The summer means a break from school right? Well, while the K-12 crowd may not have to be in class there is data from the last time they were in coming out. Today the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) results were released. There are two places you can go to look at these online. First, the state government has them online in a searchable database. But if you want options, check out the Denver Post's database.
Want to know how your community did? The Denver Post has an article "CSAP: DPS gains celebrated" on Denver. The Daily Camera has the article "More high-schoolers skip CSAPs" on Boulder's scores.
Want more education resources? Check out the library's guide.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
CRS Reports
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 only a few reports on defense issues. 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:
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
- China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities — Background and Issues for Congress
- Satellite Surveillance: Domestic Issues
- Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress
- U.S. Civilian Space Policy Priorities: Reflections 50 Years After Sputnik
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
Monday, July 28, 2008
NASA images
It is a Monday morning and summer, so rather then discuss the latest housing bill or some other exciting economic news I will instead give you something fun to look over. There is a new site called NASAImages.org, it is a collaboration between NASA and the Internet Archive. You can read all about this collaboration in the NASA press release, but really why not just spend some time playing in the system. The image quality is amazing and you can create fun little presentations (see this one of images of Earth if you want a sample).
Want more space resources? Check out the library's guide.
Want more space resources? Check out the library's guide.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sanctions against Zimbabwe
President Bush released an Executive Order today "Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe." This order directs that the assets residing in the US of those meeting the criteria in the order cannot be "transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in." This action is a result of the continuing controversy over the elections held on June 27th.
To learn more about the sanctions, check out the Washington Post's "Bush Expands Sanctions Against Zimbabwe."
To read up a bit on the Zimbabwean government's perspective, check out Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You will not find anything yet on the sanctions, but you will find under featured articles more discussion of the elections.
Looking for more resources on Zimbabwe? Check out the library's country guide.
To learn more about the sanctions, check out the Washington Post's "Bush Expands Sanctions Against Zimbabwe."
To read up a bit on the Zimbabwean government's perspective, check out Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You will not find anything yet on the sanctions, but you will find under featured articles more discussion of the elections.
Looking for more resources on Zimbabwe? Check out the library's country guide.
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 public transportation, tax and financial activity in the Cayman Islands, defined benefit pensions, and the U.S. Postal Service. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.Reports
- Cayman Islands: Business and Tax Advantages Attract U.S. Persons and Enforcement Challenges Exist. GAO-08-778, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-778
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08778high.pdf - Commercial Drivers: Certification Process for Drivers with Serious Medical Conditions. GAO-08-826, June 30.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-826
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08826high.pdf - DCAA Audits: Allegations That Certain Audits at Three Locations Did Not Meet Professional Standards Were Substantiated. GAO-08-857, July 22.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-857
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08857high.pdf - Defense Infrastructure: Services' Use of Land Use Planning Authorities. GAO-08-850, July 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-850
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08850high.pdf - Defined Benefit Pensions: Plan Freezes Affect Millions of Participants and May Pose Retirement Income Challenges. GAO-08-817, July 21.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-817
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08817high.pdf - Indian Health Service: IHS Mismanagement Led to Millions of Dollars in Lost or Stolen Property. GAO-08-727, June 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-727
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08727high.pdf - Influenza Pandemic: Federal Agencies Should Continue to Assist States to Address Gaps in Pandemic Planning. GAO-08-539, June 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-539
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08539high.pdf - Information Sharing Environment: Definition of the Results to Be Achieved in Improving Terrorism-Related Information Sharing Is Needed to Guide Implementation and Assess Progress. GAO-08-492, June 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-492
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08492high.pdf - Long-Term Care Insurance: Oversight of Rate Setting and Claims Settlement Practices. GAO-08-712, June 30.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-712
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08712high.pdf - Nuclear Material: DOE Needs to Take Action to Reduce Risks Before Processing Additional Nuclear Material at the Savannah River Site's H-Canyon. GAO-08-840, July 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-840
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08840high.pdf - Public Transportation: Improvements Are Needed to More Fully Assess Predicted Impacts of New Starts Projects. GAO-08-844, July 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-844
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08844high.pdf - State Department: Comprehensive Strategy Needed to Improve Passport Operations. GAO-08-891, July 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-891
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08891high.pdf - U.S. Postal Service: Data Needed to Assess the Effectiveness of Outsourcing. GAO-08-787, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-787
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08787high.pdf
- Cayman Islands: Review of Cayman Islands and U.S. Laws Applicable to U.S. Persons' Financial Activity in the Cayman Islands, (GAO-08-1028SP), an E-supplement to GAO-08-778, July 2008. GAO-08-1028SP, July 24. [Internet only]
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1028SP - Defined Benefit Pensions: Survey of Sponsors of Large Defined Benefit Pension Plans (GAO-08-818SP, July 2008), an E-supplement to GAO-08-817. GAO-08-818SP, July 21. [Internet only]
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-818SP - Government Performance: 2007 Federal Managers Survey on Performance and Management Issues: (GAO-08-1036SP, July 2008), an E-supplement to GAO-08-1026T. GAO-08-1036SP, July 24. [Internet only]
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1036SP - U.S. Postal Service: USPS Has Taken Steps to Strengthen Network Realignment Planning and Accountability and Improve Communication, by Phillip R. Herr, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-1022T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1022T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081022thigh.pdf
- Aviation Security: Transportation Security Administration Has Strengthened Planning to Guide Investments in Key Aviation Security Programs, but More Work Remains, by Cathleen A. Berrick, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-1024T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1024T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081024thigh.pdf - Cayman Islands: Business Advantages and Tax Minimization Attract U.S. Persons and Enforcement Challenges Exist, by Michael Brostek, director, strategic issues, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-779T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-779T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08779thigh.pdf - Commercial Drivers: Certification Process for Drivers with Serious Medical Conditions, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-1030T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1030T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081030thigh.pdf - Government Performance: Lessons Learned for the Next Administration on Using Performance Information to Improve Results, by Bernice Steinhardt, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-1026T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1026T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081026thigh.pdf - Highway Public-Private Partnerships: Securing Potential Benefits and Protecting the Public Interest Could Result from More Rigorous Up-front Analysis, by JayEtta Z. Hecker, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-1052T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1052T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081052thigh.pdf - Human Capital: Selected Agencies Have Implemented Key Features of Their Senior Executive Performance-Based Pay Systems, but Refinements Are Needed, by J. Christopher Mihm, managing director, strategic 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-08-1019T, July 22.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1019T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081019thigh.pdf - Information Sharing: Definition of the Results to Be Achieved in Terrorism-Related Information Sharing Is Needed to Guide Implementation and Assess Progress, by Eileen R. Larence, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-637T, July 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-637T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08637thigh.pdf - Long-Term Care Insurance: State Oversight of Rate Setting and Claims Settlement Practices, by John E. Dicken, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-1016T, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1016T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081016thigh.pdf - Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq: Progress Report: Some Gains Made, Updated Strategy Needed, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-08-1021T, July 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1021T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081021thigh.pdf
- Agencies Believe Strengthening International Agreements to Improve Collection of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties Would Be Difficult and Ineffective. GAO-08-876R, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-876R - Developing Countries: U.S. Financing for Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative Currently Experiencing a Shortfall. GAO-08-888R, July 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-888R
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