GovTrack.us: Tracking the U.S. Congress Los Angeles Murders and Homicides - The Homicide Report - Los Angeles Times Money in Politics -- See Who's Giving & Who's Getting Tracking homicides in Chicago - Tracking homicides in Chicago | RedeyeChicago.com How to Ask Candidates Questions that Make a Difference by Fran Korten Tips for spreading your ideas without getting the runaround. posted Feb 24, 2012 The Occupy movement has changed the political conversation. But will it make a difference in what politicians actually do? We can help—through the questions we ask. Our political discourse now regularly includes references to inequality, corporate power, and Wall Street excess. So when candidates show up at political and professional meetings, hold fundraisers, or are on the radio, we can ask questions that put forward policy ideas. These opportunities only work well if we craft our question carefully. Here are some dos and don’ts for asking questions that can help us all take advantage of this political moment. Ask your question in a way that can be heard Sound reasonable. Use your question to move an idea forward Put forward an idea rather than asking a general question. The dos and don’ts in action Now let me apply these dos and don’ts to a few fresh ideas. Now it’s your turn. Interested?
OpenRefine CQ Roll Call Site Will Help Users Contact Legislators There are Web sites that cover the actions and inactions of Congress. And there are Web sites that let voters contact their members of Congress and comment. CQ Roll Call wants to bridge the two. This week, the media company is revamping one of its Web sites, Congress.org, with an eye toward what one of its executives, Peter Anthony, calls “informed action.” “If I’m reading an article on Congress.org about an issue that’s important to me, I can very quickly contact my member of Congress and let them know how I feel about a specific issue,” said Mr. Anthony, the senior vice president and publisher of advocacy solutions for CQ Roll Call. In the past, Congress.org, a consumer-friendly version of the professional-grade Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call Web sites, has lacked up-to-date information on the bills being taken up by legislators. The company signed up an initial sponsor for the renewed site, the American Beverage Association, and will seek other sponsors in the future.
Hacks/Hackers » Journalism x Technology Sunlight Foundation Projects 180 Degrees description retired Identify attendees of influential hearings and events. Ad Hawk mobile description retired Identify political TV and radio ads. Call on Congress description retired Toll-free service to learn about and call Congress. Capitol Words description Explore and compare what Congress says.