October 2008 Archives
Glossary of Legislative Terms: "Markup"
Markup: Meeting by a committee or subcommittee during which members offer, debate, and vote on amendments to a measure.
 |
This definition is from our Glossary 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, we show you how Washington and Congress work. TM
October 31, 2008 09:07 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Hugo Chavez
On September 18, we released a report in Caracas that shows how President Hugo Chávez has undermined human rights guarantees in Venezuela. That night, we returned to our hotel and found around twenty Venezuelan security agents, some armed and in military uniform, awaiting us outside our rooms. They were accompanied by a man who announced--with no apparent sense of irony--that he was a government "human rights" official and that we were being expelled from the country.
. . .
In the more than twenty years that Human Rights Watch has worked in Latin America, no government has ever expelled our representatives for our work, not even the right-wing dictatorships guilty of far more egregious abuses than those committed by Chávez. Presumably they knew better. After all, Chávez's decision to expel us merely served to confirm the central message of our report and ensure that it received extensive coverage around the globe.
Why did Chávez do it? One Brazilian on the plane on which we were forced to leave Venezuela offered a view that is increasingly widespread throughout Latin America: "Chávez is crazy." But the human rights defenders we work with in Venezuela have drawn a far more sobering conclusion. Chávez, in their view, was sending a deliberate message to his fellow countrymen: he will not allow human rights guarantees to get in his way, no matter what the rest of the world may think.
If their interpretation is right, it does not bode well for the future of Venezuelan democracy.
"Hugo Chavez Versus Human Rights," by Jose Miguel Vivanco, Daniel Wilkinson, The New York Review of Books, November 6, 2008
Of course, the falling price of oil won't help Chavez, either.
October 29, 2008 07:17 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Media Tip 56
Media Tip 56: Understand who in the radio medium makes the decisions that will affect you. Radio news staffs are small, unless you are dealing with the top news station in a major market. Individual radio reporters work independently, decide whether to cover a story, conduct interviews, and write and edit the stories.
 |
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.
October 28, 2008 04:47 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Navy Day, October 27th
This is a WWII poster from the Northwestern University archives.
Navy Day, October 27th
October 27, 2008 07:37 AM Link Art Comments (0)
When you smile the whole world smiles with you
In June 2008 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, a team of cosmetic surgeons suggested this experiment is making all of us happier. People with Botox may be less vulnerable to the angry emotions of other people because they themselves can’t make angry or unhappy faces as easily. And because people with Botox can’t spread bad feelings to others via their expressions, people without Botox may be happier too. The surgeons grant that this is just speculation for now. Nevertheless, they declare that “we are left with the tantalizing possibility that cosmetic procedures may have beneficial effects that are more than skin deep.”
"Why Darwin Would Have Loved Botox: All those wrinkle-causing winces, smirks, and sneers may have been the product of evolution." By Carl Zimmer, Discover, October 15, 2008
Also see "Warm Hands Warm Your Heart," by Steven Reinberg, The Washington Post, October 23, 2008
October 26, 2008 01:17 PM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
The Term Paper "Business"
The term paper biz is managed by brokers who take financial risks by accepting credit card payments and psychological risks by actually talking to the clients. Most of the customers just aren't very bright. One of my brokers would even mark assignments with the code words DUMB CLIENT. That meant to use simple English; nothing's worse than a client calling back to ask a broker -- most of whom had no particular academic training -- what certain words in the paper meant. One time a client actually asked to talk to me personally and lamented that he just didn't "know a lot about Plah-toe." Distance learning meant that he'd never heard anyone say the name.
In broad strokes, there are three types of term paper clients. DUMB CLIENTS predominate. They should not be in college. They must buy model papers simply because they do not understand what a term paper is, much less anything going on in their assignments.
. . .
The second type of client is the one-timer. A chemistry major trapped in a poetry class thanks to the vagaries of schedule and distribution requirements, or worse, the poet trapped in a chemistry class.
. . .
The third group is perhaps the most tragic: They are well-educated professionals who simply lack English-language skills.
. . .
There's another reason I never felt too badly about the job, though I am pleased to be done with papers. The students aren't only cheating themselves. They are being cheated by the schools that take tuition and give nothing in exchange.
"The Term Paper Artist: The lucrative industry behind higher ed's failings." By Nick Mamatas, The Smart Set, October 10, 2008
And we wonder why a college degree doesn't mean what it used to....
More
- "America's Most Overrated Product" - Hobnob Blog, October 23, 2008
- "Are Too Many People Going to College?" - Hobnob Blog, September 14, 2008
- "Does it matter where you go to college?" - Hobnob Blog, October 2, 2007
- "Kids and High School" - Hobnob Blog, January 24, 2006
- "What You'll Wish You'd Known," by Paul Graham, January 2005
October 24, 2008 10:37 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Congressional Deskbook: "Managers"
Managers: Representatives from a chamber to a conference committee; also called conferees.
|
This definition is from our Congressional Deskbook. 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, we show you how Washington and Congress work. TM
October 24, 2008 07:57 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
If you use AVG do NOT accept the update on 10/23/08
If you do you will lose ALL Internet access.
Switch to McAfee.....
Sheesh
October 23, 2008 01:23 PM Link Comments (0)
America's Most Overrated Product
[E]ven those high-school students who are fully qualified to attend college are increasingly unlikely to derive enough benefit to justify the often six-figure cost and four to six years (or more) it takes to graduate. Research suggests that more than 40 percent of freshmen at four-year institutions do not graduate in six years. Colleges trumpet the statistic that, over their lifetimes, college graduates earn more than nongraduates, but that's terribly misleading. You could lock the collegebound in a closet for four years, and they'd still go on to earn more than the pool of non-collegebound -- they're brighter, more motivated, and have better family connections.
Also, the past advantage of college graduates in the job market is eroding. Ever more students attend college at the same time as ever more employers are automating and sending offshore ever more professional jobs, and hiring part-time workers. Many college graduates are forced to take some very nonprofessional positions, such as driving a truck or tending bar.
"America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree," by Marty Nemko, The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2, 2008
More
- "Are Too Many People Going to College?" - Hobnob Blog, September 14, 2008
- "Does it matter where you go to college?" - Hobnob Blog, October 2, 2007
- "Kids and High School" - Hobnob Blog, January 24, 2006
- "What You'll Wish You'd Known," by Paul Graham, January 2005
October 23, 2008 09:17 AM Link Career ~ Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
USB Sync&Charge cable for Amazon Kindle
This "Lovely Retractable Sync and Charge Cable for Palm Zire 31 72" from suntekstore.com (Item Number: 10000496) works to recharge a Kindle 1 from a powered USB port.
Be careful - there are many cables sold as fitting the PalmZire31 that do NOT fit the Kindle 1. The Lovely cable above is the only one of the few we have tried that works.
October 22, 2008 04:07 PM Link Tools Comments (0)
Thin-skinned
Study the topic of "taking offense" and you realize people are like tuning forks, ready to vibrate with indignation.
"Well, Excuuuuuse Meee! Why humans are so quick to take offense, and what that means for the presidential campaign." By Emily Yoffe, Slate, October 17, 2008
October 22, 2008 09:47 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
October - December 2008 Legislative, Communication, and Media Training from TheCapitol.Net
Our latest email update:
http://www.thecapitol.net/PublicPrograms/email2008/email_2008_October21.html
Also see our 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
October 21, 2008 08:27 AM Link Training Comments (0)
Media Tip 6
Media Tip 6: Public policy is too important to leave to policy experts. Don’t just communicate the message—influence it.
|
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.
October 20, 2008 06:37 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Unregulated Capitalism? Where?
Communism’s failure involved Stalin’s terror-famine in Ukraine, the Gulag, the deportation of the Kulaks, the Katyn Forest massacre, Mao’s Cultural Revolution, Che Guevara’s executions in Havana, the flight of the boat people from Vietnam, Pol Pot’s mass slaughter -- a total death toll of 94 million people, according to the Black Book of Communism. Prominent American leftists -- from Lillian Hellman and Dalton Trumbo and lots of other writers to Alger Hiss of the State Department and FDR speechwriter Michael Straight, who became the publisher of The New Republic -- were members of the party that did these things. And that party had total control in the countries that it ruled. There were no opposition parties, no filibusters, no election-related maneuverings that prevented the party in power from getting what it wanted.
. . .
And what is the "failure," as [Harold] Meyerson puts it [in the Washington Post], of this semi-deregulated capitalism? Does it involve mass starvation? Does it involve terror-famines? Does it involve millions of deaths? No, so far it involves a sharp decline in the stock market from record levels. Taking 1980 as the starting point for Meyerson’s nightmare vision of "unregulated capitalism," here’s what has happened to the S&P 500. It’s had some dips, but it still reflects vast wealth creation, and vast increases in the assets of our IRAs and 401(k)s.
"Gods That Fail," by David Boaz, Cato @ Liberty, October 15, 2008
More
- Museum of Communism - by Bryan Caplan
- "What Unregulated Capitalism?" By Conn Carroll, The Foundry, Heritage Foundation, October 15, 2008
October 19, 2008 07:07 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Prediction Markets and Manipulation
As many people suspected someone was manipulating Intrade to boost John McCain's stock price
. . .
This is big news but not for the reasons that most people think. Although some manipulation is clearly possible in the short run, the manipulation was already suspected due to differences between Intrade and other prediction markets. As a result,According to Intrade bulletin boards and market histories, smaller investors swept in to take advantage of what they saw as price discrepancies caused by the market shifts -- quickly returning the Obama and McCain futures prices to their previous value.
This resulted in losses for the investor and profits for the small investors who followed the patterns to take maximum advantage.
This supports Robin Hanson's and Ryan Oprea's finding that manipulation can improve (!) prediction markets - the reason is that manipulation offers informed investors a free lunch.
"Manipulation of Prediction Markets," by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution, October 18, 2008
After the election, for analysis of what the election means in Congress, see our Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election.
More
- "Trader Drove Up Price of McCain ‘Stock’ in Online Market," by Josh Rogin, CQPolitics, October 17, 2008
- intrade
- IEM - Iowa Electronic Markets - from the University of Iowa
- "Speculation and Energy Prices: Legislative Responses," by Mark Jickling and Lynn Cunningham, CRS Report for Congress RL34555, July 8, 2008 (28-page pdf
)
- "Subprime Mortgages: Primer on Current Lending and Foreclosure Issues," by Edward Vincent Murphy, CRS Report for Congress RL33930, March 19, 2007 (12-page pdf )
October 18, 2008 12:37 PM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Glossary of Legislative Terms: "Vehicle/Legislative Vehicle"
Vehicle/Legislative Vehicle: Term for legislative measure that is being considered.
|
This definition is from the Glossary in our Congressional Deskbook. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting. We show you how Washington and Congress work. TM
October 17, 2008 08:27 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Media Tip 55
Media Tip 55: Use radio to strengthen your position. While the weakest of the three major media, radio can be very effective at reinforcing a message. Be aware that the best time for radio coverage is morning drive time, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
|
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.
October 15, 2008 11:37 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Glossary of Legislative Terms:: "Rider"
Rider: Colloquialism for an amendment unrelated to the subject matter of the measure to which it was attached.
|
This definition is from the Glossary in our Congressional Deskbook. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting. We show you how Washington and Congress work. TM
October 9, 2008 04:07 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election to be Cosponsored by TheCapitol.Net and Congressional Quarterly
From Congressional Quarterly (CQ) and TheCapitol.Net
|
Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election Intensive 3-day congressional operations workshop Learn how Capitol Hill really works. |
|
|
This Congressional Quarterly Executive Conference is offered exclusively by TheCapitol.Net |
After this year’s historic election, TheCapitol.Net will hold its Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election program from Wednesday, November 12, 2008 to Friday, November 14, 2008, at the Goethe-Institut in Washington, DC. Each day’s program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.
The Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election will provide attendees with the foundation for policy, politics, and process in today’s U.S. Congress with an emphasis on the outcomes of the 2008 election. Congressional experts will discuss congressional operations and the legislative process, politics and leadership in the new Congress, and what this election means for the 111th Congress and Congressional budgeting.
The Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election lays the foundation for Washington professionals who want to learn and be more effective on Capitol Hill in the upcoming 111th Congress.
Q&A with all faculty throughout.
- November 12-14, 2008
- 8:30 am to 4:00 pm each day
- See web site for agenda, location and secure online registration.
For more information, see www.ElectionCapitolHillWorkshop.com.
October 7, 2008 10:27 AM Link Capitol Hill Workshop ~ Congress ~ Congressional Operations ~ Training Comments (0)
Media Tip 99
Media Tip 99: Understand the environment in which you work. Public relations practitioners operate in a setting shaped by the public mistrust created by the Watergate Scandal and the Vietnam War. Most Americans distrust the government.
|
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.
October 6, 2008 03:57 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Buy bonds the G.I. way
This is a WWII poster from the Northwestern University archives.
Buy bonds the G.I. way
October 4, 2008 02:57 PM Link Art Comments (0)
"wild greed and market failure"
Many believe that wild greed and market failure led us into this sorry mess. According to that narrative, investors in search of higher yields bought novel securities that bundled loans made to high-risk borrowers. Banks issued these loans because they could sell them to hungry investors. It was a giant Ponzi scheme that only worked as long as housing prices were on the rise. But housing prices were the result of a speculative mania. Once the bubble burst, too many borrowers had negative equity, and the system collapsed.
Part of this story is true. The fall in housing prices did lead to a sudden increase in defaults that reduced the value of mortgage-backed securities. What's missing is the role politicians and policy makers played in creating artificially high housing prices, and artificially reducing the danger of extremely risky assets.
"How Government Stoked the Mania: Housing prices would never have risen so high without multiple Washington mistakes." By Russell Roberts, The Wall Street Journal, October 3, 2008
The consensus among economists is now clear, the best strategy for dealing with the financial crisis is to recapitalize the banks that need recapitalization.
"The Economic Consensus v. Politics," by Alex Tabarrok, Marginal Revolution, October 3, 2008
October 3, 2008 07:57 AM Link Caught Our Eye ~ Economics Comments (0)
Glossary of Legislative Terms: "Well"
Well: Open space in the front of the House chamber between members' seats and the podium. Members may speak from lecterns in the well.
|
This definition is from the Glossary in our Congressional Deskbook. Perfect reference tool of Congressional jargon and procedural terms. Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress, by Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider. |
TheCapitol.Net offers training and a Certificate in Congressional Operations and Federal Budgeting. We show you how Washington and Congress work. TM
October 2, 2008 08:47 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
