Federal Documents - Government Information Everyone Can Use: 2009.05

Saturday, May 30, 2009

National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Take Action

This week was National Hurricane Preparedness Week (brought to you by the National Weather Service's National Hurrican Center). I hope you enjoyed the links posted every day. Today's focus is taking action; use the link to see how "Hurricane Aware" you are.

Remember: Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. Be safe.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Friday, May 29, 2009

Information on Judge Sonia Sotomayor

The Law Library of Congress has put together a wonderful page on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sotomayor. The site offers a variety of information on her career and includes a list of web resources about the judge, her nomination, and the process of appointing a new U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

For specific LexisNexis Academic searches, check out the bookmarks listed here: http://delicious.com/LNAcademic/Sotomayor. This will work if you are on a campus that subscribes to this database. For UNO students, staff, and faculty who are not on campus, use the links listed here: http://delicious.com/feddocs/Sotomayor. This will automatically direct you to our proxy server.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Hurricanes: Preparation

Today's focus for National Hurricane Preparedness Week is how to be prepared. This is something that everyone should learn about, as it can meant the difference between life and death. To help you be prepared, I'm posting links to some great documents:

FoodFacts: Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages, and Floods

Avoiding Hurricane Damage: a Checklist for Homeowners

HURREVAC: Hurricane Evacuation Guide

Hurricane Evacuation Kit Brochure

Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. Be safe.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

President John F. Kennedy's Birthday

Today marks the 92nd birthday of our 35th president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. President Kennedy served from 1961 to 1963 and was known as “Jack" and by his initials "JFK.” President Kennedy was elected at the age of 43, making him the youngest president elected to office (President Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest to serve). He was also the first Roman Catholic president. His death at the age of 46 makes him the president with the shortest life span. To learn more, click on these links:

White House: Biography of John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Thursday, May 28, 2009

President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court

President Obama's announcement on Tuesday, May 26, 2009:

President Obama explains his choice:

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Hurricanes: Forecasting

Today's focus for National Hurricane Preparedness Week is the forecast process. It is especially important to learn the difference between a Hurricane Watch and a Hurricane Warning.

Hurricane Watch: there is a possibility that an area could experience hurricane conditionas within 36 hours.

Hurricane Warning: sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected in an area within 24 hours.

Remember: Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. Be safe.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Hurricane Hazards: Inland Flooding

Today's focus for National Hurricane Preparedness Week is hurricane hazards like inland flooding.

Inland flooding is a scary experience. It is important to be prepared ahead of time. For more information on how to prepare for the possibility of inland flooding during a hurricane, check out these documents:

Homeowner's Guid to Retrofitting: 6 ways to protect your house from flooding

Avoiding Flood Damage: a Checklist for Homeowners

Remember: Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. Be safe.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

U.S. Government Channel on YouTube

YouTube now has an official channel for the U.S. Government. Feel free to check it out! I have the channel connected to this blog in two ways: there is a link under "Linking into Government Info" in the sidebar and the channel is embedded at the very bottom of this entire blog.

Or, simply go to http://www.youtube.com/USGovernment.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Hurricane Hazards: High Winds

Today's focus for National Hurricane Preparedness Week is hurricane hazards, high winds in particular.

High winds can be deadly, turning even the most inocuous item into a deadly projectile. For more information on how to prepare for the high winds of a hurricane, check out these documents:

Against the Wind: Protecting Your Home from Hurricane Wind Damage

Avoiding Wind Damage: a Checklist for Homeowners

Remember: Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. Be safe.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Monday, May 25, 2009

Meet the Press with Sen. Dick Durbin and Newt Gingrich (5/24/2009)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Face the Nation with Gen. Colin Powell (5/24/2009)

Watch CBS Videos Online

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

President Obama's Weekly Address (5/23/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Hurricane Hazards: Storm Surge

In honor of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, I'll be posting information from the National Hurricane Center.

Today's focus is hurricane hazards, especially storm surges.

Storm surges can be very dangerous. In fact, the Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness site offers more information on storm surges.

Remember: Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th. Be safe.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Sunday, May 24, 2009

National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 24-30, 2009)

This week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, brought to you by the National Weather Service's National Hurrican Center. Every day, a new link will be posted to help you learn more about hurricanes and how to prepare for them. Today, learn more about hurricane history here.

Continue to tune in throughout the week for helpful hurricane handouts...or stop by the 3rd floor of the Earl K. Long Library to pick up a few.

Sonnet Erin Brown
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Earth & Environmental Sciences, Philosophy

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

No Habeas Corpus for Enemy Combatants

The U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. has ruled that enemy combatants are not entitled to habeas corpus. What does this mean? It means that enemy combatants can be held indefinitely without the government having to bring charges against them.

Read Judge Bates' opinion.

(Kudos to Law Librarian Blog for the link: Court Says No Habeas to Enemy Combatants.)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Monday, May 18, 2009

Meet the Press with DNC Party Chair Tim Kaine and RNC Party Chair Michael Steele (5/17/2009)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Face the Nation with ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. (5/17/2009)

Watch CBS Videos Online

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

President Obama's Weekly Address (5/16/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Friday, May 15, 2009

Meet the Press with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari (3/10/2009)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Face the Nation with Former Vice President Dick Cheney (5/10/2009)

Watch CBS Videos Online

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Government Auction Sites

In this economic climate, even the government is in need of some cash. Government agencies holding auctions isn't anything new. Holding auctions online, however, is. So if you are looking for something...pretty much anything...check out these sites first:

PublicSurplus.com

GovDeals.com

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

President Obama's Weekly Address (5/9/2009)

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science

Friday, May 8, 2009

President Harry S. Truman's Birthday

Today marks the 125th birthday of our 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. President Truman served from 1945 to 1953 and was known as “Give 'Em Hell Harry." Harry Truman was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 3rd vice president. Unfortunately, President Truman only served as vice president for a few months before President Roosevelt died, leaving him to be sworn in as president on April 12, 1945. To learn more, click on these links:

White House: Biography of Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Sonnet Erin Brown
Federal Documents Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research/Political Science