stop File Swapping

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been pursuing a high-profile campaign against P2P file sharing that stretches from college and university campuses to the cubicles of corporate America. On March 12, RIAA President Cary H. Sherman sent letters to 300 companies warning that “significant legal damages” could result from employers and employees who… Continue Reading