Knowledge is power, right?

I enjoy learning.  I love to read, enjoy doing research and even manage to store some incredibly random details in my brain(housing group.)

What I’ve realized in the last year* is there’s a lot I don’t know about our government and about the country we live in and about life in general. I’m fascinated by the possibility of an endless cycle of looking and learning.

A friend recently enlightened me on the concept of Open Data.  Open data is the idea that certain data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control.

In fact, today is Open Data Day.  I’ll let his blog explain (because I’m smart in a different direction than he is which means I can’t really explain it) and I bet you’ll be as intrigued by the concept as I was.

Governments sharing basic information with the public at the local, state and national level. Transparency.  Heh.

No paperwork, no requests, no drawers full of microfiche (though I do enjoy exploring the National Archives when my grandma needs help on a research project.) There’s something empowering about having access to information that contributes to making everyday life easier and more efficient and effective… with just a few quick keystrokes.

From home.  Still wrapped in a towel after a shower.  Because an idea just popped into your brain.

I mean, wait. What?

Ok.  Gig is up. Time to get dressed.

Check out Randy’s site and see what I mean.  Data is important. It’s our government, they’re our cities and our neighborhoods.  We should know what’s going on.

*Before that I was pretty sure I knew everything. Untrue, obviously, but I’m able to admit I have a greater understanding of what I DON’T know now.  Must mean I’m getting old(er).