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Entry bubble Political Activity for Federal Employees (The Hatch Act)

By: Sommer | February 01, 2008 | Category: General

The 2008 presidential election is a really big deal for our country. It’s nice to see so many people turning out for the primaries.

Under the Hatch Act, though, federal, state, and local employees need to use some caution during the campaigning and election process, since they are only allowed to participate in limited activities. Under new laws, most federal employees can volunteer and contribute to the election process, but some restrictions still remain.

Remember that employees of certain federal agencies may not participate in any partisan political activities.

All federal employees may:

  • Register and vote as they choose
  • Assist in voter registration drives
  • Express opinions about candidates and issues
  • Contribute money to political organizations
  • Attend political rallies and meetings
  • Sign nominating petitions
  • Campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, municipal ordinances
  • Join political clubs or parties

Federal employees may never:

  • Use official authority or influence to interfere with an election
  • Solicit or discourage political activity of anyone with business before the agency
  • Solicit, accept, or receive political contributions
  • Engage in political activity while on duty, in a government office, while wearing an official uniform, or while using a government vehicle (This includes sending political emails from your government computer and email account.)
  • Become a candidate in a partisan election

If you violate the Hatch Act you could lose your job.  Make sure you fully understand your rights under this legislation before taking up a political cause. 

Happy Groundhog Day tomorrow! Pray that Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow – I’m ready for spring!!

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: election   employee   federal   government   hatchact   sommer   vote  

 

Entry bubble Parking Tickets

By: Colleen | January 25, 2008 | Category: General

parking ticketI got a parking ticket the other week because I have high arches in my feet.

Kind of.

While home in Philaburbia, I was on a quest for new sneakers. But not just ANY kicks.

A daily runner, I beat up my footwear pretty quick. And my feet? They're "special." (read: I have an insanely high arch - making me the ideal en pointe ballerina. Having the grace of an elephant hinders this somewhat, however.)

Thus, I buy running shoes made specifically for people with Everest-like arches. These are not always available at general sporting goods stores that have sprawling free parking lots.

My mission led me to a running-specific store in Bryn Mawr, PA. I park at a meter. It was Saturday. I checked for signs indicating whether or not one had to pay meters on weekends. No such sign existed. Proceeded to store. Bought shoes. Everyone wins.

Not so much.

Back at my car I was greeted by a crabby meter-maid and a hand-written bright yellow ticket. (Apparently Lower Merion Township is pretty old-school.)

Ticked off but distracted, I tossed the ticket onto my passenger's seat and there it remained.

Yesterday, my Dad called. "Colleen, do you care to explain the letter I received in the mail from the Lower Merion Police Department?" Apparently a township that still hand-writes their tickets likes to be paid rather promptly, and when your Dad's name is also on the title of your car, they send failure of payment notices his way.

The meter thing still bothers me. I decided to do some local government research to see what the real deal is with parking meters.

Turns out, "All may park, all must pay"- including Saturdays. I stand corrected, even with my high arches.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   government   local   parking   running   shoes   ticket  

 

Entry bubble Digital TV Transition

By: Sommer | January 11, 2008 | Category: General

By now, you've probably heard that on February 17, 2009, television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Last week, the Consumer Electronics Association reported that half of American households had purchased a digital TV to date. However, if you’re one of the more than 14 million households that rely on analog, over-the-air signals to watch TV you’ll need to take action before February 2009.

Let’s find out how the switch will affect you.

Do you own: Get your programming from: By Feb 17, 2009 you’ll need:
Analog TV Over-the-air or an antenna A Digital-to-Analog Converter box or to purchase a digital TV
Analog TV Cable, satellite, or other paid service You DO NOT need a converter box. Contact your service provider.
Digital or High Definition TV Over-the-air or an antenna Do nothing
Digital or High Definition TV Cable, satellite, or other paid service You DO NOT need a converter box. Contact your service provider.


If you need a converter box, the government’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program can help you save money. Here’s how it works:

  • Each household can apply for two coupons but you can only use one coupon per converter box.Digital TV
  • Apply for the coupons between January 1, 2008 and March 2009, while supplies last, in one of four ways:
    • Apply online
    • Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634. (Operators in 7 languages: English: French, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese)
    • Download a coupon application and mail it to: PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000
    • Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)

Fine print:

  • The converter boxes will be available in February or March 2008 through designated retailers and are expected to cost between $50 and $70 each.
  • The coupons expire after three months – don’t let your coupons expire because you can’t get more than two.
  • Only certain converter box models qualify for the coupon. The DTV2009.gov list will expand in the coming months so keep checking the website for more information.
  • There are a limited number of coupons available so order yours soon to make sure you get one.

Take a quiz to see if you’re ready for the DTV transition.

Then, take another quiz to become a DTV deputy so you’re qualified to teach your friends and family all they need to know about the transition.

| View Comments [7] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: analog   coupons   digital   dtv   government   sommer   transition   tv  

 

Entry bubble Perfect Sound Forever

By: Jake | October 01, 2007 | Category: Fun

On Saturday I saw Thurston Moore perform his new solo album in Washington, D.C. Moore is better known for being the leader of Sonic Youth and I saw Sonic Youth perform their 1988 album “Daydream Nation” in July.

A 33 album playing on a record player

“Daydream Nation” is one of 225 recordings in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. The National Recording Registry was created by the National Recording Preservation Act in 2000 “to maintain and preserve sound recordings and collections of sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

The National Recording Preservation Board chooses which recordings are to be submitted every year. They have chosen things you’d expect to see (or hear) such as the “I Have A Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. and President Roosevelt’s address to Congress after Pearl Harbor and things you wouldn’t expect such as recordings of Asian Elephants by Katharine B. Payne and various popular rock, rap and country albums.

The coolest thing about this registry is that the board accepts recording nominations from the public year round. A recording has to be 10 years old and can’t be a video recording to be nominated. I looked over the list to see if there is anything “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” that I would nominate and found they really do have a lot covered. Most major historical events I thought of I witnessed on television so they’re not eligible.

Of course one major historical event they don’t have is the first Federal Citizen Information Center campaign “Happy Facts” from 1973, but I'm not too certain it would make the review board's cut. The government still uses radio and television campaigns, but has expanded to use podcasts and blogs to distribute information these days.

While historical event sound recordings were a challenge for me, I had no problem thinking of three albums to put on the list. Suggest your own sound recordings in the comment section so we can discuss them.

“Remain in Light”-Talking Heads (1980)
“Ride the Lightning”-Metallica (1984)
“Slanted and Enchanted”- Pavement (1992)

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: congress   government   historical   history   information   library   music   preservation  

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