Shopping Mall PC in Washington DC Newsletters!: beSpacific - February 5, 2007 Shopping Mall PC in Washington DC Business News letters and Political advice Blog!

beSpacific - Accurate, focused law and technology news http://www.bespacific.com By Sabrina I. Pacifici - bespacific@earthlink.net Free weekday coverage on current issues February 05, 2007

Headlines

Web Search Queries Used to Drive E-Commerce
Judge Walton Allows Release of Libby Grand Jury Testimony
Privacy Forum Seeks Controls Over Gov't Use of Patient Genetic Data
DOE OIG Report on Data Breach at National Nuclear Security Administration Plant
Cumulative List of Public Laws, 109th Congress, Second Session
National Consumer Protection Week: A Time to Read Up and Reach Out
Hearings on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars
Study on Website Authentication Shows Users Often Disregard Security Measures
Budget of the United States Government FY 2008

Web Search Queries Used to Drive E-Commerce

WSJ free feature, The New Benefits of Web-Search Queries - Companies Use Research To Develop Products, Trail Consumer Interests: "...companies...are figuring that what users type into search boxes offers insight into what people are actually interested in buying."

Topic(s): E-Commerce

Judge Walton Allows Release of Libby Grand Jury Testimony

AP: "U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he would make the eight-hour recordings public even though he was worried that jurors could be influenced by outside media buzz."

Topic(s): Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

Privacy Forum Seeks Controls Over Gov't Use of Patient Genetic Data

"The World Privacy Forum filed public comments with the Department of Health and Human Services in response to an HHS request for information regarding the use of patients' genetic data for research, health care, and for use in electronic health records. The World Privacy Forum is requesting that HHS use all Fair Information Principles in any personalized health care projects, and is requesting that a formal ELSI (ethical, legal, and social implications) committee be set up to oversee any projects, among other requests."

Topic(s): Privacy, E-Records, E-Government, Civil Liberties, Government Documents

DOE OIG Report on Data Breach at National Nuclear Security Administration Plant

Inspection Letter Report, Alleged Loss or Theft of Personally Identifiable Information at Pantex, February 2, 2007.

Topic(s): E-Government, Cybercrime, Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

Cumulative List of Public Laws, 109th Congress, Second Session

Cumulative List of Public Laws, 109th Congress, Second Session. Federal Register: January 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 20). This is the cumulative list of public laws for the 109th Congress, Second Session. Other cumulative lists (1993-2006) are available online.

Topic(s): Legal Research, E-Government, Government Documents

National Consumer Protection Week: A Time to Read Up and Reach Out

"The Federal Trade Commission has launched the ninth annual National Consumer Protection Week, February 4-10, 2007, in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies and national advocacy organizations committed to consumer protection and education. This year’s theme, “Read Up and Reach Out. Be an Informed Consumer,” encourages consumers to arm themselves with knowledge. By gathering information – and sharing it with their friends and families – consumers can become more confident, savvy, and safe in the marketplace."

Topic(s): Government Documents, E-Commerce, E-Government, Privacy

Hearings on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars

"From February 6-9, the Oversight Committee will hold four hearings on waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The hearings focus on Iraqi reconstruction, Homeland Security contracting, and prescription drug pricing."

Tuesday, February 6: The Impact of CPA Decision-making on Iraq Reconstruction - "Ambassador Paul Bremer will testify for the first time since leaving as head of the U.S.-run Coalition Provisional Authority. He will answer questions about an audit report issued in 2005 by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction that concluded that more than $8.8 billion in cash was disbursed without adequate financial controls. Ambassador Bremer will also be asked to respond to allegations that the CPA filled positions with unqualified staff who were politically connected."

Topic(s): Congress

Study on Website Authentication Shows Users Often Disregard Security Measures

The Emperor's New Security Indicators, An evaluation of website authentication and the effect of role playing on usability studies, working draft released February 4, 2007. Authors: Stuart E. Schechter (MIT), Rachna Dhamija (Harvard), Andy Ozmet (MIT), Ian Fischer (Harvard).

Topic(s): E-Commerce, Cybercrime, ID Theft

Budget of the United States Government FY 2008

"Issued by the Office of Management and Budget, the Budget of the United States Government is a collection of documents that contains the budget message of the President, information about the President's budget proposals for a given fiscal year, and other budgetary publications that have been issued throughout the fiscal year. Other related and supporting budget publications, such as the Economic Report of the President, are included, which may vary from year to year."

Download the entire FY08 Budget, (8.8 MB, ZIP file). Documents within the ZIP file are available in PDF format.

Browse the FY08 budget

Description of FY08 budget documents

Committee on the Budget, Analysis of the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget, February 5, 2007 Links to OMB's FY 2008 Budget Fact Sheets

State and International Programs

Department of Justice FY 2008 Budget Request, February 5, 2007: "Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today announced that the President’s FY 2008 budget proposal for the Department of Justice (DOJ) is $21.8 billion in discretionary funding. The President’s overall FY 2008 budget requests $227 million in program increases and directed state and local assistance for counterterrorism and intelligence programs, reflecting the Department of Justice’s continued and expanding focus on national security and the prevention of terrorist attacks." [Budget and Performance Summary 2008 --PDF and Excel documents, and Budget Fact Sheets 2008 -- Word and PDF documents]

Press Briefing by OMB Director Rob Portman on the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget. >In Focus: Budget 2008 >2008 Budget Fact Sheets >Budget Charts

FY 2008 International Affairs (Function 150) Budget Request (188 pages, PDF)

Topic(s): Government Documents, Legal Research, E-Government

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