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The article reports on issues and topics related to the management of medical information systems in the U.S. Efforts have long been undertaken to create a comprehensive system of electronic medical records. According to its supporters, the use of electronic systems to store and retrieve valuable medical records could save lives and cut health care costs. The endeavor is primarily a private sector effort that has the support of and some funding from the federal government. Once completed, it will replace paper-based files with a digital record containing the complete medical history of a patient.

The article focuses on the database problems of Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) which requires election officials in the U.S. to replace old paper-based voting machines with new electronic equipment. HAVA does not require the state to keep registrants off the rolls if the registration information and data of the voter is different from other data. Also, the study made by the Board of Elections in New York City found that 20 percent of the records failed to match due to typographical errors created by election officials. In March 2006, the Brennan Center for Justice published a study stating that the new HAVA-required databases holds the names of all registrants, however, mismatch problems were found on new voters and those who have changed their name and relocated.

The article discusses career path in academics. Academic tenures in the United States require combination of research, teaching and service in administrative committees. In getting tenure, most young professors get to know about writing research grant proposals, publishing conference papers and journals, teaching multiple courses, advising graduate students and joining school committees and organizations. Richard J. Radke of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York points out that the process can be very stressful and intimidating, but it offers flexibility and has its rewards.

Focuses on the controversy with regard to the implementation and enforcement of the United States Digital Millenium Copyright Act. Implications of the act for free inquiry and fair use of copyrighted materials; Challenge posed by a technical paper that circumvent copyright protection measures; Lawsuit filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The article reports on the release of the Climate Change Technology Strategic Program Plan by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE paper evaluates prospects for all relevant greenhouse-gas mitigation technologies and identifies the various sources of government support for development of the technologies. The climate technology plan represents the first time that federal spending on greenhouse-mitigation technology has been detailed and compiled into a complete plan. Stephen Eule, director of the DOE program, said that the plan is intended to fulfill U.S. President George W. Bush's goal to reduce greenhouse gas intensity. Representative Sherwood Boehlert stated that the plan provides thoughtful and comprehensive review of existing programs and of possible aims for the future.

The author reflects on major developments in the history of Kodak camera and the company Eastman Kodak. Topics mentioned include the awarding of the U.S. Patent Number 388,850 for the Kodak camera on September 4, 1988, the introduction of safety film made of cellulose acetate in 1908, the sales success of the Kodak Instamatic in 1970, and the company's filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2012.

Reports on the final plan of the United States Department of Commerce to remove itself from the process of assigning numbers and domain names for the Internet. Controversy of some contents of its Green Paper proposal; Web site for those who wish to join a domain-name summit.

Reports on the US National Research Council's summary of the main conclusions of its reports on science and technology policies. Issues addressed at the papers; Information on the availability of the summaries.