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Why do we need old editions? Good Example!
While new information and new editions of publications have the opportunity of being more up to date and more accurate, we often want to be able to see what information was in the old editions as well. The Memory Hole provides this good example of how new editions of government publications change and delete material from old editions: Another Official Pre-9/11 Image of the WTC Being Targeted The Air Force Manual 10-100: Airman's Manual, Aug 1999 version includes an illustration of the World Trade Center with crosshairs drawn over one tower. The June 2004 edition does not. Continue reading
Public Documents as Blogs
Mark Simpkins, who works for the BBC and describes himself as someone who also works "hacking for democracy in his spare time," will present this session at the 4th Annual O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference that will be held March 14-17, 2005 in San Diego. Simpkins notes the disadvantages of governments releasing documents in PDF format only -- particularly the difficulties the format creates for online discussion of parts of those documents. Simpkins also points to the interesting blog consultationprocess.org which has the slogan, "opening up public documents to the blogosphere." Continue reading
Access to information sharply curtailed under Ashcroft
Shhh ... someone might hear you. By Alex Johnson, MSNBC Updated: 6:19 p.m. ET Nov. 18, 2004. On the occasion of Attorney General Ashcroft's resignation, MSNBC reviews his contempt for freedom of information. One particularly notable case was the redaction of almost half of a report on workplace diversity in Ashcroft's Justice Department. The redacted portions were uncovered, however. MSNBC notes: According to the Justice Department, these facts were too sensitive for Americans to read about:
- "Attorneys across demographic groups believe that the Justice Department is a good place to work."
- "The Department does face significant diversity issues."
- "The Department suffers from an inadequate human resources management infrastructure."
- "Section Chiefs are an extremely critical element of the Department's diversity climate. They have significant authority in recruitment, hiring, promotion, performance appraisal, case assignment and career development."
- "Minorities are significantly under-represented in management ranks."
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