Category: Writing
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Writing: Chapter in New Book: Beyond Transparency
Today Code for America published a new book, Beyond Transparency. I wrote chapter three. It’s called, “Building a Better Chicago”. Here’s the complete chapter as a PDF file.
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Writing: Seeing open government & civic innovation as drivers of economic development
Today I wrote an article for the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition’s Catalyst publication. Seeing open government & civic innovation as drivers of economic development. Snip: Yesterday was a big day in Illinois for open government and innovation. The Illinois Innovation Network website was launched, the second quarterly Illinois Innovation Index revealed new data on STEM education and employment, and Gov.…
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Writing: History of Civic Innovation in Rockford
I am a student of technology history. I love to walk features, software and needs backwards into the past. Today I wrote up an encounter with a really fascinating person in Rockford who single-handedly created decades worth of municipal software. Here it is: Incomplete History of Civic Hacking in Rockford. Here’s a snip: This software, written by a single…
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CTA Train Tracker Beta Test + Review
I’ve been helping test the Train Tracker system for the Chicago Transit Authority over the last few weeks and today (launch day) I wrote an extensive, first-look review over here on CTA Tattler. Here’s a snip: In my experience, the system works great and it is a very positive addition to the overall CTA communications regime.…
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WRITING: New Billboard in Wrigley Field
While covering a neighborhood meeting earlier this week, I got wind of a new billboard that the Cubs organization were trying to get installed in Wrigley Field. I wrote the story here: Wrigley Field Work: New Banners Out Front, Refreshed Scoreboard, New Billboard in Left Field, Batting Cage Improvement, New Umpire Dressing Room, and Redone…
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Food Writing and Data-Hawking
I like to pick out little bits of civic data and then write things up about it. Here’s some new restaurant gleanings I was able to build out of liquor license data: Two New Restaurants on Taylor Street: Vintage Lounge and Cafe 1.61 A 2nd Cork & Kerry Near Cellular Field And a pickup from…
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Reporting / Community-Building on EveryBlock
Here’s a post I made after reviewing EveryBlock during a breaking news story today: URL: http://seattle.everyblock.com/announcements/by-date/2009/11/30/906031/User: danx@everyblock.com (Daniel X. O’Neil) (#4601)Headline: Connections among police killings and arsons?Location: 32nd and YeslerThe suspect in the Tacoma police ambush killer was believed to be holed up two blocks away from the site of another police ambush killing on…
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Magazine: Some of My Writing Featured in Emigre 70
Today I received my signed copy of Emigre 70, a retrospective on one of the most influential graphic design magazines of the last century. I wrote for issues #37 — cover essay, “Joint Venture” (1996), #38 The Authentic Issue (1996), #41 The Magazine Issue (1997), and #46 – Fanzines and the Culture of DIY (1998). Some…
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POLITICAL WRITING: Blog Post re: Endorsement of Opponent
Here’s a writing sample for persuasive political writing: Leading With His Chin by: Daniel X. O’Neil | 9/24/2009 The National GOP is champing at the bit to make the 2010 U.S. Senate election in Illinois all about former Governor Rod Blagojevich. This morning, the Alexi Giannoulias campaign is serving them up a free punch, trotting…
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LEGISLATION: Olympic Oversight Ordinance
Today Alderman Manny Flores of Chicago’s First Ward introduced an ordinance that mandates greater oversight of the Chicago 2016 Bid Committee. I assisted the Alderman in the development of language calling for the release of financial data and other public documents.See some news coverage and download the entire PDF of the ordinance here.