Wednesday, February 11, 2009

USA.gov Blogs from the U.S. Government (Collection). Find active and archived blogs from U.S. federal agencies. Current postings include: USA.gov's collection of U.S. Government Blogs Big Read Blog : National Endowment for the Arts literature director David Kipen blogs regularly about his experiences promoting the Big Read initiative. Dipnote : This blog offers the public an alternative source to mainstream media for U.S. foreign policy information and the opportunity to discuss important foreign policy issues with senior State Department officials. Eye Level : This Smithsonian American Art Museum blog covers American art and the ways it reflects American history and culture. Future Digital System : U.S. Government Printing Office blog about the Future Digital System program that will be a world-class information life-cycle management system GLOBE Program : Dr. Peggy LeMone, chief scientist of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE), shares her comments and thoughts on science topics through this blog. Gov Gab : Gov Gab's six bloggers share tips and information from the federal government to help you make life a little simpler. Read along each weekday and comment and share your own experiences. Greenversations : The official blog of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health Marketing Musings : A blog about research, science, and practice in health marketing and communication, social marketing, information technology, public health partnerships, and more with Jay Bernhardt, Director of CDC's National Center for Health Marketing. Homeland Security Leadership Journal : Secretary Michael Chertoff blogs about working to protect the American people, building an effective emergency preparedness and response capability, enforcing immigration laws, and promoting economic prosperity. InfoFarm : The National Agricultural Library blogs about what they do and your world of agriculture, food, nutrition, animal care, and the environment. Library of Congress Blog : Highlights news and collections for the Library of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer Journals : Blogs about experiences of Peace Corps volunteers from around the globe. Pushing Back : Office of National Drug Control Policy blog to educate Americans about illegal drugs and the latest international, federal, state, and local efforts to reduce drug use. Sample archived blog : What Would You Put on a New Golden Record? : Aboard each spacecraft is a Golden Record, a collection of sites, sounds and greetings from Earth. If a new Golden Record were to be created, what one item from the past 30 years would you include? Editor's note : If you wish to share another U.S. government blog, send an email to harris23@mail.lib.msu.edu [Red Tape Blog] 4:09:44 PM     Stamp Price Increase Last week, Jake discussed the idea of the U.S. Postal Service cutting back its delivery services to five days a week. While that idea is still being tossed around, the USPS has announced that as of May 11th, 2009, the price of postage stamps will increase by 2 cents. That means, it will now set you back 44 cents to send a standard letter. Since rising costs are the norm right now, the postal service increases rates annually in May and the change is tied to the rate of inflation from the year before. The increase is estimated to cost the average household an additional $3 per year. Other changes include: A postcard stamp increases one cent to 28 cents. The first ounce of a large envelope increases 5 cents to 88 cents. The first ounce of a parcel increases 5 cents to $1.22. International postcard and letter prices, for one ounce, are 75 cents to Canada, 79 cents to Mexico, and 98 cents elsewhere. Before May 11th, you might want to stock up on Forever Stamps, which still sell at the 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. - Colleen [Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog] 4:04:46 PM

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