Checking in...and with a few resources!
Let's catch up on some government information platforms.
Morning, everyone!
Happy Wednesday! Not my usual day to post, but I haven’t been posting lately, anyway. Life got a little busy for me at the end of the summer. While it’s still looking a little chaotic for the rest of the year, I have a great time writing these newsletters when I’m able to fit them in, so I’ll try to get at least a few more out to you in 2022!
Since I’ve taken such an extended break, I’m doing something a little different today. This a quick catch-up on a few resources that I’ve wanted to highlight over the past several weeks, but haven’t been able to. Let’s get into it!
Time to vote!
Midterm elections are upon us, so if you’ve read my past newsletters, you probably know where I’m going to send you…to vote.gov!
Make sure you’ll all set to vote in your state’s elections. Additionally, check out Ballotpedia’s election calendars for a list of upcoming elections to watch. Read back on my earlier newsletter issue on elections for more resources.
Inflation
I’m hoping to get a newsletter out soon dedicated entirely to this topic. But in short: high inflation continues to cause consumers distress (see the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI report for September here), and many of us are revising our budgets. To stay informed about how your buying power has changed over the course of this year, use the CPI Inflation Calculator on the BLS homepage.
A book recommendation
Lastly, I wanted to provide something I normally don’t give out in this newsletter, but do quite a bit in my day job…a book recommendation! I’m in the middle of a fantastic read about data collection in the United States, using 1940 Census data as a case study. This book is called Democracy’s Data: The Hidden Stories in the U.S. Census and How to Read Them by Dan Bouk. It’s absolutely fascinating, and I truly think that every reader will take something essential from it. Sound boring, or just for statisticians? I promise, it’s not - it’s written in a narrative style that historical fiction lovers, true crime fanatics, or Eric Larson fans will also find exciting. Though I haven’t finished it yet, I can safely say that it’s been one of the most enjoyable and enriching books on government information that I’ve read. You’re sure to come away with a changed understanding of how humanitiy is quanitfied in the United States.
I’m looking forward to when I can send a more robust newsletter, hopefully in the near future. But for now, it’s been great to check in with you all. Until next time!
Audrey, so good to see you back! We need your authoritative voice, so I look forward to your return to a full posting schedule. The book you recommend here sounds great to me, and it will be on my list for my next read!