Recovery.gov

Recovery.gov is the U. S. government's web site providing access to data related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse. Search options include grants, contracts, loans, agency, state, and amount. Information regarding how job data is estimated is provided via a link to a pdf document. Tables provide information regarding the top ten agencies which have paid out the most money and funding for all states and territories. Information regarding awards granted near you can be obtained by zipcode. Information regarding transparency, accountability, and agency reporting is also available.

The Academic Blog Portal

This wiki provides access to the academic blogosphere. Access blogs by academics according to subject, university, language, and country.

One of my favorite finds on this site: Information Literacy Land of Confusion.

The VerySpacial.com blog had an entry for Mapping Halloween Action. Who says geospacial imaging can't be fun!

So, whether your interest is art, public policy, history, language, bioethics, law, or some other discipline, check this portal out and have a little fun.

Data.gov

Data.gov provides access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the U. S. Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Information in searchable data catalogs can be accessed in three ways: through the raw data catalog, the tool catalog, and the geodata catalog.

This is a great site for info geeks. Search by keyword, single or multiple categories, and/or single or multiple agencies. There are datasets for a wide range of subjects including agriculture, business, climate, ecology, administrative and political boundaries, imagery and base maps, military, locations and geodetic networks, oceans and estuaries, transportation networks, utilities and communications, and much, much more.

H1N1 Flu

This a link to the Center for Disease Control's H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) information page. The page describes the symptoms and provides information for caring for persons with the virus.

USA Spending

The Obama Administration is committed to providing more transparency in government. If you want to track how the government is spending money, log onto the USA Spending site. This site tracks government contract spending and provides links to how federal money is spent in different States.

To track the spending of the Obama recovery stimulus package, use the recovery.gov web site.

Obama agenda for change

The new Obama/Biden administration has many issues to address. It has established a website which outlines the new administration's agenda to address the economic crisis. It also offers a way you can send your input on topics ranging from the economy to health care. The bottom of the website provides links to information on a large range of topics, resources, and ways to become actively involved in the change process.

There is also a link to the Transition Directory which was developed to introduce members of the Transition and the incoming Administration to the Federal government resources available to them.

GAO Transition Priorities for the New Administration

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) (no joke, there really is such a thing), has established a website to help the new administration and the new Congress with the transition by listing recommendations for addressing issues facing the country. Drawing upon its institutional knowledge, the GAO site provides key reports for further research and contact information for GAO experts.

Issues the GAO identify as urgent include:

• Oversight of financial institutions and markets
• U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Protecting the homeland
• Undisciplined defense spending
• Improving the U.S. image abroad
• Finalizing plans for the 2010 Census
• Caring for service members
• Preparing for public health emergencies
• Revamping oversight of food safety
• Restructuring the approach to surface transportation
• Retirement of the Space Shuttle
• Ensuring an effective transition to digital TV, and
• Rebuilding military readiness

The site lists agency-by-agency issues, cost-cutting opportunities, management challenges, and provides a model for the country's long term fiscal outlook. Information regarding FraudNET, the government's provision to report mismanagement of funds is also provided.