is your government information glass half full or...

half empty? Well, if you are using Google to search specific government agency websites, you'd be looking at a pretty half empty glass! According to this article, only about half of the information on an agency's website will be revealed by a specific domain search. As a remedy, it seems, some agencies are building site maps o be compatible with the Google algorhythm. So, depending on how many agencies comply, this may end up being a case of the government going to where the people are instead of expecting the people to be able to figure it out.

what's in your food?

A neat source from the Agricultural Research Service, the What's in the Food You Eat Search Tool is an engine designed to find out what kind of nutrients. You can search by keyword or food code (kinda sorta like NAICS codes), and it really helps if the term you enter into the search box is exactly how it's used in the database. For example, "hotdog" won't work, but "hot dog" will yield 35 food codes, including number 25210150 (frankfurter or hot dog, cheese filled). So, the next time you find yourself at J Street eating a slice of 58106210 or a 58100140 (hold the guac), you might want to have a looksee to find out what you're really eating.

using myspace and facebook in the library?

Of course you are, and don't worry-- I'm not going to stop you.

But, the United States government might. If you happen to be under 18, Congress is worried about protecting you from social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. HR 5319 from the 109th Congress is an amendment to the Communications Act of 1934 and specifically seeks to "protect against access to a commercial social networking website or chat room unless used for an educational purpose with adult supervision."

Sounds like that idea on how to work FaceBook into your UW 20 paper might not be such a bad idea after all.

aviation security three ways

The executive branch of the government has just released the National Strategy for Aviation Security, a 29-page document that should explain just why we need to put our contact lens liquid and hair product in a plastic bag not even big enough for a sandwich. The White House has released this document on their website, along with its own spin, while the Department of Homeland Security goes into a bit more detail.

Who is Number One?

According to George Mason University's Mercatus Center, the Government Agency who is best at informing the public is (drumroll...) the Department of Transportation, with the Department of Labor and Veterans Affairs (a good thing, with all that identity theft experienced last year). Who scored poorly, you ask? Well, oddly enough, it's the agencies we might need the most: Health and Human Services scored lowest, with Office of Personnel Management (i.e., the government's Human Resources division) all the way at the bottom.

Want to read the whole report? Click here.

still unprepared

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security has created a web page for items related to their Hurricane Katrina report Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared (yet another in the long line of reports from the White House and House of Reps). This page contains links to documents requested to create the report, as well as additional points of view from some select senators.

what would Jack Bauer do?

Hot off the GPO Press: The National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States of America.

the grant maker

Always an untapped resource, government grants can be a great way to get funding for projects that might otherwise never happen. Check out grants.gov, where you can apply for all sorts of government-funded money for projects ranging from arts, to the environment, to community development

so now we're calling it a civil war?

The March 2007 edition of Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq has just been released. What makes it so different this time? Well, this time, right there on page 14, the Defense Department-- for the first time--is referring to the situation a civil war:

"Some elements of the situation in Iraq are properly descriptive of a
"civil war," including the hardening of ethno-sectarian identities and
mobilization, the changing character of the violence, and population
displacements."

Open Sesame...

Actually... Open Congress a new website brought to us by the . And it is Sunshine Week, after all (a week dedicated to bringing government information to the public). This site is a federated source of Congressional information and news/blog coverage about the particular legislation going through Congress.

C-Span + Copyright

Encouraging news on the Fair Use front! Cable network C-SPAN has decided to change it's copyright policy so to permit non-commercial copying of materials. According to a New York Times article, this will affect about half of what's on the C-SPAN website, some of which dates back to the 70s. This opens up a great opportunity for bloggers and academics alike!

Hot off the GPO Presses

the 2008 Budget.

states of the union

Or, would the plural be "State of the Unions?"

Grammar aside, every single address of this nature is available and searchable at askSam. This search function is a pretty powerful feature-- let's say you want to see how many presidents made reference to "war" or "peace" or, potentially, both in the same speech? The search is a bit clunky, but well worth it to appease the lexicographer and political scientist in all of us.

And, for your reading pleasure, here's a paragraph from Thomas Jefferson's State of the Union, November 8, 1808:

Considering the extraordinary character of the times in which we live, our attention should unremittingly be fixed on the safety of our country. For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security. It is therefore incumbent on us at every meeting to revise the condition of the militia, and to ask ourselves if it is prepared to repel a powerful enemy at every point of our territories exposed to invasion. Some of the States have paid a laudable attention to this object, but every degree of neglect is to be found among others. Congress alone having the power to produce an uniform state of preparation in this great organ of defense, the interests which they so deeply feel in their own and their country's security will present this as among the most important objects of their deliberation.

a website, by any other name...

Apologies for the lame Shakespeare reference notwithstanding, just a heads up that firstgov has changed it's name to the more obvious usa.gov. While the site still looks and feels the same, the new and improved version touts a real-time "chat with government" feature where English-speaking citizens can IM representatives regarding the agencies, benefits, programs and services offered by the federal government.

couldn't have said it better myself

LLRX is a blog, of sorts, that's a must read for those who are fascinated with the law. This post is a great explanation of how things happen in Congress, specifically the authorization/appropriation conundrum that is essentially the entirety of the legislative house of our government.

interrogation techniques

The Federation of American Scientists released a report about interrogation techniques-- or, more accurately, the lack thereof. The report, titled Interrogation: Science and Art, Foundations of the Future (be careful opening this 374 page PDF; it may take a while if your connection is slow) was published by the the Defense Intelligence College and explains that there's not really a whole lot of information out there regarding interrogation. While the Bush administration supports "aggressive interrogation tactics," the report essentially states that there hasn't been enough research to prove whether or not it works. For more information about the report, read about it in the Washington Post.

wikileaks

A new website, wikileaks, has pretty huge ambitions. The site, which visions itself to be a resource for bringing unclassified government documents of all nations to light, has the idea that it "may become the most powerful "intelligence agency" on earth -- an intelligence agency of the people." The site's FAQ explains that this site, run by 22 people, is born out of the Chinese dissident community. While the launch is set for sometime in February or March, there's already a media buzz. The interface is familiar, though there seems to be some elements to be worked out (for example: in order to download the sample leaked document, you're going to have to unzip a few files and save to your hard drive). In any case, with articles in the Post and the folks over at Secrecy News commenting, this is a site to keep on your watch list for the near future.

dramatic readings from the Congressional Record

In an homage to the start of the 110th Congress, and the debates that will be taking place over the First 100 Hours, we're starting a feature here at GovDocs@Gelman: Stage Your Own Dramatic Readings from the Congressional Record. The first installment comes from the 30-Something Working Group's meeting January 10th, 2007 (found in the print version on page H324).

Mr. Delahunt, Uncle Bill, we are so happy, sir, that you are a part of the 30-Something Working Group. We are so happy that this is your inaugural night in the 110th Congress, where we are in the majority, your joining us here on this floor.

We talked about your contributions last night. We said that we have a Medicare recipient within our midst. We talked about individuals that are drawing down on one of the pensions that maybe you received in your long career of public service. But we appreciate the fact that you are continuing, and we said we will continue our commitment.

Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Long, long, long years.

Mr. DELAHUNT. Well, again, I am honored to be here. I heard that last evening my name was mentioned here in the House, and I presume that it was mentioned in a way that was kind and generous to a senior citizen, a senior citizen that has the Medicare card to prove that.

Talking about Medicare, we are going to address Medicare in this session of Congress, and we are going to do something about that so-called prescription drug benefit program that was passed over the objections of almost every Democrat and a few courageous Republicans several years ago. Because as you know, Mr. Meek, and you know, Tim Ryan, there was a provision in that particular legislation that prohibited the Medicare Trust Fund from negotiating with the large pharmaceutical companies for a discount.

In other words, whoever is the director of the Medicare Trust Fund can't go into a room and sit down with the drug companies and say, ``Let's discuss a fair price, because we are going to purchase in large quantities prescription drug benefits,'' for people like myself, ``and we are going to effect real savings, like they do in the Veterans Administration.''

I have seen estimates of savings that range from 30 to 80 percent on drugs where discounts could be made available and effected, drugs that save the lives of people and enhance the quality of life for those of us who have reached the golden years.

It is extraordinary in terms of helping people who have worked hard all their lives from not having to make those tough choices between food and heat, or air conditioning in the case of Mr. Meek and the young lady who just became the chair of a very powerful subcommittee here in the House, who is now known as Cardinal Wasserman Schultz.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. She is a rabbi.

Mr. DELAHUNT. I guess. I am just using a term that we often use here. But she is certainly dressed like a cardinal this evening.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Thank you, Mr. Delahunt.

Mr. DELAHUNT. But I have to tell you, I am really proud of the work that your generation has done over the course of the 109th Congress to bring home that message to the American people. You did it effectively. You are helping my generation and you have our profound gratitude. Because it was clear the message that the three of you and other colleagues of ours in the Democratic Caucus spoke to over the course of 2 years resonated with the American people.

I am so proud of each and every one of you. Congratulations. I think we can all share great pride in what has been accomplished since we took our oath of office just a week ago. It is extraordinary. There is a new tone.

You know what is particularly gratifying to me is to see so many of our colleagues, our Republican colleagues, our good friends, our dear friends, join with us in really moving forward an agenda that benefits all Americans.

just what did he say?

While this should end up in the Public Papers of the President, read and listen to President Bush's prime time address to the nation.

government docs in the news: more on signing statements

A month ago, the President signed H.R. 6407 into law, otherwise known as the The Postal Enhancement and Accountability Act. According to an article in the Washington Post (1/5/07), Bush's signing statement (which have already come under scrutiny) hints to the idea that this Bill will allow the reading of personal mail without a search warrant. The key phrase in question:

"... which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection."

While the original law does provide for circumstances which may involve explosives or powdery substances that may, in fact, harm human life, that last part might need to be unpacked a bit.