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Repubs Knock Apparent FOIA Exemption
Some Republicans are disgruntled about a clause in the newly-minted financial reform law that they say allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to sidestep the Freedom of Information Act.
Ideas
O-Gov May Muck Up Agency Sites
Americans' satisfaction with online government services is slipping, according to the latest report from the quarterly e-government American Customer Satisfaction Index. Agencies during the second quarter received an aggregate score of 74.7 on a 100-point scale, down slightly from the first quarter's score of 75.1.
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Hacking Into The FOIA Process
An annual gathering of hackers in New York City last week featured a presentation on how to successfully break into government files using Freedom of Information Act requests.
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No, Not Social At All
I attended a House Oversight subcommitee hearing yesterday afternoon. As usual, I brought along my laptop, as taking notes and checking email are more easily accomplished using a full keyboard rather than pen and paper and my tiny iPhone screen.
Ideas
Census Fears Spill Over the Border
What can only be characterized as a bit of a surprise, Canada, the land of good government, is having its own debate over the nation's next census, scheduled for 2011. The debate is over the "intrusive" questions on the long form, which 20 percent of Canadians receive and are required to fill out.
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Reformatting $$$ To Fight Counterfeiters
A reformatted $100 bill that is expected to start circulating in February 2011 will include a ribbon containing images of bells that morph into 100s to thwart counterfeiters, a federal official told lawmakers this week.
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Can You Please Repeat That?
It's likely you've been on the phone when the voice recognition program just doesn't understand a single word you are saying. Maybe you're Scottish.
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GSA Ponders Prize Contract Vehicle
The General Services Administration may add a contract program that would allow agencies to buy from a menu of technology products, marketing services and technical assistance for running contests. An April <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_2010/m10-11.pdf">White House memo</a> required that GSA "as expeditiously as possible" craft a contract vehicle for purchasing such goods.
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Reform Forces Bailout Lending Online
The financial regulatory overhaul that Congress passed this week is missing a major data transparency measure the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100701_1718.php">House wanted</a>, but the legislation still offers some Web-based windows into the financial system that previously were lacking.
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LOL, Man
Do you find yourself speaking in abbreves? Using emoticons in text messages? Or even in work-related emails? Everyday English is incorporating more and more Internet-speak, which is changing the way we communicate, accoring to <a href=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128356609>NPR</a>.
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Industry Seeks IT Acquisitions Reform
A major tech industry group is fighting back against the administration's threats to cancel information technology projects by forming a task force to suggest other options.
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FAS Gets Permanent Leader
The General Services Administration on Tuesday announced a permanent leader for its Federal Acquisition Service, which has seen a number of shifts in recent months.
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Budget Game: Making Debt Fun
With the national debt well over $13 trillion, it seems a tall order to fix U.S. finances. Think you're smart enough to make those tough decisions? The nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget's <a href=http://crfb.org/stabilizethedebt/#>new online tool</a> lets users weigh different scenarios for reducing spending and stabilizing debt.
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Failure To Communicate
I have pretty bad luck when it comes to wireless cellphone service. I was covering a conference call last Friday but was out of the office, so I had to call in with my iPhone.
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Census Handhelds 'So 2010'
With its 2010 decennial count well underway, the Census Bureau already is looking forward to the next challenge: planning for 2020. According to the bureau's head, the next count will incorporate more technology than what currently is being used.
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