Thursday, July 14, 2011

Visit The Blog On The Go!

The Government Information Library blog, which you are currently reading, now allows for easy navigation and reading on your mobile device.


The nice part is that you need not learn a new URL. Through the magic of the Internet, the URL for the mobile version of the Government Information blog is the same as the full Web version: http://cubgovpubs.blogspot.com

We hope you'll bookmark us for on-the-go, and that you'll feel free to comment and share these posts when you are bored on your bus commute, or wanting to avoid the person sitting next to you on that long flight.
Posted by William Cuthbertson at 3:19 PM
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Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports


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 Open CRS and Secrecy News:
Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports dating back to 1916.

Not on campus but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
    Posted by Jennie at 10:19 AM
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    Tuesday, June 21, 2011

    Sun spots galore...

    Today, I read an article in the Washington Post ("As the sun awakens the power grid stands vulnerable") on sunspots and their possible effects on the electric grid and it led me back to the source of all this material, and some fun and disturbing video.

    First, the video. The Solar Dynamic Observatory has a whole YouTube channel of these, but this one seems like it should be in a science fiction movie:

    (this is the eruption from the article)
    And this is a longer version of another eruption:

    Now that is some amazing video! And no special effects needed!

    Alright, now as much as I could watch these videos all day, how about some serious links where we can learn a bit more about this.
    • Magento Mini Golf Play golf using protons in magnetic fields. Start with simple fields, then move all the way up to golfing in Earth's magnetic field. Complete the quiz and get access to a bonus hole. Complete all holes and you can post your score.
    • Great Escape Light takes hundreds of thousands of years to get from the fusion core of the Sun to its surface. See if you can do better in our solar maze.
    • Our Place in Space See if you can find Earth in the Milky Way, and learn a bit about our galaxy in the process.
    • Where oh where does that little planet go Here you will find a game that tests your knowledge of planetary locations.
    Oh, did you want some serious pages? Okay, how about:
    • Solar Dynamic Observatory This is the home of the amazing videos above and has a wealth of information, such as data, images, videos and some of the games mentioned above.
    • Sun Space and Weather @ Goddard Here you will a mix of images, games, videos and news in the space weather front.
    Hope this has been a fun tour of space weather, if you want to learn more check out the library's guide to Space and Astronomy.
    Posted by Jennie at 11:55 AM
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    Wednesday, May 25, 2011

    Better Life Index

    In yet another of my data is fun series, I bring you the OECD's Better Life Index. What makes your life good? Is it a strong educational system? Good health care? Strong Income? Or maybe a nice work-life balance? The OECD has taken the statistics for the 34 member countries and lets you determine which country matches your rankings, you can use all of the indicators I just mentioned plus a few more. It is a ton of fun.

    For all of you who would rather watch a video, how about these two?

    This first video is on the index linked above, but if you have no idea who the OECD is and want a longer look at why they are doing this, this second video is great.


    I learned that the OECD was formed out of the Marshal Plan from that video. What did you learn? What do you value most in your better life index?

    Want to know more about what the OECD has to offer? Why not check out the library's guide.
    Posted by Jennie at 12:10 PM
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    Tuesday, May 24, 2011

    GAO Reports and Releases

    The Government Accountability Office (GAO) which is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This set of publications from GAO investigates the environment, post office, government spending, and many other issues. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.

    Reports
    Correspondence
    Testimony
    • Joint Strike Fighter: Restructuring Places Program on Firmer Footing, but Progress Is Still Lagging, by Michael Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-11-677T, May 19. 
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-677T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11677thigh.pdf 
    • United States Postal Service: Strategy Needed to Address Aging Delivery Fleet, by Phillip Herr, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-11-671T, May 17.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-671T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11671thigh.pdf
    • Federal Recovery Coordination Program: Enrollment, Staffing, and Care Coordination Pose Significant Challenges, by Randall B. Williamson, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Health, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-11-572T, May 13.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-572T       
    • Mortgage Foreclosures: Documentation Problems Reveal Need for Ongoing Regulatory Oversight, by A. Nicole Clowers, acting director, financial markets and community investment, before the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. GAO-11-649T, May 12.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-649T       
    • Federal Workers' Compensation: Issues Associated with Changing Benefits for Older Beneficiaries, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, House Committee on Education and the Workforce. GAO-11-655T, May 12.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-655T
    • Employment and Training Programs: Providing Information on Colocating Services and Consolidating Administrative Structures, by Andrew Sherrill, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, House Committee on Education and the Workforce. GAO-11-645T, May 11.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-645T
    • Space Acquisitions: DOD Delivering New Generations of Satellites, but Space System Acquisition Challenges Remain, by Cristina T. Chaplain, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-11-590T, May 11.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-590T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11590thigh.pdf 
    • Hospital Emergency Departments: Health Center Strategies That May Help Reduce Their Use, by Debra A. Draper, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. GAO-11-643T, May 11.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-643T       
    • Information Technology: Department of Veterans Affairs Faces Ongoing Management Challenges, by Joel C. Willemssen, managing director, information technology, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-11-663T, May 11.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-663T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11663thigh.pdf 
    • Managing for Results: GPRA Modernization Act Provides Important Opportunities to Address Government Challenges, by Gene L. Dodaro, before subcommittees of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-11-617T, May 10.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-617T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11617thigh.pdf 
    • Transportation Worker Identification Credential: Internal Control Weaknesses Need to Be Corrected to Help Achieve Security Objectives, by Stephen M. Lord, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. GAO-11-648T, May 10.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-648T
    • Commercial Space Transportation: Industry Trends and Key Issues Affecting Federal Oversight and International Competitiveness, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. GAO-11-629T, May 5.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-629T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11629thigh.pdf 
    • Budget Process: Enforcing Fiscal Choices, by Susan J. Irving, director for federal budget analysis, strategic issues, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-11-626T, May 4.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-626T       
    • Recovery Act: Use of Transportation Funds, Outcomes, and Lessons Learned, by Phillip R. Herr, director, physical infrastructure, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-11-610T, May 4.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-610T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11610thigh.pdf 
    • Recovery Act: Preliminary Observations on the Use of Funds for Clean and Drinking Water Projects, by David C. Trimble, acting director, natural resources and environment, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-11-642T, May 4.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-642T
      Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11642thigh.pdf 
    • Military and Veterans Disability System: Worldwide Deployment of Integrated System Warrants Careful Monitoring, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-11-633T, May 4.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-633T       
    • VA Health Care: Weaknesses in Policies and Oversight Governing Medical Equipment Pose Risks to Veterans' Safety, by Randall B. Williamson, director, health care, before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-11-591T, May 3.
      http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-591T       
      Presentations by the Comptroller General
      • The Role of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, by Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States, before the House Democracy Partnership for members of parliament from Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Pakistan, in Washington, D.C. GAO-11-479CG, March 31, 2011
        http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-479CG 
      • Opportunities to Strengthen Government Performance and Enhance Auditor Communication, by Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States, before the annual conference of the Council of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), in Washington, D.C. GAO-11-644CG, May 4, 2011
        http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-644CG         
      • Meeting the Fiscal and Management Challenges Facing Government, by Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States, before the annual conference of the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP), in Washington, D.C. GAO-11-665CG, May 9, 2011
        http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-665CG         
      • GPRA Modernization Act Implementation Provides Important Opportunities to Address Government Challenges, by Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States, before the spring symposium of the American Association for Budget and Program Analysis (AABPA), in Washington, D.C. GAO-11-679CG, May 11, 2011
        http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-679CG
      Special Publication
        Posted by Jennie at 9:42 AM
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