Main | Next page »
 

Entry bubble Enter the USA.gov Video Contest

By: Jess | February 18, 2010 | Category: Fun

Every day at GovGab we show you all kinds of ways we use the information we find on USA.gov.

But now we're turning the tables and we want to hear from you. We're running a video contest, asking you to make a 30- to 90-second video showing us how you use USA.gov to make your life better. The winner will receive a $2,500 prize. If that's not an incentive, I don't know what is.

Did you find passport information so you could go on a wonderful vacation?

Did you find loan or grant information to go to college or start your own business?

What has USA.gov done for you?

The contest starts on Monday, February 22 and runs until Friday, April 2. You can find the complete rules at USA.gov/contest.

So get those creative wheels turning. Create a video, upload it to our contest group on YouTube and fill out the entry form and you could win $2,500.

And pass the word on to friends and family. We can't wait to see the videos you submit!

| Post a Comment | View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: contest   jess   usa.gov   video  

 

Entry bubble Groundhog Day

By: Joanne | February 02, 2010 | Category: Fun

groundhog peeking out of it's holeToday is Groundhog Day and like the thousands of people gathered at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, I’m eager to hear if Phil sees his shadow.

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he doesn’t see his shadow, there will be an early spring. I know it’s just a legend, but like winning the lottery, I dream that he’ll emerge from his burrow, not see his shadow and spring weather will be just around the corner.

Groundhog Day has its origins in an ancient celebration of a point mid-way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. These days it’s still fun to observe tradition, but I prefer to turn to the National Weather Service for weather forecasts. I’m a native Pennsylvanian, so I’ll always have a soft spot for Phil the cuddly groundhog. But when it comes to weather forecasts, I look to the scientists with the climatic data.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: groundhog   joanne   phil   punxsutawney   spring   weather  

 

Entry bubble Tracking Santa 2.0

By: Jess | December 24, 2009 | Category: Fun

Tracking Santa just got easier.

The people at NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known for bringing us the ability to track Santa on his Christmas Eve trek around the world, have added tons more ways to stay up to the minute on Santa's whereabouts.

You can follow Santa's action on Facebook and Twitter. Plus there are pictures of Santa and his elves at NORAD briefings and other activities available on Flickr. And videos of Santa cruising the globe will be on YouTube.

All of the new methods of Santa tracking are in addition to the ability to track him on your phone or by calling (1-877-Hi-NORAD) or e-mailing (noradtracksanta-AT-gmail-DOT-com) the official Santa trackers.

Santa tracking begins at midnight MST (2 a.m. on the East Coast) on Christmas Eve. You can track Santa all through the day and when you see him getting close to you, it's time to leave some milk and cookies (and maybe a carrot for Rudolph) and tuck the kids in to bed.

From the GovGab team, we wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday season.

 

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: christmas   holiday   jess   norad   santa   tracking  

 

Entry bubble The Big Read Initiative

By: Jake | December 07, 2009 | Category: Fun

ReadingIt was so cold last week that I had to dig out the big coat. Winter officially starts in two weeks and for me that means it's reading season. Not that I don't read the rest of the year, it just always seems I read more in the winter. 

Of course the best government resource for books and reading programs is your local public library. The federal government resource I did not know about until last week is The Big Read Initiative. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) started the initiative five years ago in order to restore reading to the center of American culture.

The Big Read Initiative partners local organizations with the NEA to provide citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. You can find local Big Read events in your community and if there isn't one you can access The Big Read book list. You can also keep up with current events on The Big Read blog.

Have you ever participated in a Big Read discussion or a book club?

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: books   nea   reading  

 

Entry bubble National Christmas Tree Lighting Lottery

By: Colleen | November 04, 2009 | Category: Fun

I was in the drugstore two days before Halloween and I was greeted by the melodies of Christmas carols and the shelves were jam packed with holiday merchandise.tree

Once again, Thanksgiving gets the shaft.

Since everyone else is jumping the gun and springing right to the holidays, we here at GovGab are going to follow suit.

The 2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Thursday, Decemer 3rd. The ceremony includes not only the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, but music from the U.S. Marine Corps Band and 56 (one for each state, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia) other smaller trees arranged in a "pathway to peace."

To attend you must enter a ticket lottery- but hurry! You can only apply from November 4th through November 6th!

In preparation for the holidays, remember to be safe.  Check out some tips HERE.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: christmas   holidays   national_christmas_tree   safety  

Main | Next page »