Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms: "Private Bill"
Private Bill: A measure that generally deals with an individual matter, such as a claim against the government, an individual’s immigration, or a land title. Private bills are considered in the House via the Private Calendar on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
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This definition is from our Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. The Pocket Dictionary is based on the Congressional Deskbook, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate Program in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences.
May 9, 2008 12:17 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Football, er, soccer, and promotion
For the promotion-phobics, the Premiership is a gilded fake while the Championship represents authentic football. ‘In my years as a supporter I have seen seven relegations and six promotions’, recounts Watford fan Graham Smith. ‘That is what being a football fan is all about. It is about supporting your team through thick and thin. It is about suffering the bad times and enjoying the good times. That’s why I like being a fan of a team that basically belong in the Football League rather than the Premier League. It is real football.’
"Every team wants to be promoted, right? Wrong," by Duleep Allirajah, Spiked!, May 9, 2008 [emphasis added]
More
- GolTV
- Fox Soccer Channel
- Major League Soccer (MLS)
- DC United
- Washington Freedom
- United Soccer Leagues (USL)
- Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA)
- Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)
- US Youth Soccer
May 9, 2008 10:17 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Dave Grimaldi
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite things about living in our nation's capital. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites"
Dave Grimaldi (bio) shares his favorites.
Five most interesting places to visit
- The Folger Shakespeare Library behind the Supreme Court. web site, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-544-4600.
- Meridian Hill Park,web site, 16th and U Streets NW, Washington, DC.
- Frederick Douglass's birth place, web site, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA, 703-777-3174.
- The Dumbarton Oaks estate in Georgetown, web site, 2715 Q Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-337-2288.
- The National Cathedral web site, Massachusetts and Wisconsin NW, Washington, DC, 202-537-6200.
Five most favorite “fun” things to do
- Going to the National Zoo two hours before closing, after all of the crowds are gone. web site, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-633-4800.
- Heading to the monuments during big snowfalls.
- Walking to Kalorama and seeing the grand ambassadors' residences. Kalorama Wikipedia entry, Kalorama, Washington, DC.
- Hitting the Dupont Circle Farmers' Market every Sunday morning. web site, 20th Street NW between Q and Massachusetts NW, Washington, DC, 202-362-8889.
- Bike riding through downtown and the Mall. You can see it all in less than a day! District of Columbia map.
Five favorite restaurants
- Cactus Cantina web site, 3300 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 202-686-7222. [WaPo | Washingtonian | Yelp]
- The Palm web site, 1225 19th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-293-9091. [WaPo | Washingtonian | Yelp]
- Sushi Taro web site 1503 17th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-462-8999. [WaPo | Yelp]
- Tosca web site, 1112 F Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-367-1990. [WaPo | Washingtonian | Yelp]
- Five Guys web site, now that they offer franchises they have many locations throughout the area. [WaPo | Washingtonian | Yelp]
For more, also see our Visiting Washington DC pages
May 8, 2008 09:07 AM Link Faculty Favorites Comments (0)
Media Tip 90
Media Tip 90: Know the signs of a crisis and adapt your organization to the changing environment. Use all means available, including outside advisors, to get your boss to admit that you’re in the midst of a crisis.
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This tip is from our booklet, Media Relations Tips: 102 Secrets for Finding Success in Public Relations. Practical tips for anyone who works with the media, works with someone who works with the media, or who works at an organization that is covered in the media. An easy handout for everyone in your group to make sure that they are prepared and confident if they ever have to deal with the media. Based on the Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. |
TheCapitol.Net offers Media Training and Communication and Advocacy Training, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Executive Conferences.
May 6, 2008 10:07 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Wal-Mart expands "discounted prescription drug program to offer 90-day supplies for $10"
I've spent a fair amount of time shilling for Wal-Mart's prescription drug plan on this blog, so don't think for a second that I would miss today's news that the Corporate Monster from Bentonville is greatly expanding the program to include a whole slate of new drugs, including, according to AP, "several women's medications."Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, announced Monday it would expand its discounted prescription drug program to offer 90-day supplies for $10 and add several women's medications at a discount. It also said it would lower the price of more than 1,000 over-the-counter drugs.
"The Wal-Mart Prescription Drug Benefit," by Michael C. Moynihan, Hit & Run, May 5, 2008
More
- Wal-Mart Pharmacy
- $4 Prescriptions Program
- List of $4 drugs available - by medical condition (5-page pdf
)
May 5, 2008 03:57 PM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
"Want to Remember Everything You'll Ever Learn?"
In the late 1800s, a German scientist named Hermann Ebbinghaus made up lists of nonsense syllables and measured how long it took to forget and then relearn them. (Here is an example of the type of list he used: bes dek fel gup huf jeik mek meun pon daus dor gim ke4k be4p bCn hes.) In experiments of breathtaking rigor and tedium, Ebbinghaus practiced and recited from memory 2.5 nonsense syllables a second, then rested for a bit and started again. Maintaining a pace of rote mental athleticism that all students of foreign verb conjugation will regard with awe, Ebbinghaus trained this way for more than a year. Then, to show that the results he was getting weren't an accident, he repeated the entire set of experiments three years later. Finally, in 1885, he published a monograph called Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. The book became the founding classic of a new discipline.
Ebbinghaus discovered many lawlike regularities of mental life. He was the first to draw a learning curve. Among his original observations was an account of a strange phenomenon that would drive his successors half batty for the next century: the spacing effect.
Ebbinghaus showed that it's possible to dramatically improve learning by correctly spacing practice sessions. On one level, this finding is trivial; all students have been warned not to cram. But the efficiencies created by precise spacing are so large, and the improvement in performance so predictable, that from nearly the moment Ebbinghaus described the spacing effect, psychologists have been urging educators to use it to accelerate human progress. After all, there is a tremendous amount of material we might want to know. Time is short.
"Want to Remember Everything You'll Ever Learn? Surrender to This Algorithm," by Gary Wolf, Wired, April 21, 2008
More
- SuperMemo - Super Memory: Forget about forgetting
- "SuperMemo Helps You Remember Everything Before You Forget," lifehacker, April 22, 2008
- Introduction to "Memory" Hermann Ebbinghaus (1885/1913), by Robert H. Wozniak
- SuperMemo Library
- SuperMemo and learning English
May 4, 2008 10:27 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
"I Have a Dream..."
… that one day, corporate executives will tire of being bullied by demagogic politicians. I was reminded of that dream by a press release issued yesterday by Sen. Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and long-time Republican major-domo on energy policy.
"I Have a Dream..." by Jerry Taylor, Cato-at-Liberty, May 1, 2008
See the article for Jerry Taylor's suggested reply to this congressional request.
However, if you are a company executive who won't send such a letter, and you need help preparing to testify before Congress, sign up for our 1-day course Preparing and Delivering Congressional Testimony, next scheduled for July 30, 2008
May 2, 2008 10:27 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms: "Division Vote"
Division Vote: A vote in which the committee chair or House presiding officer counts those members in favor and those in opposition to a proposition with no record made of how each voted. The chair can either ask for a show of hands or ask members to stand.
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This definition is from our Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. The Pocket Dictionary is based on the Congressional Deskbook, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate Program in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences.
May 2, 2008 09:27 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
"How Roses Handle Water"
A team of chemists from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China figured out why tiny water droplets seem to get stuck to petals of red roses. Not unexpectantly, the mechanism, known as the Cassie impregnating wetting state, is a result of nanostructures ("hierarchical micropapillae" and "nanofolds") on the surface of petals.
"How Roses Handle Water," medGadget, April 29, 2008
Reminds us of the invention of Velcro by George de Mestral.
April 29, 2008 03:17 PM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Media Tip 97
Media Tip 97:
The eight mistakes to avoid in a crisis are:
• Ignoring the problem and not changing priorities.
• Not adjusting the decision-making apparatus and team.
• Letting lawyers direct the public relations policy.
• Allowing systemic crises to become image crises.
• Withholding information.
• Not correcting errors immediately.
• Using the wrong spokesperson.
• Not being honest.
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This tip is from our booklet, Media Relations Tips: 102 Secrets for Finding Success in Public Relations. Practical tips for anyone who works with the media, works with someone who works with the media, or who works at an organization that is covered in the media. An easy handout for everyone in your group to make sure that they are prepared and confident if they ever have to deal with the media. Based on the Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. |
TheCapitol.Net offers Media Training and Communication and Advocacy Training, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Executive Conferences.
April 29, 2008 08:37 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms: "Strike and Insert"
Strike and Insert: Amendment that replaces text in a measure or an amendment.
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This definition is from our Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. The Pocket Dictionary is based on the Congressional Deskbook, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate Program in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences.
April 25, 2008 05:07 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Comprehensive list of low-cost ultraportables
Roundup of light weight ultrpaortable computers, including the Asus Eee PC, Everex Cloudbook, HP Mini-Note, and forthcoming MSI Wind and Acer.
"Comprehensive list of low-cost ultraportables," from Lilliputing
April 25, 2008 07:27 AM Link Technology Comments (0)
The World's Best Restaurants?
First published by Restaurant magazine in 2002 and now in its seventh year, The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants is recognised around the world as the most credible indicator of the best places to eat on Earth.The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants. In the US:
- 5. The French Laundry, Yountville, CA [Yelp]
- 6. Per Se, New York [Yelp]
- 17. Jean Georges, New York [Yelp]
- 20. Le Bernardin, New York [Yelp]
- 21. Alinea, Chicago [Yelp]
- 37. Chez Panisse, Berkeley [Yelp]
- 38. Charlie Trotter's, Chicago [Yelp]
- 41. Daniel, New York [Yelp]
Rounding out the top 100:
52. Nobu, New York [Yelp]
54. Masa, New York [Yelp]
63. WD-50, New York [Yelp]
85. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, New York [Yelp]
87. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas [Yelp]
April 24, 2008 05:07 PM Link Dining Comments (0)
"Hillary is Dunkin Donuts, Barack is Starbucks"
Hillary is minivans and American sedans, Barack is Range Rovers and Hondas. Hillary is cross-trainers with jeans, Barack is Abercrombie and Fitch and Banana Republic. Hillary is Dunkin Donuts, Barack is Starbucks. And their supporters are equally vocal, in different ways.
"Primary concern: Nasty fight between Obama, Clinton could blow it for Democrats," by Lisa van Dusen, Edmonton Sun, April 22, 2008
John McCain is Costco.
"McCain Knows Where to Vote Shop: Costco," Washington Whispers, April 18, 2008
April 23, 2008 10:17 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
May 2008 Legislative, Communication, and Media Training from TheCapitol.Net
Our latest email update:
http://www.thecapitol.net/PublicPrograms/email2008/email_2008_April22.html
Also see our new Audio Course Bundles, money-saving packages of our popular Capitol Learning Audio Courses.
TheCapitol.Net, Inc.
>> Exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences.
>> Non-partisan training and publications that show how Washington works. TM
April 22, 2008 11:47 AM Link Training Comments (0)
Media Tip 31
Media Tip 31: Create radio feeds with broadcast quality equipment. Public relations professionals
should interview the principal like a journalist and create a 90- to 120-second feed to deliver to stations.
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This tip is from our booklet, Media Relations Tips: 102 Secrets for Finding Success in Public Relations. Practical tips for anyone who works with the media, works with someone who works with the media, or who works at an organization that is covered in the media. An easy handout for everyone in your group to make sure that they are prepared and confident if they ever have to deal with the media. Based on the Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. |
TheCapitol.Net offers Media Training and Communication and Advocacy Training, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Executive Conferences.
April 22, 2008 09:37 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Media Training and Tools
Upcoming live courses in DC
- Media Relations for Public Affairs Professionals, May 6, 2008
- Advanced Media Relations, May 7, 2008
- Public Affairs and the Internet: Advanced Techniques and Strategies, May 20, 2008
Upcoming telephone seminar
- Creating a Message That Resonates with Your Audience, June 3, 2008
Capitol Learning Audio Courses
- Creating a Message That Resonates with Your Audience
- Crisis Communications: Establishing an Internal Crisis Communications System
- Crisis Communications: Hoping That It Will Never Happen, But Glad You Planned For It
E-Newsletters, Email Alerts, Podcasts, and Your Website - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - Getting the Information You Need
- How the Media Works and How to Work the Media
- Maximizing the Internet for the Public Affairs Professional
- Media Relations: Capitalizing on Your Resources, Your Office, and the Media
- Media Relations: Merging Policy and Media Strategies
- Media Relations: Secrets to Changing Nattering Nabobs of Negativism into Perky Purveyors of Positivism
- Media Relations for the Newbie
- Press Conferences and Media Interviews for Scientists and Engineers
- Public Affairs Primer for Nonprofits and Associations
Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch
Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch
April 21, 2008 05:27 PM Link Training Comments (0)
Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms: "Blue-Slip Resolution"
Blue-Slip Resolution: House resolution ordering the return to the Senate of a Senate bill or amendment that the House believes violates the constitutional prerogative of the House to originate revenue measures.
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This definition is from our Pocket Dictionary of Legislative Terms. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. The Pocket Dictionary is based on the Congressional Deskbook, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate Program in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences.
April 18, 2008 10:57 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
These Yorkies love riding on the Piaggio MP3
Useful Yorkie Stuff | Piaggio MP3
April 17, 2008 01:07 PM Link Fun ~ Pets Comments (0)
Media Tip 59
Media Tip 59: Appreciate the differences between traditional communications and web-based communications. The Internet is not a billboard; it requires communicators to present multiple messages while still targeting core audiences.
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This tip is from our booklet, Media Relations Tips: 102 Secrets for Finding Success in Public Relations. Practical tips for anyone who works with the media, works with someone who works with the media, or who works at an organization that is covered in the media. An easy handout for everyone in your group to make sure that they are prepared and confident if they ever have to deal with the media. Based on the Media Relations Handbook, by Brad Fitch. The cover and inside pages of this booklet can be customized with your logo and information. For more information, see our Booklets page. |
TheCapitol.Net offers Media Training and Communication and Advocacy Training, and is the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Executive Conferences.
April 15, 2008 04:37 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Plain Language - Writing Refresher
The government has tried several steps over the past few decades to encourage agencies to issue documents in plain language. Former Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton all issued executive orders requiring various government documents to be written in plain English, and agencies have launched their own initiatives.
But readers trying to figure out what the bureaucrats are saying still complain about wording. So freshman Rep. Bruce Braley , D-Iowa, is trying again -- this time with a bill that would put the no-jargon requirement into law.
"House Will Try to Make Uncle Sam Use Plain English," CQ Midday Update, April 14, 2008
Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007, H.R.3548, S.2291
To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes.
Need help using "plain language?" See our 1-day course, "Writing Refresher: Critical Thinking and Writing."
April 14, 2008 05:27 PM Link Training Comments (0)
