Ideas
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.
Ideas
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.
Ideas
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.
Ideas
USA.gov Plus YouTube
The General Services Administration wants to know: has USA.gov, the all-encompassing government information portal, made your life easier?
Ideas
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.
Ideas
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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Over the Moon @Nasa
Walter Cronkite may be dead, and we no longer have the sense that television can bring the nation to the moon at the same time, but Nasa's Twitter feed manages to give its 270,000 followers the chance to almost be in space with its astronauts -- in real time.
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There's an App for That
If you've ever had a burning desire to read Zachary Taylor's inaugural address, wondered about the exact wording of the Mayflower Compact or simply forgotten the 17th Amendment, don't worry. There's an app for that.
Ideas
Nominate a Colleague for an Award
Do you know a federal manager who recently took risks to push through a bold idea, policy or program that uses technology to make government work better or improve public services? If so, we'd like to hear your story by <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov_awards/>nominating</a> your colleague for a Nextgov Award.
Ideas
IBM to Merge Contracting Systems
The government announced on Thursday that IBM U.S. Federal has won a $74.4 million dollar contract to consolidate disparate systems that track contractor performance. The reconfiguration is intended to make it easier for federal acquisition workers to monitor the purchase of equipment, supplies, information technology and telecommunications services governmentwide, according to the General Services Administration, the agency that awarded the contract.
Ideas
Swab for Security
The latest screening technology to hit airports nationwide is perhaps less controversial than full-body scanners but less familiar to travelers: Explosive Trace Detection units that test swabs of luggage and passengers' hands for explosives.
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