November 2007 Archives
Congressional Deskbook: "Fiscal Year (FY)"
Fiscal Year (FY): October 1 through September 30; e.g., fiscal year 2009 begins on October 1, 2008.
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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
November 30, 2007 04:27 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
China
It is Hong Kong’s good fortune to possess, in addition to its corporatist elite, a vibrant civil society, the rule of law, and a free press; China has no such safety valves for the discontent of its people, no resilience in its politics. The echo chamber of today’s Chinese regime--with its slogans and show trials, its claims of expertise and openness, its pretense of oversight and accountability--cannot do the work of pluralist democracy. As James Madison knew, an extended republic, even a “people’s” republic, requires institutional checks and balances if it is not to devolve into a tyranny--or to remain one.
"My Short March Through China," by Gary Rosen, Commentary, December 2007
November 29, 2007 02:27 PM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
"Nothing in the modern world compares with North Korea"
Nothing in the modern world compares with North Korea, though it gives us some clue about how life must have been under the pharaohs, in Imperial Japan before Hiroshima, or in the obliterated years--conveniently erased from memory by blushing fellow travelers--when Josef Stalin was revered as a human god.
. . .
The main feeling the visitor has in Pyongyang is one of pity at the pathos of the place--its hopeless, helpless overestimate of its own power and importance, the deluded ignorance of millions of people carefully protected from any inrush of truth about themselves, their country, and their rulers. Every radio and TV set has been carefully neutered, its tuning dial soldered so that it can receive only the transmissions of the North Korean state. There is no access to the Internet except for a tiny, select few. Cell phones are confiscated from visitors upon arrival, though the very senior elite are believed to possess and use them. The newspapers are comically constipated accounts of speeches by the Dear Leader, long-ago angling contests, and uninteresting visits by junior dignitaries from countries ruled by dubious governments, which you would struggle to find on a map.
It may well be even worse than it looks. Pyongyang is a show city, inhabited by a favored layer of privileged and chosen people, who know that misbehavior of any kind could lead to exile to places we cannot even imagine. I have seen the miserable coal towns of China, which are open to visitors and have at least been touched by the prosperity flowing through the People’s Republic. They look like 19th-century pit villages in Britain. But even I cannot conceive of the dreariness and overpowering gloom of their North Korean equivalents, hidden away in the northern mountains, which no Westerner ever sees.
"Prisoners in Camp Kim: Strange, secretive, and desperately poor, North Korea tests the limits of social control." By Peter Hitchens, The American Conservative, November 19, 2007
November 28, 2007 09:47 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Media Tip 34
Media Tip 34: Compose your strategic message using general ideas. The message’s goals may or may not fit into a limited time period or have a clearly measurable outcome. A strategic message is a broad theme, an overarching set of principles or ideas that guide and shape all communications. A strategic message flows from an organization’s strategic goals and helps define its role in the marketplace of ideas, allowing citizens to frame the organization in their own minds, based on their own desires, interests, and value systems.
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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.
November 27, 2007 04:07 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Congressional Deskbook: "President Pro Tempore"
President Pro Tempore: Presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; usually the majority party senator with the longest period of continuous service.
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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
November 23, 2007 09:17 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Excellent BBQ near Williamsburg, VA - Hog Wild Smokehouse
Gracious service, excellent food.
Must try's: the collard greens, pulled pork, pear cobbler (in season), sweet potato pie.
Five kinds of sauces in a recycled 6-pack carrier
Mr. Bill's Oyster Feast, with barbeque beans
Combo: ribs, pulled pork, Stewed green beans, cheesy cornbread, collard greens
Hog Wild Smokehouse, web site, 8864 Richmond Road, Toano, VA 23168 757-741-2515 [Yelp | dailypress.com]
November 22, 2007 11:27 AM Link Dining Comments (0)
Do any economists, other than Milton Friedman, have their own choir?
Do any economists, other than Milton Friedman, have their own choir?
Hat tip to Marginal Revolution
November 21, 2007 08:07 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Media Tip 8
Media Tip 8: Return reporters’ phone calls. Period.
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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.
November 20, 2007 08:37 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Very small cars - Peel from the Isle of Man, Moonbeam from Maine
Top Gear Peel P50 Report - The Smallest Production Car
Peel Trident & P50
The Moonbeam
More
- Microcar Museum, 2950 Eatonton Road, Madison, GA
- Peel Microcars
- Peel P50 - Wikipedia
- "The Peel P50 - the one car you can drive ALL the way to work!" from AutoblogGreen, November 11, 2007
- "How to build Moonbeam, a 100 MPG microcar," by Jory Squibb
November 17, 2007 08:47 AM Link Technology Comments (0)
Congressional Deskbook: "Amendments in Disagreement"
Amendments in Disagreement: Provisions in dispute between the two chambers.
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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
November 16, 2007 05:17 PM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Bill Noxon
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"
Bill Noxon (bio), a public relations practitioner, shares his favorites.
Favorite Places to Visit
My work led me to a couple of these choices after having more than a normal visitor's access, so my picks may have some innate prejudices.- The White House -- Whether or not you agree with the politics of whomever is the sitting president, there is nothing more exciting than getting an up-close and personal look at this fascinating place. It's not as large as it may appear in pictures, and when you go into the press room where they hold daily briefings, it feels like you're inside a small box because of the tight theater-style seating and all the equipment buzzing around you. Yet, that's the room you see every day on TV and where White House spokesmen reach millions with their communications on presidential activity and policy. The other rooms up in the main White House complex are a little smaller than one may expect, but their beauty, furnishings and art leave you almost speechless. Many rooms give you a wonderful view of the Rose Garden. When you consider you're walking on the same floors as every president since the White House was built, you realize that you are probably one of the very few Americans who have the opportunity to be inside this seat of global power. It is an awesome place. I've personally been fortunate enough to be able to walk many of the rooms without tour guides and just contemplate the experience. I've been involved in ceremonies in the East Room with Presidents Clinton and Bush, which were all exciting events. And I can verify from having the opportunity to attend a few presidential receptions that the White House food is -- in a word -- fantastic. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC [White House Visitor Center, 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC | White House Tours]
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial -- I was not in Vietnam, but was in the Army during the final couple of years of this conflict. If you are of an age that you have had friends or family involved in Vietnam, the 58,000 or so names that stream across this marvelous monument leave you literally without words. Even though I know of no personal friends who were casualties, I go back and continually scan the names. It's not that I want to find someone I know, but it's one of those eerie things that draws you back. The names represent real people, young people, whose lives were lost trying to do their duties in support of our nation. web site, search for names at The Wall, map (approximately 22nd Avenue NW and Constitution Avenue NW). Visiting Arlington National Cemetery is probably a good corollary if you're paying tribute to our fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen, but nothing leaves you quite as struck as this Vietnam memorial. web site, map (located just beyond the western end of the Memorial Bridge; the Lincoln Memorial is located at the eastern end of Arlington Memorial Bridge)
- The Capitol -- This used to be my favorite place to visit because of its beauty and its history, but the recent security measures have really detracted from the Capitol's true personality. There was a time you could walk into most entrances, get into the House and Senate galleries with little problem, and in fact, during my early days of broadcast news, I was able to cover many hearings in both chambers, and pretty much come and go without question. And not too long ago, it was common to see Senators and Congressmen walk by, and if you recognized them, you might get a few words with them. The atmosphere isn't as welcoming as it once was, but the building still has a lot of charm, and it is another of those "can't miss experiences" if you are in DC. web site, map
- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum -- Even for those who aren't especially interested in aviation, this is still one of the nation's most attractive "free" experiences. The kids love it. Some of the old aircraft and space vehicles are suspended high above the main floor, while others are available to on the floor for close-up viewing. The museum is beautifully laid out so that you can take escalators up and down to many other displays, theater presentations and interactive exhibits. I haven't looked at statistics recently on visitation, but this seems to be one the one place tourists all migrate to because of its central location and interesting presentation. web site, Independence Avenue SW at 6th Street SW, Washington, DC, 202-633-2563
- The Lincoln Memorial -- Of all the individual memorials in Washington, this one still makes my heart pound when I go there. It's not just that it's Abe Lincoln and his legacy that are presented there. But it's the beauty of the statue, the words that grace the interior, and the remarkable view as you turn back toward the Mall and see the Washington Monument and Capitol Rotunda squarely ahead. Then there are visions of the many historic events that occurred there, such as the Vietnam war protests, Martin Luther King, Junior's great speeches, the stirring performances given there during Independence Day and other special occasions. web site, map, next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, article from Wikipedia
- Others -- You can make a full day of Smithsonian's various museums of art, science and technology and never walk more than a mile [web site | also see "Museums, Memorials and Monuments in DC" from TheCapitol.Net]. The John F. Kennedy Memorial on the edge of Arlington National Cemetery [web site] should be a stop on your tour. People are starting to "lose the significance" of this tragic event in our nation's history, so I tend to steer people there.
There are those who believe Washington has recently become too crowded with new memorials [e.g., FDR, WWII], diluting the significance of each. But I still believe many of the earlier monuments hold the most beauty, and places like the White House and Capitol retain their importance because they are still very active as part of our national character and historical relevance.
Fun Things to Do
- Fourth of July celebrations -- These are always great. They bring people together in harmony, and it's a great traditional party in Washington. None was better than the bicentennial celebration. But they are all good. web site
- Return of baseball -- My own favorite things include the return of baseball to DC, and I will "most definitely" escalate this to the top of my list when the new Nationals' stadium opens next year. Driving down South Capitol Street once a month gives you a great "progress" snapshot of the new ballpark. And it's going to be a beauty. Washington Nationals, web site, RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC. [Also see "Sports in DC" from TheCapitol.Net]
- Scottish Walk in Old Town Alexandria -- This used to be an annual winter event for me before moving somewhat far out of town. A great bagpipe parade, followed by some exploring in Old Town makes for a fun full day. web site, Alexandria, VA: map, "The Fun Side of the Potomac"
- Biking along the Potomac from Old Town Alexandria to Mount Vernon (home of George Washington) on the Mount Vernon Trail. Another of my favorite former activities, but hundreds still do this on a weekly basis, and it's a beautiful ride down the river that is almost flat for most of the ride. Mount Vernon Trail, web site from National Park Service, web site from Bike Washington. Also see "The Visitor's Biking Guide to Washington DC"
- Sampling microbrews at various bars and restaurants around town. Like exploring new restaurants, it can be a fun tasting experience. [See Microbreweries and Brew Pubs by students in MGT 558: Marketing & Community at The Catholic University of America: DC, MD, Northern VA]
Favorite Restaurants
This is harder. Most of my eating is now done outside of DC.- L' Auberge in Great Falls. After many decades, it's probably still near the top in fine French eating in the area. Maybe there are better, but never are you disappointed at this great restaurant. web site, 332 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA [Economist | TCEDG]
- Luigi's on 19th Street. Another old DC institution. Lots of Italian places come and go, but Luigi's is an institution, with some great pizza and exquisite Italian dishes for its pricing. The pizza is not quite what it was in the 1970s, but its other dishes are still wonderful. web site - Warning: slow to load flash 1132 19th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-331-7574 [WaPo | insiderpages | WETA | Yelp]
- Chart House in Old Town Alexandria. Great atmosphere and seafood selections. web site, One Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-684-5080 [openlist | Yelp]
- Cafe Tirolo, Arlington. This little place on Fairfax Drive tucked behind Tara Thai is operated by one of D.C.'s former top chefs (from Austria) who opened up his own place in Alexandria before moving to Arlington. A walk-up and order kind of place, the food is varied, and absolutely delicious. 4001 Fairfax Drive, # 16, Arlington, VA, 703-528-7809 [TCEDG | WaPo | MenuPages | openlist | Yelp]
- About 25 Chinese restaurants could share this position [see TCEDG - Chinese]. Hard to choose a favorite. You can go almost anywhere in the city and find some truly top-notch Chinese eating. Unfortunately, my personal favorite is Yangming in Philadelphia near Villanova University and Bryn Mawr College. Nothing compares! If it were a DC restaurant, it would jump to # 1 on my list. Yangming, web site, 1051 Conestoga Road, Bryn Mawr, PA, 610-527-3200 [Citysearch | MenuPages | Yelp]
For more, also see our Visiting Washington DC pages
November 15, 2007 06:17 AM Link Dining ~ Dining and Things to Do & See ~ Faculty Favorites ~ Fun ~ Visiting Washington, DC Comments (0)
Media Tip 12
Media Tip 12: If caught doing something wrong, admit it—immediately and repeatedly. It is better to reveal a failing and be considered sincere than have it discovered and be considered deceitful.
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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.
November 13, 2007 06:17 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Congressional Deskbook: "Transfer"
Transfer: Shifting funds from one appropriation account to another, as authorized by law. Contrast to Reprogram.
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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
November 9, 2007 07:07 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
"The New Girl Order"
For many, fertility decline seems to be one more reason to celebrate the New Girl Order. Fewer people means fewer carbon footprints, after all, and thus potential environmental relief. But while we’re waiting for the temperature to drop a bit, economies will plunge in ways that will be extremely difficult to manage—and that, ironically, will likely spell the SYF [single young female] lifestyle’s demise. As Philip Longman explains in his important book The Empty Cradle, dramatic declines in fertility rates equal aging and eventually shriveling populations. Japan now has one of the oldest populations in the world--one-third of its population, demographers predict, will be over 60 within a decade. True, fertility decline often spurs a temporary economic boost, as more women enter the workforce and increase income and spending, as was the case in 1980s Japan. In time, though, those women--and their male peers--will get old and need pensions and more health care.
And who will pay for that? With fewer children, the labor force shrinks, and so do tax receipts. Europe today has 35 pensioners for every 100 workers, Longman points out. By 2050, those 100 will be responsible for 75 pensioners; in Spain and Italy, the ratio of workers to pensioners will be a disastrous one-to-one. Adding to the economic threat, seniors with few or no children are more likely to look to the state for support than are elderly people with more children.
"The New Girl Order: The Carrie Bradshaw lifestyle is showing up in unexpected places, with unintended consequences." By Kay S. Hymowitz, City Journal, Autumn 2007
November 8, 2007 08:07 AM Link Demographics Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Dining and Places - Chuck Cushman
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"
Chuck Cushman (bio), an associate professor and director of the Master of Arts in Legislative Affairs program at The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, shares his favorites.
Most interesting places to visit
- Capitol Building, map
- Building Museum, web site, 401 F St NW, Washington, DC, 202-272-2448
- U Sreet Corridor, Wikipedia, Cultural Tourism, map
Favorite “fun” things to do
- Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden on Fridays during the summer. web site, 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-785-1277
- See the monuments at night, TheCapitol.Net's Museums and Memorials, National Park Service map of the mall
- Running though Rock Creek Park -- best green space in town, web site
- Buying Italian groceries at Litteri's wholesale in NE Washington, web site, 517 Morse St NE, Washington DC, 202-544-0184
- Films at AFI Theater, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD, 301-495-6720
Favorite restaurants (all in NW)
- Al Crostino, web site, 1324 U St NW, Washington, DC, 202-797-0523 [Yelp | WaPo]
- El Chalan, web site, 1924 I St NW, Washington, DC, 202-293-2765 [TCEDG | Yelp]
- Rumba Café, web site, 2443 18th St NW, Washington, DC, 202-588-5501 [WaPo | Yelp]
- El Patio, web site, 12303 Twinbrook Pkwy, Rockville, MD, 301-231-9225 [WaPo]
- Busboys and Poets, web site, 2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC, 202-387-7638 [Yelp | WaPo]
For more, see our Visiting Washington DC pages and other Faculty Favorites.
November 7, 2007 07:47 AM Link Dining ~ Dining and Things to Do & See ~ Faculty Favorites ~ Fun ~ Visiting Washington, DC Comments (0)
Media Tip 95
Media Tip 95: When in an image crisis, admit all errors quickly and forthrightly. Use third-party defenders when in the right.
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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.
November 6, 2007 08:07 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
Lyndon LaRouche - blogger extraordinaire?
If anyone was made for blogging, it was surely Lyndon LaRouche.
"Publish and Perish: The mysterious death of Lyndon LaRouche's printer," by Avi Klein, Washington Monthly, November 2007
November 5, 2007 07:17 AM Link Caught Our Eye Comments (0)
Congressional Deskbook: "Rise and Report"
Rise and Report: Term to refer to the culmination of proceedings in the Committee of the Whole. The Committee of the Whole sends the measure it has been considering back to the House for final disposition.
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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
November 2, 2007 12:17 AM Link Tips and Terms Comments (0)
