Dear Cherished Reader,
About a month ago, I learned this blog was being blocked by many government firewalls because the site’s URL was associated with "blogspot" or contained the term “blog”. Pretty ironic situation given one of the primary audiences EPC Updates was intended to reach is…….public servants. The situation is even more ironic given the existence of blog.fema.gov, blog.dhs.gov, and several other similar sites. Either “gov” in those URLs is allowing users to see them through government firewalls, or unbeknownst to editors of those sites, they have the same problem as EPC Updates. But, I’m not going to worry about letting those editors know even if it turns out to be the last situation - they’ll find out soon enough. Yesterday, Reuters revealed that since June 2010, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “has been operating a "Social Networking/Media Capability" which involves regular monitoring of "publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards." Classic, just classic. Government decision makers, do you realize your Information Technology policies are bi-polar?
While there are indications some units of government are becoming less afraid of the connective tissue that social networking/media technologies have to offer – there is still a long way to go. For that reason, I have decided to take the following steps in an effort to provide better site access for federal, state, and local government workers, and foreign friends dealing with censorship issues:
- Effective today, this site’s URL is changing to: www.epcupdates.org. While Blogger will provide a redirect if you use the old URL, please note the change.
- Postings on this site will also be available by using links in the right side bar at: www.sharedgeo.org
Your thoughts and comments - either by email (mngeoepc01@gmail.com) or as an attachment to this post - are always welcome.
Fraternally,Steve
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