Recovery.gov relaunched yesterday, and we've spent some time playing around with the site since then. The verdict? Well, it's hard to say — the site's a bit broken. There are 404s all over the place, most gallingly on the data download page. Parts of the site seem like they work, but don't: the select boxes on the front page that provide filters for the map don't actually affect its behavior in any way. It's hard to see these glaring bugs alongside the totally-unnecessary link to Facebook and not groan (am I supposed to play Scrabble with Chairman Devaney?).
Continue readingLocal Sunlight
Every week I climb into the depths of the local political blogosphere to find the Sunlight. I use this series... View Article
Continue readingRecovery.gov redesign released
We're poking around it now. The maps are done very well, but as of this writing, we haven't been able to get any of the XML feeds from the Download Center to work (we've learned that they're working on it) and the spreadsheet on Recovery contracts from the Federal Procurement Data System, while helpful, had the usual glitches--including a contract for bridge construction with an effective data of
Continue readingScoping Out Transportation Subsidies
Every morning, when you step into a plane, train, car or bus, your trip is probably subsidized – directly or... View Article
Continue readingAfternoon Reading
Slate: The case against reading the bill. Top 50 real-time sites. Tim O’Reilly and Jennifer Pahlka on the ‘Web-Squared’ era.... View Article
Continue readingWhat to read, what to read?
– Recovery.gov asks for citizen input. – Twitter is dead. – Michael Gerson goes Godwin’s Law on the Internet and... View Article
Continue readingCongressman’s 72 Hour Rule Suggestion Is Inadequate
In response to the growing support for a discharge petition to force a vote on the Read the Bill bill,... View Article
Continue readingCorruption charges prompt Congo to lobby Congress
Lawmakers Pushed FDA To Approve Device
The New York Times reports on a really ugly confluence of politics and campaign contributions. Four New Jersey lawmakers pressured... View Article
Continue readingFed Transparency Hearing On Now
The House Financial Services Committee is holding a hearing on the Fed Transparency bill. The legislation started as a pet... View Article
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