Happy birthday, GPO!

GPO
Originally uploaded by mag3737

This month the Government Printing Office is celebrating its 150th anniversary. This is the institution that sends depository libraries like mine thousands of publications each year so that the public - not just our students - can be informed.

They have a lovely video which I can't embed but you can see here. Can you imagine an era when a government agency provided an in-house bowling alley for its blue collar workers?

How a Bill becomes Law

A very old topic for illustrations, but a REALLY nice illustration, with tons of information. Thanks to Free Government Information for pointing it out.

All Lights Burning Bright

Ever since we moved to the Northwest my wife and I have gone to the Vancouver Folk Festival more years than not. About a decade ago I started getting depressed about one aspect. I am basically a fan of singer/songwriters, and I wasn't hearing any new performers there that excited me. Oh, I was happy enough to hear Utah Phillips, Christine Lavin or Bob Snider again, but where was the new talent that would knock my socks off? I thought: maybe it's me. Maybe I'm too old and jaded to get wowed by a new performer like I used to.

Then one year David Francey showed up. And I said "Nah. The problem isn't me."

A Report on Reports Canada

Canada Flag Reflection Downtown Vancouver N2065e
Originally uploaded by Harris Hui

I stumbled over something pretty cool today. Reports Canada is an unofficial website that puts up links to reports issued in Canada: federal, provincial, and non-profit. Here are a few examples:

A Study of Aboriginal Teachers’ Professional
Knowledge and Experience in Canadian Schools (Canadian Teachers' Federation)

Foundation For a Sustainable Northern Future: Report of the Joint Review Panel For the Mackenzie Gas Project

Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society (Alzheimer Society of Canada)

Very nicely done.

My first ever cosmetics review

Cover Girl Outlast Lip Pen Review
Originally uploaded by Violet LeBeaux

Well, actually I just want to review an ad for Cover Girl Outlast Lip Pen. I happened to be in a store yesterday and saw an ad that said CGOLP "feels five times lighter" than some competitor.

Can anyone explain that to me? Let's say you pick up a fifty pound weight. Now pick up a weight that is one time lighter. That would be zero pounds, wouldn't it? So twice as light would be minus fifty. And five times lighter?

There are three kinds of bad math: confusion, lies, and advertising.