New Web 2.0 Tools on USA.gov
Visit Government 2.0 for the latest tools available on USA.gov and other federal websites. With these tools, USA.gov hopes to engage the public and improve access to government information and resources. Here are just a few of the Web 2.0 tools you can find on USA.gov:
Blogs – Check out our library of active federal blogs.
Word Cloud – See a visual representation of the 75 most popular search terms on USA.gov.
Videos – Find government videos on health topics, space travel, food preparation, and more.
News – Get the latest RSS feeds from across the federal government!
Gadget 2.0 – Find government gadgets or widgets developed and maintained by one agency and shared across the web.

Report: Citizen Satisfaction with Federal e-Government Hits All-Time High
American Customer Satisfaction Index E-Government Satisfaction Index, February 3, 2009 and related Excel Score Chart
"The truth is that even before Obama became President, the government was doing a remarkable job satisfying citizens with e-gov initiatives—in fact, as the following report attests, citizen satisfaction with e-government was at its highest point in more than five years at the end of 2008 (the study’s surveys were conducted on more than ninety-four federal websites from October 1-December 31, 2008). However, we’ve only scratched the surface of e-gov’s potential, and a new President with a commitment to technology and the Internet is the perfect choice to implement new policies, executive orders, funding, and legislation that will improve the ability of federal departments, agencies, and programs to serve citizens online."

On February 6, the Senate voted 73-24 to adopt a measure by Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to place tighter restrictions on facilities that can be built with money from the H.R. 1, the economic stimulus bill. The amendment would bar spending on casinos, aquariums, zoos, golf courses, swimming pools, stadiums, community parks, museums, theaters, art centers, and highway beautification projects. That's broader than a prohibition in the House-passed bill, which applied only to casinos, aquariums, zoos, golf courses and swimming pools. http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090207/pl_cq_politics/politics3027043
See how your senator voted at: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00136 The fastest way to find your state is go to the bottom of the page. Above that is a handy guide by yea, nay and not voting.

Music and sport derive from French. In Middle English, sport meant broadly "hobby" or "entertainment"; it came from the French word disport. English music is from Old French musique via Latin from Greek for the "art of the Muses." The root is also the basis for amuse, bemuse, mosaic, and museum. The Writer’s Almanac

The nine muses in Greek mythology were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Calliope is the Muse of Epic Song and is shown with a wax tablet. See pictures of all nine and their attributes at:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/mgodsandgoddesses/tp/Muses.htm

Quote
I think that children’s fiction, more than anything, has the capacity to change lives.
Neil Gaiman, British-American author, and winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal for The Graveyard

A.Word.A.Day feedback
From: Kate Wellspring (kwellspring amherst.edu)
Subject: minor correction
On the Origin of Species was published Nov 24, 1859 rather than on Feb 12 (Darwin and Lincoln's birthday).
From: Stuart Showalter (showalter.stuart gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--conduce
Def: To lead to or contribute to a particular result.
Being a lover of the law and an admirer of Justice Oliver Wendel Holmes, Jr., I have always remembered his use of this beautiful, uncommon word. It seems Holmes had a standing desk where he did much of his work. "Doesn't it tire you?" his wife asked, watching him write one day. "Yes," the Justice replied. "But it's salutary. Nothing conduces to brevity like a caving in of the knees."

Muse reader feedback on moving a house over ice
My father and grandfather moved their cabin on their island using logs--three times! Till they found a spot that didn't flood.