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Entry bubble Election Day 2009

By: Joanne | November 03, 2009 | Category: General

voteHey – Election Day is here again. Did you vote yet? Since you’re a GovGab reader I know that you are highly intelligent, and I bet you’re planning to get out to the polls today. I’m going to vote during my lunch break today. I always look forward to voting; I don’t want to leave these important decisions up to everyone else.

Even though we’re not electing a president this year, there are still many important elected offices up for grabs this year. Depending on where you live, there may be judges, representatives, and all sorts of local officials on the ballot. These people will make a difference in your everyday life and community, so don’t miss the opportunity to cast your vote. If you’re not sure what offices are on the ballot in your community, your state election office will have that information.

So get out to your polling place today and vote!

| Post a Comment | View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: elected   election   official   polling   vote  

 

Entry bubble Comment on Polar Bear Habitat Proposal

By: Jake | November 02, 2009 | Category: General

A Mother Polar Bear and her cubsHave you ever seen the Planet Earth series? It was a recent BBC documentary that explored various ecosystems and animals around the world. One of the scenes that sticks out in my mind is one where a starving polar bear tries unsuccessfully to eat a walrus.

I'd been thinking about that scene last week when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced a proposal to designate a critical habitat for the polar bear. The total area proposed for designation would cover approximately 200,541 square miles entirely within the lands and waters of the United States. 

This is the largest critical habitat area ever proposed by the FWS under the Endangered Species Act, though approximately 93 percent of the area is sea ice. It's mostly ice because the polar bear, which has been protected under the Endangered Species Act since May 2008, lives year-round on sea ice. 

There is concern about the critical habitat's impact on oil and gas development. This is why the FWS has set up a 60-day public comment period to get feedback from the public. You can read all the legislation and comment on the proposal.

What do you think of the FWS's  proposal for a polar bear critical habitat?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: habitat   polar_bear   proposed  

 

Entry bubble Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend

By: Jess | October 29, 2009 | Category: General

ClockHere's a big reminder if you don't have it on your calendar yet.

Don't forget to change your clocks this weekend!

Starting on Sunday at 2 a.m. Daylight Saving Time will end (for the places that observe it) and we'll all need to set our clocks back one hour.

Personally I love the extra hour of sleep, but hate the shorter days that come with switching back to standard time. I'm also not always the best at remembering to change the clocks. I usually remember at the last minute Saturday night. Forgetting to change your clocks can cause mild chaos for some people, like a friend of mine who went the whole day without remembering to switch her clocks and almost ended up being late for work the following Monday. (This was in the spring, when we were supposed to spring our clocks ahead an hour.)

Curious as to why this whole Daylight Saving Time and changing clocks thing even exists? National Geographic did a nice job explaining the history of DST.

Have you ever forgotten to change your clocks? Feel free to share your stories in the comments.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: changing_clocks   daylight_saving_time   jess   sleep   time  

 

Entry bubble Visa Lottery

By: Joanne | October 27, 2009 | Category: General

statue of liberty

Would you, or someone you know, like to become a U.S. citizen? Then you should know that the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is accepting applications until November 30, 2009. Some call it the Green Card Lottery, but the official program name is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Each year, this program makes 50,000 diversity visas available to people who want to be U.S. citizens. Winners are drawn by a random selection among all entries.

The eligibility requirements are strict, and to qualify, there are work experience requirements, education requirements, and a prospective immigrant has to come from a country that has low immigration rates to the United States. Still, it’s a great opportunity.

Over the years we’ve seen many websites posing as official U.S. government websites that charge a fee to help people enter the Diversity Visa Program. Don’t be fooled, you can apply for free.

Good luck!

| Post a Comment | View Comments [0] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: card   citizen   diversity   green   immigration   joanne   lottery   visa  

 

Entry bubble GreenGov Challenge

By: Colleen | October 21, 2009 | Category: General

GreenGov

Attention federal employees!

When people complain about the way the government operates, usually nobody knows how to fix it better than those who are caught in the eye of the storm.

Now, federal employees are welcome to share their ideas and voice their opinions in the GreenGov challenge.

GreenGov is part of President Obama's signing an executive order on Federal Sustainability- where the federal government commits to leading by example and building a clean energy economy based on how it operates.

The GreenGov website allows you to submit your ideas and suggestions directly. Some of these ideas will be presented later as agencies are building their environmental plans and long-term strategies.

What suggestions do you have to make your agency more efficient?

Even if you're not a federal employee- how has your company improved its carbon footprint?

**Colleen is losing sleep and years off her life because of Red October: GO PHILLIES!**

| Post a Comment | View Comments [8] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: carbon_footprint   efficient   energy   green   greengov  

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