Web Won't Let Government Hide (googling the government)

(snip)

The government itself won't make it easy, so an increasing number of websites and data crunchers are stepping in to provide information about the inner workings of government.

For starters, there's Google's little-known government specific search engine. Those proficient with crafting search terms can find Attorney General John Ashcroft's office number, gee-whiz nanotechnology movies and NASA's Microgravity Man comic strip. One can even find homeland security alerts about truck bombs (PDF) and the intelligence needs of the FBI.

Another trove of information is George Washington University's National Security Archive, which contains thousands of documents acquired through patient Freedom of Information Act requests. And there's CoolGov, a blog devoted to ferreting out quirky tidbits such as videos of airline crashes.

Those interested in the nitty-gritty of how and why the government hides information can subscribe to Stephen Aftergood's Secrecy News listserv, which is part of his work as the director of Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy.

<http://wired.com/news/privacy/0%2C1848%2C65800%2C00.html?tw=wn_tophead_3>

Google has a search engine set up for everything on the government. Randi Rhodes said it was good to use.
http://www.google.com/unclesam

If you use www.scholar.google.com you'll get only journal/research oriented listings, no ads