I was robbed!
Well, I'm not sure that Penn and I were ever actual city residents before, but with the recent redistricting process, we've lost our membership in the elite group that gets to go to the polls next Tuesday (or earlier if you like) and vote in the Greensboro city election.
You city-tax-payin' swells, on the other hand, will be voting for a mayor, a city council member from your district, and three at-large council members. You'll also be asked to approve or deny $20,000,000 in bonds for the Natural Science Center. You can determine your city district and polling place at the State Board of Election's Voter Lookup site. (Click "My Districts" once your personal information comes up.)
Candidates' financial reports are available here. The Greensboro News & Record's Vote '09 page has a sidebar listing the mayoral/council races with links to each candidate's personal website (if available). Winston-Salem residents, follow your races here (or tell me how to navigate your local newspaper's website well enough to find the municipal website that certainly must exist, somewhere.)
So have fun on Tuesday, and I'll see you at the polls... next year.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Docs Office Update
Did you know that the University Libraries house approximately 400,000 government documents? Don't feel bad -- neither did very many other people! But that's changing, thanks to the awe-inspiring efforts of our Cataloging Department, especially Katherine Nunnally, Jennifer Ormsby, Ed Waters, Jenny Raabe, Paul Hessling, Clara Kelly, and Sue Brusnahan (retired) who started the whole process.
Thanks to the unbelievable efforts of these folks, documents from the departments of Education, State, and Defense, along with the Smithsonian Institute, Library of Congress, Civil Rights Commission and the state of NC are now listed in our catalog. Most Congressional and online-only docs are available as well, and catalogers are currently tackling the Health Department.
This project has been a long time coming, and we've already seen some very tangible results; there have been definite jumps in local and ILL circulation of documents that are now listed in the catalog and OCLC. When I mention the project to people from other depositories, they tend to get a far-away look in their eyes and whisper, "maybe someday..." We're very lucky to have the ability to make these resources so much more easily accessible to our patrons. Thank You to everyone involved, and to the librarians and administrators who were willing to back such a huge undertaking!
Thanks to the unbelievable efforts of these folks, documents from the departments of Education, State, and Defense, along with the Smithsonian Institute, Library of Congress, Civil Rights Commission and the state of NC are now listed in our catalog. Most Congressional and online-only docs are available as well, and catalogers are currently tackling the Health Department.
This project has been a long time coming, and we've already seen some very tangible results; there have been definite jumps in local and ILL circulation of documents that are now listed in the catalog and OCLC. When I mention the project to people from other depositories, they tend to get a far-away look in their eyes and whisper, "maybe someday..." We're very lucky to have the ability to make these resources so much more easily accessible to our patrons. Thank You to everyone involved, and to the librarians and administrators who were willing to back such a huge undertaking!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Autumn Sunshine
Whether you're a citizen journalist, a researcher, or just a promoter of an informed electorate, the NC Open Government Coalition's "Sunshine Center" and the City of Greensboro are sponsoring two workshops that should prove useful. The presentations take place tomorrow, October 22, at 2pm and 7pm, at the Greensboro Historical Museum (get directions) and both are free and open to the public.
The 2pm workshop will focus on NC's open meeting law and requests from media. The 7pm workshop will emphasize NC's public records law and FOIA requests. Both presentations will feature representatives from Elon University's School of Law to anwer questions and provide a review of state legislation.
We have laws in place that protect our right to information, but they only work when we know how to use them.
The 2pm workshop will focus on NC's open meeting law and requests from media. The 7pm workshop will emphasize NC's public records law and FOIA requests. Both presentations will feature representatives from Elon University's School of Law to anwer questions and provide a review of state legislation.
We have laws in place that protect our right to information, but they only work when we know how to use them.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Health Care Debate Making You Sick?
The national debate on health care has caused people on all sides of the issue to break out in hideous rashes, violent ulcers, and astronomical blood pressures, not to mention fits of hysteria and complete breaks with reality. It's hard to stay focused on the facts in the current atmosphere, but this is a topic that's just too important to ignore. So grab your antacid and check out some of these relevant sites.
Healthreform.gov is a sort of one-stop shop for information on the Obama administration's policy with regard to health care reform. The reports section is a great place to start finding background information on specific health care topics.
NC Health Info has prepared a list of reliable sources of information on the differing ideas for the ways health care in this country should change. And our former Personnel Librarian, Beth Ellington, helped to create it so you know it's awesome.
The Congressional Research Service report: Health Insurance Reform and the 111th Congress is an excellent overview of the bills relating to health care change, but was published May 15, 2009, so is lacking the most recent legislative efforts. The Congressional Budget Office has a page devoted to their health care reform-related reports and cost analyses.
H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 is a major bill that is not included in the above-mentioned report. Opponents of the bill have engaged in a vigorous misinformation campaign about the content of the legislation, and Factcheck.org refutes the claims and explains the actual components of the bill in its reports, Twenty-six Lies About H.R. 3200 and False Euthanasia Claims.
Finally, this 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine, Insuring America's Health, reminds us why this debate is essential. The Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance (the authors of the report) found that 18,000 unnecessary deaths per year are caused by simply not having health insurance. So, no matter how much it makes your ears hurt and your eyes cross, please keep paying attention to the discussion, keep offering input to policy makers, and keep demanding transparency and accountability in our legislative process.
Healthreform.gov is a sort of one-stop shop for information on the Obama administration's policy with regard to health care reform. The reports section is a great place to start finding background information on specific health care topics.
NC Health Info has prepared a list of reliable sources of information on the differing ideas for the ways health care in this country should change. And our former Personnel Librarian, Beth Ellington, helped to create it so you know it's awesome.
The Congressional Research Service report: Health Insurance Reform and the 111th Congress is an excellent overview of the bills relating to health care change, but was published May 15, 2009, so is lacking the most recent legislative efforts. The Congressional Budget Office has a page devoted to their health care reform-related reports and cost analyses.
H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 is a major bill that is not included in the above-mentioned report. Opponents of the bill have engaged in a vigorous misinformation campaign about the content of the legislation, and Factcheck.org refutes the claims and explains the actual components of the bill in its reports, Twenty-six Lies About H.R. 3200 and False Euthanasia Claims.
Finally, this 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine, Insuring America's Health, reminds us why this debate is essential. The Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance (the authors of the report) found that 18,000 unnecessary deaths per year are caused by simply not having health insurance. So, no matter how much it makes your ears hurt and your eyes cross, please keep paying attention to the discussion, keep offering input to policy makers, and keep demanding transparency and accountability in our legislative process.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Happy 60th Anniversary
To the Geneva Convention of 1949 -- the fourth and final treaty to come from the diplomatic meetings at Geneva that began in 1864. This fourth treaty reaffirmed the agreements made in the other three, but added protections for civilians. Together with its subsequent Additional Protocols it has been ratified by 194 countries, all of whom have agreed to be bound by its rules, regardless of the behavior of opposition forces with whom they are engaged in conflict.
The United States' War on Terror has frequently come under fire in the past eight years for what its critics see as a disregard of the terms of the Geneva Convention (GC). A common assertion of the Bush White House was that the GC simply didn't apply to a war on stateless terrorist criminals. Opponents have argued that Common Article 3 of the conventions addresses specifically that situation.
In Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 548 U.S. 557 (2006), the US Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that the Bush administration had indeed violated not only Common Article 3, but our own country's Uniform Code of Military Justice as well. (Click here for oral argument transcript.) Debate on aspects of prisoner treatment and case disposition continue, and President Obama's Justice Department has argued for detainee conditions at Bagram Air Base and various other sites that some say continue to violate the Geneva Conventions.
Northwestern University has the be-all, end-all Reference Guide to the Geneva Conventions. So have a glass of champagne, (use it to toast the Red Cross, established at the first Geneva meeting) and enjoy.
The United States' War on Terror has frequently come under fire in the past eight years for what its critics see as a disregard of the terms of the Geneva Convention (GC). A common assertion of the Bush White House was that the GC simply didn't apply to a war on stateless terrorist criminals. Opponents have argued that Common Article 3 of the conventions addresses specifically that situation.
In Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 548 U.S. 557 (2006), the US Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that the Bush administration had indeed violated not only Common Article 3, but our own country's Uniform Code of Military Justice as well. (Click here for oral argument transcript.) Debate on aspects of prisoner treatment and case disposition continue, and President Obama's Justice Department has argued for detainee conditions at Bagram Air Base and various other sites that some say continue to violate the Geneva Conventions.
Northwestern University has the be-all, end-all Reference Guide to the Geneva Conventions. So have a glass of champagne, (use it to toast the Red Cross, established at the first Geneva meeting) and enjoy.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Deals on Wheels
***Updated 7/31/09 below***
If you've got a gas-guzzler, this may be the time for you to trade it in and get some extra purchasing power from the federal government. The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is a Department of Transportation program that will provide $3500 - $4500 discounts on new automobile purchases or leases when you trade in a vehicle with cruddy fuel economy. To see if you qualify, check your car or truck's gas mileage at my favorite website of the moment: fueleconomy.gov.
According to the Federal Register proposed rules, the purchased vehicle must be sold as new, sell for less than $45,000, and have minimum fuel economy standards. Get all the details at the CARS faq, and the final CFR rule.
The program ends on November 1, 2009 or when the $1 billion of funding runs out, so put the pedal to the metal (sorry) and hurry on in (again, sorry) because They're Dealin'!! (okay, I'm done now)
Update 7/31/09
Oh noes! As of Friday morning, it looks like more people have jumped on the "Cash for Clunkers" deal than the government anticipated -- the money may have been depleted in the program's very first week. Qualifying purchases made since July 1st are included in the payout that began last week, accounting for the large number of sales.
Because the program is so successful, DOT is in talks with Congress to find ways of extending the rebate period. If you wanted to participate but haven't yet, let your legislators know!
If you've got a gas-guzzler, this may be the time for you to trade it in and get some extra purchasing power from the federal government. The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is a Department of Transportation program that will provide $3500 - $4500 discounts on new automobile purchases or leases when you trade in a vehicle with cruddy fuel economy. To see if you qualify, check your car or truck's gas mileage at my favorite website of the moment: fueleconomy.gov.
According to the Federal Register proposed rules, the purchased vehicle must be sold as new, sell for less than $45,000, and have minimum fuel economy standards. Get all the details at the CARS faq, and the final CFR rule.
The program ends on November 1, 2009 or when the $1 billion of funding runs out, so put the pedal to the metal (sorry) and hurry on in (again, sorry) because They're Dealin'!! (okay, I'm done now)
Update 7/31/09
Oh noes! As of Friday morning, it looks like more people have jumped on the "Cash for Clunkers" deal than the government anticipated -- the money may have been depleted in the program's very first week. Qualifying purchases made since July 1st are included in the payout that began last week, accounting for the large number of sales.
Because the program is so successful, DOT is in talks with Congress to find ways of extending the rebate period. If you wanted to participate but haven't yet, let your legislators know!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Madoff Retires to NC?
The Associated Press is reporting today that Bernie Madoff will soon move to the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner NC, where he will serve out his prison sentence. Madoff hired a "prison consultant" in an attempt to be assigned to the most favorable environment possible for his final years. His defense attorney recommended placing Madoff in a facility close to his home in New York, but the final decision was left to Federal Bureau of Prisons officials.
The Bureau of Prisons maintains this Inmate Locator which was just updated yesterday to show Madoff's present location as the federal penitentiary in Atlanta GA.
Want to know more about the Federal Bureau of Prisons? Check out this issue of Federal Prison Journal -- a special anniversary issue concentrating on the agency's history.
The Bureau of Prisons maintains this Inmate Locator which was just updated yesterday to show Madoff's present location as the federal penitentiary in Atlanta GA.
Want to know more about the Federal Bureau of Prisons? Check out this issue of Federal Prison Journal -- a special anniversary issue concentrating on the agency's history.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
