Mastodawn

Alex Howard Jun 23, 2025

Good morning from DC 🥵
If we need to connect:
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Alex Howard May 4, 2025

Happy #StarWarsDay, everyone! http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day
It has been many years since I was tempted by the power of the Dark Side.
I found my way back to the light because the Jedi still saw something of good in me.
May the 4th be with you and yours, always.

Star Wars Day - Wikipedia

Alex Howard Apr 12, 2025

The most important thing agencies & companies can do on social media is listen & offer support — not post. Unfortunately, accounts tend to be made by PR & marketing folks whose job is to promote products & services, not do crisis management. Adobe’s Bluesky disaster is a case study for everyone to study.
https://petapixel.com/2025/04/10/adobe-deletes-bluesky-posts-after-furious-backlash

Adobe Deletes Bluesky Posts After Furious Backlash

'I assume you'll be charging us monthly to read your posts.'

PetaPixel

Alex Howard Apr 2, 2025

First time I’ve gotten an in-app notification from LinkedIn News — a “showcase page” — about breaking news. I learned LinkedIn now has 250 staff producing editorial content in a format that closely resembles journalism you might read at a news media website at first browse. As most folks now realize, a platform operated by a tech company (Microsoft) publishing like material this raises complex policy issues. Keep an eye on this.
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a523356/

News on LinkedIn | LinkedIn Help

News on LinkedIn

LinkedIn Help

Alex Howard Apr 2, 2025

No /About page.
No /FOIA.
No PIO.
No calendars.
No visitor logs.
No list of staff.
No asset disclosures, or ethics agreements.
No weekly press conferences.
No open meetings.
No advisory committee.

The U.S. DOGE Service is not even close to the “most transparent organization in government ever.”

Alex Howard Mar 23, 2025

The cherry trees next to Nationals Park are in bloom.

An osprey returned to rebuild its nest along the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

Rowers & sailors are out on the rivers.

Spring arrived in Washington.

Time to come out of hibernation, stretch, & grow, again.

Onwards to longer days.

Alex Howard Mar 22, 2025

I picked up a great souvenir at #SunshineFest this #SunshineWeek. It goes well with an artifact from the Sunlight Foundation (RIP). “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.”-Brandeis

Alex Howard Mar 11, 2025

I am not particularly enjoying 2025 so far.
This week’s challenge: managing the care of a kiddo sick with influenza. 🦠 Today, I am grateful for access to rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 & flu, vaccines, & telemedicine.
Along with my health, I take none of them for granted.
Don’t wait: vaccines.gov

Alex Howard Mar 10, 2025

The tech press will need to be wary of reporting a rebranded “self-deportation app” from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency as a novel or innovative use of government technology without decribing its true function or purpose.
What is this?
Uncivic tech?
Illiberal tech?
Authoritarian tech?
#Autocratech?

Alex Howard Mar 1, 2025

Last night, the Trump administration ended 18F after more than a decade in which its staff helped agencies to deliver better, more effective services for the American people. It is a loss for open culture, open source software, and open vision for digital government. Thank you to everyone at 18F who scrubbed in to serve.