Monthly Archives: April 2011

Friday Fab Five: Maybe We Need a Vacation After Trying to File Taxes or Is There An App for that?

Every Friday, we take a quick look back at the week and highlight five members or moments that were especially awesome. Here’s who and what rocked it out this week. 5. The Most Commented Blog goes to Paid vacation. So how many you were secretly hoping the shutdown happened because you needed a couple daysRead… Read more »

Internal communications teacamp

Another event-pimping guest post, this time from Sharon O’Dea. Contrary to popular belief, webbies aren’t always glued to their screens and hidden away in dank basements. They love to get out and about and network with their peers. It all began with UKGovCamp, a one-day event for public sector digital types. These events – nowRead… Read more »

Daily Dose: Traveling on the Government’s Dime? Just Charge It!

Or not… Road warriors and the impulsive beware! While buying on credit here and there might seem like a harmless activity, you might want to think twice about whose card you pull out of your wallet next time. It could soon cost you your job! There’s nothing like a credit card to give one theRead… Read more »

FBI Database Search and Discovery Capability Called DIVS is Best In Class

I was recently treated to a demonstration of a mission-focused IT solution that made me proud of what technologists at FBI can do. What I saw was a best in class integration of search, discovery and analysis tools known as DIVS (Data Integration and Visualization System). DIVS includes a framework that allows multiple tools, COTSRead… Read more »

Failure – Chapter 2

Once again, I received a rejection letter from a Twin Cities suburban community for a position that I thought perfectly met my KSAs. Guess that city wanted someone young and stupid – emphasis on YOUNG. What bothers me most about the reject letter is the abject bullshit contained in it. Please don’t tell me youRead… Read more »

Open Government Links of the Past Week – April 15, 2011

CA cities having hard time dealing w/ FOIA requests. “Now, IT officials working in California cities are saying that they are overwhelmed by the complexity of the public archived information being sought.” “Although responding to record requests has traditionally been a function of a city clerk’s office, in recent years IT departments have become heavilyRead… Read more »

Me, MrCh0mp3rs- Avatars, Branding and Us

Years ago when social media started to become a “thing” I wasn’t sure about how out in the open I wanted to be. Sound familiar? I went with the handle “MrCh0mp3rs” because in L33Tspeak it says “Mr. Chompers” which is my dog’s name. Going with that name, I could count on having that name whenRead… Read more »

The Reason Why the Budget Battle Will Go On—And How We Change It

Watching the budget battle play out these past few weeks (perhaps months and years) between Republicans and Democrats can only leave one feeling deep frustration and a sense that things will never truly change. Those emotions are not only accurate they are the clue to the true reason why deficits are soaring and budgets areRead… Read more »

Weekly Round-up: April 14, 2011

Gadi Ben-Yehuda CIO Council Launches Best Practices Web site. NextGov reports that a new site has lanuched to help federal IT managers. Social Media at State, Half the World Away. An interesting article on the social media activities of the US State Department in New Zealand. Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith: Now on Video! Last week,Read… Read more »

Social media CoP roundup

The big news: Another Local by Social?: Stay tuned for exciting news about for a possible national Local by Social and a hack day in June or July. To register your interest and ensure you’re notified first if/when tickets become available, please sign up here. In the mean time, you’ll want to check out whatRead… Read more »