Sending the Wrong Message or Secrets on the Homepage

While working as the webmaster for SFA a few years ago I learned about an important phenomenon. I learned that a website reflects the organization that built it. In 2006 Gerry McGovern wrote that "A website shows the true face of the organization as never before." This is as true for governments as it is for universities and businesses. While working on a project last month I saw some "hidden" messages that some countries were sending on their web sites both intentionally and unintentionally.



For example during the first week of February I came across this official government website for the Egyptian Presidency. www.presidency.gov.eg

Later in the month I came across the website for the government of Libya.



When I went back a couple of days later the original page was up again.

I plan to keep checking http://www.algathafi.org/ to see if the rebels can retake the web server from government forces.


Two of the remaining communist countries that still remain (at least the did when I got up this morning) had funny home pages. North Korea does not allow computers with internet connections, so their official government site is maintained by the Korea Friendship Association the funniest part is the domain for the site. The URL is: http://www.korea-dpr.com/


Cuba on the other hand maintains it's own government website. The site is regularly updated and is somewhat attractive.



Like most Government websites it have links to versions of their site in other languages. When you click on the button for the English version of Cuba's site you see this. http://www.cubagob.cu/ingles/default.htm

This page has been "Under Construction" for at least three years. I suspect that their is somebody in Cuba who can translate Spanish to English. I think it's funny because it seems to be Cuba's subtle way of thumbing its nose at the United States with their web site.


So next time you're surfing the web take a look at the hidden, unintentional or even startling messages that organizations send through their web site.


As always when you're ready to do research for class assignment, publication or just because you want to know Ask a Librarian. We can help you find the information you need "hidden" or otherwise.

R. Philip Reynolds preynolds (AT) sfasu.edu rm. 202b 936.468.1453 Subjects - Computer Science, Military Science, Philosophy, Religion, Political Science, Geography, Kinesiology

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Would You Like to be an Award Winning Director or Have $1000?

Attention SFA students!! Submit a short video and be eligible to win a SPARKY Award and $1,000!!! This year’s contest theme is “MindMashup: The Value of Information Sharing.” You can work individually or as a team. Contest deadline is November 30, 2008. See contest Rules and Requirements under Details at http://www.sparkyawards.org/details/index.shtml

The SPARKY Awards are organized by SPARC, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition. Many of SFA’s librarians belong to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). ACRL is co-sponsoring this video contest for college students with SPARC. Winning entries are screened at national conferences. For details about prizes and national exposure see http://www.sparkyawards.org/awards/index.shtml

The librarians in RIS (Research and Instructional Services) would love to see you win! We know you’re creative, and you have what it takes (especially if you managed to wade through all the previous acronyms). We also know you don’t need another assignment, but if you want to get some course credit, it’s within the contest rules for you to ask a professor to make it an assignment for a class where it would be appropriate. For more information go to http://www.sparkyawards.org/

Carol Scamman cscamman@sfasu.edu rm. 202e 936.468.1710 Subjects - Art, English, Modern Languages, Social Work, Sociology, Theatre

Reality Check: How Information Flows in a Real Office

The Flow of Information at the Googleplex

1/08/2008 07:37:00 AM

Posted by Bo Cowgill, Economics Group

Alright the last one was easy, let's see if you can find the following building. The building was the site of a study by Bo Cowgill, Economics Group of how information flows within an office environment. It measured this flow by tracking employee participation in Prediction Markets "at the Googleplex."

The article suggests that micro-geography (or who is sitting next to you) has more to do with the flow of information in an office than any other factor. This of course sparked a heated debate but the diagram from the paper (below) certainly seems to support the paper's findings. (Suggested Reading: Ambient Findability chpt 3.4 online "Safari Books" at Steen Library web site)

Here is the "When and Where" part. Where is the building located that the graph is displayed on, and when was the photo taken? Please send links and an explanation of your proof.

Good Luck :)

	R. Philip Reynolds preynolds@sfasu.edu rm. 202b 936.468.1453 Subjects - Computer Science, Military Science, Philosophy/Religion, Political Science/Geography