Weekly Round-up: May 16, 2013

Gadi Ben-Yehuda This week: Superlatives! Big ideas! Great Quotes! Newest releases! The USDA has released an API for developers to access information from its National Farmer’s Market Directory. Alex Howard writes on Slate.com about “The Best Thing” the president has done “this month” (bonus: infographic of “every big idea ever“) On GovLoop, Steve Ressler sharesRead… Read more »

The real problem of facelessness

Originally published at cpsrenewal.ca I wrote a few weeks ago about the facelessness of bureaucrats (See: How Can Bureaucrats Be Interesting When the World Demands that they be Boring), the ensuing conversation focused a lot on the question of whether or not bureaucrats can remain faceless given the pressures of the new media environment. WhatRead… Read more »

Aphorism 83

The most prominent predictors of the future tend to be the most wrong Geoff Mulgan Original post

Stonewalling Release Of Public Records Is Unacceptable

Federal & State Freedom of Information Laws (FOIL), allows citizens to obtain copies of government records. In 2009, the Buffalo News after not receiving adequate responses to several FOIL requests wrote an editorial directed to Mayor Byron Brown stating: “The law is clear. When we request city records, you must provide them, completely and inRead… Read more »

Fixmo Launches Industry’s First Mobile Data Leakage Prevention (DLP) Solution for Microsoft SharePoint

By Bob Gourley Fixmo SharePlace Delivers Integrated Mobile Security and DLP for Microsoft SharePoint; Supports Mobile-Specific Access Control Policies TORONTO & STERLING, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fixmo, a leading provider of mobile security and risk management solutions, today announced the availability of Fixmo SharePlace, the first defense-grade data leakage prevention (DLP) solution enabling secure and compliant access toRead… Read more »

An MPA From My Apt: Structure, Craft, Culture

This is another installment of an ELGL original content series titled “An MPA From My Apt.” by University of Southern California MPA distance graduate program student Josh Halladay. Halladay is sharing his experiences with a distance learning program in the hopes of providing perspective and support to other students who are pondering a degree usingRead… Read more »

Relatively

Jack remarked I have a lot of ready opinions, based on active study, about more subjects than most. I said that was because I organize relatively. That allows me to reach a firm conclusion quickly and move on. Need to change a conclusion? Not a problem. Quick acceptance and move on. I am most uncomfortableRead… Read more »

GAO: Agencies Miss Savings Without Strategic Sourcing

Federal agencies saved 4 percent on the $307 billion they spent to acquire services during fiscal year 2012. That percentage would equate to $12 billion by using strategic sourcing to acquire services for engineering and information technology, the Government Accountability Office says in a report dated April 15. Under strategic sourcing, agencies use an aggregateRead… Read more »

Group Decision Tip: My first thought is probably not my best

In principle, my initial reaction — my first thought — is very rarely my best thought. Often my first thought is absurd and shows me how not to react. Like first brush strokes on a canvas, first thoughts provide a starting place for more refined thoughts, for subsequent brush strokes. First thoughts, like initial brushRead… Read more »