Book Review "In The Presidents Secret Service"

Hello all.

Just thought I mention I've been reading a really good book lately called In The Presidents Secret Service by Ronald Kessler. Its been a real interesting and intriguing read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of U.S. Politics. The book is definitely worth taking a read. You can find it on Amazon.com or even your local bookstore if you can find it there.

Cheers.

I'll be back

I will be away from blogging for a while.

Office of Government Information Services (OGIS)

For those of you who may not be satisfied with a response you have received from a U.S. Government agency, department, or organisation and are needing assistance with your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests in the United States of America, then perhaps you should consider contacting the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), an area of the National Archives and Records Administration.

I myself have had experience seeking assistance from the services of OGIS. I have had a few cases where I was not satisfied with a response regarding a FOIA request I had filed with a U.S. Government agency, department or organisation, or for if you have not received a response from the agency or department within the 20 working days required for a response to be sent out for a FOIA request required under statue, unless the agency or department informs you that a response cannot be sent within 20 working days and may need to be extended.

The OGIS began operation in September 2009 and with information sourced from the official NARA OGIS website, the web link below will help inform you more about the role and mission of the Office of Government Information Services and how their excellent team led by the Director of the Office of Government Information Services, Miriam Nisbet, can help you today. http://www.archives.gov/ogis/

OGIS mission and role is listed below:
(From the official NARA OGIS website http://www.archives.gov/ogis/)

•provide services to mediate disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies
•review policies and procedures of administrative agencies under FOIA
•review agency compliance with FOIA
•recommend policy changes to the Congress and President to improve the administration of FOIA

If you need help with your FOIA Request and are not sure who else to contact, consider the Office of Government Information Services who may be able to help you. In my experience with OGIS, I was impressed by their professionalism and expertise in my opinion.

All the best with your FOIA requests.

Happy Easter

I think I will take a break from blogging for the next few days to enjoy the Easter period. Even if you dont happen to celebrate Easter, then I wish you all the best anyway if you are off camping or just kicking back and enjoy the long relaxing weekend. And I hope everyone (including myself) doesnt eat too many chocolate bunnies this year (as tempting as they may look) especially if you were planning on going on a diet this Easter :D

Spy-thriller films - my thoughts.

Im sure we all have moments when we think we might be being watched by others, perhaps by people we dont know or have not even met. Paranoia. Its what makes the spy-thriller films such as success. I have watched many over the years, such as The Bourne film series and others such as Three Days of the Condor (1975) and an interesting spy thriller I watched the other day called Enemy of the State (1998) starring Will Smith.

All of these films have main things in common: 1. A government agency supposedly spying on the main title character who in some way, shape, or form, has been involved with said government agency, and then in most cases the said spy government agency in the story then usually begins spying on them and in most cases attempting to capture the character. 2. All of these films play on people's paranoia about who is really watching what you do day to day and the unknown of who could or is watching. 3. All of these films as a result by combining interesting story telling and spectacular action scenes and special effects make them financial and critical success.

I must admit, when I watch a spy-thriller film, I do get a little paranoid about the power of any government spy agency. With today's technology, its hard to imagine how you could walk anywhere or make any move in public without being watched by a CCTV or security camera. But thats technology for you, but just where does this new world of technological surveillance end?

A well known quote by a journalist character in the film Enemy of the State (1998) in which the journalist was questioning the subject of government surveillance and how far could it go with regard's to interfering in people's privacy, the character replied "Where does it end?" "You've got no right to come into my home" - quote.

If your into watching these spy agent type films, then I would consider checking out these spy thriller films such as The Bourne film trilogy and Enemy of the State if your interested in spy films.

Just my thoughts/opinion.