Hadoop Quickstart: Build a Cluster In The Cloud In 20 Minutes Or Less

Editor’s note: The tips Bryan Halfpap provides below really work. I stood up a working Hadoop Cluster in under 20 minutes, from cold iron to production ready, using just his guidance and a Rackspace account. bg I’ve been working with Apache Hadoop in my lab, spending much of that with CDH3 (the Cloudera Distribution includingRead… Read more »

What Drives Crude Oil Prices?

Because, like it or not, renewable energy development still depends a lot on the price of conventional – fossil-based – fuels, we thought that the EIA’s new analysis What Drives Crude Oil Prices? would be of interest to our readers. The analysis has an interactive online component, so be sure to visit the EIA’s siteRead… Read more »

Trends on Tuesday: More on Top Apps

Mobile web versus mobile apps? Well, apps continue to be a strong category. But what are people doing on their apps? According to Nielsen’s State of the Media: Consumer Usage Report, it’s GAMES! Followed by social networking, music and navigation. The study also found that people like free apps. Fifty-one percent said that they don’tRead… Read more »

Open Government Consultation

In the spirit of openness, I have decided to publicly share my open-ended responses to the ongoing Canadian Open Government Consultation, which has been taking place since December 6th, 2011 and is scheduled to end January 16th, 2012. The consultation covers questions on Open Data, Open Information, Open Dialogue and the Open Government Strategy. IfRead… Read more »

Executive Order Gives Unified Communications a Thumbs Up

By Josh Finke, Collaboration Practice Director at Iron Bow Technologies Originally published on Iron Bow TechSource President Obama recently issued an Executive Order that will promote more efficient spending across the federal government as a part of his Campaign to Cut Waste, which has saved billions in taxpayer dollars since its inception two years ago.Read… Read more »

Engaging Citizens vs. Streamlining Bureaucracy

Forty years ago, Congress passed a law to make government agencies more accountable and transparent in how they sought advice from industry and the public. It was called the Federal Advisory Committee Act. But over the years, the way the law was implemented led to less citizen involvement and reluctance by agencies from seeking advice.Read… Read more »

Election law news, McCain on super PACs, no Bluman foreign money, and political law links

NO BLUMAN FOREIGN MONEY. Politico. “The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld a federal law that bars foreign nationals from spending to influence U.S. elections.” WILEY REIN NEWS. The January 2012 edition of Wiley Rein’s Election Law News is online here. MCCAIN ON SUPER PACS. The Hill. “McCain blamed the Supreme Court for the campaignRead… Read more »