Google Unveils New Tool To Dig for Public Data

By Kim Hart
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Google launched a new search tool yesterday designed to help Web users find public data that is often buried in hard-to-navigate government Web sites.

The tool, called Google Public Data, is the latest in the company's efforts to make information from federal, state and local governments accessible to citizens. It's a goal that many Washington public interest groups and government watchdogs share with President Obama, whose technology advisers are pushing to open up federal data to the public.

The company plans to initially make available U.S. population and unemployment data from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, respectively. Other data sets, such as emissions statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency, will roll out in the coming months.

Google is one of a number of Internet properties, including Wikipedia and Amazon, that has been trying to make it easier to find government information on the Web.

Read More at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042802280.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Seattle Night Skyline - Give Back The Night

SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION

Regular Meeting
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), Pacific Marine Center on Lake Union
1801 Fairview Avenue East
http://seattlefederation.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 23, 2009

AGENDA

The Hazards of Light Pollution
featuring representatives from Dark Skies Northwest

Largely because of a proliferation of unregulated, glaring lights, the Milky Way can no longer be seen from Seattle. With the adoption of full cut-off lighting and appropriate lighting levels, our view of the Milky Way can be restored. What are the impediments to enacting measures to protect our night skies and public health?

The April Federation meeting will feature representatives from Dark Skies Northwest to discuss the basic aspects of light pollution including lighting design aesthetics, energy waste, toll on health, effects on wildlife, loss of our view of the cosmos. Learn what can be done to help remedy the problem though good outdoor lighting and effective ordinances.
See: http://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/archive/2009/09-03/article1.aspx

The April meeting will also include our monthly Round Robin of issues and projects in your neighborhood. It is your opportunity to brief our citywide membership about what you are working on and to share perceptions on what is going right and what isn’t with our city government. Don’t forget, it is time to renew your Federation dues!

If you have informational materials you would like distributed at the meeting, please email electronic copies or links to Jeannie Hale at jeannieh@serv.net.

7:00 Call to Order and Introductions

Administration
1. Changes to the agenda
2. Treasurer’s report
3. President’s report

7:15 The Hazards of Light Pollution: Bruce Weertman, Lew Macfarlane, Rubie Johnson and David Ingram, Dark Skies Northwest

8:30 Round Robin
1. Legalizing detached accessory dwelling citywide
2. Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee—status report
3. Other issues/projects

9:00 Adjourn

NOAA is a federal facility on high security alert, so attendees must enter by the security gate and may need to present photo ID. If you haven't attended a recent Federation meeting, please send your name, contact information, and address to rickbarrett@gmail.com to be added to the entry list. No e-mail? Call 206-365-1267. The building is ADA compliant, with ample parking in front.