Ideas
Nixon Tape Transcripts 'Interpretations'
It likely is impossible to produce a perfect transcript of the infamous Nixon tapes because audio fidelity was not taken into consideration in designing the White House tape-recording system, reports Steven Aftergood, author of an e-newsletter and blog on government secrecy published by the nonprofit Federation of American Scientists.
Ideas
Recovery Board Won't Fix Ham Goof
The independent board overseeing stimulus spending will not correct information on Recovery.gov that indicates the government is paying more than a million dollars for two pounds of frozen ham, a spokesman for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board said on Monday.
Digital Government
Filling the Gaps
The Senior Executives Association has launched a survey of GS-14s and 15s or their equivalents to gauge their interest in applying for and serving in the Senior Executive Service, Senior Level and Scientific and Professional positions. The purpose of the survey stems from concerns that many talented and able federal employees do not aspire to positions in the SES, largely because it would mean a loss of locality pay and a guaranteed annual pay raise, increased hours and responsibilities and executive pay overlap with the General Schedule and other personnel systems.
Digital Government
Leadership Still Trumps Digits
I spent a couple of days last week hanging out with the Army Evaluation Task Force at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. They're testing all kinds of exotic systems and networks key to the Army's future modernization projects, and I wondered if troops in the future will be into battle at the click of a mouse.
People
DOD is top source of 2009 Rising Star award winners
The Defense Department seems to have a knack for either attracting or nurturing rising stars in the field of information technology.
Acquisition
Vets could get edge on no-bid contracts at VA
A new bill would require the Veterans Affairs Department to give priority to veteran-owned small businesses when outsourcing work with no competition.
Cybersecurity
DHS another step closer to departmentwide debarments
DHS on July 16 published a new interim rule on suspensions and debarments for nonprocurement-related entities.
Ideas
Show Me The Plan!
I don't know if Roger Baker is a "<a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/07/rock_star_cios.php">rock star</a>" CIO, but I do think Mr. Baker is an extremely competent one who seems intent, along with his boss, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, on creating a new standard for IT governance, risk management and project accountability in the federal government.
People
Recovery act: OMB convenes online forum to talk about guidelines
OMB is holding four days of online forums about the reporting guidelines associated with recovery act projects.
Modernization
Klossner: 'Camp Don't'
FCW cartoonist John Klossner, just back from a disconcerting visit to a Boy Scouts camp, wonders about how the Defense Department will proceed to improve the security of its networks.
Modernization
Standards groups form alliance to set cloud-computing standards
Government Computer News
Digital Government