openLangley

From CNET:

Last week, President-elect Barack Obama launched a Web site with detailed information about his plans for technology, Iraq, and health care policies.

Now they’re gone.

See story here

(originally posted on OpenNASA.com; cross-posting at Michael Finneran’s request)

By Andrew Hoppin

Recently I was asked to reflect on how the lessons of online organizing by those of us who worked in the 2004 Presidential campaign have impacted not only the 2008 Presidential campaign (in which Dean ‘04 and Clark ‘04 veterans teamed up to create Blue State Digital, the technology backbone of Obama’s online operation), but also the Federal Government, over the past four years.

Many 2004 veterans have been working in the realm of making government more open in order to enable watchdog oversight of it. I have been working more in the realm of trying to make government more efficient and effective through technologies and organizing techniques that promote openness. I’m personally mostly focused on the cultural and policy side of things– trying to get people inside NASA used to being more open and sharing by default rather than only when explicitly forced to.

Continue reading ‘How Online Organizing Lessons from ‘04 and ‘08 Can Help NASA in ‘09′

Integrate NASA images and music and you get “The Planets,” a program that has been touring for some time and is coming to Norfolk this month.

The Virginia Symphony at Chrysler Hall will recognize NASA’s 50th Anniversary with a 8 p.m. program on Nov. 22 that includes NASA imagery in the concert hall and the music of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.” Langley has helped localize the event with NASA exhibits that will be on display in the lobby before and after the concert, and during intermission.

Click here for more info from the Virginia Symphony. Click here for a sample of the music, “Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity.”

If anyone is interested in the extension of openLangley beyond the confines of this blog, check it out on Facebook. If you’re already on Facebook, you know how to get there. If you’re not, you can join for free at http://www.facebook.com/. I’ve posted nothing at the site yet, having just opened it tonight, and it’s open to all for comment, uploading photos/video, posting links, connecting to other NASA groups like colab, inviting friends, and doing all of the many other Facebook things. Here’s a link to try.

From Kevin Krigsvold

How often have you been asked something like “what does NASA personally do for me?”  It doesn’t happen often, but I still get that question  from time to time.  Even though NASA still has one of the best brands in the world, if you ask most people, they  could not tell you what NASA does other than the generic “space stuff” response.  In an effort to explain what we do a little better to our American stakeholders, we have produced a new television and vodcast entitled NASA 360. The program is really taking off, In fact in our first month on the web we already have over 100,000 downloads!

Continue reading ‘Check out NASA 360!’

From Michael Finneran

I attended an amazing diversity training class this week called “Unintentional Intolerance.” I’m usually not hugely impressed with government training, but this was way different. Robbin’s comic style, compelling message and a dip into the science of cognitive behavior made it one of the best five hours of training I’ve had. I know, I sound like an ad for Robbins. See for yourself:

By Donna Lawson

You may have seen the Washington Post article about members of the Virginia General Assembly, the Governor’s Advisory Council for Aerospace, and the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) visiting Langley during General Assembly Day. If not, take a look here.

This article is wonderful exposure for Langley and exactly what we need to increase our visibility in Northern Virginia. Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia are two major technology corridors, yet we aren’t that connected. Although our General Assembly Day was geared toward raising awareness with elected officials, having guests from NVTC was an extra bonus.

Continue reading ‘Connecting NASA Langley with Northern Virginia’