NIH encouraging scientists to write for Wikipedia
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is teaming up with Wikipedia. Jay Walsh, a spokesman for Wikimedia, said, "This is the first time the foundation ever met with folks at the federal government level."
- NIH Staffers Get Into the Wiki World, by Ibby Caputo, Washington Post (July 28, 2009)
- NIH Gets Schooled on Wikipedia, by Gautham Nagesh, NextGov, TechInsider (07/28/09).
NIH is encouraging its scientists and science writers to edit and even initiate Wikipedia articles in their fields. This month, it joined with the Wikimedia Foundation, which publishes the cyber encyclopedia, to host "Wikipedia Academy," a training session on the tools and rules of wiki culture, at NIH headquarters in Bethesda.Continue reading
Microsoft and Yahoo Combine Their Search Technologies
Will MicroHoo Raise Eyebrows On The Hill?, Congress Daily, Tech Daily Dose, July 29, 2009.
Under the 10-year agreement, Microsoft will acquire an exclusive license to Yahoo's core search technologies, and Microsoft will have the ability to integrate Yahoo search technologies into its existing Web search platforms. Microsoft's new search engine Bing will be the exclusive algorithmic search and paid search platform for Yahoo sites.While the companies are trying to pitch this as providing more search engine diversity (for advertisers, not users: "advertisers no longer have to rely on one company that dominates more than 70 percent of all search"), it further reduces the options users have to an open, transparent, accountable method of finding information. Continue reading
Two videos from NLRB
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) "now features two new videos on the site (www.nlrb.gov): 'Introduction to the NLRB Public Website' and 'How to Use CiteNet,' the Agency’s electronic legal research database."
- announcement (pdf)
- Introduction to the NLRB Public Website ("demonstrates how to find published decisions and administrative memoranda, how to ask questions via the website or to speak to a person, as well as how to use E-Gov, the Agency’s on-line services such as E-Docket, E-Filing, online forms, and E-FOIA requests."
- How to Use CiteNet (CiteNet is a free public service offered by the Agency to assist labor law professionals and the public with their legal research needs.)
President Obama Nominates David S. Ferriero To Be Archivist of the U.S.
President Obama Nominates David S. Ferriero To Be Archivist of the U.S. (updated), National Coalition for History (July 28, 2009).
On July 28, President Obama announced his intent to nominate David S. Ferriero to the position of Archivist of the United States. Mr. Ferriero currently serves as the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries (NYPL). Mr. Ferriero succeeds Professor Allen Weinstein who resigned as Archivist last December.Continue reading
UK government guide to Twitter
Neil Williams, head of corporate digital channels at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, in the UK Cabinet Office, has published a 20 page guide to using Twitter that aims to describe "why and how we intend to establish and manage a corporate presence on the microblogging social network Twitter.com."
Also see Williams announcement: Template Twitter strategy for Government Departments, by Neil Williams Digital Engagement Blog (21. July 2009), and a comment on The Reg: Gov geek publishes 5000-word Twitter guide, by Joe Fay, The Register, (28th July 2009). Continue reading