Digital TVs

I love the fact that I still am using a hand-me-down TV and have resisted the urge to go out and buy a new plasma TV with all the bells and whistles. I also happen to be resisting the siren call of cable, so I was quite concerned about the whole transition to digital we hear about so much in the media.

So what can I (and all the other people using the classic tvs out there) do? Well, there are a variety of government resources to check out:

• Digital Television This site from the FCC (who are bringing us this transition) provides basic information on the switch and why it is happening as well as a handy clock that tells me exactly how long I have.
• TV Converter Box Coupon For those of us without digital TVs we need a converter box and the government is providing up to two $40 coupons to help us buy them. Important note: if you aren't ready to go out and buy the box then don't request the coupon they expire 90 days after being issued. Another note for those of you with cable or some other service, these boxes currently don't work with the provider.
• FCC Consumer Facts If you found the first site to be too flash and overwhelming, check this one out. It is a straight question and answer page on some of your concerns.

Finally, for those of you wondering about the media's reaction to all of this why not check out the Washington Post's "As TV Goes Digital, Some Viewers May Be in the Dark."

GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as the No Child Left Behind Act and defense contracting. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Defense Contracting: Army Case Study Delineates Concerns with Use of Contractors as Contract Specialists. GAO-08-360, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-360
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08360high.pdf
• Federal User Fees: Substantive Reviews Needed to Align Port-Related Fees with the Programs They Support. GAO-08-321, February 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-321
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08321high.pdf
• Health Insurance: Most College Students Are Covered through Employer-Sponsored Plans, and Some Colleges and States Are Taking Steps to Increase Coverage. GAO-08-389, March 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-389
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08389high.pdf
• Native Hawaiian Education Act: Greater Oversight Would Increase Accountability and Enable Targeting of Funds to Areas with Greatest Need. GAO-08-422, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-422
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08422high.pdf
• No Child Left Behind Act: Education Actions Could Improve the Targeting of School Improvement Funds to Schools Most in Need of Assistance. GAO-08-380, February 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-380
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08380high.pdf
• VA Health Care: Additional Efforts to Better Assess Joint Ventures Needed. GAO-08-399, March 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-399
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08399high.pdf

Correspondence

• Comments on the Office of Personnel Management's February 20, 2008 Report to Congress Regarding the Retirement Systems Modernization. GAO-08-576R, March 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-576R
  
• Defense Space Activities: National Security Space Strategy Needed to Guide Future DOD Space Efforts. GAO-08-431R, March 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-431R
• DOD Personnel Clearances: Questions for the Record Related to the Quality and Timeliness of Clearances. GAO-08-580R, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-580R

New Peacekeeping resources

The United Nations in consultation with the African Union has created a new Peacekeeping portal. This portal's objective is "to promote collaboration and consultation among organizations and individuals working in conflict prevention and peacebuilding" (from a UN Pulse blog posting).

This new portal lets you search projects by geography, country and organization. The portal contains information on the project including a description, objectives, and contact information.

Want more UN information? Check out the library's guide.

What the CRS released this week

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress's request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This week brings us CRS reports on the China, NATO, bankruptcy, and much more. While 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. This list is compiled from CRS reports discovered by Secrecy News and OpenCRS:

• An Emergency Communications Safety Net: Integrating 911 and Other Services
• The Primary Residence Exception: Legislative Proposals in the 110th Congress to Amend Section 1322(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code
• China-U.S. Trade Issues
• China's Economic Conditions
• Enlargement Issues at NATO's Bucharest Summit
• China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy
• Emergency Communications Legislation, 2002-2006: Implications for the 110th Congress
• Satellite Surveillance: Domestic Issues
• The Next Generation Bomber: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress
• U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress
• Nuclear Weapons in U.S. National Security Policy: Past, Present, and Prospects
• U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress
• Direct Overt U.S. Aid, Export Assistance and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2009
• Cybercrime: An Overview of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute and Related Federal Criminal Laws
  

Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports 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.

Iraq US causualites reaches 4000

This morning, following a mortar attack on the Green Zone in Iraq the number of casualties in Iraq reached 4000. The Department of Defense has yet to confirm the latest figures, but you can view yesterday's numbers on the casualty report (updated daily).

Want to read more about Operation Iraqi Freedom? Check out the Department of Defense page on the operation.

Want to read more about today's sad numbers? Check out the Washington Post's "U.S. Deaths in Iraq War Reach 4,000."

Want more information on the military and the war? Check out the library guides to the Iraq operation and the military.