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Even though I knew e-books were emerging on the market during the last few years to compete with paperbacks, I was shocked to read this news that e-books sold more than paperbacks last February. This shift from paperbacks to e-books marks a monumental shift in literacy and education in our society. This could also be a huge shift for education non-profits and public schools, especially well-off universities that have the money to use kindles and alike products. The next two years will see the biggest surge according to Barnes and Noble exec Marc Parrish. No doubt, this will change the way people and organizations read and get their information.

 News Release by Tiffany Brown, Public Affairs Section, Lansing: Recent news coverage prompted by a press release issued by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has brought speculation and caused inaccurate information to be reported about data extraction devices (DEDs) owned by the Michigan State Police (MSP). The MSP only uses the DEDs if a search warrant is obtained or if the person possessing the mobile device gives consent. The department*s internal directive is that the DEDs only be used by MSP specialty teams on criminal cases, such as crimes against children. The DEDs are not being used to extract citizens' personal information during routine traffic stops. The implication by the ACLU that the MSP uses these devices "quietly to bypass Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches" is untrue, and this divisive tactic unjustly harms police and community relations.

Although this article is a a couple years old I think it raises many good points in regards to the public sectors use of technology compared to that in the Business world. I think the author was correct in his assumptions that inefficiencies in the technology are in large part due to the lack of competition in the government. Perhaps, if the government were to do like the article suggests, and base their e-government procedures off of a business model than things may run a bit more easily.

This article describes a new website Green America is launching which provides coupons and other green business information to the public. What better way to encourage and "green" lifestyle in a tight economy than with cost saving ways to do it?

This recaps an innovative approach to marketing the mission of a nonprofit in contrast to selling a product.

Although this article speaks mainly about protecting yourself on a network I think it applied very well with this class. It offers many good tips and points as to precautions to take to protect yourself. These precautions are important to consider especially if any work at your non-profit or public place of employment can be completed outside of work at at perhaps a local "hot-spot". This leads me to wonder how safe the new cellphone hot-spots are.

A governmental style press release on the official website of the "United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs".  A response to the Mubarak government's shut down of the Internet in Egypt.

I found this article to be interesting. In the past few elections we have seen the use of social media soar. I think this is a great opportunity for an average person to be able to get the opportunity to ask questions that are meaningful to the general public. Prior to YouTube and Facebook it would seem nearly impossible for a question that we have to be answered by the President of the United States in a live news conference. Technology makes this possible.

I think as technology progresses we will find more and more services such as this. This could prove to be very useful for people who find the tax season complicated and tedious. I think that this is a good attempt by the IRS to incorporate technology into their services to the public.

My subject of discussion on posterous this week was about Grand Rapids trying to pass a millage for the Rapid this May. Improved public transit has proven to spur economic growth in "dying" cities (or areas of cities). Better transportation means better employment, incentives to build businesses, and saving money on gas!

The Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University publishers a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal on philanthropy. Link is to a free trial of an online edition of the journal.

Simple use by New York city of QR codes on building permits to provide links to additional information. 

Wow. Just think, I didn't even know what QR codes were a few weeks ago. I really see them blooming in the next few years (Ha!Bloomberg/ Blooming!). I scanned one from a Meijers grocery coupon and got a 10 second commercial sent back to me.

Very progressive! Excellent use for that specific labeling technology --- especially in a high density population area where a construction project could be a big hassle. This would make it easy for the public passerby to find out more about it, and perhaps a target completion date. Plus, you are certain the contractor has a legal permit from the city of New York for the work they are doing.

Although this article talks about business and government, it nonetheless provides very useful information in regards to the use of technology in the government. If the public information that is being taken by the government and seemingly used very little can prove to have benefits to society when used in an efficient and accessible way. These benefits can affect an individual, a business, or a non-profit in numerous ways.