Over on the GeoIQ blog Andrew Turner has penned details of a coming hack fest, OpenStreetMap Hack Ween-end. The GeekFest is scheduled to take place at the GeoIQ HQ in D.C. on Feb 18 and 19 and promises to be “very technical” and focus on building core apps and technology that use OSM or support OSM. So, if getting your hands dirty with code makes you queezy you might be better off staying at home and watch some TV or hang out with the kids…
Archives for January 18, 2012
Can One Protest SOPA Without Blacking Out?
I applaud all those individuals and businesses electing to stand up and show their support in fighting the proposed legislation that threatens Internet freedoms (SOPA). As you can see, GISuser.com and this blog is available and being updated today as usual, however, this does not mean in any way that we are supporting SOPA. My personal belief is that my action in blacking out our sites today could serve to harm us (we have contractual obligations to advertisers and sponsors) and in other ways – thus sharing the word with our audience might make a little more sense. I hope you respect that decision and appreciate that we are using our voice to share useful information about SOPA and how you can provide feedback.
Kudos to fellow GeoGeek Bill Dollins (@billdollins) who has “blacked out” his GeoMusings blog today and has provided some valuable information as well, I encourage you to check out what Bill has shared and consider contacting Congress using the handy form that Bill has provided to his site visitors. See http://blog.geomusings.com/ James Fee @cageyjames has also done the same at http://spatiallyadjusted.com/
See Also What Google has posted today on how you can take action Have you blacked out your website in protest of SOPA or shared info? If so feel free to email me glenn at gisuser.com or tweet me @gletham
The Geography and Importance of Women as Employers in the USA
Some interesting data and graphics shared via this blog post on the importance of small business, and in particular women owned small businesses, and their effect and importance on the economy and job creation. Using an information-rich infographic, Michael Hartzell shares some interesting stats. In the USA, women owned small businesses have the following effect:
- $3 trillion in economic impact
- 7.8 million women owned businesses in 2007
- 23 million jobs created and maintained
- The professional, scientific, and tech sector is the largest at 20.9%
- California, Texas, and New York have the most women owned businesses
