Yearly Archives: 2009

Two Inauguration Negatives – Groaning & Garbage

By now you’ve either heard or read every possible perspective on what occurred in my fair city of Washington, DC over the past several days. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed the tears, cheers, speeches, marches and balls supplemented by 7×24 coverage, countdowns, videos, pictures, satellite images and punditry. If you’re thinking, “Enough already!”, you’re not alone.Read… Read more »

Microsoft FutureFed: Gov 2.0 – What does it mean to the Federal Government?

Amid the excitement and flurry surrounding a new administration, Federal agencies and workers must remember the call for transparency and accountability. To do so, they must understand and embrace the concept of “Gov 2.0.” Like Web 2.0, taking advantage of Internet technology and Web design, Gov. 2.0 will, according to the Wikipedia definition, “enhance creativity,Read… Read more »

Participatory Budgeting and e-Democracy (Part 1)

(note: originally posted at theConnectedRepublic.org) Participatory Budgeting (PB) can be broadly defined as the participation of citizens in the decision-making process of budget allocation and monitoring public spending. Participation may take various forms, from effective decision-making power in the allocation of resources to more modest initiatives that confer voice during the development of the budget.Read… Read more »

Clay Johnson Heads to Texas

All credit to my editors for noticing this, but Clay Johnson is among the Bush confidants who headed back to Texas with the former president on Tuesday. And given his history, Johnson might be prepared to show his fellow travelers a good time…

President Obama and Social Media: Dreams and Reality

This is an article that I wrote for publication called “Media Bullseye.” Thought that it might be timely and I hope that you guys enjoy. Mark President Obama and Social Media: Dreams and Reality Shortly after the November elections, I began a meme, asking some brighter minds than my own what they thought the impactRead… Read more »

Clear and Present Danger: MS-13

If there ever was a clear and present danger to national security, it’s MS-13. In a national assessment released January 2008, the FBI noted: “They perpetrate violence—from assaults to homicides, using firearms, machetes, or blunt objects—to intimidate rival gangs, law enforcement, and the general public. They often target middle and high school students for recruitment.Read… Read more »

New President – New WhiteHouse.Gov

President Obama has launched a newly revamped whitehouse.gov that features more Web 2.0 and interactive features, in an effort to continue his move towards transparency and engaging the public. In short, it’s now cool. White House The media’s reaction to the unveiling: CNN

Federal Eye: New Presidential Portraits Coming Soon

Framed photographs of President Obama and Vice President Biden will soon replace shots of former president George W. Bush and former vice president Richard B. Cheney that have adorned the lobbies of Federal outposts for the past eight years. The new presidential photos, released last week, were the first taken by a digital camera. TheRead… Read more »