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Daily Archives: February 3, 2006

NASA Chief Calls for “Scientific Openness” Amidst Claims of Gov’t Secrecy

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Follow-up to recent postings, Gov’t Climate Change Expert Contends Censorship of Data, and Sen. Boxer Calls For Hearings on Censorship of Gov’t Scientists, the New York Times reports that NASA Administrator Michael Griffin issued a “statement of scientific openness” to agency employees, saying, “NASA has always been, is and will continue to be committed to open scientific and technical inquiry and dialogue with the public.”
Related reference:

  • Washington Post (reg. req’d) NASA’s Inspector General Probed – Failure to Investigate Safety Violations Is Among the Charges: “An FBI-led watchdog agency has opened an investigation into multiple complaints accusing NASA Inspector General Robert W. Cobb of failing to investigate safety violations and retaliating against whistle-blowers. Most of the complaints were filed by current and former employees of his own office.”
  • Time: The Political Science Test – Bush said science would guide his decisions, but those in the lab see ideology intruding on their work.

    • UK Gov’t Conducts Public Inquiry on Digital Rights Management

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    “The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) [held] an oral evidence session [February 2, 2006] at the House of Commons, as part of its public inquiry on Digital Rights Management(DRM)…The inquiry…is seeking to establish how consumers, artists and the distribution companies should be protected in a continually evolving market place…Regrettably, this session will not be… Continue Reading

    House Cmte. Seeks Operations Docs. from Websites Selling Cell Phone Records

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    Follow-up to February 1, 200 posting, Sale of Cell Phone Records Subject of House Hearing and State AG Action, the following related news: “House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders today demanded answers from operators of Internet sites like “phonebust.com” and “datafind.org” that offer criminals, stalkers and any other paying customer the detailed records of a… Continue Reading

    36 Senators Request Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Abramoff Scandal

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    Press release: “U.S. Senators Harry Reid, Charles E. Schumer, Ken Salazar, and others sent a letter [text included in this release] signed by a majority of Democrats to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales asking him to appoint a special counsel to continue the investigation into and prosecution of the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal.” Continue Reading

    Judiciary Cmte. Democrats Again Request Data on Domestic Surveillance From AG

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    Press release: “The Committee Democrats first asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for correspondence, memoranda and legal opinions on January 27 in a letter. Senators sought the information in anticipation of the Feb. 6 hearing the committee is holding on the controversial surveillance program. So far, the Department has not responded. The text of the letter… Continue Reading

    GAO Report on Assessing and Certifying Nuclear Weapons

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    Nuclear Weapons: NNSA Needs to Refine and More Effectively Manage Its New Approach for Assessing and Certifying Nuclear Weapons, GAO-06-261, February 3, 2006. Highlights. “In 2001, NNSA’s weapons laboratories began developing what is intended to be a common framework for a new methodology for assessing and certifying the safety and reliability of the nuclear stockpile… Continue Reading

    Senate Intel Cmte. Hearing on Current and Projected National Security Threats to the US

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    Senate Intelligence Committee hearing: Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States, Thursday, February 2, 2006. Partial transcript which includes statements by Sen. Russ Feingold. Witnesses are listed as followed (please note only Negroponte statement is currently available): Ambassador John Negroponte, Director of National Intelligence; General Michael V. Hayden (USAF), Principal Deputy, Director… Continue Reading