Mashing up federal stats with maps – Nextgov

Fun!

Data.gov, the federal government’s clearinghouse of downloadable information, plans to release new gadgets that will enable the public to easily create mashups of maps and statistics, according to officials working on the enhancements.

via Data.gov’s next big thing: Mashing up federal stats with maps – Nextgov.

Wu-Tang Name Generator

Wu-Tang Name Generator.  I’m “Mighty Leader” – no sh*t!

Someone didn’t read the marketing directions I was given

Any excuse for a Tru-Blood picture:

New Zealand Blood Service is using vampire show to call for donations The New Zealand Blood Service said it is promoting its need for more blood donations through the “True Blood” television series. The move is aimed at getting the younger audience targeted by the show to start regularly donating blood. The campaign organizers are “capitalizing on a cultural phenomenon in a way that might serve them well,” an expert said.  Dominion Post (New Zealand), The (5/17)

See the actual news here:  Latest News – NZ Blood.

Keep Austin Fast!

Best newspaper headline I’ve seen in forever!

Formula One World Championship Limited and Formula One Administration Limited (together, the F1 Commercial Rights Holder) and Full Throttle Productions, LP, promoter of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™, announce that a historic agreement has been reached for Austin, Texas to serve as the host city of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ for years 2012 through 2021.

via Formula One headed for Austin.

Schumi on the road(way)

Oh this will be fun:

Schumacher targeting both 2010 titles

Even for a man of his high standards, after three years away Michael Schumacher would be forgiven for setting a modest target for his comeback season. The seven-time world champion, however, is clearly feeling as ambitious as ever and, alongside former Ferrari colleague Ross Brawn who heads up his new team Mercedes, Schumacher is aiming to win both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles.

via Formula 1™ – The Official F1™ Website.

Waiting for Santa

From DRTSmith – it doesn’t get much more touching than this (unless a Bully did it)

or click here (it’s a flash card)

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/preview/flash/pdShell.swf?ihost=http://ak.imgag.com/imgag&brandldrPath=/product/full/el/&cardNum=/product/full/ap/3173936/graphic1

Irish Times Catches Fire – Roll Call

Holy bad news at school batman!  Checking RollCall to comply with a school assignment I found this article:

Roof of Kelly’s Irish Times Catches Fire – Roll Call

The roof at Kelly’s Irish Times bar caught fire late Friday afternoon, kicking patrons, drinks in hand, to the sidewalk on F Street Northwest and drawing four firetrucks to the scene.

Irish Times is like the a) only place in DC I really remember the name of, b) my favorite, and c) where IAVA went to celebrate the end of the 2009 Legislative sweep, with big success on advanced appropriations.  They’ve got to get it fixed!

24 Hours With Secretary of State

IAVA board member Leslie Gelb has a great article on Madame Secretary of State in the U.S.’ most widely read magazine.  As if the upbeat stories about her weren’t enough, he describes in detail how we are getting our money’s worth from this dedicated public servant.

“We’re going to work you to death,” Hillary Clinton promised me with a laugh. She was taking me—and PARADE’s readers—along on a typical day in the life of the U.S. Secretary of State

via 24 Hours With Secretary of State Hillary Clinton | Parade.com.

Veterans Cash in on Texas

I was privileged to be allowed to speak at a presser announcing a new scratch-off lottery ticket to benefit the permanent Veterans Assistance Fund that Texas will use to grant money to benefit Vets.  The ticket is expected to bring in about nine million dollars a year.  I am not a big lottery player but lots of people are.  The ability for the state to help the DAV with their rides to the VA programs or to support the VFW’s Military Assistance Program is great.  And it can’t be bad to have something about Vets hanging in every convenience store in Texas.

Mostly I was very happy to see Rep. Chris Turner again – he’s a real, caring legislator and Arlington is lucky to have him – and to really meet Senator Van de Putte, a Texas classic and great friend to all our Veterans.

Here is a roundup of news coverage of the event:

The entire thing is archived at:  http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/81pressconferences/91019apc.ram

From:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Lottery_unveils_scratch-off_for_veterans.html

The Texas Lottery Commission on Nov. 9 — just ahead of Veterans Day — will start selling the first scratch-off ticket dedicated to a cause other than public education, where game profits now go.

The Veterans Cash scratch-off ticket is predicted to pour $9 million a year into veterans’ services when fully operational, and $5 million for the start-up year. The red, white and blue, eagle-adorned tickets will cost $2 apiece with a top prize of $20,000.

From  http://news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=256012

“Our president Harry Truman once said our debt to the heroic men and women in the service of our country can never be repaid,” Sen. Leticia Van De Putte, D-San Antonio, said. “They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifice. The fund and the veterans’ cash ticket are but a small token of Texas’ gratitude.”

From http://www.lotterypost.com/news/202482

From  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6675531.html#

Veterans groups plan a push to let their members know about the new game. John Miterko of the Vietnam Veterans of America called it “veterans helping veterans.”

From  http://www.kens5.com/latestnews/stories/KENS20091019-Texas-lotto-veterans.2322e9cd6.html

“We could help more veterans with transportation assistance to hospitals. We could help fund PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) counseling services that are so crucial especially to many of our younger veterans. We could do more to reduce the shame of homeless veterans,” said State Rep. Chris Turner.

Ticket sales are expected to generate about $8 million in revenue in its first year. Here’s where money that will go: 65 percent to prizes; 5 percent to retail commission; 7 percent to administrative costs; that leaves 23 percent of sales — about 46 cents per ticket — for the Fund for Veteran’s Assistance.

Ole’ Guy (in F1 relative terms) Rocks

Holy crap!  The ole’ guy is on pole.  Go Rubens!

(from  The Official Formula 1 Website ):  Thunderstorms had been predicted for Interlagos on Saturday, and the forecast proved devastatingly accurate as heavy rain turned qualifying into the longest session ever held in Formula One history. It began at 1400 and ended two hours and 41 minutes later!

Along the way it left luminaries such as Brawn GP’s Jenson Button down in 14th, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel in 16th and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton in 18th, as Rubens Barrichello did his title hopes a power of good by grabbing pole position for his home race.

via The Official Formula 1 Website .