you want cloned fries with that

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that the meat and milk produced by cloned cows was of no threat to humans. It took a whole 678 pages to detail the arrival to this decision, but really what you want to know is: so what happens now?

A great question, and one that will allow me to demonstrate just what happens when a new regulation is proposed. See, before the FDA can get cloned cows to fly, the proposed regulation (that's what this is, because the agencies can't make laws, only Congress can do that) must be subject to comments from the public first, and a notice published in the Federal Register (which hasn't actually happened yet). Right now, this regulation is in the comment phase, and that means that the public gets to weigh in on this issue. So go ahead and exercise your right as a citizen of these United States and tell the FDA yay or nay. But do it quick! You've only got 90 days!

Gerald R. Ford: 1913-2006

The only president not officially elected to the office, President Ford leaves behind a legacy of leading the nation under a time of stress, most of which he inherited from the Nixon. The Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum provides a highlight reel of Ford administration documents.

is it 2010 yet?

The Census Bureau is gearing up for the next Decennial Census electronically by posting the 2010 Census page on their website. At this point, it's just an offering of information about the 2008 Dress Rehearsal and how to get a job as an enumerator. What it doesn't cover: how they're going to negotiate this being the first Decennial with no long form questionnaire!

what's your sign?

In another case of newspapers-as-government information portal news, check out the Washington Post's Votes Database, a list of all Congressional votes back to the 102nd Congress (that's 1991, for those of you keeping score). What does this site do that, say, Thomas doesn't? Well, aside from the regular, Democrat and Republican denominations, you can see how the votes split according to geography, age (though here, it's called "boomer status"), gender, and astrological sign. For example, we all know how HR 810 split along party lines, but betcha didn't know that the Tauruses had the most number of nays.

newspapers as government documents

A visit to the Library of Congress' Newspapers and Current Periodicals Reading Room might allow you to look at Colonial newspapers, particularly those that printed versions of state constitutions and the Declaration of Independence. These documents are pretty spectacular pieces that indicate the use of something we expect to show up on our doorstep (or in our internet browser these days) can function as a vehicle for posterity.

While perhaps not as dramatic, today's Washington Post includes a PDF of the Iraq Study Group Report's Executive Summary. A tiny morsel to give the general public information about those that govern.

For those who want to read the whole thing, go here

the Gates

Georgetown's Law Library has compiled everything you ever wanted to know about Robert M. Gates, the nominee to succeed Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense.

World AIDS Day

December 1st is the day we pause to honor those who have passed away and to recognize the efforts fighting this deadly disease. aids.gov details the government information about research, awareness, and resources.