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substantive new report out from the Knight Foundation that is worth attention: Connected Citizens: The Power, Peril and Potential of Networks.  The report notes: *It's important to listen to and consult the crowd in our work *We should create environments where connections can naturally form, including between people with different perspectives *It's good practice to support collective action so grassroots efforts can grow So how can nonprofits embrace these practices? 

Highly recommended article. The CITIZEN SUPERHEROES slideshow is hilarious. Basically, this article explains how technology makes government less bureacratic.

This article discusses the new and different ways people now get their information about things that are happening in the news. It is all about using social media to do this. Cities, towns and counties are taking advantage of these social media websites and it is helping them reach out to more people. People are already on these websites daily, so it is more convenient. It helps to engage the citizens. These new social media tools have also helped lower many costs.

Government CIOs say that the iPad is making them more productive and efficient, and also has potential to change how technology is delivered to government employees and the citizens they serve. date e-published:  Nov. 16, 2010

This article is on how the public should be able to see government meetings and have access to government records. Technology is helping this happen.

Reports expenditures of the $787 billion dollars of the Recovery Act funds. Citizens can use to identify fraud, waste, and abuse of those funds.  Zip code map to find how funds being used in your area. Social Media feeds of all types.

 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.

This op-ed claims that the non-profit sector in America distingushes us from other economies. Also, the non-profit sector is the nations largest employer and creates ideal citizens.

"ACLU learned that the police had acquired the cell phone scanning devices and in August 2008 filed an official request for records on the program, including logs of how the devices were used. The state police responded by saying they would provide the information only in return for a payment of $544,680. The ACLU found the charge outrageous."