Web Headlines

Headlines from around the Web for Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008
Compiled by Melanie Bender

In an Internet First, Americans Abroad Cast E-Votes in Democratic Primary

Wired

For the first time, Democrats living abroad from Auckland to Ontario are voting over the internet in a global primary. Expat voters will, in effect, add an extra state to this year's Democratic National Convention. These voters without borders will elect 22 delegates, weighing in with about as much influence as Montana or South Dakota.

High Tech E-Voting Problems Plague Super Tuesday

InformationWeek

As 24 states hold primaries with close races for both parties, voting results for Super Tuesday have begun trickling in, along with some areas reporting problems with their electronic voting machines. However, older voter machines are drawing concern as well.

Free DNS: Is It Worth the Cost?

NetworkWorld

If there’s no such thing as a free lunch, how can there be a free service that handles a network management function as critical as DNS? That’s what corporate IT executives are wondering as they consider two vendors touting free DNS services that are supposedly ready for the enterprise.

IT Survey: Employees Have Access To Too Much Information

InformationWeek

The 2008 National Survey on Access Governance, conducted by information management research firm the Ponemon Institute and Aveksa, a corporate security vendor, finds that 78 percent of 700 IT professionals surveyed believe their employees have too much access to information that's not necessary for their jobs.

State's Supercomputer a Catalyst for Research, Education, Economy

Santa Fe New Mexican

When the supercomputer is up and running, the state plans to use it as a catalyst to encourage young people to go into science careers and as a tool for economic development, Gov. Bill Richardson said. He foresees the system fostering statewide water modeling projects, forest fire simulations, city planning and the development of new products, and as a lure to bring more high-tech industry to New Mexico.

Michigan AG to List All Dept. Expenditures Online

Government Technology

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced today that his office is the first in state government to create a page on the department's Web site detailing the expenditures of the AG's office, including contracts, salaries and wages, equipment and other spending.

SBInet Hits Software Snag

Federal Computer Week

Following testing that was supposed to be final, the Homeland Security Department has determined that it needs to develop better software and perform additional tests on the initial 28-mile segment of the SBInet border surveillance system, a department spokeswoman said.

Cut Undersea Cables Raise Questions of Safety

The New York Times

Four undersea communication cables have been cut in the last week, raising questions about the safety of the network that handles most of the world’s Internet and telephone traffic. Most telecommunications specialists and cable operators say that sabotage seems unlikely, but no one knows specifically how the cables were damaged or if the incidents were related.