Republicans Say Documents Show Abuse of Power at I.R.S.

House Republicans on Thursday released what they said was further evidence that the Internal Revenue Service acted on political impulses when it targeted conservative groups for special scrutiny.

The chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Dave Camp of Michigan, said that a series of e-mails from Lois Lerner, an I.R.S. official who is on a leave of absence while a Congressional investigation moves forward, demonstrated that “high-level I.R.S. employees in Washington were abusing their power to prevent conservative groups from organizing and carrying out their missions.”

The e-mails, the latest example of what Democrats have characterized as selective leaks from Republicans on a partisan fishing expedition, show Ms. Lerner communicating with other I.R.S. employees about an inspector general’s review into the practices of the division that oversees tax-exempt organizations.

Mr. Camp pointed to one e-mail in which Ms. Lerner circulated a news story about Democrats’ filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission that questioned whether some conservative groups, like Crossroads GPS, were abusing their I.R.S. designation as “social welfare” organizations by engaging in political activity.

“Perhaps F.E.C. will save the day,” Ms. Lerner wrote. It is unclear, however, what she hoped the F.E.C. would do: crack down on conservative groups, as Mr. Camp alleges, or merely decide the issue so the I.R.S. would not have to.

In another e-mail Mr. Camp highlighted, Ms. Lerner wrote, “Tea Party Matter very dangerous.” Though she correctly predicted the investigation’s political peril, she did not provide any evidence that I.R.S. employees had acted willfully when singling out conservative groups, as Tea Party activists have alleged.

Republicans Say Documents Show Abuse of Power at I.R.S.

House Republicans on Thursday released what they said was further evidence that the Internal Revenue Service acted on political impulses when it targeted conservative groups for special scrutiny.

The chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Dave Camp of Michigan, said that a series of e-mails from Lois Lerner, an I.R.S. official who is on a leave of absence while a Congressional investigation moves forward, demonstrated that “high-level I.R.S. employees in Washington were abusing their power to prevent conservative groups from organizing and carrying out their missions.”

The e-mails, the latest example of what Democrats have characterized as selective leaks from Republicans on a partisan fishing expedition, show Ms. Lerner communicating with other I.R.S. employees about an inspector general’s review into the practices of the division that oversees tax-exempt organizations.

Mr. Camp pointed to one e-mail in which Ms. Lerner circulated a news story about Democrats’ filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission that questioned whether some conservative groups, like Crossroads GPS, were abusing their I.R.S. designation as “social welfare” organizations by engaging in political activity.

“Perhaps F.E.C. will save the day,” Ms. Lerner wrote. It is unclear, however, what she hoped the F.E.C. would do: crack down on conservative groups, as Mr. Camp alleges, or merely decide the issue so the I.R.S. would not have to.

In another e-mail Mr. Camp highlighted, Ms. Lerner wrote, “Tea Party Matter very dangerous.” Though she correctly predicted the investigation’s political peril, she did not provide any evidence that I.R.S. employees had acted willfully when singling out conservative groups, as Tea Party activists have alleged.

Senate Panel Approves Journalist Shield Legislation

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday passed legislation to provide greater protections against reporters being fined or imprisoned if they refuse to identify confidential sources. The bill, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2013, passed by 13 to 5, after lawmakers agreed on an amendment defining who qualifies as a journalist.

The panel rejected amendments from Republicans that would have stripped protections for reporters who reveal classified information, limited the bill’s protections to American members of the news media and exempted grand jury leaks.

Opponents of the bill, like John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, and Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama and the panel’s ranking member, said the bill did not protect national security interests and unconstitutionally allowed the government to decide who is a journalist.

But supporters like Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and Chuck E. Schumer, Democrat of New York and a co-sponsor of the bill, said it was important to establish parameters for the news media as the Justice Department grapples with leak cases involving journalists from The Associated Press, Fox News and The New York Times.

Free Apps for Nearly Every Health Problem, but What About Privacy?

Need to lose weight, quit smoking, improve your sex life or get a better night’s sleep? There’s an app for that â€" all of it â€" and more. Thousands of mobile apps are available to improve your health and fitness.

MapMyFitness offers a group of exercise sites and apps including the popular MapMyRun. The company has developed a detailed privacy policy explaining how user information is used.

But beware.

Health apps can provide information and motivation to help you manage your well-being, and they’re easy to use and often free. But they may not have protecting your privacy as a priority.

Health apps collect all sorts of personal information, like your name, e-mail address, age, height and weight. Others get even more detailed, depending on the focus of the app; fertility apps, for instance, allow you to enter details of your menstrual cycle, and exercise apps allow you to post the route of your daily jog.

Yet, an analysis of 43 popular wellness apps by the nonprofit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse found that many apps connect to advertising and data analysis sites without the user’s knowledge. And, they often transmit unencrypted information over insecure network connections â€" possibly including your medical and pharmaceutical search terms, like those for sexually transmitted diseases or antipsychotic drugs. That’s the computer equivalent of sending a postcard, rather than a letter â€" it’s easy for others on a network to read what’s being transmitted, said Craig Michael Lie Njie, a consultant who did the technical analysis for the report.

For the analysis, financed by the California Consumer Protection Foundation, the clearinghouse used apps available on the iTunes App Store, for iOS devices, and Google Play for Android phones and tablets. (The report didn’t identify the apps, saying its goal is to educate consumers and app developers.)

The report concluded that health apps posed “considerable” privacy risks for consumers, and users shouldn’t assume any of their data on a mobile app was private. Only 13 percent of free apps, and 10 percent of paid apps, encrypted all data connections between the app and the developer’s Web site. Many apps don’t have privacy policies, and those that do don’t always adequately describe the potential risks. More than a quarter of the free apps, and 40 percent of the paid apps, had no privacy policy at all.

Robin Thurston, chief executive of MapMyFitness, which offers a group of exercise sites and apps including the popular MapMyRun, said his company had developed a detailed privacy policy explaining how user information was used. It also includes a link for users who want to opt out of certain kind of ads. “Our apps are not passing any individual health information to any third-party services,” he said. “I can tell you we are not doing that with people’s information.”

He advised consumers to consider the credibility of the health apps they choose. Better-known brands and developers with a track record â€" in which he includes MapMyFitness â€" have more resources to spend on comprehensive data security, whereas smaller or offshore operations may be less reliable. With very small app developers, “You could be sending your data into someone’s home server to be stored,” he said. “I’m not sure consumers are aware of that.”

Many apps encourage users to share information through social media sites like Facebook, to seek support for their weight loss or fitness goal. But you should be cautious about revealing details of your medical conditions, since once information is public you have little control over it.

“We’re not telling people not to use them,” Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, said of health apps. “But you should know what you’re getting into.”

Here are some questions to consider.

â–  Are there any laws governing the use of health information I may share using an app?

Medical information that’s shared directly between you and your doctor or your hospital is covered by the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or Hipaa. But there’s little regulatory protection for health information shared over consumer apps, unless it’s a device prescribed or provided by your physician. In most cases, “You’re on your own with these commercially available apps,” said Joseph Lorenzo Hall, a senior staff technologist who works on health privacy issues at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

■ How can I be sure my information won’t be shared with marketing or advertising sites?

You should assume any information you impart using an app will be shared, Ms. Givens said. But you may get better protection by using paid apps, rather than free ones, because paid apps don’t rely solely on advertising revenue â€" and so are less likely to share information with outside firms that gather information to target their ads.

â–  What can I do to protect myself?

Try to read an app’s privacy policy before using it. The policy should describe the app’s information-sharing practices, and may give instructions for opting out of some of them. If it’s not available within the app, it may be posted on the developer’s Web site. You can even try to contact the developer with questions.

Privacy policies, however, are mainly aimed at protecting app developers from lawsuits, rather than protecting the privacy of your information, said Mr. Lie Njie. He advises sharing only data that you wouldn’t mind becoming public.

Pogue’s Posts Blog: The Many Mysteries of Air Travel

September 12, 2013, 8:54 am

Technology and air travel have always gone hand in hand, and they’re only getting more intertwined. From security at the airport to the rules about using electronics in flight to the final resting place of the plane’s toilet contents, airplanes and tech are a constant source of conflict, passion â€" and questions.

If you’d like the answers, I highly recommend Patrick Smith’s new book, “Cockpit Confidential.” Mr. Smith is a pilot and blogger; much of the book’s format and contents are on display at his Web site, AskThePilot.com, or in the archives of the “Ask the Pilot” column he wrote for Salon.com for years.

But as a frequent flyer, I’d much rather have the book, which is a far more comprehensive book of questions and answers about airplanes, airports, airlines and the psychology of flying. Here are some excerpts â€" factoids that every flier should know:

“Turbulence scares me to death. Do I have reason to be afraid?”

No. “A plane cannot be flipped upside-down, thrown into a tailspin or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket. Conditions might be annoying and uncomfortable, but the plane is not going to crash.”

“If all of a jet’s engines were to fail, can the plane glide to a landing?”

Yes. “There’s no greater prospect of instant calamity than switching off the engine in your car when coasting downhill. The car keeps going, and a plane will too.”

“I understand that planes can jettison fuel. Is this done to lighten the load for landing?”

Yes. “For a few reasons, the obvious one being that touching down puts higher stresses on an airframe than taking off.” But Mr. Smith also points out that only some airplane models have the ability to dump fuel â€" the big ones. “The 747, the 777, the A340, and the A330 all can dump fuel. A 737, an A320, or an RJ cannot. These smaller jets must circle or, if need be, land overweight.”

“What happens when lightning hits an airplane?”

Nothing. The energy “is discharged overboard through the plane’s aluminum skin, which is an excellent electrical conductor.”

“Are the contents of airplane toilets jettisoned during flight?”

No. “There is no way to jettison the contents of the lavatories during flight.”

“Many of the three-letter codes for airports make no sense.”

The non-obvious ones are probably holdovers from the airports’ previous names. “MCO is derived from MCCoy Field, the original name for Orlando International. Chicago O’Hare’s identifier, ORD, pays honors to the old Orchard Field.”

I should mention, by the way, that this book is frequently funny. For example, the author notes, “A campaign was launched in 2002 to change the identifier for the Sioux City, Iowa, from SUX to something less objectionable. The campaign failed.”

“We are told that modern commercial airplanes can essential fly themselves.”

Emphatically no. “A plane is able to fly itself about as much as the modern operating room can perform an operation by itself.” Autopilot is a tool, but “you still need to tell it what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.”

“Why the annoying rules pertaining to window shades, seat backs, tray tables, and cabin lights during takeoffs and landings?”

“Your tray has to be latched so that, in the event of an impact or sudden deceleration, you don’t impale yourself on it. The restriction on seat recline provides easier access to the aisle and also keeps your body in the safest position.” Raising your window shade, meanwhile, “Makes it easier for the flight attendants to assess any exterior hazardsâ€" fire, debris â€" that might interfere with an emergency evacuation.” Dimming the lights is the same precaution.

“Is it true that pilots reduce oxygen levels to keep passengers docile?”

No.

“Could some crazy or ill-intentioned person open one of the doors during flight?”

No. “You cannot â€" I repeat, cannot â€" open the doors or emergency hatches of an airplane in flight. The cabin pressure won’t allow it.”

Are cellphones and gadgets really dangerous to flight?

It depends. Laptops have to be put away for takeoff and landing “to prevent them from becoming high-speed projectiles during a sudden deceleration or impact.” As for tablets and e-book readers, “it’s tough to take a prohibition seriously now that many pilots are using tablets in the cockpit.” That’s why the Federal Aviation Administration is considering relaxing the ban on those gadgets.

And can cellphones really disrupt cockpit equipment? Probably not. “I’d venture to guess at least half of all phones, whether inadvertently or out of laziness, are left on during flight. If indeed this was a recipe for disaster, I think we’d have more evidence by now.”

My favorite bits of “Cockpit Confidential” are Mr. Smith’s rants. He’s a frequent passenger as well as a pilot, so he’s well equipped to rail about the stupidity of the methods for boarding a plane, and about the Transportation Security Administration’s expensive, absurdly misguided efforts. (One of the book’s funniest passages: the tale of the time he tried to carry airline silverware onto a flight, “part of my hotel survival kit.” The T.S.A. agent confiscated them â€" even though it was the same silverware the airline itself issues to passengers in flight!)

Truth is, the world would be a better place if the airline industry weren’t so secretive in the first place. The actions of pilots are hidden behind safety-reinforced doors, they speak to the flight attendants with signals and jargon and the airlines’ behavior in scheduling and pricing flights are always mysterious. They’d serve all of us better, including themselves, by offering a little transparency.

Until that day arrives, “Cockpit Confidential” is the document that belongs in the seat-back pocket in front of you.

Pogue’s Posts Blog: The Many Mysteries of Air Travel

September 12, 2013, 8:54 am

Technology and air travel have always gone hand in hand, and they’re only getting more intertwined. From security at the airport to the rules about using electronics in flight to the final resting place of the plane’s toilet contents, airplanes and tech are a constant source of conflict, passion â€" and questions.

If you’d like the answers, I highly recommend Patrick Smith’s new book, “Cockpit Confidential.” Mr. Smith is a pilot and blogger; much of the book’s format and contents are on display at his Web site, AskThePilot.com, or in the archives of the “Ask the Pilot” column he wrote for Salon.com for years.

But as a frequent flyer, I’d much rather have the book, which is a far more comprehensive book of questions and answers about airplanes, airports, airlines and the psychology of flying. Here are some excerpts â€" factoids that every flier should know:

“Turbulence scares me to death. Do I have reason to be afraid?”

No. “A plane cannot be flipped upside-down, thrown into a tailspin or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket. Conditions might be annoying and uncomfortable, but the plane is not going to crash.”

“If all of a jet’s engines were to fail, can the plane glide to a landing?”

Yes. “There’s no greater prospect of instant calamity than switching off the engine in your car when coasting downhill. The car keeps going, and a plane will too.”

“I understand that planes can jettison fuel. Is this done to lighten the load for landing?”

Yes. “For a few reasons, the obvious one being that touching down puts higher stresses on an airframe than taking off.” But Mr. Smith also points out that only some airplane models have the ability to dump fuel â€" the big ones. “The 747, the 777, the A340, and the A330 all can dump fuel. A 737, an A320, or an RJ cannot. These smaller jets must circle or, if need be, land overweight.”

“What happens when lightning hits an airplane?”

Nothing. The energy “is discharged overboard through the plane’s aluminum skin, which is an excellent electrical conductor.”

“Are the contents of airplane toilets jettisoned during flight?”

No. “There is no way to jettison the contents of the lavatories during flight.”

“Many of the three-letter codes for airports make no sense.”

The non-obvious ones are probably holdovers from the airports’ previous names. “MCO is derived from MCCoy Field, the original name for Orlando International. Chicago O’Hare’s identifier, ORD, pays honors to the old Orchard Field.”

I should mention, by the way, that this book is frequently funny. For example, the author notes, “A campaign was launched in 2002 to change the identifier for the Sioux City, Iowa, from SUX to something less objectionable. The campaign failed.”

“We are told that modern commercial airplanes can essential fly themselves.”

Emphatically no. “A plane is able to fly itself about as much as the modern operating room can perform an operation by itself.” Autopilot is a tool, but “you still need to tell it what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.”

“Why the annoying rules pertaining to window shades, seat backs, tray tables, and cabin lights during takeoffs and landings?”

“Your tray has to be latched so that, in the event of an impact or sudden deceleration, you don’t impale yourself on it. The restriction on seat recline provides easier access to the aisle and also keeps your body in the safest position.” Raising your window shade, meanwhile, “Makes it easier for the flight attendants to assess any exterior hazardsâ€" fire, debris â€" that might interfere with an emergency evacuation.” Dimming the lights is the same precaution.

“Is it true that pilots reduce oxygen levels to keep passengers docile?”

No.

“Could some crazy or ill-intentioned person open one of the doors during flight?”

No. “You cannot â€" I repeat, cannot â€" open the doors or emergency hatches of an airplane in flight. The cabin pressure won’t allow it.”

Are cellphones and gadgets really dangerous to flight?

It depends. Laptops have to be put away for takeoff and landing “to prevent them from becoming high-speed projectiles during a sudden deceleration or impact.” As for tablets and e-book readers, “it’s tough to take a prohibition seriously now that many pilots are using tablets in the cockpit.” That’s why the Federal Aviation Administration is considering relaxing the ban on those gadgets.

And can cellphones really disrupt cockpit equipment? Probably not. “I’d venture to guess at least half of all phones, whether inadvertently or out of laziness, are left on during flight. If indeed this was a recipe for disaster, I think we’d have more evidence by now.”

My favorite bits of “Cockpit Confidential” are Mr. Smith’s rants. He’s a frequent passenger as well as a pilot, so he’s well equipped to rail about the stupidity of the methods for boarding a plane, and about the Transportation Security Administration’s expensive, absurdly misguided efforts. (One of the book’s funniest passages: the tale of the time he tried to carry airline silverware onto a flight, “part of my hotel survival kit.” The T.S.A. agent confiscated them â€" even though it was the same silverware the airline itself issues to passengers in flight!)

Truth is, the world would be a better place if the airline industry weren’t so secretive in the first place. The actions of pilots are hidden behind safety-reinforced doors, they speak to the flight attendants with signals and jargon and the airlines’ behavior in scheduling and pricing flights are always mysterious. They’d serve all of us better, including themselves, by offering a little transparency.

Until that day arrives, “Cockpit Confidential” is the document that belongs in the seat-back pocket in front of you.