tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-192225812024-03-07T01:48:46.044-07:00The Government Information Library at the University of Colorado BoulderJenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940465257338740226noreply@blogger.comBlogger1342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-27071539511270682602012-07-18T13:31:00.000-06:002012-07-18T13:31:03.869-06:00A New CU Boulder Libraries News BlogThe University Libraries at CU Boulder are very pleased to announce the launch of a brand new, libraries-wide weblog that provides all-in-one access to news about events, collections, workshops, and services from all parts of the CU system. <br />
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The CU Libraries blog is available at <a href="http://libpress.colorado.edu/">http://libpress.colorado.edu</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://libpress.colorado.edu/"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDT0u4B5X6npcHkHxfZ9E0aNkuggpyTkW2Ut-xQ_-ilky0BY7qaTBMtysTWUlTbAPqtgdniHZMy-kplULh7X4-UCRDaKPwESnIKTP01g5RltR7OgS6BjFejTkYRC853S_vpmi/s400/newblog.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://libpress.colorado.edu/">Visit the new CU Libraries News blog</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The blog for the Government Information Library at CU Boulder has been a great success, but we are equally excited to share the same kinds of posts we've written in the past --whether highlighting how government information informs or is produced by current events, or exploring interested sources from within our collections -- within this new blog to bring these highlights to an entirely new audience.</span><br />
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To subscribe to the new blog, visit <a href="http://libpress.colorado.edu/">http://libpress.colorado.edu</a>.<br />
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If you'd like to follow only news at the Libraries blog from Government Information, then you'll want to bookmark this link: <a href="http://libpress.colorado.edu/?cat=5">http://libpress.colorado.edu/?cat=5</a><br />
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We will continue to update this blog for the next few weeks, and it's archive will remain available here. When the GIL bloggers have moved over to the new platform fully, another announcement will appear on this site.<br />
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Thanks for following us along on a new adventure in blogging!<br />
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<br />William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-90471710123337096592012-07-13T11:10:00.002-06:002012-07-13T11:13:08.835-06:00We're Not the Only Ones Worried About the Census<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6codhmspaeZHimp9eWItepeVJ5DQ_JIKiOWx4oNhoecaBX3DJmkqKA3qzTBdQ1LrOD60x_QSgeuxPKF7n-UBtGIuj10qgHi6ZHaVLJ8eHlVGrGTefwOoMMxEkeQtpGUxsz58/s1600/The-Census-Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6codhmspaeZHimp9eWItepeVJ5DQ_JIKiOWx4oNhoecaBX3DJmkqKA3qzTBdQ1LrOD60x_QSgeuxPKF7n-UBtGIuj10qgHi6ZHaVLJ8eHlVGrGTefwOoMMxEkeQtpGUxsz58/s320/The-Census-Project.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.thecensusproject.org/index.htm">Census Project</a> presents the viewpoints about the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS) from various stakeholders. A diverse group of stakeholders are involved including academic associations, public policy interest groups, retail and business organizations, and organizations representing ethnic and minority groups.<br />
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Recently the House voted not to fund the American Community Survey for 2013. The Census Project notes, "Currently, because of economic, fiscal and political challenges, the ongoing budgets to adequately fund planning for Census 2020 and the ACS’ ongoing work will be under a microscope in Congress."<br />
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The site includes fact sheets, issue briefs, letters, and other information. A recent report, <a href="http://www.thecensusproject.org/research/Eliminating-America's-Playbook-ACS-June-2012.pdf">Eliminating America's Playbook</a>, is a compilation of "scores of case studies and comments on why the ACS is one of the most useful tools the nation has to measure how its communities are doing each year."<br />
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</div>Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-87241990154924461732012-07-06T10:03:00.003-06:002012-07-06T10:03:30.044-06:00El Nino--Keep Your Fingers CrossedLast night for the first time in months we had a nice amount of rain in Boulder. According to the Boulder Daily Camera, "Experts say Colorado's weather is likely to shift to a much wetter El Niño
pattern this year, which could mean good news for firefighters, farmers and
those just sick of hot, dry weather." The experts are at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility in Boulder. Understanding and predicting El Niño is so important to predicting the weather and climate that the phenomenon has its own website: <a href="http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/">http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/</a>. Weather and climate have profound and sometimes surprising effects. The <a href="http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/pandemic_1918_1919.html">latest research</a> suggests a link between El Niño and the global flu pandemic of 1918/19 which killed over 50 million individuals worldwide. <br />
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According to the site "<span class="style1"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">El Niño</span></strong></span> is characterized by unusually warm temperatures and <span class="style1"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">La Niña</span></strong></span> by unusually cool temperatures in the equatorial Pacific." The site features a link to a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzBAWirHMvA&lr=1&uid=RvjyjVFLdCHZ6EVeOk1a4w">YouTube</a> video explaining how NOAA collects data on ocean temperatures using sea buoys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collecting Data from An Ocean Buoy</td></tr>
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In addition to information that is too technical for most people to understand, the site features educational materials about El Niño and the related La Niña phenomenon. Check it out. <br />
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<br />Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-23072474846693187732012-06-29T09:24:00.004-06:002012-06-29T09:24:41.285-06:00Oops--Not a good day for CNN and Fox<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary He Photoshopped a photo of Truman triumphantly displaying the newspaper which errorneously reported on his loss. This time it's President Obama with an iPad. </td></tr>
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CNN and Fox, in a rush to announce the results of the Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, announced on live television that the mandate for individual health insurance was unconstitutional. Both got it wrong. Corrections and amusement followed quickly on the heels of this major gaffe. On the Daily Show, Jon Stewart observed that you need to read beyond the first page. The <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf">complete opinion</a> is available at the Supreme Court website. All <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW-111publ148.pdf">905 pages of the act</a> are available at <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/home.action">FDsys</a>--GPO's Federal Digital System. Happy reading. Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-63599572876222619842012-06-20T09:15:00.000-06:002012-06-20T09:35:38.731-06:00Your House is Worth Less and So (Probably) are You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you didn't know already, the Federal Reserve has confirmed that your net worth declined between 2007 and 2010. Net worth is defined at the total value of assets such as homes, bank deposits and stocks, minus debts such as mortgages and credit cards. The biggest factor in the decline was the drop in home values. Adjusted for inflation, family net worth is the same as it was in 1992. <em>Achy Breaky Heart</em> or <em>Remember the Time</em> anyone? The complete report is online at <a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bulletin/2012/pdf/scf12.pdf">http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bulletin/2012/pdf/scf12.pdf</a>.Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-33298095129276426332012-06-11T11:10:00.002-06:002012-06-11T11:10:31.052-06:00Fire in the WestAs the smoke curls its way across the state and we watch another fire blow up here in the west I thought it might be useful to link up some of the sources you can go to find out more about these large wildfires as well as on the High Park fire in particular.<br />
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<b>Fire Information for the Government</b><br />
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<li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/wildfires">FEMA Wildfire Preparedness</a> This<b> </b>web page provides information on individuals and homeowners on preparing for and dealing with wildfires. </li>
<li><a href="http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/">InciWeb</a> This site provides information on emergency incidents across the United States. Currently there are 111 incidents listed on this site, including the <a href="http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/2904/">High Park Fire</a>. Each incident has an overview of the problem, the road closures and evacuations, who is involved, maps, and contact information. You can follow an incident on RSS or Twitter.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/">National Interagency Coordination Center</a> This is the interagency that coordination the mobilization of resources for wildland fire. You can find information on particular fires as well as statistics on fires. This year so far there have been 23,725 fires with 934,014 acres burned compared with 31,267 fires last year with 4,049,520 acres burned. On average for the past ten years there have been 32,634 fires with 1,496,330 acres burned (<a href="http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm">press release</a>).</li>
<li><a href="http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm">FireDetect Map</a> This interactive map from NOAA tracks the smoke released by fires and right now clearly demonstrates how the smoke from the High Park fire has made it to Iowa.</li>
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<b>High Park Fire Information</b><b> </b><br />
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<li><a href="http://larimer.org/emergency/emergency_detail.cfm?nam_id=85">Larimer County Emergency Information</a> This is the web page from Larimer country with all the updates on the High Park fire.</li>
<li><a href="http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/2904/">InciWeb High Park</a> This is the page with all the updates from the various agencies working on this fire.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20831039/high-park-fire-colorado_wildfire_near_fort_collins">Denver Post High Park Fire</a> This site will give the media updates on the fire.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.inciweb.org/incident/map/2904/0/">Forest Service Map</a> This is a general outline of the fire.</li>
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Finally, to get a picture of the scale, check out this satellite photo from NASA's Aqua Satellite yesterday:<br />
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<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/658588main_FIRES-COLORADO-1000x750_946-710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/658588main_FIRES-COLORADO-1000x750_946-710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940465257338740226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-87484364970311918152012-05-25T10:08:00.001-06:002012-05-25T10:08:18.237-06:00State Department Releases Country Reports on Human RightsThe U.S. State Department released the <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper">2011 report</a> on human rights practices around the globe. It's been a busy year. While Libya is responding harshly to calls for a democratically-elected government, Burma (also known as Myanmar) appears to be loosening its restrictions on political dissent. Noting that "the yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria
is inspirational", the report also notes troubling increases in persecution of religious groups, ethnic and racial minorities, and gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals. <br />
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For additional resources, consult our <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/rights.htm">Human Rights</a> page which includes links from other governmental entities and international organizations such as Amnesty Internation, Human Rights Watch, and others. Many in the international community are critical of the United States for its practice of the death penalty.Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-20787420069211639512012-05-11T15:45:00.001-06:002012-05-11T15:45:17.741-06:00House Votes Not to Fund the American Community SurveyThe House passed a budget bill for the Census which eliminates funding for the American Community Survey. The headline at Business Week states "<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/killing-the-american-community-survey-blinds-business">Killing the American Community Survey Blinds Business.</a>" The Washington Times notes that the "<a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/10/house-bill-reins-in-census-bureau-justice/">House Reins in Census Bureau, Justice</a>." The director of the Census has a <a href="http://directorsblog.blogs.census.gov/2012/05/11/a-future-without-key-social-and-economic-statistics-for-the-country/">blog</a> with information and a video. The director comments, "Modern societies need current, detailed social and economic statistics; the US is losing them." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82kNbbOisiE6Y5SwZrA4HjtEgLd9Oj-NhyZU1AH9ksw0UwfTta_UxRhw2FPumgcvFVCinF-DULClNb5U00DTNkk1pBPN6Ild7A3aoZzYSOWySDMBshCBbzfIpy2hmdOuDS8Gk/s1600/Census.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82kNbbOisiE6Y5SwZrA4HjtEgLd9Oj-NhyZU1AH9ksw0UwfTta_UxRhw2FPumgcvFVCinF-DULClNb5U00DTNkk1pBPN6Ild7A3aoZzYSOWySDMBshCBbzfIpy2hmdOuDS8Gk/s320/Census.jpg" width="320" /></a>Stay tuned. If you read this blog on a regular basis you've probably noticed that we regularly feature postings on the Census. It's our go to place for statistics when we answer reference questions. <br />
<br />Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-62147924812127347562012-05-08T16:01:00.003-06:002012-05-08T16:01:42.689-06:00Go Colorado!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On April 26, 2012, Colorado became the first state in the nation to enact the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act (ULEMA). The legislation includes provisions for permanent public access to official, authentic online legal materials. The bill (<a href="http://www.statebillinfo.com/bills/bills/12/1209_01.pdf">HB1209</a>), which enjoyed broad support, covers the Constitution, Session Laws, Revised Statutes and Agency Regulations. The regulations will be the first release under the new law. <br />
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The American Association of Law Libraries was quick to celebrate, offering "Kudos to incoming AALL Government Relations Committee vice chair Susan Nevelow Mart, who worked closely with Senator Morgan Carroll, the majority caucus chair of the Senate and chair of the Judiciary Committee, to ensure passage." Susan is the director of the Wise Law Library in the School of Law at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-67975243514936553252012-04-23T09:00:00.000-06:002012-04-26T10:21:49.209-06:00Welcome to CU Boulder, Mr. President!The entire staff and faculty of the University of Colorado Libraries would like to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to <b><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">President Barack Obama</a></b> as he visits the CU Boulder campus on Tuesday, April 24. We are honored to be recipients of this visit by our nation's 44th President.<br />
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<b>Update: </b>The White House video of the President's speech on Tuesday has been embedded below. A transcript of the speech is available <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/04/24/president-obama-speaks-student-loan-interest-rates-colorado#transcript">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nKJq4x9BEq0VeY14LtPKD96lSAh6TzCABsdyR-Oog9OsGt5WbZ8Kb0JiUIH11oSdFXcrVgZcjZx2ve5lHOIVib6K4VaLd0kTBzuMvQ4xmek47RV89ZMwHImVbd1v-MYH_Q6S/s1600/4800156934_e731f2f65c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nKJq4x9BEq0VeY14LtPKD96lSAh6TzCABsdyR-Oog9OsGt5WbZ8Kb0JiUIH11oSdFXcrVgZcjZx2ve5lHOIVib6K4VaLd0kTBzuMvQ4xmek47RV89ZMwHImVbd1v-MYH_Q6S/s400/4800156934_e731f2f65c_z.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos taken from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/4800156934/in/set-72157624516514250">White House Flickr feed</a>.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYanqwo4HJ_aJRwkxpTV385d-b6atXYSZh13o3j1ufGvVcndE_8Y7ZuTS5vOs9DzjO2iEd0X2Tk1ly3LnCXLdUmEm6Zh2Y9FxrywhRGQlS16RTMG1gB6P6pKH92slJg0Q155iN/s1600/4672387313_27df60d129_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYanqwo4HJ_aJRwkxpTV385d-b6atXYSZh13o3j1ufGvVcndE_8Y7ZuTS5vOs9DzjO2iEd0X2Tk1ly3LnCXLdUmEm6Zh2Y9FxrywhRGQlS16RTMG1gB6P6pKH92slJg0Q155iN/s400/4672387313_27df60d129_z.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos taken from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/4672387313/in/set-72157624210786702">White House Flickr feed</a>.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizgVCRiv79n3TjS8qsJ9DeiwmnOx5Ywmltu2P56Gim26YLcS6JALrWdnNRoHnBRXSQIHKSXDdldTfXv4t1MCQZ47P5yczb8qYV-gH7KhNtx3hBX6tn7eJxrvz-NFTtiWmjuBK/s1600/5063426974_dd41d56e35_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizgVCRiv79n3TjS8qsJ9DeiwmnOx5Ywmltu2P56Gim26YLcS6JALrWdnNRoHnBRXSQIHKSXDdldTfXv4t1MCQZ47P5yczb8qYV-gH7KhNtx3hBX6tn7eJxrvz-NFTtiWmjuBK/s320/5063426974_dd41d56e35_z.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos taken from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/5063426974/in/set-72157624851119463/">White House Flickr feed</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMbC2th4d4LmAWBBSD0kfa9yU6ExKKa24iWGATSS9VqQYMhKxczHrALDaji0jVn3TVLZdEICGv6q1IEoljrJi0uJYTfADAyvGzrHsbLBHbq8hOH_ylMDOZXYTBd2xyK0czhqW/s1600/5a41eb928e6f11e1b10e123138105d6b_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMbC2th4d4LmAWBBSD0kfa9yU6ExKKa24iWGATSS9VqQYMhKxczHrALDaji0jVn3TVLZdEICGv6q1IEoljrJi0uJYTfADAyvGzrHsbLBHbq8hOH_ylMDOZXYTBd2xyK0czhqW/s400/5a41eb928e6f11e1b10e123138105d6b_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, a photo from CU Boulder student Madalyn Starkey via <a href="http://instagr.am/p/J0qd80H9qW/">Instagram</a>.<br />This picture of Ms. Starkey and the President at The Sink has gone viral via social networking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-70453964300226326442012-04-20T09:00:00.000-06:002012-04-23T14:25:58.228-06:00Lower North Fork Fire Report Released<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58_EN67p1hL1BqxHfO7u_orBM0wIIogUzVSXTuZngaxVh-LS2IgFuQFcy7F6Sn_Ss8wUvWGXXWfEYvNCy8e90DV6HLb0UqIzRKWeqxLbkUJ3ZTZ9gkMQupNSWr2A9LkoJ-v2X/s1600/LowerNorthFork.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58_EN67p1hL1BqxHfO7u_orBM0wIIogUzVSXTuZngaxVh-LS2IgFuQFcy7F6Sn_Ss8wUvWGXXWfEYvNCy8e90DV6HLb0UqIzRKWeqxLbkUJ3ZTZ9gkMQupNSWr2A9LkoJ-v2X/s400/LowerNorthFork.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pyro-cumulus from the Lower North Fork Fire </td></tr>
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The State of Colorado released a report on the prescribed burn (read fiasco) that lead to the Lower North Fork Fire which killed three people and destroyed homes in Jefferson County. According to the <a href="http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=GovHickenlooper%2FCBONLayout&cid=1251621312438&pagename=CBONWrapper">press release</a>, several factors contributed to the disaster:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Unburned fuels and residual heat still present within the prescribed burn area four days after the initial burn.</li>
<li>Routinely successful best practices, including a 200-foot buffer around the burn, proved to be ineffective.</li>
<li>Professional judgment by fire managers that the burn was secure and that readiness for wildfires in uncontrolled settings took priority.</li>
<li>Weather and fire behavior projections that did not sufficiently predict the complete set of circumstances. </li>
<li>Rapidly escalating winds creating spot fires that exceeded the capacity of firefighters on the ground.</li>
</ul>
The full text of the report is available <a href="http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=Content-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline;+filename%3D%22Review.pdf%22&blobheadervalue2=application/pdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251785859122&ssbinary=true">here.</a>Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-38487470727361491182012-04-19T10:22:00.001-06:002012-04-19T10:24:47.445-06:00Save The Date: The 2nd Six-State Government Information Conference Coming in August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After the success of the first <b>Six-State Government Information Conference</b> in <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/conference/6state/2010.htm">2010</a>, the University of Colorado Boulder, in conjunction with its partners in the six-state region, is pleased to announce that the 2012 Six-State Government Information Conference will be held virtually <b>August 8-10</b> of this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EX23X0myi0EKKf_YM7mXaygUSs9kARJ9MUcoykNZLRTfDELdtnpevJCykcMnIVckkllErUWt_2USZzL2M4o3lK8HlDeaP_v-5RmOwYzswIbYV82ZThH6HU5dA_q2POrv064Y/s1600/SixState2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EX23X0myi0EKKf_YM7mXaygUSs9kARJ9MUcoykNZLRTfDELdtnpevJCykcMnIVckkllErUWt_2USZzL2M4o3lK8HlDeaP_v-5RmOwYzswIbYV82ZThH6HU5dA_q2POrv064Y/s320/SixState2012.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 2012 keynote speaker will be <b>Malcolm Byrne</b>, Deputy Director and Director of Research for the <b><a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/index.html">National Security Archive</a></b>. The <b>National Security Archive</b> is, according to its Web site, an "<i>independent, non-government research institute and library</i>" that specializes in the publication of declassified documents acquired through the <a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/foia.html">Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifO-vgAJNC1kPrpX1Xl_HHxFCN1Kixd8Wh6DbejB7JCwXaFFELFB0AeU-lLg9GNJbHVhvco7HAXKW7aBSxF0WWxYw1lQow4WLt5Qu2auwxf1Wqcvjk0sPu_bdn2Z6AD1_zEx3u/s1600/Byrne.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifO-vgAJNC1kPrpX1Xl_HHxFCN1Kixd8Wh6DbejB7JCwXaFFELFB0AeU-lLg9GNJbHVhvco7HAXKW7aBSxF0WWxYw1lQow4WLt5Qu2auwxf1Wqcvjk0sPu_bdn2Z6AD1_zEx3u/s320/Byrne.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mr. Byrne has worked at the Archive since 1986. In addition to his <a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/arc_staff.html">contributions listed at the NSA Web site</a>, Mr. Byrne <i>"currently directs the Openness in Russia and Eastern Europe Project, and the U.S.-Iran Relations Project, both of which promote multinational and multi-archival approaches to the study of recent, controversial historical events. Previously, he served as co-director of the Iran-contra documentation project, and coordinated the Archive's project on U.S.-Soviet relations during the Cold War</i>.<i>" </i><br />
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Mr. Byrne's keynote address will be <b>Thursday, August 9th, 11:00 a.m. MST</b>.</div>
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Please visit the <b><a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/conference/6state/index.htm">Six-State Government Information Conference Web site</a> </b>for information about conference registration, use of the <b><a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html">Adobe Connect</a> </b>software to participate remotely, and for details on conference submissions, planned speakers, and the integration of social media throughout the three-day event. Details are being added to the site as they become available.</div>William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-30138981291960755942012-04-11T14:00:00.001-06:002012-04-12T08:49:31.687-06:00A Stunning Real-Time Surface Wind MapFernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg, leaders of Google's "Big Picture" visualization research group and owners of the <a href="http://hint.fm/">hint.fm</a> Web site, have found an ingenious and beautiful use for the <b>real-time surface wind data</b> compiled by the National Digital Forecast Database. <br />
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Using the <b><a href="http://ndfd.weather.gov/index.htm">NDFD</a> -- </b>which is explicitly a database "<i>available for
members of the public to use in creating text, graphic, gridded
and image products of their own</i>" -- Viégas and Wattenberg created a animated, zoom-able <a href="http://hint.fm/wind/">map that <b>displays, in real-time, surface wind speeds across the United States</b></a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFCPTpn0r5Tb1ugS8mYqKtr493yVa8cPneDOO41Sn_Pby-AiJrOif4yhc3B7XWWwbXZa0_fSKBv5G9PTSbJimfqJ1fksvqF2HFh4MYpuOUGvpf2nnEzyfi-N01zhCJYdyMOZ9/s1600/windmap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFCPTpn0r5Tb1ugS8mYqKtr493yVa8cPneDOO41Sn_Pby-AiJrOif4yhc3B7XWWwbXZa0_fSKBv5G9PTSbJimfqJ1fksvqF2HFh4MYpuOUGvpf2nnEzyfi-N01zhCJYdyMOZ9/s400/windmap.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://hint.fm/wind/">HINT.fm Real-Time Wind Map</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The end result has gained positive attention from multiple media outlets, including <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57406807-76/google-artists-create-a-real-time-wind-map/"><b>CNET</b></a>, <b>MIT</b>'s <a href="http://alum.mit.edu/pages/sliceofmit/2012/04/09/the-wind-like-youve-never-seen-it-before/">Alumni News site</a>, and <a href="http://io9.com/5897402/a-mesmerizing-real+time-map-of-us-wind-patterns" style="font-weight: bold;">io9</a> and is hypnotizing to watch.<br />
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Here is one public user's experience with the site.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gRKKuuRg0rA?version=3&hl=en_US">
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<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
</param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always">
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gRKKuuRg0rA?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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The <b><a href="http://ndfd.weather.gov/index.htm">NDFD</a></b>, a product of the <b><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/">National Weather Service</a></b> and the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/" style="font-weight: bold;">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, consists of "<i>gridded forecasts
of sensible weather elements (e.g., cloud cover, maximum temperature)</i>" and "<i>a seamless mosaic of digital forecasts from NWS field
offices working in collaboration with the National Centers for
Environmental Prediction (NCEP).</i>"<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'San Serif';"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The <a href="http://www.weather.gov/ndfd/index.htm" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">National Digital Forecast Database </a>(NDFD) was designed to provide <a href="http://www.weather.gov/ndfd/technical.htm" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">access to weather forecasts in digital form </a>from a central location. </span><br />
<br />William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-7453852218298061752012-04-05T11:12:00.003-06:002012-04-05T11:13:08.660-06:00NASA's Joke Goes Over Everyone's HeadOn Sunday this week, NASA posted details of a new mission involving the craft currently orbiting the planet Mercury called MESSENGER or "<i>MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpui8V1OJGJswia2Hjq0PjrZQxGMNs9MKyTeRjXEmNSP996A6YeM5ekv_q4f57RlKoDAlrdbsM0bnC1Ms7KRj0RYOLnajlMO62sFYTlCLL8CLgYVONRjvqEFd2Z-kCv3zyta-T/s1600/NASA-Logo+mode+celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpui8V1OJGJswia2Hjq0PjrZQxGMNs9MKyTeRjXEmNSP996A6YeM5ekv_q4f57RlKoDAlrdbsM0bnC1Ms7KRj0RYOLnajlMO62sFYTlCLL8CLgYVONRjvqEFd2Z-kCv3zyta-T/s200/NASA-Logo+mode+celebration.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The mission, <a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA15542">PIA 15542</a>, or "Mooning Mercury" to the layearthling, centers on a newly discovered natural satellite (moon) measuring 230 ft. across at a distance of about 8,890 miles above the planet. The proposed name for this moon is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus">Caduceus</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIrNjWyuww6PJraa2mBR6Whh339aDQ0SflIOophm3LX7YcHSr69d373UuP8ip7gS1YGxKVL_wY5tkiA3qIE4rcvdQPeRIhmLrbopKLphNMq_Z-MjXeYMTx_iuRZA0x-XEBAjQ/s1600/PIA15542_modest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIrNjWyuww6PJraa2mBR6Whh339aDQ0SflIOophm3LX7YcHSr69d373UuP8ip7gS1YGxKVL_wY5tkiA3qIE4rcvdQPeRIhmLrbopKLphNMq_Z-MjXeYMTx_iuRZA0x-XEBAjQ/s320/PIA15542_modest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very, very, very small moon, <i>Caduceus</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The mission description goes on to say that rather than study this moon, as they might normally do, NASA had another plan. It goes like this...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b5c68; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">...The new plan is to use the remaining propellant to <b>crash MESSENGER into Caduceus</b>. "Our detailed analysis tells us that if we act now, and with the right trajectory, MESSENGER will impart just enough momentum to the moon to break it free of Mercury's gravity well and set it on an Earth-crossing trajectory suitable for recovery as a Mercury meteorite," said Panini.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b5c68; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">...If Caduceus is successfully released from the pull of Mercury and placed on a course to reach Earth, we can expect the moon to arrive at Earth by 2014. "<b>The risk to the public is reassuringly small</b>", offers MESSENGER mission design lead Adam McJames. "We have designed a trajectory that will bring the moon to Earth at a remote location on the Wilkes Land ice sheet in Antarctica. This trajectory will avoid all population centers and will put the moon's impact site within reach for retrieval by the scientific staff at the U.S.-operated McMurdo Station."</span>
</blockquote>
In other words, something a little like the plot of the 1979 movie, "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079550/">Meteor</a>."<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iAcNIyPCIrg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
</div>
<br />
If you don't think about the odds of being able to map that trajectory so specifically across the minimum 48,000,000 miles between Earth and Mercury, this all sounds well and good, but NASA gives its joke away with in love of acronyms.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b5c68; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">If successful, MESSENGER's extended extended MIN-C mission will mark the first instance of the documented arrival to Earth of material from the Mercury system. Moreover, it will serve as the basis for a new Discovery-class mission proposal currently in development by the Applied Psychics Laboratory for a Mercury lander mission for in situ X-ray analysis of surface composition. That mission is to be named the </span><a href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?page=3&gallery_id=2&image_id=448" style="background-color: white; color: #275ec3; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-left; text-decoration: none;" target="new">Hermean On-surface Analysis with X-rays</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b5c68; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">.</span></blockquote>
That's right. The mission's name is <i>H.O.A.X.</i> At least when NASA makes a joke, they do it big. Happy April Fool's Day.<br />
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In related news that is not so enjoyable, NASA has begun the process of <b>decommissioning the Space Shuttles</b> and their overall program. President George W. Bush first called for the retirement of the shuttle program<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/WCPD-2004-01-19/WCPD-2004-01-19-Pg66/content-detail.html"> in January of 2004</a>, in the aftermath of <a href="http://caib.nasa.gov/news/report/default.html">the shuttle <b>Columbia</b> accident and its disintegration over Texas during atmospheric re-entry</a>. In speaking about a new focus for NASA on the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html">International Space Station</a>, Bush said:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPexHvbRgsvCZzzbN9vsIOojJp4Rmp4diywTpzAGaR2hw5e05yvSaMayiufvxkgxq7asy1YriHbN905tcmGB9FcoG1CXc8hEm0fszBUHgZOu-5nVyGQeVb183p2vXlyYFW229/s1600/Bush-Shuttle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPexHvbRgsvCZzzbN9vsIOojJp4Rmp4diywTpzAGaR2hw5e05yvSaMayiufvxkgxq7asy1YriHbN905tcmGB9FcoG1CXc8hEm0fszBUHgZOu-5nVyGQeVb183p2vXlyYFW229/s400/Bush-Shuttle.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excerpt of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/bush_vision.html">President Bush's 2004 remarks to NASA</a>, announcing the <br />
retirement of the shuttle program.</td></tr>
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The photoblog <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/">In Focus</a>, from <i>The Atlantic Monthly</i>, has compiled <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/03/decommissioning-the-space-shuttles/100271/">a series of images from the dismantling and preparation for display of shuttles <b>Discovery</b> and <b>Endeavor</b></a> as well as of the launching pads, cargo bays, and propulsion systems. It is good-bye, for now, to American manned spaceflight.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/03/decommissioning-the-space-shuttles/100271/"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvtcuK3x5UV_KwGw8uzEQC8L-7aSLW8WJkkey2KuVgW2YAOvTXdDCt3tiIKXvo94M157NyDtM18GhTGzPhIM9JqKr9zheqHrhMca6RodwmkCWVprZiFpKuriTzXuHUYVePgji/s400/s_s04_20115523.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click on these images to visit the <i>In Focus</i> set.</div>
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<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/03/decommissioning-the-space-shuttles/100271/"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaND3W6Ih3vjLlywaKaau4fR01TWNhzNnuvzqxqxoxm3UY0nv7iik8hm3tqIa6PeNj_mN5z-VyfWpM44FzT5pEG3Mv4DD13BWB42jZDokGAhFv8y_aqgEbhbNIxlka6wm0UmV/s400/s_s18_20116375.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/03/decommissioning-the-space-shuttles/100271/"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgBme7MUNxe45WO6WXgVIcH0Apf9maaUoPUhCFlabw94HxQic9XHdGjPt-enZK_crenfkgYJo-uZBzaqhmdzQaS41pt65Y5T18ImZkh1ZiBYZhINmrzhayMX74F2CLUSjewXK/s400/s_s12_20816012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-82510484262576868782012-03-28T11:32:00.003-06:002012-03-28T11:32:32.585-06:00Reminder: The 1940 U.S. Census to be Released on Monday, April 2We've <a href="http://cubgovpubs.blogspot.com/2012/03/1940-census-online-starting-april-2nd.html">written previously on the upcoming release of the 1940 U.S. Census</a>, and we are hardly the only ones excited by the issue. Staff at the State Library of North Carolina are <a href="http://statelibrarync.org/news/2012/03/free-program-1940-u-s-census-release-celebration-at-the-government-and-heritage-library/">planning a 1940's themed party around the release</a>, complete with music, clothing, and toys on display from the era.<br />
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The State Library staff were also interviewed by their local public radio station for <a href="http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/Census_Data.mp3/view">a segment that highlights the kinds of information to be found in the data release</a>. If you're curious as to why people get so excited about the released of new Census data, click on the image below and stream their interview. The interview provides an excellent context for the historic importance and value to researchers of this Census data.<br />
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<a href="http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/Census_Data.mp3/view"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB4NTRQ47bxzG0h0hxrQO5HOgopa3Bd9_wz3maaVZ208443hxOvOOWO3_rjvCWRLj9HVK8XphZChIrPmbmzBxT2GNWq_PGSIsV95Xn59rY6Bnmdb5LtwX4hC_hhMNQCvcVCXT/s1600/image_mini.png" /></a></div>
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And don't forget to visit the <a href="http://www.1940census.archives.gov/">National Archives and Records Administration</a> (that's NARA to me and you) April Second to search these records of an America from just before World War II and the subsequent post-War Baby Boom. The opportunity to compare it to the 1950 Census data is only ten years away!<br />
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<br />William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-24537505946746444972012-03-21T17:50:00.001-06:002012-03-21T17:52:10.358-06:00The Watergate Break-In Turns 40 in May -- Celebrate with The Beastie BoysThe break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. on May 28, 1972, was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal">beginning of a series of events</a> that would culminate in the eventual resignation of then-president <b>Richard M. Nixon</b> -- the first time a sitting had U.S. president had resigned from the office.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8if7by_7mHwy8r0O8Q62vHjaU7C_tgYEABAo-Loc6XjrFnbp1mIqOPfjA42hwne09vashyphenhyphenE42-NX1zkZ5PipHK-7FbAgx0-g4BznJXdoj5pcJl9j7LDrQWGUsdUekh5DszFjG/s1600/Woodward.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8if7by_7mHwy8r0O8Q62vHjaU7C_tgYEABAo-Loc6XjrFnbp1mIqOPfjA42hwne09vashyphenhyphenE42-NX1zkZ5PipHK-7FbAgx0-g4BznJXdoj5pcJl9j7LDrQWGUsdUekh5DszFjG/s640/Woodward.png" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Woodward's <i>Washington Post</i> article on the 2nd, June 17, 1972 Watergate break-in. <br />
From <i><a href="http://libraries.colorado.edu/record=b4930842%7ES3">ProQuest Historical Newspapers</a></i>.</td></tr>
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Since that time, not only has "Watergate" become an adjective synonymous with government corruption, but the standard -- and the standard journalistic phrase -- against which every subsequent presidential scandal is measured. Whether it has been William Clinton's "Lewinsky-gate," Hilary Clinton's "Whitewater," Ronald Reagan's "October Surprise," or George W. Bush's quest for the "weapons of mass destruction" that initiated the war in Iraq, every political journalist has aspired to uncover a story with as much staying power and cultural impact as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's Watergate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxkdmOgHf54jrZJdMc1NFMBilyxTnj9-RA8Q5B1VxJPAD6thrJo0nZAFdgxz9-KUj46UCnOxXZq4ja5BOdSbMm4BHOlj_z-n9uhvxnho4YKesaJ5yZ9JJkV7isc_opCtpZb3O/s1600/All_the_President's_Men_book_1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxkdmOgHf54jrZJdMc1NFMBilyxTnj9-RA8Q5B1VxJPAD6thrJo0nZAFdgxz9-KUj46UCnOxXZq4ja5BOdSbMm4BHOlj_z-n9uhvxnho4YKesaJ5yZ9JJkV7isc_opCtpZb3O/s1600/All_the_President's_Men_book_1974.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original cover to the 1974 book.</td></tr>
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Wikipedia offers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal">an excellent brief summary</a> of the events and repercussions stemming from the Watergate scandal, and reading the piece offers the opportunity to gauge the weight of events that have become, to a modern audience, commonplace examples of government corruption. But the writing that broke the story was the investigative journalism of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward for <i>The Washington Post</i>, later re-purposed for a book and film treatment: <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2003045__Sall+the+president%27s+men__P0%2C2__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=cobalt"><b><i>All The President's Men</i></b></a>.<br />
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In a stroke of more cross-cultural brilliance, <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a> user <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3544174/videos">Jeff Yorke</a> has taken the tense pace of the 1974 film and married it to a soundtrack that speaks to empowerment in the face in injustice, the 1994 track from The Beastie Boys: "Sabotage." (This video should be played in full-screen mode with the volume up loud to full understand the power of the Fourth Estate.)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="312" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19711503" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="580"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/19711503">JY CINEMASHUP - All the President's Boys</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3544174">Jeff Yorkes</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Read more about it!</b></span></u><br />
If you are interested in the rich history of the Watergate affair, its effect on contemporary journalism, or how it changed the political climate of the United States perhaps forever, there are a wealth of <b>primary sources and compiled documents</b> relating to the scandal <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/search/C__SWatergate+Affair%2C+1972-1974+--+Sources__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">available at Norlin Library</a>, as well as <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/search/C__SWatergate+Affair%2C+1972-1974__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">dozens of secondary histories</a>. <br />
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The book "<b>All the President's Men</b>," co-authored by <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/search/C__SBernstein%2C+Carl__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">Carl Bernstein</a> and <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/search/C__SWoodward%2C+Bob__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">Bob Woodward</a>, is <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2003045__Sall+the+president%27s+men__P0%2C2__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">available at Norlin Library</a>, as is <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3759604__Sall+the+president%27s+men__P0%2C1__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">the screenplay of the film</a>, authored by well-known Hollywood screenwriter <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/search/C__SGoldman%2C+William%2C+1931-__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">William Goldman</a>. The 1976 film is available through <a href="http://encore.coalliance.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb28074069%7CSall+the+president%27s+men%7CFf%3Afacetmediatype%3Ag%3Ag%3AProjected%25252Bmedium%3A%3A%7COrightresult%7CX5?lang=eng&suite=def">Prospector</a>. Norlin does hold the 2008 film, <a href="http://encore.colorado.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb5433912__Sfrost+nixon__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=cobalt">Frost/Nixon</a>, which dramatizes Nixon's famous remark "that when the President does it, it's <i>not </i>illegal."
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<br />
The <a href="http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/museum/exhibits/watergate_files/index.html"><b>Gerald R. Ford Library & Museum</b> Web site</a> offers an expansive timeline of events, from the May 28, 1972 burglary of the DNC headquarters through to President Gerald Ford's pardon of the disgraced Richard Nixon on September 8, 1974.<br />
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Playable audio files and transcripts of the Nixon White House tapes and the Watergate Trial tapes are available from the <a href="http://nixon.archives.gov/virtuallibrary/tapeexcerpts/index.php"><b>Nixon Presidential Library and Museum</b> Web site</a>.<br />
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Clearly, this massive topic can be explored, recreated, and remixed in any number of ways. But mapping it all to The Beastie Boys is a bit of creative genius*.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*The Beastie Boys video came to our attention via a tip by an investigative internet user in Arlington, Va., Sarah Mercure. Thanks for the suggestion, Sarah!</span>William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-63081506091177778752012-03-20T09:16:00.003-06:002012-03-20T09:16:49.877-06:00Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrygJEhmQAK2EBYukIVGvZxE47LDZbtVjBHLLW-22i5X30bwYUjeB7X_ztjI31swJud3Zwy5lgmeDObnO7kKETcWC4GKkMOz2mD_21xJNw3Z8ronA1piMzOugxvjTBV4R3e1tXw/s1600/CRSimage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrygJEhmQAK2EBYukIVGvZxE47LDZbtVjBHLLW-22i5X30bwYUjeB7X_ztjI31swJud3Zwy5lgmeDObnO7kKETcWC4GKkMOz2mD_21xJNw3Z8ronA1piMzOugxvjTBV4R3e1tXw/s1600/CRSimage.png" /></a></div>
Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress' request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This month brings us reports on the budget, foreign relations, military issues, and much more. Although these reports are in the public domain, there is no central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report, you can request it from your senator or representative. These reports were discovered by <a href="http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/">Secrecy News</a>:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL32525.pdf">Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Current Structure and Alternatives</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42406.pdf">Congressional Oversight of Agency Public Communications: Implications of Agency New Media Use</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41845.pdf">The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): Budget Authority and Request, FY2010-FY2013</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42407.pdf">Russia’s March 2012 Presidential Election: Outcome and Implications</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL34531.pdf">Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Has It Been Utilized?</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42400.pdf">The U.S. Income Distribution and Mobility: Trends and International Comparisons</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41656.pdf">Changing the Federal Reserve’s Mandate: An Economic Analysis</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42403.pdf">Cybersecurity: Cyber Crime Protection Security Act (S.2111) — A Legal Analysis</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R42393.pdf">Change in the Middle East: Implications for U.S. Policy</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf">U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41617.pdf">Cuba: Issues for the 112th Congress</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42405.pdf">Europe’s Energy Security: Options and Challenges to Natural Gas Supply Diversification</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42380.pdf">China’s Banking System: Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42382.pdf">Rising Gasoline Prices 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32842.pdf">Gun Control Legislation</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42383.pdf">Budget Process Reform: Proposals and Legislative Actions in 2012</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL32048.pdf">Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL34256.pdf">North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons: Technical Issues</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41084.pdf">Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42377.pdf">The Eurozone Crisis: Overview and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41838.pdf">Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakaid.pdf">Direct Overt U.S. Aid and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2012</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42376.pdf">Military Construction: A Snapshot of the President’s FY2013 Appropriations Request</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34582.pdf">The Depreciating Dollar: Economic Effects and Policy Response</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30354.pdf">Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve: Current Policy and Conditions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21821.pdf">Evaluating the Current Stance of Monetary Policy Using a Taylor Rule</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42359.pdf">Who Earns Pass-Through Business Income? An Analysis of Individual Tax Return Data</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL30957.pdf">Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41153.pdf">Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40806.pdf">Energy Projects on Federal Lands: Leasing and Authorization</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42364.pdf">Financial Performance of the Major Oil Companies, 2007-2011</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42365.pdf">Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32589.pdf">The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL30563.pdf">F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL30352.pdf">War Powers Litigation Initiated by Members of Congress Since the Enactment of the War Powers Resolution</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/95-1013.pdf">Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/94-166.pdf">Extraterritorial Application of American Criminal Law</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42358.pdf">Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act: Federal Contractor Criminal Liability Overseas</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL32572.pdf">Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41916.pdf">The U.S. Export Control System and the President’s Reform Initiative</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL30150.pdf">NATO Common Funds Burdensharing: Background and Current Issues</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42362.pdf">The Federal Budget: Issues for FY2013 and Beyond</a>, </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41778.pdf">Reducing the Budget Deficit: Policy Issues</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42363.pdf">Burma’s Political Prisoners and U.S. Sanctions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42357.pdf">Previewing the Next Farm Bill</a></li>
</ul>
Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the <a href="http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/form/cong/s_pubadvanced.html?srcboxes=CRSReports&DateRestrictionControl=all">Congressional</a> database, which has reports dating back to 1916.<br />
<br />
Not on campus but still want access to additional reports? The library has a <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/crs.htm">guide</a> linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.<br />
<ul>
</ul>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940465257338740226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-67113585334049092012012-03-14T15:36:00.002-06:002012-03-14T15:40:01.000-06:00The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Has Nothing to Do With The Hunger GamesConfused if Spring is here to stay? You aren't the only one. Imagine life as a plant -- growing a little, getting buried under snow the next week, listening to passers-by complain about how listless you are -- all because every year some hapless gardener forces you into <b>survival mode</b>, planting you far from your native temperature zone, and demanding you thrive in extreme situations well outside your range. Does this sound a lot like the premise of the popular <b><i>Hunger Games</i></b> series to you? Us either, but we're running with it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyrVHjyV7ENidAc7IA7uIPWQVFgEYBDlw1hwacEfaRX8z7uesC9BqJuLaS5Rm1i5SMEa971DJVbnFIQopHDD2qnonsKMFvWJVinr6ARTECx9HdI2CyFMrl9hY3kqKWOfKm4pY/s1600/Hunger_games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyrVHjyV7ENidAc7IA7uIPWQVFgEYBDlw1hwacEfaRX8z7uesC9BqJuLaS5Rm1i5SMEa971DJVbnFIQopHDD2qnonsKMFvWJVinr6ARTECx9HdI2CyFMrl9hY3kqKWOfKm4pY/s320/Hunger_games.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is Not Much In Common Between This Book and the Updated<br />
<a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/">Plant Hardiness Zone Map</a>. Or is there...?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whether you are a plant, a gardener, or someone who pretends at times to be survivalist archer <b>Gale Hawthorne</b>, you will be pleased to learn that <a href="http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome">The Department of Agriculture</a> has updated its <a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/">Plant Hardiness Zone Map</a>. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q0nJO-eMO6Pt9OOzx8QdPBqmEjGayDbv5Nh7lUnaFJ7lDCl8XwkrDUr2pQXKTiqRE-x144n-p2vbv6VHCcSm4ipc-5Ks8e2WAIuv5n_BYmUySqKxD1WBDK9wkuaLLiQSez72/s320/panem.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panem, as portrayed by the USDA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As described on the Web site,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones."</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Boulder, Colorado is coded to Zone 6a, seen in bright green on the map below, which means our Tributes --er, plants -- typically live with extreme temperatures between -10F and -5F (which is honestly like District 1 or 2 compared to some parts of the country. Take that, Katniss!)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8jfxc9Ngv2LWUkLLMxGRkbtWs7YMh2Ts-yLu7-05gbjudGK2zSVjh0ylShEvzceCBIjCPrJcw0AVS2bnAc3LnJtiABqnYR5AV1r7iUkRsvchH6iY1BSQlWGmC1pZrf4ow25s/s1600/co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8jfxc9Ngv2LWUkLLMxGRkbtWs7YMh2Ts-yLu7-05gbjudGK2zSVjh0ylShEvzceCBIjCPrJcw0AVS2bnAc3LnJtiABqnYR5AV1r7iUkRsvchH6iY1BSQlWGmC1pZrf4ow25s/s400/co.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
The ability to search the Plant Hardiness Map by zip code is a new feature as of this month. Other new features include these items: </div>
<ul style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<li style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Two new zones, 12 and 13, have been added for regions with average annual extreme minimum temperatures above 50 degrees and 60 degrees F. These zones appear on the maps for Hawaii and Puerto Rico.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The 2012 map reflects 30 years of weather data (1976-2005). The previous edition--published in 1990--reflected 13 years of data (1974-1986).</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Learn more about <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIwMzE0LjYxNTg3MzEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTIwMzE0LjYxNTg3MzEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNjkxMjA0OSZlbWFpbGlkPWdvdnRkb2NzQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9Z292dGRvY3NAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/AboutWhatsNew.aspx" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">what's new in the 2012 edition of the Plant Hardiness Zone Map</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
New Districts 12 and 13, you say? That sounds suspicious to all of us in Panem. And if the pressure to survive weren't enough, the <a href="http://www.usna.usda.gov/">United States National Arboretum</a> has posted this list of what it suspiciously calls "<b><a href="http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hrdzon4.html#10">Indicator Plant Examples</a></b>." Yes, that does sound like a conspiracy to select <b><i>extreme weather survivors</i></b>, doesn't it?</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsa8K07KgF1Wd385cS3fkLnHAAkBFrGZUTj-AyvkQayKdiCBRm8-zpJm3dmvyLb8b-h2xRBwCX7CYGYY5EXDWc3qu6K9-S1MMJ_2ET3xiWo2cCDupOmcTgeMIC3JE0n-s1aQ7/s1600/the-hunger-games09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsa8K07KgF1Wd385cS3fkLnHAAkBFrGZUTj-AyvkQayKdiCBRm8-zpJm3dmvyLb8b-h2xRBwCX7CYGYY5EXDWc3qu6K9-S1MMJ_2ET3xiWo2cCDupOmcTgeMIC3JE0n-s1aQ7/s400/the-hunger-games09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katniss Everdeen explores <b><a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx">USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a</a></b><br />
in this photo that was in no way made by the government.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-89706580163040713082012-03-12T11:50:00.000-06:002012-03-12T11:50:13.855-06:00Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports and Releases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszmNvxDu6_U9c13X7W87q7VPy5AC7GRdEK5tfSLsQcQzjGaUNBtX41tQ1N6HD2ZfkQLnoJDOturtU83ulmu5iMC3_v85S0lwxBj9diFXGJhLEAsAlXGi4298cyHYNu2Q9307jGQ/s1600/gaologo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszmNvxDu6_U9c13X7W87q7VPy5AC7GRdEK5tfSLsQcQzjGaUNBtX41tQ1N6HD2ZfkQLnoJDOturtU83ulmu5iMC3_v85S0lwxBj9diFXGJhLEAsAlXGi4298cyHYNu2Q9307jGQ/s1600/gaologo.jpg" /></a></div>
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) which is often called the
investigative arm of Congress. This month brings us publications from
GAO investigating taxes, foreign policy, education, and many other
issues. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the
library's <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/gao.htm">guide</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Reports</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Uncertain Political and Security Situation Challenges U.S. Efforts to Implement a Comprehensive Strategy in Yemen. GAO-12-432R, February 29. <a href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-432R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-432R</a> </li>
<li>2012 Annual Report: Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue. GAO-12-342SP, February 28.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-342SP"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-342SP</a>
<br />Podcast - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/588841">http://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/588841</a> </li>
<li>Follow-up on 2011 Report: Status of Actions Taken to Reduce Duplication, Overlap, and Fragmentation, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue. GAO-12-453SP, February 28.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-453SP"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-453SP</a> </li>
<li>VA Health Care: Methodology for Estimating and Process for Tracking Savings Need Improvement. GAO-12-305, February 27.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-305">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-305</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588878.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588878.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Postsecondary Education: Financial Trends in Public and Private Nonprofit Institutions. GAO-12-179, January 26.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-179"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-179</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587942.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587942.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Presidential Helicopter Acquisition: Effort Delayed as DOD Adopts New Approach to Balance Requirements, Costs, and Schedule. GAO-12-381R, February 27.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-381R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-381R</a> </li>
<li>Military Education: Additional DOD Guidance Is Needed to Enhance Oversight of the Service Academies and Their Preparatory Schools. GAO-12-327R, February 27.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-327R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-327R</a> </li>
<li>Afghanistan: Improvements Needed to Strengthen Management of U.S. Civilian Presence. GAO-12-285, February 27.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-285"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-285</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588868.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588868.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Embassy Management: State Department and Other Agencies Should Further Explore Opportunities to Save Administrative Costs Overseas. GAO-12-317, January 31.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-317"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-317</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588134.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588134.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Defense Management: Guidance and Progress Measures Are Needed to Realize Benefits from Changes in DOD's Joint Requirements Process. GAO-12-339, February 24.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-339"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-339</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588828.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588828.pdf</a> </li>
<li>The Department of Energy's Office of Science Uses a Multilayered Process for Prioritizing Research. GAO-12-410R, February 24.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-410R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-410R</a> </li>
<li>Decennial Census: Additional Actions Could Improve the Census Bureau's Ability to Control Costs for the 2020 Census. GAO-12-80, January 24.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-80">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-80</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587897.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587897.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Afghanistan Security: Department of Defense Effort to Train Afghan Police Relies on Contractor Personnel to Fill Skill and Resource Gaps. GAO-12-293R, February 23.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-293R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-293R</a> </li>
<li>Whistleblower Protection: Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Military Whistleblower Reprisal Program. GAO-12-362, February 22.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-362"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-362</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588785.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588785.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Airport and Airway Trust Fund: Factors Affecting Revenue Forecast Accuracy and Realizing Future FAA Expenditures. GAO-12-222, January 23.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-222">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-222</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587867.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587867.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Warfighter Support: DOD Needs Strategic Outcome-Related Goals and Visibility Over Its Counter-IED Efforts. GAO-12-280, February 22.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-280"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-280</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588804.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588804.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Emergency Communications: Various Challenges Likely to Slow Implementation of a Public Safety Broadband Network. GAO-12-343, February 22.<br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-343">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-343</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588794.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588794.pdf</a> </li>
<li>National Preparedness: Countermeasures for Thermal Burns. GAO-12-304R, February 22.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-304R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-304R</a> </li>
<li>Information Technology: Departments of Defense and Energy Need to Address Potentially Duplicative Investments. GAO-12-241, February 17.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-241">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-241</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588657.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588657.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Medicare: Use of Preventive Services Could Be Better Aligned with Clinical Recommendations. GAO-12-81, January 18.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-81">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-81</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587768.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587768.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Superfund: Status of EPA's Efforts to Improve Its Management and Oversight of Special Accounts. GAO-12-109, January 18.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-109"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-109</a> </li>
<li>Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587733.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587733.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Measuring Performance: The Corporation for National and Community Service Faces Challenges Demonstrating Outcomes. GAO-12-310, February 17. <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-310"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-310</a> </li>
<li>Unemployment Insurance: Economic Circumstances of Individuals Who Exhausted Benefits. GAO-12-408, February 17.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-408">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-408</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588679.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588679.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Workforce Investment Act: Innovative Collaborations between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Local Needs. GAO-12-97, January 19.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-97">|<br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-97</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587810.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587810.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Air Traffic Control Modernization: Management Challenges Associated with Program Costs and Schedules Could Hinder NextGen Implementation. GAO-12-223, February 16.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-223"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-223</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588626.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588626.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Senate Preservation Fund: Audit of Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 Transactions. GAO-12-271R, February 16.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-271R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-271R</a> </li>
<li>Safety Effects of Less Prescriptive Requirements for Low-Stress Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines Are Uncertain. GAO-12-389R, February 16.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-389R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-389R</a> </li>
<li>Early Child Care and Education: HHS and Education Are Taking Steps to Improve Workforce Data and Enhance Worker Quality. GAO-12-248, February 15.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-248"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-248</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588580.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588580.pdf</a> </li>
<li>U.S. Coins: Alternative Scenarios Suggest Different Benefits and Losses from Replacing the $1 Note with a $1 Coin. GAO-12-307, February 15.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-307">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-307</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588550.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588550.pdf</a>
<br />Podcast - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/588495">http://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/588495</a> </li>
<li>Law Enforcement Body Armor: DOJ Could Enhance Grant Management Controls and Better Ensure Consistency in Grant Program Requirements. GAO-12-353, February 15.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-353"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-353</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588571.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588571.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Management Report: Improvements Are Needed in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. GAO-12-415R, February 13.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-415R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-415R</a> </li>
<li>Maritime Security: Coast Guard Needs to Improve Use and Management of Interagency Operations Centers. GAO-12-202, February 13.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-202"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-202</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588475.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588475.pdf</a> </li>
<li>DHS Human Capital: Senior Leadership Vacancy Rates Generally Declined, but Components' Rates Varied. GAO-12-264, February 10.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-264">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-264</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588473.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588473.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Defense Workforce: DOD Needs to Better Oversee In-sourcing Data and Align In-sourcing Efforts with Strategic Workforce Plans. GAO-12-319, February 9.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-319"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-319</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588432.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588432.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Energy-Water Nexus: Information on the Quantity, Quality, and Management of Water Produced during Oil and Gas Production. GAO-12-156, January 9.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-156">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-156</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587521.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587521.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Nuclear Weapons: NNSA Needs to Improve Guidance on Weapon Limitations and Planning for Its Stockpile Surveillance Program. GAO-12-188, February 8.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-188">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-188</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588303.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588303.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Humanitarian and Development Assistance: Project Evaluations and Better Information Sharing Needed to Manage the Military's Efforts. GAO-12-359, February 8.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-359"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-359</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588335.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588335.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Information Technology: SBA Needs to Strengthen Oversight of Its Loan Management and Accounting System Modernization. GAO-12-295, January 25.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-295">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-295</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587936.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587936.pdf</a></li>
<li>Federal Contracting: Monitoring and Oversight of Tribal 8(a) Firms Needs Attention. GAO-12-84, January 31.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-84">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-84</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588115.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588115.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Diesel Pollution: Fragmented Federal Programs That Reduce Mobile Source Emissions Could Be Improved. GAO-12-261, February 7.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-261">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-261</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588261.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588261.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Air Force and Interior Can Benefit from Additional Guidance When Deciding Whether to Lease or Purchase Equipment. GAO-12-281R, February 7.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-281R">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-281R</a> </li>
<li>Bureau of Prisons: Eligibility and Capacity Impact Use of Flexibilities to Reduce Inmates' Time in Prison. GAO-12-320, February 7.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-320"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-320</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588283.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588283.pdf</a> </li>
<li>U.S. Export-Import Bank: Actions Needed to Promote Competitiveness and International Cooperation. GAO-12-294, February 7.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-294">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-294</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588268.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588268.pdf</a>
</li>
<li>Federal Employees' Compensation Act: Benefits for Retirement-Age Beneficiaries. GAO-12-309R, February 6.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-309R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-309R</a> </li>
<li>Medicare: Lack of Price Transparency May Hamper Hospitals' Ability to be Prudent Purchasers of Implantable Medical. GAO-12-126, February 3.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-126"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-126</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587687.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587687.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Military Child Care: DOD is Taking Actions to Address Awareness and Availability Barriers. GAO-12-21, February 3.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-21">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-21</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588190.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588190.pdf</a></li>
<li>Defense Logistics: Improvements Needed to Enhance Oversight of Estimated Long-term Costs for Operating and Supporting Major Weapon Systems. GAO-12-340, February 2.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-340"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-340</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588180.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588180.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products Declined Since June 30, 2010. GAO-12-321R, January 24.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-321R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-321R</a> </li>
<li>Actions to Enforce the Iran Sanctions Act and Implement Contractor Certification Requirement. GAO-12-316R, January 24. (companion report to GAO-12-321R)<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-316R">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-316R</a> <br />IRS Management: Cost Estimate for New Information Reporting System Needs to be Made More Reliable. GAO-12-59, January 31.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-59">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-59</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588137.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588137.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Designing Evaluations. GAO-12-208G, January 31.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-208G"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-208G</a> </li>
<li>Defense Infrastructure: DOD Did Not Fully Address the Supplemental Reporting Requirements in Its Energy Management Report. GAO-12-336R, January 31.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-336R"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-336R</a>
</li>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
<b>Testimonies</b><br />
<ul>
<li>More Efficient and Effective Government: Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue, by Comptroller General of the United States, Gene L. Dodaro, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. GAO-12-449T, February 28.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-449T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-449T</a> </li>
<li>Cybersecurity: Challenges to Securing the Modernized Electricity Grid, by Greg C. Wilhusen, Director, Information Security Issues, and David C. Tremble, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, before the House Energy And Commerce Committee: Oversight And Investigations Subcommittee. GAO-12-507T, February 28.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-507T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-507T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588914.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588914.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Information Technology: Potentially Duplicative Investments Exist at the Departments of Defense and Energy, by David A. Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, before the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-12-462T, February 17.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-462T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-462T</a> </li>
<li>Workforce Investment Act: Innovative Collaborations between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Urgent Local Workforce Needs by Andy Sherrill, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, And Pensions. GAO-12-419T, February 16.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-419T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-419T</a> </li>
<li>National Nuclear Security Administration: Observations on NNSA's Management and Oversight of the Nuclear Security Enterprise, by Gene Aloise, Natural Resources and Environment, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-12-473T, February 16
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-473T">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-473T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588647.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588647.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Law Enforcement Body Armor: DOJ Supports Its Use and Enhancements, but Could Strengthen Management of Its Related Grant Programs, by Dave C. Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-12-448T, February 15.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-448T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-448</a></li>
<li>Information Technology: SBA Needs to Strengthen Oversight of Its Loan Management and Accounting System Modernization by David Powner, director, information technology, before the House Committee on Small Business. GAO-12-395T, February 8.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-395T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-395T</a></li>
<li>Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, by Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, before the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-12-455T, February 7.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-455T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-455T</a> </li>
<li>Improper Payments: Moving Forward with Governmentwide Reduction Strategies, by Beryl H. Davis, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, before the Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency, and Financial Management, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-12-405T, February 7.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-405T">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-405T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588229.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588229.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Supply Chain Security: Container Security Programs Have Matured, but Uncertainty Persists over the Future of 100 Percent Scanning, by Steve L. Caldwell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, before the Subcommittee on Border And Maritime Security, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-12-422T, February 7.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-422T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-422T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588250.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588250.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program: Governmentwide Fraud Prevention Control Weaknesses Leave Program Vulnerable to Fraud and Abuse, but VA Has Made Progress in Improving Its Verification Process, by Richard J. Hillman, Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service, before the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform, House Committee on Oversight And Government Reform. GAO-12-443T, February 7.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-443T">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-443T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588214.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588214.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security: Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen Strategic Planning and Management Functions, by David Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, before House Committee on Homeland Security: Oversight, Investigations, And Management Subcommittee. GAO-12-382T, February 3.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-382T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-382T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588196.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588196.pdf</a> </li>
<li>Arlington National Cemetery: Actions Needed to Ensure Lasting, Positive Changes in Contracting and Management, by Brian Lepore, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, and Belva Martin, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, before House Committee on Armed Services: Military Personnel Subcommittee, and House Committee on Armed Services: Oversight And Investigations Subcommittee. GAO-12-436T, February 3.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-436T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-436T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588198.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588198.pdf</a> </li>
<li>OPM Retirement Modernization: Progress Has Been Hindered by Longstanding Information Technology Management Weaknesses by Valerie C. Melvin, director, information management and technology resources issues, before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District Of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-12-430T, February 1.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-430T"><br />http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-430T</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588171.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588171.pdf</a>
</li>
</ul>
<b>Special Publication</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Highlights of a Forum: Financial Literacy: Strengthening Partnerships in Challenging Times. GAO-12-299SP, February 9.
<br /><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-299SP">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-299SP</a>
<br />Highlights - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588405.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588405.pdf</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940465257338740226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-326849458303420052012-03-09T12:29:00.000-07:002012-03-09T12:35:53.877-07:00Interesting Facts from the Census Bureau<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5GDUfZstqw_TzJW32H9H_yz5OXlzr2iKUHFuxeOlR_498RgPgNGFlrxIQ7FVcHvlaNz5mi_rlWaiDmvWQ_9ScowZ5RujrLZU3KTwMYwwH-LMrIZ2ARf31p7TcCH17pN15Zwu/s1600/Facts+for+features.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5GDUfZstqw_TzJW32H9H_yz5OXlzr2iKUHFuxeOlR_498RgPgNGFlrxIQ7FVcHvlaNz5mi_rlWaiDmvWQ_9ScowZ5RujrLZU3KTwMYwwH-LMrIZ2ARf31p7TcCH17pN15Zwu/s320/Facts+for+features.png" width="320" /></a>The Census Bureau publishes a series of tip sheets for journalists called <a href="http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/">Facts for Features</a>. What kind of information is included? The Valentine's day release includes facts on flowers, candy, dating services, marriages and more. The Super Bowl release gives details on the population of the home towns for the two teams and for the host city. <br />
<br />
<br />
Here's a list of the regular features:<br />
<ul>
<li>African-American History Month (February) </li>
<li>Super Bowl </li>
<li>Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) </li>
<li>Women's History Month (March) </li>
<li>Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/<br /> St. Patrick's Day (March 17) </li>
<li>Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) </li>
<li>Older Americans Month (May) </li>
<li>Cinco de Mayo (May 5) </li>
<li>Mother's Day </li>
<li>Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) </li>
<li>Father's Day </li>
<li>The Fourth of July (July 4) </li>
<li>Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26) </li>
<li>Back to School (August) </li>
<li>Labor Day </li>
<li>Grandparents Day </li>
<li>Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) </li>
<li>Unmarried and Single Americans Week </li>
<li>Halloween (Oct. 31) </li>
<li>American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November) </li>
<li>Veterans Day (Nov. 11) </li>
<li>Thanksgiving Day </li>
<li>The Holiday Season (December) </li>
</ul>
Enjoy! <br />
<ul>
</ul>Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-14130197187610201902012-03-07T11:58:00.003-07:002012-03-07T11:58:39.864-07:00Along with Everybody Else, The CDC Thinks Rihanna Could Do A Lot BetterRihanna and her, um, sometime friend, musician Chris Brown made news last month when, for Rihanna's 24th birthday, she tweeted not <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/rihanna/status/171757308261568512">one</a>, but <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/rihanna/status/171757700068282368">two</a> remixes that paired the duo's vocals -- one on a new version of "Birthday Cake," and the other for Chris Brown's "Turn Up The Music." <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbVVTlb_-aUJmscCNjPNfnvoFpbbPBXC2s4Q3IxgVdSEQIvIRw1HaSasZabRhQnT58cyTPVfDF731oSckcsWuwxbmsEWn_kL24pdHW4qBUk3kXUTihyZ8w18BpFIzMrP2OOgz/s1600/rihanna-and-chris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbVVTlb_-aUJmscCNjPNfnvoFpbbPBXC2s4Q3IxgVdSEQIvIRw1HaSasZabRhQnT58cyTPVfDF731oSckcsWuwxbmsEWn_kL24pdHW4qBUk3kXUTihyZ8w18BpFIzMrP2OOgz/s320/rihanna-and-chris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Gossip columnist Perez Hilton </span><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-02-20-rihanna-and-chris-brown-mind-fuck-the-world#.T0VfmqhWUUM" style="text-align: left;">summed up the exchange best</a><span style="text-align: left;">, but unfortunately used a vocabulary that we should probably not repeat. Needless to say, fans who knew of Chris Brown's February 2009's assault of the then 20-year-old Rihanna (and the subsequent restraining order) were shocked by the musical collaboration, and psychologists everywhere will have something to say about it for years.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/37144000" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe>
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<br />
Probably not-at-all-coincidentally, February was proclaimed <b>Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month</b> was <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?st=PROCLAMATION+8626&granuleId=&packageId=DCPD-201100060">in January of 2011</a> by President Barack Obama. In his statement last year, the President seemed particularly aware of how social networking and portable communications can contribute to incidents of dating violence -- issues that were rumored to be catalysts in the attack upon Rihanna. <br />
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Indeed, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/chooserespect/understanding_dating_violence/recognizing_dating_violence.html">the CDC found</a> that there was <b>a 50% increase between 2000 and 2005 in electronic aggression</b>, and that 67% of electronic victimization occurred through instant messaging, and 16% through text messages.<br />
<br />
<br />
the Centers for Disease Control had published, three days before the collaboration, a reminder that February is the first anniversary of <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/Features/DatingViolence/" style="font-weight: bold;">Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month</a>. <br />
<br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Did you know that in the past 12 months, <b>one in 10 teens</b> report being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once? And <b>nearly half of all teens in relationships</b> say they know friends who have been verbally abused." </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Before violence starts, a teen may experience controlling behavior and demands. One partner may tell another what to wear and who to hang out with. Over time, the <a href="http://gossipoverload.com/disturbing-details-about-chris-brown-abuse-released-today/">unhealthy behavior may become violent</a>." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"That's why adults need to talk to teens now about the importance of developing healthy, respectful relationships."</span></blockquote>
</div>
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<br />
The CDC's Teen Dating Violence Web site has extensive information available on <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/chooserespect/understanding_dating_violence/recognizing_dating_violence.html">how to recognize dating violence</a>, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/chooserespect/understanding_dating_violence/healthy_vs_unhealthy_relationships.html">understanding healthy versus unhealthy dating relationships</a>, and <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/chooserespect/understanding_dating_violence/warning_signs_and_excuses.html">warning signs</a> for trouble ahead. There is also a broader site for <b><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/intimatepartnerviolence/index.html">Intimate Partner Violence</a></b>.<br />
<br />
For a localized treatment of the topic, the University of Colorado is home to the <b><a href="http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/about.html">Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence</a></b>, and of course for concerns about personal safety, services are offered on campus under <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/safety/resources/category.html">several category types</a>. <br />
<br />
Clearly this is an issue that affects more than only popular musicians, but it is still enjoyable to see that the government can subtly find ways to perhaps call a few people out.<br />
<br /></div>William Cuthbertsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859090022861379242noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-23508497256625724982012-03-05T10:49:00.001-07:002012-03-05T14:14:47.554-07:00Spotlight on the OECDIt is Monday and while the waiting for that third cup of coffee (or tea) to kick in, why not read a little about the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)? While there are probably a few of you non-governmental folks out there who can't imagine stuffing another acronym into your memory back, I would encourage you to find some room for this group.<br />
<br />
First, who is the OECD and what do they do? This group started with 20 countries (18 European and the US and Canada), which were dedicated to development. It now is made up of <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/25/0,3746,en_36734052_36761800_36999961_1_1_1_1,00.html">34 countries</a>, most of the world's most developed countries and a few emerging countries. To be a member of OECD, countries must meet OECD standards on a wide range of policy areas (from economics to human rights).<br />
<br />
Now that your brain is running away from all this history and policy, watch this video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dovJNzW8DVQ" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Ah, Paris. I would love to take a free trip to Paris. Want to try? Check out the OECD's <a href="http://www.oecd.org/videocontest">contest page</a>.<br />
<br />
Alright, enough daydreaming of climbing the Eiffel Tower or strolling through the Louvre, let's take a look at some of the information you can find from the OECD. For example, there has been a lot of talk from the Occupy movement about the 99%, but is this real? And how widespread it this? Check out this video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZaoGscbtPWU" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />
One of the amazing things that the OECD does is data gathering (by now you should know I will always get to numbers at some point) and since their membership contains many of the top economies in the world, this is a great group to go to when studying the developed world. Now the video links you to a <a href="http://www.oecd.org/els/social/inequality">web page</a> with some of the information on this topic, but wouldn't you like to see all the data and the book itself? If you are here on campus (or off campus with the <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/research/offcampusaccess.htm">VPN</a>), you can. We have a great database called the OECD iLibrary and in it you can access the full-text of <i><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264119536-en">Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising</a> </i>and so much more.<br />
<br />
The data used in this book and that you can use to write your own study on this topic can be found in the OECD iLibrary's Social Expenditures Statistics <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/socx-data-en">data set</a>, which has a section on <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/els-indi-data-en">Income Inequality</a>, which has data on most of the members from the 70s till now. <br />
<br />
But, that is not all you will find in the OECD iLibrary, just this year CU-Boulder has added access to IEA energy statistics (that is the International Energy Agency for those interested). These statistics have information such as use, production and prices of oil, natural gas, renewables, and other energy products. To see what data from this can look like, see this table:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAqvqlZMDy3-fNRb2kn98njLBeOWmb40i6cgrftBOSQRjBgf3FPHAgr8p7ELHFQ1JdcyE2WFeeow7jsqLSrEFXXEy4SOG37dgJnBdetdQjAVThwwbCeGe6ZPpqK8oKHyrGVVfJw/s1600/EnergyPrices.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAqvqlZMDy3-fNRb2kn98njLBeOWmb40i6cgrftBOSQRjBgf3FPHAgr8p7ELHFQ1JdcyE2WFeeow7jsqLSrEFXXEy4SOG37dgJnBdetdQjAVThwwbCeGe6ZPpqK8oKHyrGVVfJw/s640/EnergyPrices.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IEA Energy Prices and Taxes in OECD iLibrary </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Still want more? Check out the library's <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/int/oecd.htm">guide</a> to the OECD.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940465257338740226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-69827928932981751972012-03-02T09:00:00.000-07:002012-03-02T12:18:20.694-07:001940 Census Online starting April 2nd!!!Genealogists are thrilled by the pending release of the personal records from the 1940 Census. On April 2nd, <a href="http://www.nara.gov/">National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)</a> will make the records available on special <a href="http://www.1940census.archives.gov/">website</a>. Since names have not been indexed, you can only locate the record by searching for the enumeration district in which the person resided in 1940. If you don't know an address, NARA suggests looking at old phone books or using an enumeration district database for the 1930 Census. This information is available on NARA <a href="http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/start-research.html">guide to finding the enumeration district</a>. By playing around with it, we discovered that the best place to start is to search in the maps file only at <a href="http://research.archives.gov/description/821491">http://research.archives.gov/description/821491</a>. Enter a place or county name AND "enumeration" to find maps. Results can be narrowed to the 1940 census by using the facets on the left side. By looking at the maps, you can zoom in to identify the district number. Will this work? All will be revealed on April 2nd. In the meantime, you find additional information on the <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/gd/census.htm">Census on our subject guide to finding names and data from the Census</a>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8dAr4PD1kjDeDH6lAB9_iQxHphCt7IvupaQ1mZkED6Ore84NfLDUVUtTp16WfdZjCrYT-6xBrZg_r9Fx73d8a3d5o1FclnCIMKE4_g0k3qL810P8R5wVxSffm80dcbQZZ8tO/s1600/1940+Census.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8dAr4PD1kjDeDH6lAB9_iQxHphCt7IvupaQ1mZkED6Ore84NfLDUVUtTp16WfdZjCrYT-6xBrZg_r9Fx73d8a3d5o1FclnCIMKE4_g0k3qL810P8R5wVxSffm80dcbQZZ8tO/s400/1940+Census.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get ready to visit the 1940 Census at <a href="http://www.1940census.archives.gov/">http://www.1940census.archives.gov/</a> on April 2nd. <br />
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<br clear="all" />Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-17082992980010784532012-02-20T09:57:00.001-07:002012-02-20T09:57:31.721-07:00Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrygJEhmQAK2EBYukIVGvZxE47LDZbtVjBHLLW-22i5X30bwYUjeB7X_ztjI31swJud3Zwy5lgmeDObnO7kKETcWC4GKkMOz2mD_21xJNw3Z8ronA1piMzOugxvjTBV4R3e1tXw/s1600/CRSimage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrygJEhmQAK2EBYukIVGvZxE47LDZbtVjBHLLW-22i5X30bwYUjeB7X_ztjI31swJud3Zwy5lgmeDObnO7kKETcWC4GKkMOz2mD_21xJNw3Z8ronA1piMzOugxvjTBV4R3e1tXw/s1600/CRSimage.png" /></a></div>
Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress
and writes reports at Congress' request. These short reports
(usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern.
This month brings us reports on the budget, foreign
relations, military issues, and much more. Although these
reports are in the public domain, there is no central
database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS
report, you can request it from your senator or
representative. These reports were discovered by <a href="http://opencrs.com/"></a> <a href="http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/">Secrecy News</a>:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41861.pdf">Defense: FY2012 Budget Request, Authorization and Appropriations</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS22570.pdf">Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R41464.pdf">Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41536.pdf">Keeping America’s Pipelines Safe and Secure: Key Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41726.pdf">Discretionary Budget Authority by Subfunction: An Overview</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/98-810.pdf">Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Benefits and Financing</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42155.pdf">The Role of Local Food Systems in U.S. Farm Policy</a>,</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32496.pdf">U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33153.pdf">China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities — Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22147.pdf">Military Base Closure: Socioeconomic Impacts</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/R40240.pdf">Intelligence Authorization Legislation: Status and Challenges</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42344.pdf">Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Countries: Comparative Trade and Economic Analysis</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33407.pdf">Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41336.pdf">U.S. Sanctions on Burma</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL30588.pdf">Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R40248.pdf">Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS20643.pdf">Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32109.pdf">Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS20871.pdf">Iran Sanctions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42351.pdf">Internet Governance and the Domain Name System: Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf">Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data</a>
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41153.pdf">Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress</a>
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42342.pdf">China’s Vice President Xi Jinping Visits the United States: What Is at Stake?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R42339.pdf">Lebanon and the Uprising in Syria: Issue for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R42335.pdf">Iran’s Threat to the Strait of Hormuz</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42341.pdf">Sourcing Policy: Selected Developments and Issues</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42338.pdf">Smart Meter Data: Privacy and Cybersecurity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42340.pdf">Suicide Prevention Efforts of the Veterans Health Administration</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42326.pdf">Constitutional Analysis of Suspicionless Drug Testing Requirements for the Receipt of Governmental Benefits</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS21048.pdf">U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL31675.pdf">Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41293.pdf">The Nunn-McCurdy Act: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL32369.pdf">Immigration-Related Detention: Current Legislative Issues</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42153.pdf">U.S. Trade and Investment in the Middle East and North Africa: Overview and Issues</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33010.pdf">Australia: Background and U.S. Relations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS21344.pdf">European Union Enlargement</a>
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42124.pdf">Legal Issues Associated with the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42324.pdf">“Who is a Veteran?” — Basic Eligibility for Veterans’ Benefits</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42140.pdf">Federal Aid to Roads and Highways Since the 18th Century: A Legislative History</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32665.pdf">Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS20871.pdf">Iran Sanctions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33667.pdf">Presidential Signing Statements: Constitutional and Institutional Implications</a></li>
</ul>
Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the <a href="http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/form/cong/s_pubadvanced.html?srcboxes=CRSReports&DateRestrictionControl=all"> Congressional</a> database, which has reports dating back to 1916.<br />
<br />
Not on campus but still want access to additional reports? The library has a <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/crs.htm">guide</a> linking to various additional sources of CRS reports. <br />
<ul>
</ul>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940465257338740226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19222581.post-1714500656061245282012-02-14T09:14:00.000-07:002012-02-14T09:50:49.927-07:00Eyes on the EconomyThe state of the economy is one of the key issues during this election cycle. Among the leading economic indicators are data produced by the <a href="http://www.census.gov/">Census Bureau</a> and the <a href="http://www.bls.gov/">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>. The Census Bureau reports on international trade, wholesale trade, retail trade, manufacturing, construction, home ownership, new residential sales and more. Data and a calendar of future Census releases are in the <a href="http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/briefroom/BriefRm">Economic Briefing Room</a>. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) gathers and publishes data on the consumer price index, employment cost, producer prices, earnings and employment, productivity, and U.S. import and export prices. The BLS site is so huge and so complex that it's probably best to start on the <a href="http://www.bls.gov/bls/newsrels.htm">News Releases</a> page.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr4mLL9raLN4Z8FBCoUAdmE0RTf-bPcueRQro45qBq0IefmCV3tzoeXcbA2LlSQzxaupKKtBao-N0av8gvSIuSO23AbFc9wQt3vlfLOZAmVrYr-rYYjcF6L4lVK-SxSPSxfzE/s1600/Economic+Indicators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr4mLL9raLN4Z8FBCoUAdmE0RTf-bPcueRQro45qBq0IefmCV3tzoeXcbA2LlSQzxaupKKtBao-N0av8gvSIuSO23AbFc9wQt3vlfLOZAmVrYr-rYYjcF6L4lVK-SxSPSxfzE/s320/Economic+Indicators.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Economic Indicators from the Census Bureau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Conference Board also produces statistics that are widely-cited including the <a href="http://www.conference-board.org/data/bcicountry.cfm?cid=1">Leading Economic Indicators Index </a>and the <a href="http://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerdata.cfm">Consumer Confidence Index</a>. According to the Conference Board, a composite index is powerful because it is "constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data in a clearer and more convincing manner...." Based on the latest numbers from 2011 we can be "cautiously" optimistic for the first half of 2012.<br />
<br />
The Government Information Library has links for additional resources on its <a href="http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/subject/Business.htm">Business and Economics</a> pages. Check it out.Margaret Jobehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04918400117896848067noreply@blogger.com0