Buzz factor

Best places to work in the federal government
Summary: The Partnership for Public Service released its annual ranking of best agencies to work for.
Outlook: The top 10 haven't changed much since last year; the Housing and Urban Development Department and National Archives and Records Administration tied for last.

The cyberattack that awakened the Pentagon
Summary: Two years after a simple worm ravaged the Defense Department's computers, DOD has a new cybersecurity strategy.
Outlook: Time will tell if the strategy is agile enough to adapt to rapidly emerging threats.

Smart phone review: Samsung Captivate
Summary: A new smart phone from Samsung is a Reviewer's Choice in a recent comparison.
Outlook: Apple's iPhone 4 ignited new interest in smart phones, but other brands perform better.

Readers back officer fired over PowerPoint criticism
Summary: FCW readers generally agree with the fired Army reservist's criticisms of PowerPoint.
Outlook: Given the seeming groundswell of support, the military might want to reconsider its use of the software — but probably won't.

Bedbugs invade file cabinets at SSA offices
Summary: Proving that bugs are not just a feature of software, bloodsucking insects infested a federal office in New York.
Outlook: An infestation can force the temporary closure of an office, so perhaps continuity-of-operations plans should reflect that possibility.

University experiment knocks part of Internet off-line
Summary: While testing some new Internet technologies, Duke University researchers briefly knocked several servers off-line.
Outlook: More such incidents are likely to happen and cause even more disruption as we increasingly depend on the Internet in our everyday lives.

Which projects are on OMB's high-risk list?
Summary: The Office of Management and Budget released a list of 26 information technology projects it is watching closely.
Outlook: OMB's scrutiny often means that a project is about to right itself or fail. Watch the individual projects to see how they do.