People
Teachable moments from NASA's social media project
NASA debuted its "Spacebook" internal social media system to allow more collaboration a year ago; now it is yielding lessons about how to use Web 2.0 technologies.
Digital Government
Patriotic Love
The Defense Department is warning "patriotic women" to be aware of individuals posing as members of the military on dating sites who are running scams. In a <a href=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=60134>press release</a> issued on Thursday, the department related a story of a woman named Shelley who "was thrilled to meet a handsome Marine on a dating website she frequented." Making a long story short, the guy, presumably not a Marine, tried to swindle her out of some money with a sob story.
Cybersecurity
DHS agencies slow to consolidate HR system, IG says
Nine agencies of the Homeland Security Department haven't finished their human resources system migrations, and many have not started, a new report says.
Acquisition
NIH wins approval for third CIOSP contract
OMB officials have approved the governmentwide contract after recognizing agencies' new duties because of the major overhaul of the health-care system.
Digital Government
Existing procurements got bulk of Recovery Act contract dollars
Washington Technology
Digital Government
NASA braces for solar storms that could bring critical systems to a halt
House panel calls for administration to refine space weather forecasts and develop a plan to issue public warnings.
Digital Government
Social media raises federal record-keeping, privacy concerns
Web 2.0 tools are important for agency missions but require additional guidance, officials say.
Digital Government
Telework bill could be near tipping point
House-Senate negotiators don't have many issues to reconcile before they send the measure to President Obama, staffer says.
Digital Government
Department of Homeland Security may be the place for job-seeking vets
There’s no underestimating the importance of military veterans to the federal workforce. Transitioning vets have long provided a reliable pool of high-quality candidates for civilian positions in the federal government—and not just at DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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.
Cybersecurity
Assange No-Show at Hacker Conference
<a href="http://wikileaks.org/Wikileaks">Wikileaks</a> founder Julian Assange was a no-show at the annual New York City hacker conference <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers_on_Planet_Earth">HOPE</a>, after five Homeland Security agents <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20010861-83.html?tag=mncol;txt">turned up the day before he scheduled to speak.
Digital Government
Real Social Networking?
Agencies have been pretty much experimenting with social media for the past two years, writing blogs (that are mostly routine), Tweeting (mostly press releases) and conducting an occasional town hall meeting (that is typically very orderly). It's understandable that many of the attempts have been carefully orchestrated offerings, given the novelty of the technology and the risk-averse nature of bureaucracies.
Digital Government
Joint Forces Command leader replaces Petraeus at CentCom
Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to take the reigns at U.S. Central Command while Army Gen. David Petraeus takes over in Afghanistan.
People
End of payroll deductions for paper U.S. Savings Bonds approaching
Deadlines are drawing near for federal employees and military service members who currently buy paper U.S. Savings Bonds through payroll deductions to transition to the new electronic system.
Acquisition
Existing procurements got bulk of Recovery Act contract dollars
Pressure to act quickly on high-priority projects drove agency officials toward existing contracts, GAO reported.
Digital Government