Consumer Protection Act Reports, Summaries, and Commentaries

The Law Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C (LLSDC) has created a new Web site to provide a comprehensive history along with summaries and commentaries on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act (http://www.llsdc.org/Dodd-Frank-Act-Leg-Hist/). The site enables a user to determine when a provision got into the bill and how that provision changed in other versions when applicable. It also makes looking for related reports, hearings, and other documents easier.

Going Green

Do you have a desire to be more environmentally friendly, but don't know where to start? The EPA has an online pamphlet, GreenScaping: the Easy Way to a Greener, Healthier Yard. The pamphlet explains five steps for creating a healthier, more beautiful, and environmentally-friendly lawn and garden:

1. Build and maintain a healthy soil
   
2. Plant right for your site
   
3. Practice smart watering
   
4. Adopt a holistic approach to pest management
   
5. Practice natural lawn care
   

New Government Blog

Six government employees from the Office of Citizen Services and Communications at the U.S. General Services Administration have joined together to create a daily blog entitled Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog. These experts will blog about government services and information of interest to Americans in their daily lives. Judging from their lighthearted biographies, the blog promises to be entertaining as well as informative. You have a chance to add your own creative input as well since Gov Gab encourages feedback by comments or email.

How to Find Medical Information

Are you needing to find medical information, but don't know where to start? The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has a free guide, "How to Find Medical Information." The guide shows you how to use resources on the Internet and at your local library to track down the information you need. It even includes a list of popular medical reference sources for your home library.

Stop Annoying Phone Calls

Maybe you registered your home phone with the Do Not Call Registry, but did you realize you could also register your cell phone (personal phones only, no business phones)? After a 31-day processing period, you can stop calls from telemarketers for five years. Unfortunately or fortunately at this time of year, political calls can still come through as can calls from charities, telephone surveyors, and from any company with “which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls.” Online you can register three phones at once; by telephone you can register only one at a time (the phone you are calling from). If you have already registered and forgotten when your registration expires, you can click on the Verify a Registration button.