Update 10/10/08: No word back from DOI Communications team on the process used to select Siderelis, though I did leave a message. Also, it's interesting to note that the appointment was shared with attendees at the MAPPS Washington Policy Forum Luncheon last month.

--- original post 10/8/08 ----

In a press release dated Monday the Department of Interior announced the appointment of Karen Siderelis as the first Geospatial Information Officer for the Dept. I found the release on the wire Tuesday afternoon, so perhaps there was a delay in distribution.

Recall that Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced the position to much excitement at the ESRI User Conference this past August. Rumors were afoot then but no one seemed to know how the job would be filled nor how long it would take. The fact that it wrapped up so fast suggests to me that they already had Ms. Siderelis in mind.

James Cason, associate deputy secretary of the Interior, offered his take: "Karen has a proven record of achievement establishing and managing geospatial programs. I am confident she will provide tremendous leadership in advancing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure through our national and international responsibilities and ensure coordination of GIS efforts in all nine Interior bureaus."

Siderelis' name most recently was associated with a consolidation effort at USGS that basically left two not one National Geospatial Technical Operations Center sites: Denver and Rolla.

I contacted the DOI for information on the selection process. I'll update this post once I hear back.

Based on coverage, the new image from GeoEye 1 of Kutztown University is getting far more play (69 hits in Google News today) than an analysis from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Amnesty international that used change detection to determine the extent of destruction in South Ossetia (41 hits in Google News today).

Now, I know that's not a scientific analysis, but I do hope we are moving toward being as excited about what we can do with the images as just having them available.

Broadcom Corp. whose Global Locate Inc. holds the three patents in question stated that that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) confirmed its initial finding of SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. (SIRF) infringement. There are three other patents that also need to be reviewed. It sounds like the court will soon impose remediation which may include a ban on imports and/or sales and use in the U.S.

- RTT News

Answer below, but one is Egypt. The Daily News Egypt explains how getting a license for its use is possible, but that most people simply live with the ban. That includes mapping companies, those who wish to sell GPS-enabled cell phones and others.

The official word from Sherif Guinena, vice chairman of the National Telecommunication Regulator Agency (NTRA):

GPS is allowed in Egypt but you must have a license after getting approval from security authorities. No doubt this technology is very important, brand new service and a big advantage if it is allowed, but we have to abide to security laws; because when we give a license to any new communication device we need the approval of the board which represents all state agencies.

Actually, Colin Drane who founded both sites is learning about lack of sharing. His own home town police department, Charlottesville, VA, which shares local crime data with newspapers, won't share it with him for SpotCrime. Why? He notes it's because his site is ad-driven. Most local papers also run ads both in print and online, including the one that ran this story he points out.

There's actually a federal law requiring colleges and university's that receive federal funding to share crime information. It appeared after a Lehigh student was raped in 1986.

- The Hook

In its continuing effort to keep up with other mapping sites, MapQuest Thursday added Yelp reviews to its main site and sports information to its Local site. Also, its ads are updated to look more "modern" than single above map banners.

- C|net/Webware