AnalyzeThe.US allows anyone to use Palantir to explore vast amounts of data only recently released into the public domain, including key datasets from www.data.gov. Information about key individuals, organizations, and activities exists in many places, and conducting meaningful analysis first requires the ability to integrate data seamlessly and completely. AnalyzeThe.US brings critical knowledge together on a single stage, while providing rich analytical applications that enable anyone to develop an intuitive picture of the complex flow of resources, money, and influence that affect how our government functions. Ultimately, by allowing citizens to analyze our democracy, AnalyzeThe.US democratizes analysis.

Thanks to MAPlight.org, we can today see who made the biggest campaign contributions over the last two years to the chairs of the powerful committees in the new US Congress.

On the stand, Walker described the expense system he oversaw and why the public had no right to see what was going on in his little fiefdom. He gave some excellent quotes as he was questioned by the lawyers:

"MPs should be allowed to carry on their duties free from interference ..."

"Public confidence is not the overriding concern per se ..."

"Transparency will damage democracy."

Using recorded sessions, I analyze my techniques and problems. Sighted readers will experience some of the confusions and frustrations of a visually impaired person trying to learn the interaction and structure patterns of these website’s. Visually impaired users may glean some ways to avoid pitfalls and determine the value of these government information resources for their purposes. I complain about absence of headings, careless links, and tricky interactions beyond my capabilities although I appreciate the effort to provide high quality government information.

Governmental bodies may hold meetings by by written, telephonic, electronic, wireless, or other virtual means. However, an electronic meeting is still subject to the notice requirements and must be held at a designated place and time. While the law is not certain on this point, it appears that email communications between members of a governmental body may constitute a meeting if they involve deliberation on public business.

good howto to manage FOIA requests in Illinois; many suggestions are relevant anywhere, though some of the details of the FOIA law vary from state to state

• The Citizen Patriot will offer condensed-story graphics on governmental and school board meetings. We hope to give you more information in less space, while still writing in-depth articles when necessary on topics of high interest and importance.

Mailing lists run by the State of Michigan

"It's just like after September 11. Back then no one wanted to be seen as not patriotic, and now no one wants to be seen as not doing all they can to save the financial system," said Lee A. Sheppard, a tax attorney who is a contributing editor at the trade publication Tax Analysts. "We're left now with congressional Democrats that have spines like overcooked spaghetti. So who is going to stop the Treasury secretary from doing whatever he wants?"

Decision of court in suit seeking in suit seeking copies of computerized real estate assessment records. Records ordered to be released. Attorneys' fees of $25,000 awarded.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has concocted a remarkable new policy: It reserves the right to seize for an indefinite period of time laptops taken across the border.
A pair of DHS policies from last month say that customs agents can routinely--as a matter of course--seize, make copies of, and "analyze the information transported by any individual attempting to enter, re-enter, depart, pass through, or reside in the United States." (See policy No. 1 and No. 2.)

FDA is updating its warning to consumers nationwide concerning the outbreak of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul. As of today, FDA officials believe that consumers may enjoy all types of fresh tomatoes available on the domestic market, without concern of beco

All meetings of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners are webcast and videotaped live.
The following archive is searchable by date and by specific agenda item.

absolutely amazing government at its disaster-finest.

hour by hour play by play log of michigan legislature

dunrie reports delays in bathroom project due to ann arbor inspection delays; using GetSatisfaction for people-powered customer service from the City of Ann Arbor.

View Poll Results: Why have you left Michigan, or why will you be leaving?

rwanda notes from HHS sec Leavitt

alan on rebuilding new orleans

awesome weather map meta-information and predictions + storm reports + damage reports

The Michigan Commission for the Blind (a state government agency) provides state- and federally funded services to legally blind people of all ages in every county of the state, so that people who are blind or visually impaired can be independent and/or e

patent review peer review

utah travel site has a google maps mashup showing state parks information. (just *try* to find that on the existing michigan travel site)

# We downloaded all 6,288 images, scraped the metadata from the html pages, and embedded the metadata in the .jpg headers. These images are low-resolution and contain a watermark, and were all previously available on-line.
# The images were uploaded to F

All of the newspapers digitized through the National Digital Newspaper
Program will be available through here (at this point it is only
newspapers from 6 states from 1900-1910). The NDNP is a long term
program with all states (including Michigan) event

Ron Suarez, Ann Arbor City Council hosts a wiki on Ann Arbor's reaction to Pfizer closing down the Ann Arbor plant.

Michigan's oldest and most comprehensive newsletter (MIRS) covering the activities of Michigan state government. From the legislature to the governor, from the state bureacracy to Michigan's courts, MIRS provides our subscribers with more news and insight

blog from the state librarian of michigan as she visits libraries around the state.

state of michigan run electronic library services

how much of a site can you build with a $300/yr budget in a small town?

EFF is fighting this

podcasts of city council and school board meetings from Ypsilanti, Michigan

amazing what comes out of the mouths of senators these days.

New Jersey state law protects library records and forces the police to get a subpoena to search them.

Networked governance refers to a growing body of research on the interconnectedness of essentially sovereign units, which examines how those interconnections facilitate or inhibit the functioning of the overall system. The objective of this program is two

now, some of google's billions will be spent on legal fees to protect their customers from being spied on by the government.

this needs google maps!