Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Monthly Archives: May 2009

Online Martin Luther King Records Access (OKRA) Database

Online King Records Access (OKRA) Database: “A Joint Project of the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, and the Robert W.Woodruff Library at Atlanta University Center. Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. his searchable database gives you access to thousands… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports: Joint Strike Fighter, Space Acquisitions, USPS, Designated Federal Entities

Joint Strike Fighter: Strong Risk Management Essential as Program Enters Most Challenging Phase, GAO-09-711T, May 20, 2009 Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: Financial Challenges Highlight Need for Improved Governance and Management, GAO-09-702T, May 20, 2009 Sovereign Wealth Funds: Laws Limiting Foreign Investment Affect Certain U.S. Assets and Agencies Have Various Enforcement Processes, GAO-09-608, May 20, 2009… Continue Reading

Ubiquitous Smart Cards Proven Vulnerable to Hacking

Government Technology: “University researchers have discovered vulnerabilities in NXP’s MIFARE Classic card, which belongs to a family of smart cards with more than 1 billion units distributed worldwide. These smart cards are used to access buildings and public transportation systems. One example is the Oyster card, which Londoners use for citywide travel. Researchers from Radboud… Continue Reading

PBGC Deficit Climbs to $33.5 Billion at Mid-Year

News release: “The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation posted a $33.5 billion deficit for the first half of fiscal year 2009, PBGC Acting Director Vince Snowbarger told the Senate Special Committee on Aging at a hearing today. Based on unaudited financial numbers as of March 31, the deficit represents an increase over FY 2008’s $11 billion… Continue Reading

U-M first to sign new digitization agreement with Google

Follow up to previous articles on Google Book Search: “The University of Michigan today announced that it has expanded its historic agreement with Google Inc. to create digital copies of millions of U-M library books and journals. The amended agreement, which strengthens library preservation efforts and increases the public’s access to books, is possible because… Continue Reading

Report Highlights Test Prep Paradox—Paying for Test Prep Doesn’t Yield Big Returns

News release: “Students and families may not be getting as much help as they think from commercial admission test preparation, according to a report commissioned by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Existing academic research suggests average gains as a result of commercial test preparation are in the neighborhood of 30 points on… Continue Reading

Report: How Philadelphia and Other Cities are Balancing Budgets in a Time of Recession

“A new study from the Pew Philadelphia Research Initiative looks at how 13 major cities are coping with the recession and finds that most are facing significant budget gaps and are cutting services and personnel in response. Philadelphia is one of four cities studied that is planning at least one major tax hike—a five-year, one… Continue Reading

Annual Report for the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Developmentt

“The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IIC) is an autonomous non-profit institution established by Guyana and the Commonwealth. Through the dedication of 371,000 hectares (about one million acres) of intact tropical rainforest by the Government and People of Guyana to the International Community, the IIC aims to show how tropical forests can… Continue Reading

H1N1 Flu & International Education Information & Resources

Follow up to previous postings on swine flu and A/H1N1: from the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) – “The information in this site is intended to support internationally oriented higher education administrators, study abroad representatives, faculty and students by helping inform their decisions and actions affecting international academic activities stemming from concerns… Continue Reading

D.C. Circuit Holds Office of Administration Is Not An Agency, Not Subject to FOIA

Follow up to previous postings on missing White House emails during Bush administrations, today’s news release: “Today, in Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) v. Office of Administration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion upholding the district court’s conclusion that the Office of Administration (OA) is not… Continue Reading

Remarks by President on National Fuel Efficiency Standards

Remarks: “…While the United States makes up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, we create roughly a quarter of the world’s demand for oil. And this appetite comes at a tremendous price — a price measured by our vulnerability to volatile oil markets, which send gas prices soaring and families scrambling. It’s measured… Continue Reading