Thursday, December 19, 2013

Hunting Regulations/ NSA Spying/ Right to Privacy in the Digital Age



Missoulian: FWP considers hunting regulation changes
Montana's 2014-2015 Hunting Regulation Proposals Up For Review
“At the meetings in January, FWP will present proposals to aid the recovery of Montana's declining deer populations by reducing hunting pressure on antlerless mule deer and white-tailed deer. Wildlife managers surmise Montana's deer numbers are in decline statewide due to a number of unique circumstances—from the cyclical nature of mule deer populations to predation and disease and from drought to tough winter conditions. For the next two hunting seasons, with a few exceptions to address game damage issues, FWP proposes to: 1) convert general mule deer seasons to antlered-only; 2) eliminate most mule deer B, or antlerless, licenses; 3) eliminate white-tailed deer B licenses in Regions 4 and 6 and in most of Region 5.”

Missoulian: 5 major NSA spying task force recommendations
Liberty and Security in a Changing World
“On August 27, 2013, the President announced the creation of the Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies. The immediate backdrop for our work was a series of disclosures of classified information involving foreign intelligence collection by the National Security Agency. The disclosures revealed intercepted collections that occurred inside and outside of the United States and that included the communications of United States persons and legal permanent residents, as well as non-United States persons located outside the United States. Although these disclosures and the responses and concerns of many people in the United States and abroad have informed this Report, we have focused more broadly on the creation of sturdy foundations for the future, safeguarding (as our title suggests) liberty and security in a rapidly changing world.”

Missoulian: UN votes to protect privacy in digital age
General Assembly adopts consensus text backing right to privacy in digital age
Deeply concerned that electronic surveillance, interception of digital communications and collection of personal data may negatively impact human rights, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a consensus resolution strongly backing the right to privacy, calling on all countries take measures to end activities that violate this fundamental “tenet of a democratic society.”

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Wilderness Bill/ NORAD Santa/ Federal Budget Bill



“Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2013 - Establishes the Montana Forest Jobs and Restoration Pilot Initiative under which the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall implement authorized forest and watershed restoration projects and other land management projects on certain eligible lands within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai National Forests in Montana to achieve the specified purposes of the Initiative and specified performance requirements.”



NORAD Santa Tracker includes games, stories and movies.