Cybersecurity Resources

With the FBI investigation of the Boston bombing suspects' social media presence and the passage of an amended version of H.R. 624, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) by the U.S. House of Representatives in the news this week, cybersecurity promises to be an increasingly important topic for legal research. Many of the key legal issues related to cybersecurity--from corporate liability and freedom of information to consumer privacy and civil liberties--are summarized in a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report also published this week. Cybersecurity: Selected Legal Issues provides a brief (28-page) up-to-date nonpartisan overview of the subject, and is an excellent starting point for background and primary source citations.  Complementing this publication is another newly issued CRS report: Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources.  This is a goldmine of information, listing legislative documents, executive orders, topical reports, and news and association websites with current, authoritative information on cybersecurity and public policy.  If you have an interest in this subject, don't overlook these newly published resources.   

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

President’s U.S. Government Budget, FY 2014

The President's Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2014 is now available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Users can search or browse the budget, which is accessible from GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys).

Fiscal Year 2014 Budget documents are available in PDF, and many of the tables are also available for separate viewing and downloading as spreadsheets in .xls.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Judge Holds Self In Contempt

Judge Raymond Voet , Ionia County’s chief district judge created a policy that anyone with a mobile device that causes a disruption during session will be cited with contempt.  Well, that policy applies to everyone.  Judge Voet imposed a $25 contempt of court fine on himself after his smartphone interrupted closing arguments of a jury trial.  Click here to read more.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New York and Boston: A Show of Support

New York and Boston are traditionally fierce rivals, from hockey and baseball to all things in between.  But, in the wake of the Boston Marathon attacks on Monday, 4/15/13, those rivalries were set aside as New Yorkers showed their support for Boston.  Mashable put together a great set of pictures of the show of support for Boston here. 

One that really stood out?  The New York Yankees tweet below, indicating that Fenway favorite "Sweet Caroline" would be played in Yankee Stadium at the end of the 3rd inning.  Dah-dah-dah...

 

In case you were wondering...why is "Sweet Caroline" such a Fenway tradition?  Read about it here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

How we lost the web by Anil Dash

Anil Dash wrote the "Web We Lost" in December 2012.  This piece generated a wide response and conversation.  There is so much interest in this topic that Anil Dash was asked to speak about it at Harvard's Beckman Center. 

A sample from the Web We Lost:  The tech industry and its press have treated the rise of billion-scale social networks and ubiquitous smartphone apps as an unadulterated win for regular people, a triumph of usability and empowerment. They seldom talk about what we've lost along the way in this transition, and I find that younger folks may not even know how the web used to be.

You can see his entire presentation including his slide show at "How We Lost the Web" .

Additional resources and information are added if this is a topic you would like to pursue.

Hat Tip to 3 Geeks and a Law Blog.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: Chemical Regulation Reporter (BNA)

BNA's Chemical Regulation Reporter provides legislative developments, regulatory changes, agency actions, enforcement efforts, industry activities & news, and court decisions related to chemicals and chemical regulation.  Dates of coverage from February 2, 1996.

To access the Chemical Regulation Reporter (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Then, click "Environmental Law" link
• Scroll down, click the "Chemical Regulation Reporter(BNA)" link

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat