Archive for September, 2007
« Previous Entries Next Entries »We all have role in vigilance
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007(IMHO, this was mangled somewhat in the editing process. Read my blog post on the same approach for a clearer explanation)
The Boston Herald, Saturday, September 16, 2006.
During World War II, every community had plane spotters, older men and boys trained to recognize and report Axis planes. Posters everywhere warned “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” Everyone felt […]
W. David Stephenson bio
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007“… the guru of Preparedness 2.0..” — John Solomon, author, In Case of Emergency, Read Blog
“You’re doing exceptionally important work, and have been one of the principal proponents of real networking for quite a long time.” — John Arquilla, co-author, Networks and Netwars.
“David:.. thank you for your mentorship…. Please keep up the great […]
Transform public into disaster response partners
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007Reprinted from the Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News, Feb. 26, 2007
Observations while marooned on I-78:
transform the public into full partners in disaster response
by W. David Stephenson
Governor Rendell said last week’s I-78 fiasco included a “total breakdown in communications.” As one of those stuck in it, I couldn’t agree more.
The good news is that the state, with […]
IMHO: need creative, Web 2.0 way to push for end to war
Monday, September 17th, 2007Just thinkin’…
I’ve been listening to an interesting/vexing hour of discussion by NPR’s OnPoint about how the anti-war movement just doesn’t seem to be able to make a real breakthrough, whether because the Democrats focus more on being re-elected, marchers are demonized, or pick your favorite reason.
IMHO, as someone who first started marching in DC […]
Another visualization: how would YOU allocate UASI grants?
Friday, September 14th, 2007Here’s another Many Eyes data visualization that I did: the distribution of FY ‘06 UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) grants to high-risk urban areas.
The GAO has argued that DHS needs to emphasize objective risk assessments in distributing those grants.
Here’s an opportunity for you to play Grant God/Goddess, and do some “what ifs?” — do your […]
ALERT — DON’T SIGN UP IF YOU GET QUECHUP INVITE FROM ME!!
Thursday, September 13th, 2007PARDON ME FOR “SHOUTING,” BUT I GOT SCAMMED — A BOGUS SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE CALLED QUECHUP HARVESTED MY NAME FROM A TRUSTED REPORTER’S GMAIL LIST, AND I SIGNED UP BEFORE I ASKED HIM WHETHER IT WAS VALID. DON’T, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SIGN UP IF YOU GET AN “INVITATION” FROM ME. YIKES. MY SINCERE APOLOGIES.
(more […]
et al.: “Snakes on a Plane” won’t fly
Thursday, September 13th, 2007And now for something completely different, as the Python boys would say (had to work that reference in because we’re pursuing a snake theme today).
Darn — those of us who are fans of the campy “Snakes on a Plane” can’t look forward to a real-life reprise, it appears. TSA screeners recently confiscated 30 — count […]
My first data visualization! word cloud of bin Laden video
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007I’ve become increasingly interested in the whole field of data visualization — making data more informative by portraying them in visual modes.
More important, IMHO, is the cry to release “public data” (and on a real-time basis, not just retrospectively) so that interested individuals can experiment with various means of visualization (Jon Udell is the champion […]
Fossett search: geotagging plus crowdsourcing!
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007On Monday I predicted .that geotagging might someday be a valuable Homeland Security 2.0 tool.
I guess “someday” meant today.
Early this morning I heard a NPR story (here’s BBC version) about how Richard Branson had paid several satellite companies to shoot new images of the area where his pal Steve Fossett’s plane might have crashed.
Then he […]
Flight 93, te salutamus! What this blog and my work are all about
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007I’m spending the morning analyzing the draft National Response Framework. Why am I not surprised? so far, I’ve found no mention of a substantive role for you and me — just the normal bromides:
“Individuals, families and caregivers to those with special needs should enhance their awareness of risk and threats, develop family emergency plans that […]
