Drought in California, Democracy in Hong Kong (CRS)
Noteworthy new Congressional Research Service reports obtained by Secrecy News include the following (all pdf).
“Military Service Records and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources,” December 16, 2009.
“California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues,” December 7, 2009.
“Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRTIOT Act Reauthorization,” December 9, 2009.
“Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Set to Expire February 28, 2010,” December 23, 2009.
“Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations,” December 14, 2009.
“Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Legal Issues,” December 22, 2009.
“International Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and Considerations for Congress,” January 5, 2010.
“U.S. Public Diplomacy: Background and Current Issues,” December 18, 2009.
“Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: The 2012 Election Reforms,” December 10, 2009.
This is not the first time Google has agreed to censor imagery at the behest of governments, but be warned: obfuscation at this broad level poses a direct threat to the public’s ability to monitor and scrutinize government operations.
America’s affordability problem is bigger than home prices and rents. The best housing policies make it easier to build homes, and recognize how housing connects to other domains.
America’s affordability problem, for instance, is bigger than home prices and rents. How we build affects household costs like insurance and utilities.
As humans expand our geographic reach, encroach on untouched natural territories, and interact more with animal populations, we will encounter novel zoonotic diseases that threaten the human body. The sooner we act to address these risks, the better.