BUDDIE Winner Illuminates With Wonkery and Widgetry

摘要

It's time for the BUDDIE award for the Best Unknown Database. This year's winner is a potent counterforce at a time when the work of the public seems increasingly less public-a time of the shadowy "donor class," of Citizens United-inspired anonymous campaign contributors, and of private email servers for public servants. Here's a hint about this year's winner. Fill in the blank: "_is said to be the best of disinfectants. ..." The BUDDIE highlights valuable information sources in a digital environment that is increasingly homogenized, sensationalized, and dumbed-down. It has three criteria: 1. The database or website must have content that is valuable or of interest to a large class of information users. 2. It must be well-organized and well-maintained. 3. It must be unknown or, at least, less well-known than its merit deserves.