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Cloud Computing Trauma
Customer service matters. When it comes to cloud computing, a little bit could go a long way.
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Virtual Training, Real Battle
Live, on-the-ground battlefield preparation is difficult to come by outside of the battlefield itself. Enter <a href=http://ict.usc.edu/projects/urbansim>UrbanSim</a>, a research prototype simulation currently being used to train U.S. Army personnel in complex urban counterinsurgency and stability operations.
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Facebook and the Hatch Act
Marc Ambinder, who blogs for Nextgov sister site Atlantic.com, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/03/state-department-removes-political-fan-pages-from-facebook-site/36984/">raises an issue</a> for agencies that have created a Facebook page -- which seems like just about every agency.
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GSA Signs Up For OpenID
The General Services Administration has approved universal sign-in applications for use on government Web sites, provided by Equifax, Google and Paypal, that will allow citizens who are securely logged in to one site to instantly and safely switch to another agency site without having to login again.
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Distraction.gov -- Not
Yes, <a href=http://distraction.gov/>Distraction.gov</a> is a real Web site. No, it isn't a compilation of crossword puzzles, <a href=http://www.sporcle.com/>Sporcle</a> quizzes and Gawker-worthy gossip. In fact, it has nothing to do with giving feds a little diversion at work.
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Facebook No Show at Hearing
A senator chastised the social-networking service Facebook on Tuesday for refusing to attend his subcommittee hearing on global Internet freedom, while simultaneously seeking the government's help in resolving Internet blockages overseas.
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Is Cybersecurity All Hype?
Wired's Ryan Singel wrote a long <a href=http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/cyber-war-hype/>post</a> in the site's Threat Level blog arguing that much of the concern over the security of the Internet is being fueled by federal contractors, which would benefit financially from the government pursuing policies to lock it down and to track 'Net users.
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Service Academy Apps Go Paperless
Applying for nomination to West Point just got a little faster and more environmentally friendly. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday announced the launch of an <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden/academy-nominations>online application</a> for several U.S. service academies.
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That Silly Internet Thing
Our colleagues at Government Executive <a href="http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44672&oref=todaysnews">point to a blog post</a> that highlights a 1995 <em>Newsweek</em> article on how the Internet will fail. A great line: " . . . no computer network will change the way government works."
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Banana vs. Pringles
With more than 2,400 Web pages, the federal .gov space is full of little-known and interesting tools. The Agriculture Department, for example, comes to the rescue of all those in need of quick nutrition information.
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Called Out For Bad Behavior
Recovery.gov, the Web site tracking progress of the economic stimulus package, is naming names when it comes to stimulus-funded tech companies who have twice failed to report on their spending.
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Army Launches Tech-Focused App
The Defense Department is known to be high tech, but the general public doesn't often hear about much of what goes on inside the Pentagon walls. In the spirit of engagement, the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command last week debuted Army Technology Live, a free iPhone app intended to build dialogue around Army tech initiatives.
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Track Your Census Participation
The 2010 census is fast approaching, and a friendly challenge could help boost public excitement. The Census Bureau today launched an <a href="http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/" target="blank">online mapping tool</a> showing the 2000 census' participation rates across states, counties and cities.
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Open Government Momentum Continues
Agencies continue to innovate in response to the Obama administration's open government initiatives, said panelists at a Wednesday event sponsored by Government Executive, Nextgov's sister publication.
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Office Of Technology Assessment Reboot
Engineers, scientists and at least one lawmaker are pushing like never before to resuscitate a legislative agency that once provided Congress with technological expertise.
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USA.gov Plus YouTube
The General Services Administration wants to know: has USA.gov, the all-encompassing government information portal, made your life easier?
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Time to Regulate Internet Security?
James Lewis, director of the technology and public policy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and one of Washington's more respected cybersecurity experts, is on schedule to give testimony Tuesday afternoon at the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The panel's topic: "Cybersecurity: Next Steps to Protect Our Critical Infrastructure." <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090401_6424.php>The Cybersecurity Act of 2009</a> will be a topic of conversation.
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Second Life at Work
The Agriculture Department is going virtual, and employees may soon be able to conduct business through 3D avatars rather than traditional teleconferencing, email or good old-fashioned staff meetings.
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