And Now, Today’s GOOD NEWS: Code For America Calling All Jedi Masters from Philadelphia
Code for America, a program that helps city managers better serve citizens through web-based projects, has selected five cities to participate in its very first one-year fellows program and Philadelphia is one of them. According to a press release from Mayor Michael Nutter‘s office: “Philadelphia was selected due to strong leadership, innovative concepts for more efficient, transparent and participatory web applications, and a willingness to invest in long-term change.”
So how does it work? After a summer brainstorming session, five web development fellows will begin work in Philadelphia in February 2011, and the five cities will work together to share ideas. Allan Frank, the City’s Chief Technology Officer and head of the Division of Technology, describes it all in layman’s terms:
We are talking Star Wars here; Philadelphia will have the benefit of a group of ‘Jedi Master’ technologists that will augment the Division’s existing web-development capacity, facilitating the creation of a powerful, interactive citizen engagement tool that will increase connectivity and the exchange of information between the City government, residents, and visitors.
Code for America is now accepting applications for Jedi masters.
So there you have it: The world is not totally made of shit. Have you got some good news? If so, send it to tips[at]philebrity[dot]com with “GOOD MOTHERFUCKING NEWS!” in the subject header — we’d love to hear about it.
July 29th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
This is “good news?” They are not recruiting Jedi! They want obedient little Sith apprentices to go to San Francisco for training to help the Emperor’s regional government function more efficiently in oppressing the public! Didn’t anyone bother to look at the “Who We Are” section of CfA? These people are RICH CEOs and Ivy League Magna Cum Laude grads, working to make the Internet (2.0) LESS free! There is no way any of this technology is going to help governments serve the people. It will be the other way around, mark my words, I work in I.T. – I know!
July 29th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Allan Frank is (I am pretty sure) the 2nd highest paid employee (appointment) in the city. and he speaks in star wars analogies? If any of you have ever met him (and I have), you know that he is all hot air. he hasnt done a THING since he got to that post, he talks and talks and talks in circles. He might even still live in Bryn Mawr under some “I am trying to move into the city as required but I cant sell my mansion”. he’s perfect for our CIO. perfect fit.