voicesweb's blog

May
14

A handy tool from Google for getting public data and statistics

ADDING SEARCH POWER TO PUBLIC DATA http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/adding-search-power-to-public-data.html Instructions for this first release--If you go to Google.com and type in [unemployment rate] or [population] followed by a U.S. state or county, you will see the most recent estimates: Once you click the link, you'll go to an interactive chart that lets you add and remove data for different geographical areas.see -- INTERACTIVE CHART at http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&idim=county:CN060850 See a VIDEO about this at the top URL --The data we're including in this first launch represents just a small fraction of all the interesting public data available on the web. There are statistics for prices of cookies, CO2 emissions, asthma frequency, high school graduation rates, bakers' salaries, number of wildfires, and the list goes on. Reliable information about these kinds of things exists thanks to the hard work of data collectors gathering countless survey forms, and of careful statisticians estimating meaningful indicators that make hidden patterns of the world visible to the eye. All the data we've used in this first launch are produced and published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Division. They did the hard work! We just made the data a bit easier to find and use. Read more »

May
06

Non-profit VOICES the model for future journalism - David Simon before Senate today

VOICES recently was granted it's formal 501c3 status as a nonprofit organization. This success for our little newspaper (which took many years of effort) is doubly interesting in that the journalism world is now abuzz with talk of nonprofit local journalism taking over the workload of news and information gathering, as one by one the biggest names in corporate news crash into bankruptcy.

Today, a number of newspaper journalists and news organization owners and representatives testified before the United States Senate about the difficulties that the "Fourth Estate" faces. One of the most interesting and anticipated speakers was David Simon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Simon_(writer

In his speech before senate, he suggests that Wall Street culture of 'profit before all' is what killed the newspapers, and proposes that a local non-profit approach to journalism may be the only solution to the loss of our society's most important protections for democracy - accurate reporting about the government and community. Read more »

May
01

AWAKEN PSU - free environmental event Sun 1-5:30pm

Awakening the Dreamer Symposium Trailer from Pachamama Alliance on Vimeo.

 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., April 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Penn State will host a free public event to raise awareness and inspire action on some of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The program, called Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream, will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2009, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the lower level of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at University Park.

Awakening the Dreamer is an initiative that encourages people to get together to "bring forth an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling human presence on this planet," according to organizers. To date, millions of people across the globe have participated in Awakening the Dreamer symposiums.

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Feb
28

Lost comments - our spam control software has been acting up

I've just realized that a few comments that should have been posted were placed in the spam moderation queue for reasons I can't quite determine. I've just restored them.

If you make a comment that you think is valid, and it doesn't appear, you can contact us and let us know, and we'll check for you.

Dec
03

Useful link - the 2008 Holiday COG trash pickup pdf

Is first day of deer season still a trash holiday? Yes it is.

Centre County COG Deer Season and Holiday refuse schedule

DATES AND ITEMS OF IMPORTANCE

• Christmas Tree Recycling: The week for Christmas Tree recycling has been scheduled for January 5th through the 9th of 2009. Please note these dates, as the 1st quarter billing insert may not arrive in time to promote this collection. Loose Christmas Trees, free of decorations and debris, can be placed at the curb for collection to be recycled. After the 9th, trees will be disposed of as garbage. College Township Residents, please contact the Township at 231-3021 for additional details about collection after the week of January 7th.

 

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Boalsburg Square in 1895
Nov
19

"Earliest Boalsburg Deeds and Genealogy Back to 1764"

Historic Boalsburg photos brought by the public such as this view of the Boalsburg village square circa 1895 will be scanned at the December 7 meeting in Boalsburg for inclusion in the upcoming Boalsburg 200th birthday book “Boalsburg Then and Now.” The December 7 event which is open free to the public also includes “This Land is Your Land,” a presentation of the earliest land records of the Boalsburg area dating back to 1764. (Photo Credit: Centre County Historical Society). Read more »

Nov
06

President-Elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Chicago

The "official" youtube video of the Democrat acceptance speech.

Aug
18

Clearwater asks "Help us find Japanese Knotweed" (with pics)

Japanese Knotweed: Invasive Species AssessmentClearwater Conservancy Riparian Conservation Project

This summer we are surveying Spring Creek for the presence of Japanese Knotweed in order to assess its abundance. Because of its potentially deleterious effect on the watershed, we will use this data to seek funds to treat the problem. Please call or email us if you observe this plant near any waterways (see number/email below).

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Aug
15

Migration Morning Birdwalks in September at Shaver's Creek

PETERSBURG, Pa. - Shaver's Creek Environmental Center will host Migration Morning Birdwalks each Wednesday morning in September from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the center.  Hosted by naturalist Doug Wentzel, the walks are free courtesy of Wiscoy for Animals. Wentzel will lead guests on a leisurely hike and demonstrate numerous bird calls.  He will show and discuss identifying marks on species from hawks to eagles and thrushes to woodpeckers. Guests should bring a good pair of hiking boots, optics, any guide books they have, and lots of questions.Registration for bird walks is appreciated but not necessary.  Call 814-863-2000 or e-mail [email protected]. ****Read more »
Jul
17

Clearwater Conservancy Update

Get your tickets now - "Going Green with ClearWater Conservancy" Night at the State College Spikes

July 18, 2008 (Friday) Read more »