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Daily Archives: May 8, 2003

Battle Over Release of 9/11 Documents

Several sources have recently reported on the White House refusal to release data and related sources on events that led up to the 9/11 attacks which comprise a 800-plus page Congressional study completed last December. Reasons for the unwillingess to provide the public with access to the currently ‘secret’ report range from the need to maintain national security to aversion to potential public hearings.

  • White House refuses to release Sept. 11 info
  • Administration Attempts to Re-classify 9-11 Information
  • The Secrets of September 11
  • California Online Privacy Act

    A.B. No. 68, the Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003, was amended in Assembly on April 28 and passed by the Committee on Business and Professions on May 7. The bill “requires an operator of a commercial website that collects personally identifiable information about individuals visiting its website or online service, who are located in… Continue Reading

    New Name for GAO?

    Roll Call has an article, GAO Seeks New Name, Image (subscription required), in the print and online versions, in which David M. Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States states he “wants to change the name of Congress’ investigative arm to Government Accountability Office, saying the current name doesn’t fit its job description. The… Continue Reading

    Library E-Rate Public Forum at FCC

    Comments of Charles E. Parker, Chair of The American Library Association’s E-rate Task Force, before the Federal Communications Commission Public Forum on Improving Administration of the E-rate Program, May 8th, 2003. See the FCC press release here, and Fraud, waste in school Internet program, from CNN, as well as Schools, Libraries Call for More E-Rate… Continue Reading

    Searching vs. Researching

    This commentary, Search Engines Make Us Dumb, no doubt reflects the perspective of many seasoned online (pre-Web) researchers. There is a steadily growing reliance, among consumers and professionals in many communities, on search engines (or just Google for that matter) as the penultimate tool to search, locate, and analyze data which is then disseminated as… Continue Reading

    Pentagon Library's Journey Back From 9/11

    Pentagon Library Back Home After Difficult Journey. The Pentagon Library, which sustained significant damage during the 9/11 attack, finally returned from temporary quarters to a new facility within the Pentagon itself. Best wishes to all the librarians whose long-term efforts and commitment contributed to the re-opening. Continue Reading

    EarthLink Prevails Against Spammer

    Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, granted EarthLink an injunction and a $16.4 million judgment against Howard Carmack, who engaged in ID theft and fraud to deliver over 800 million spam e-mails last year via the hundreds of accounts he established with the ISP. How much EarthLink can expect… Continue Reading