Digital Government

For Shinseki, Vets Before Reporters

Last Friday, I traveled to Duke University in Durham, NC for dedication of a memorial to Duke graduates who lost their lives in action since WW II, including the best company commander I ever had, <a href="http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/10/honoring_marine_maj_corky_ram.php">Marine Maj. Corky Ram,</a> where Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki was the featured speaker.

Ideas

Nothing on the Internet is Dead

A few weeks ago, the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> published a piece about <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203803904574431151489408372.html">how e-mail's reign</a> as the king of online communication is over. Author Jessica Vascellaro didn't decree the death of e-mail, she just argued the constant stream of updates social media services like Facebook and Twitter provide are more in sync with today's permanently plugged-in approach to the Web.

Ideas

O Gov Directive? Not This Month

While the administration had hoped to issue a long-awaited open government directive <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091002_5291.php">before the end of the month</a>, sources close to the process expect that it will be out within the next couple weeks.

Digital Government

Twitterers Getting Younger

Twitter usage is increasing among teenagers and young adults, according to a new <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/17-Twitter-and-Status-Updating-Fall-2009.aspx?r=1">survey</a> by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The survey found that 37 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds now use the microblogging Web site, compared with just 19 percent in December 2008. Still, the median age of a Twitter user is 31, a figure that has remained stable over the past year, the survey found.

Digital Government

NIH funds a Facebook for scientists

The National Institutes of Health funded a $12.2 million "Facebook for Scientists" project to set up a network for researchers.

Digital Government

Protests: Step by step

You've filed a protest. Now what?

People

Advocate says stimulus law causes outsourcing; contractor group disagrees

One transparency advocate says the economic stimulus law causes outsourcing of federal jobs.

Acquisition

What's behind the increasing number of bid protests?

The decision by Unisys and General Dynamics to protest the lost TSA contract has this observer scratching his head. Why so many protests?

Digital Government

Tech projects to get big splash from second wave of stimulus spending

Technology spending will be a big part of a second wave of spending under the economic stimulus law, according to Edward DeSeve, special advisor to the Office of Management Budget and director for implementation of the Recovery Act.

Cybersecurity

Obama nominates Wagner as DHS intell chief

President Barack Obama today nominated Caryn Wagner to lead the Homeland Security Department's office that uses information technology to share information with non-federal officials.