Presidential candidate Steve Forbes is taking a different kind of high-tech hit for his day job as publisher. Some are criticizing Forbes magazine for running a cover story on Intel President Craig Barrett — who supports the Forbes presidential campaign. Forbes made a dent in 1996 through television, and has now is seizing on opportunities provided through the Web. In March, he announced his presidential campaign on-line, and said he would use the Web as his own campaign headquarters in 2000. "In the last campaign, the Web was not even a line item in the budget; it was a footnote in a line item in the budget. This time it is its own section with its own line items," says Bill Dal Col, manager of both Forbes campaigns.

    One of the more tasteless bits of spam last week came from Richard Rifkin, who claims he is selling a "loan calculator." His message reads in part, "'We will donate 10 percent of profits until May 15th to the families of Littleton, Colorado, who lost a child at Columbine.' — R.Rifkin, President. WE ARE A LITTLETON, COLORADO-BASED SOFTWARE COMPANY." But according to a report, when contacted, Rifkin admitted he has no company, nor ties to any Columbine High relief program.

    Netscape's Roberta Katz has been tapped to head up TechNet, Silicon Valley's high-tech bipartisan lobbying group. The attorney/lobbyist was long considered the frontrunner to replace departing CEO Reed Hastings, according to print reports.

    House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-IL, and House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-CA, were both feted at high-tech industry fundraisers last week. Hastert attended a reception hosted by the Information Technology Industry Association for his Keep Our Majority PAC, while Oracle Senior Director of Public Policy Ken Glueck hosted the Dreier event.

    First term Gov. George Ryan, R-IL, who is making technology growth a goal, has appointed Mary Barber Reynolds as the state's first chief technology officer. Reynolds was an assistant to then-Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra, R, for seven years and has worked on IT issues in the state government in the past.

    Gov. George Pataki, R-NY, wants to expand the Empire State's DNA database. Right now, the state collects DNA samples from offenders convicted of 21 specific felonies; Pataki's legislation would mandate that all felony offenders be required to furnish the databank with DNA samples. "The expansion of our state's DNA databank will do for law enforcement in the 21st century what fingerprinting did for law enforcement at the turn of the 20th century," Pataki said.

    Not a single British computer company has contributed to an effort to build a statue of mathematician Alan Turing, the "father of computer science." Sculptor Glynn Hughes says he can't explain why computer firms haven't contributed "a single penny" to the project, but he has an inkling: "What I hear repeatedly from academics and professionals in the computer business in Britain is it's because he wasn't American." So, the campaign is looking across the seas; Hughes says Microsoft and Apple are both considering participation, according to press reports. Microsoft's Bill Gates was in London recently, and summarized his worldview not far from where the Turing statue would be built: "Information technology is a tool and we are in charge of it," he said, according to a press report. Turing developed a theory of an "electronic computer" at Cambridge in the 1930s, and later helped crack the German Enigma cipher during World War II.

    Stanford University has put up a Web site memorial to Xerox PARC Chief Technologist Mark Weiser, who died on April 27 at 46. Weiser was also the drummer for Severe Tire Damage, the first band to play live on the Internet.

    John Palafoutas is the new senior vice president for domestic policy at the American Electronics Association. Prior to AEA, Palafoutas served as director of federal relations for AMP Inc., and was chief of staff for Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-CA, and press secretary for Rep. Tom Bliley, R-VA. He's also served as special assistant to then-Rep. Newt Gingrich.

    The General Services Administration named Air Force Lt. Col. William Cox its 1999 Trail Boss of the Year Award for his efforts in readying three massive databases in the Functional Information Special Projects Office at the Standard Systems Group. Defense Message System Program Manager Jerry Bennis, who works for the Defense Information Systems Agency, also was honored for getting the message system working again with a replacement for the Pentagon's stubborn old system.

    The Innovations in American Government Awards competition has narrowed down its 1,600 candidates to 98 semifinalists. Winners are eligible for one of 10 grants of $100,000. California leads the race with eight semifinalists, from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the state Department of Youth Authority and the San Diego Data Processing Corporation, among others.

    Send comments and contributions to Peter J.M. Orvetti.