Follow-up to postings on DNA database privacy issues, this WSJ free feature today spotlights the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia project to create a database comprised of genetic profiles from up to 10,0000 patients. Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: June 2006
CIA Releases Additional Nazi War Crimes Documents
NARA: “CIA Name Files and Subject Files compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency in response to the Disclosure Acts. These files are comprised of documentation from several CIA filing systems and are organized under the names of individuals and subjects. As of May 2006 this group consists of approximately 27,000 pages of files on individuals… Continue Reading
VA Data Breach Far More Extensive Than Previously Revealed
Follow-up to postings on breach of veterans data, this press release from Sen. Patrick Leahy comments on the announcement that “the Social Security numbers and other personal information for as many as 2.2 million U.S. military personnel including nearly 80 percent of our active-duty force — were among the data the VA has lost.”… Continue Reading
Hearings on Telecom Customer Data and Domestic Surveillance Cancelled
Follow-up to postings on the government phone surveillance program, USAToday.com reported that Senate Judicary Chair Arlen Specter cancelled hearings that would have scrutinized the extent to which phone companies provided customer records to the NSA. Related Congressional news: CNN reported on growing tensions between Specter and Cheney which produced a formal written complaint by the… Continue Reading
USPTO Briefing on New Web-Based Filing System for Patent Applications
“The United States Patent and Trademark office will be hosting an EFS-Web briefing on June 8, 2006. EFS-Web is the USPTO’s new electronic patent filing system, which allows users to file patents online safely and securely by attaching files as PDF’s.” Continue Reading
AOL Releases Free Home PC Security Program
“Active Security Monitor is a software program that helps you determine how vulnerable your PC is to computer viruses, spyware and other dangers and learn what steps you can take to improve your protection. And if you have more than one PC in your home network, you can use Active Security Monitor to check the… Continue Reading
Shift From Paper to Digital Libraries Offers New Preservation Challenges
Fragile digital data in danger of fading past history’s reach, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (6-7-06) “Many of the records that once allowed historians to study a society’s history — from personal correspondence to government documents — may be slipping, irretrievably, into the digital ether…compared to the sturdy format of paper and books, digital information is extremely… Continue Reading
Overseas Travel by Lawmakers Analyzed in New Study
Center for Public Integrity, Privately Sponsored Trips Hot Tickets on Capitol Hill – Study finds almost $50 million spent on travel for lawmakers, aides “Over a 5½-year period ending in 2005, members of Congress and their aides took at least 23,000 trips valued at almost $50 million financed by private sponsors, many of… Continue Reading
DOJ Testimony Reiterates AG Policy on Journalists and Leaks
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: Examining DOJ’s Investigation of Journalists Who Publish Classified Information: Lessons from the Jack Anderson Case, June 6, 2006. Links to testimony and member statements Related posting, AG States Prosecution of Journalists for Leaks is Legal Continue Reading
Backgrounder on Marriage Protection Amendment
Democratic Policy Committee Report on S.J. Res. 1, the Marriage Protection Amendment, June 5, 2006. Related documents and news: S.J.RES.1, A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) statement on June 6, 2006 regarding the Marriage Protection Amendment that is currently being… Continue Reading
User Generated Content As Challenge to Libraries Bears Scrutiny
WSJ free feature: Why Getting the User To Create Web Content Isn’t Always Progress Continue Reading
$200 Billion Debt Reported To Date for FY2006
CBO: Monthly Budget Review June 2006 Continue Reading
