oscon_smithsonian_mashup Carl Malamud movies governance computersandtechvideos <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/oscon_wsis_mashup"><< Hack 1 ]]</a> <b>10 Government Hacks — Slides From a Talk at OSCON 2006</b> <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/oscon_washington_mashup">[[ Hack 3 >></a> <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/oscon_wsis_mashup">Hack Number 1</a> was about being allowed to attend meetings by qualifying as a journalist. Sometimes though, you have to be an aggrieved party to get anybody to listen. I was reading <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/04/smithsonian_becomes_.html">BoingBoing</a> one morning and they were talking about an exclusive deal the Smithsonian Institution had cut with Showtime to do films that used the archives or the staff. Ken Burns was upset. The whole deal was all very vague and hush hush and the contract governing the deal was a secret. That seemed strange, so I sent off a FOIA request and got the kind folks at EFF to represent me (you can't do much better than <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/07/smithsonians_showtim.html">this</a> for representation). What I've found most puzzling about the Showtime Situation is the idea that the Smithsonian has tried to create an Institution Accountable to Nobody. Though the Institution purports to <a href="http://siarchives.si.edu/collections/SD600.html">"follow the intent and spirit"</a> of the Freedom of Information Act, the FOIA request I filed was acknowledged and then resolutely ignored. My request to the Chief Justice to view minutes of Regents meetings was likewise ignored. The argument is that the Smithsonian has two halves, a Private Trust and a Public Trust. To the Private Trust, I have no standing. It should be noted that the show is <s>not yet</s> over as there are <s>still</s> several fat ladies who have <s>yet</s> to sing. In particular, a slew of powerful members of Congress from both sides of the aisle don't appear to be very amused with the goings-on, nor with being told that the affair is none of their concern, that they don't have standing. <b>Smithsonian-Showtime Paper Trail:</b> <div style="font-family:Courier,monospace"><table style="font-size:smaller;"><tr><td align="right"><b>Official and Unofficial Acts</b></td><td align="center"><b>Date</b></td><td><b>Washington Post</b></td></tr><tr><td align="right"></td><td align="center"> Apr 04, 2006 </td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1014831681.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Deal With Showtime Restricts Access Filmmakers</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/SUNSHINE_FOIA.PDF">FOIA Request</a></td><td align="center">Apr 04, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/04/b1554385.html">Letter from 200 People</a></td><td align="center">Apr 17, 2004</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Apr 18, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1022411981.html?FMT=ABS">End Smithsonian-Showtime Deal, Filmmakers and Historians Ask</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Apr 19, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1023047911.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Investigating Its Sales Division's Salaries</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Apr 19, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1023044431.html?FMT=ABS">Ken Burns Gives Voice to Filmmakers' Concerns</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Apr 24, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1025885521.html?FMT=ABS">Secret contracts, soaring salaries—they don't belong at the Smithsonian</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/NewsBriefs/2006/0604/SAHResolution.cfm">Smithsonian Books Disbarred</a></td><td align="center">Apr 25, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Apr 26, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1027069541.html?FMT=ABS">Historians Protest Smithsonian's Deals</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://public.resource.org/smithsonian.foia.response.pdf">FOIA Intent to Respond</a></td><td align="center">Apr 26, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/DEAR_CARL.PDF">Letter from Secretary Small</a>(<a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/DEAR_CARL.html">html</a>)</td><td align="center">Apr 27, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/DEAR_secretary.PDF">Letter from U.S. Congress</a>(<a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/DEAR_secretary.html">html</a>)</td><td align="center">Apr 27, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Apr 29, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1028899611.html?FMT=ABS">Capitol Hill Joins Criticism of Smithsonian Film Deal</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">May 05, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1032272051.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian TV Contract Spurs Panel To Cut Funds</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">May 09, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1033870621.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Deal Was Not Made in Secret, Small Says</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/REGENTS.RESPONSE.PDF">Response from Regents</a>(<a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/REGENTS.RESPONSE.HTML">html</a>)</td><td align="center">May 09, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/letter.chief.justice.pdf">Letter to Chief Justice</a>(<a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/letter.chief.justice.HTML">html</a>)</td><td align="center">May 10, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.historians.org/press/2006_05_10_SmithsonianResponse.cfm">Letter from Historians</a></td><td align="center">May 10, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">May 11, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1035019781.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Salary Cap Passes Panel</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">May 25, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1041772771.html?FMT=ABS">Small Linked To Scandal at Fannie Mae</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://cha.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?NewsID=1349">Committee on House Administration</a></td><td align="center">May 25, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">May 26, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1042314491.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Hands Over TV Contract</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.si.edu/oig/AuditReports/SBVCompensation.pdf">Inspector General Announces Audit</a></td><td align="center">Jun 05, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Jun 06, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1049149481.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Inspector General Resigns, Cites Office Cutbacks</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Jun 10, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1054585411.html?FMT=ABS">The Nation's Attic, Underpriced</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Jun 10, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1054586631.html?FMT=ABS">GOP's Grassley Faults Small's Smithsonian Stewardship</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/REGENTS_LETTER.PDF">Letter from Senate of Scientists</a></td><td align="center">Jun 14, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Jun 18, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1062128701.html?FMT=ABS">Spreading the Wealth</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Jun 22, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1064456971.html?FMT=ABS">The Reliable Source</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://public.resource.org/smithsonian_congress.html">Letter from 500 People</a></td><td align="center">Nov 26, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-07-275">Government Accountability Office</a></td><td align="center">Dec 15, 2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Dec 16, 2006</td><td><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1181436411.html?FMT=ABS">Smithsonian Deal With Showtime Passes Muster</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/si_corbis_partbership.htm">Exclusive Deal with Corbis</a></td><td align="center">Jan 24, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.si.edu/oig/AuditReports/A0606-SICompRed.pdf">IG Report on Non-Trust Salaries</a></td><td align="center">Jan 31, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://www.si.edu/oig/AuditReports/A0602_SBVCompRed.pdf">IG Report on SBV Salaries</a></td><td align="center">Jan 31, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Feb 01, 2007</td><td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001854.html">Report Scrutinizes Smithsonian Salaries</a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://public.resource.org/smithsonian_ig.html">Letter to Inspector General</a></td><td align="center">Feb 01, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><a href="http://public.resource.org/smithsonian_ogc.html">Letter to General Counsel</a></td><td align="center">Feb 01, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Feb 13, 2007</td><td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007//02/12/AR2007021201571.html">Oliver North's Tiff With the Smithsonian</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Feb 25, 2007</td><td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/24/AR2007022401510_pf.html">Smithsonian Head's Expenses 'Lavish,' Audit Says</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Mar 20, 2007</td><td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/19/AR2007031901839.html">Former IG Says Small Asked Her to Drop Audit</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Mar 27, 2007</td><td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/22/AR2007032201909.html">Senate Pushes for Smithsonian Reform</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td align="center">Mar 27, 2007</td><td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/26/AR2007032600643.html">Smithsonian's Small Quits in Wake of Inquiry</a></td></tr></table></div> 2006 2006 Smithsonian; Nation's Attic; Showtime; Sellout http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ 2007-01-23 02:38:05 2007-01-23 02:37:49 carl@media.org malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud malamud ewingrr malamud malamud malamud malamud 2007-01-23 02:42:55 2007-01-23 02:55:57 2007-01-23 12:04:03 2007-01-23 12:06:33 2007-01-23 12:07:47 2007-01-25 23:34:42 2007-01-26 00:06:09 2007-01-26 00:46:24 2007-01-26 00:55:12 2007-01-26 01:07:19 2007-01-26 18:00:41 2007-01-26 19:05:10 2007-01-26 20:37:44 2007-01-26 22:54:43 2007-01-26 23:44:46 2007-01-27 03:14:51 2007-01-27 03:49:36 2007-01-27 06:20:04 2007-01-27 17:54:26 2007-01-28 00:27:16 2007-01-28 01:59:01 2007-01-28 17:19:44 2007-01-29 03:25:53 2007-01-31 18:05:54 2007-01-31 19:28:40 2007-01-31 19:46:57 2007-01-31 20:00:11 2007-01-31 20:27:39 2007-02-01 18:06:38 2007-02-01 18:18:14 2007-02-01 18:23:39 2007-02-01 18:31:53 2007-02-01 20:04:23 2007-02-03 00:42:51 2007-02-14 04:25:55 2007-02-24 01:04:37 2007-02-26 15:00:38 2007-03-20 09:49:57 2007-03-25 07:54:59 2007-03-25 07:56:39 sound color 3' 00" Support for this project was provided by the <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org">Center for American Progress</a>, <a href="http://www.isc.org">ISC</a>, and <a href="http://www.nlnet.nl/">Stichting NLnet</a>. This clip has a restrictive license (no derivative works) because it reuses a small amount of footage previously shown on <a href="http://www.c-spanstore.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=192720-1">C-SPAN</a> as fair use for this news series and parody of compelling public interest. This clip has a restrictive license (no derivative works) because it reuses a small amount of audio previously recorded by the <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/gd74-12-xx.mars-hotel.12468.sbeok.shnf">Grateful Dead</a> as fair use for this news series and commentary of compelling public interest. 2007-03-27 06:48:12 malamud