Are You Experiencing One Wild and Precious Summer?
My response, "I'm not sure." I know I have something to share. In fact, I have a lot I could/can share. But where to start?
The other week, my Mama dropped off some magazines for me, which she occasionally will do. When she's done scouring the pages, she'll hand them over for me to enjoy. In this case, she left the June 2017 issue of Oprah's O Magazine. After sitting on my kitchen island for almost two weeks, I finally had a day in which I felt relaxed enough to truly sit down and enjoy flipping through a magazine. This particular day was July 4th. My children were out of town with their father, and my husband and I had the day to enjoy together. No work, no commitments. At first we felt the pressure to go do something, go to the lake, party with friends, do something spectacular and cool on this holiday. But, we gleefully discovered we were on the same page and wanted nothing more than to just relax, do nothing, and enjoy being together. We avoided the South Carolina heat, did nothing spectacular, and loved every minute of it. As we basked in our uneventful day, I read through the pages of the magazine, consistently being pulled in by article after article. By the end of the day, I was in awe at the realization that I could not put the magazine down and had been inspired by not just one article, but so many that I had folded down more page corners than I think I ever have in any magazine. Each writer inspired me to think of things that I want to write about and share with the world in hopes that I could in turn inspire someone, fill their heart maybe, bring a smile to their face. It's a wonderful, sometimes indescribable thing when that happens. It's something us writers live for and absolutely love when these unexpected moments of inspiration capture our time and attention.
Oprah and your fabulous peeps – Mission Accomplished!
I immediately picked up my phone, Googled Oliver's poem, and voila! Next thing you know I'm searching for an image of the poem and posting it on my Instagram.
Yep. I was indeed inspired.
Then, I realize, oh my gosh…Mary, Oprah, I HAVE been living a fabulous summer. What!?
Like possibly one of the first summers in which it actually does feel wild and precious.
Yes! Quite honestly, I don't want it to end. I worked so incredibly hard this past school year. Always on the go, always exhausted, always looking forward to better things, better times.
But this summer has been different for me. Not just a regular teacher's break from the insanely busy school year, but I was actually blessed with the chance of a lifetime.
I'm gonna admit here that I honestly don't know the words to describe what I hope and pray will not end up being a once in MY lifetime experience… At this point, I still feel like it was all a dream. And I promise you I am not over-exaggerating.
I was graced with an all-expense paid trip to Europe. I traveled through the South of France, all along the French Riviera – shopping in Cannes, Hollywood dream-like dining in Saint Tropez, even a dreamlike visit to Monaco, staying in Sainte-Maxime, France in one of the most gorgeous homes I've ever set eyes on, much less visited. I consistently pinched myself in an attempt to remind myself that the whole experience was actually real. Closing out my 9-day journey was a visit to Switzerland – a magical place that totally captured my heart, so much so that I think I will forever fantasize about retiring there. And, the bonus was that I had the privilege of enjoying this adventure with my amazing, sweet Mama – my rock, my truly forever BFF – as we were hosted by most precious, dear friends of hers.
Needless to say, I could write novels, even movie screenplays, based on the beautiful things, places and people that I saw and the incredible stories that were shared with me. My heart and mind get overwhelmed just thinking about the fabulousness and preciousness of it all and the true blessing of meeting these truly incredible people.
As Mary Oliver hints in her lovely poem, life is short! The way I see it, we get one chance to rock it, be our best and truly live it up! I have a feeling she and Oprah would agree with me.
Coming across this particular quote was an accidental blessing.
One of my favorite radio stations is q93.5. I follow them on Instagram. This past Sunday they posted this quote by Alex Elle, wishing everyone a good morning. I had no idea who this Alex Elle was. In fact, upon first read earlier in the day, I thought, maybe it's from some of the DJ's named Alex and Elle? Later on Sunday night, before diving into a load of stressful work, I treated myself to one more scan of Instagram, secretively hoping for some uplifting inspiration to help lift my head out of my state of overwhelming work and life stuff. I allowed myself to read the q93.5 Instagram post again and really soaked in the words. I thought, wow, this is lovely. This is gold. Priceless truth for your life.
I immediately knew I needed to find out who Alex Elle was. I Googled the name and came across this site www.alexelle.com – a beautiful discovery for sure. Come to find out, this Alex Elle is a brilliant writer, a woman who shares her passion for life, love and healing through poetry, narrative writing, storytelling…At first glance over her website and blog, I have fallen in love with her positive spirit of hope, self-love, healing, and positive living. I immediately signed up for her email newsletters of encouragement and plan to follow her blog.
My accidental blessing of coming across this incredible woman's amazing work as I simply sought out a quick escape before trudging through required, aggravating school work, has enriched my life. I only hope that I'll continue to pursue her encouragement and let it help build the strength that I know is within me. If I could do what she does and have the means to dive into my writing, share my own personal journey, and spread joy, love, encouragement and hope into others lives, and actually make a living at it, I WOULD TOTALLY DO SO!
Here's to praying that my accidental blessing will lead me to wonderful achievements. I know I've already scored by discovering a gorgeous mentor in Alex Elle. We'll see where life leads me. I certainly agree with what she says in her quote. Amen, amen and amen to that one. I'm ever thankful for the priceless people in my life that come to mind when I read her words. As I scan over her other words of encouragement, I am reminded of the power within – the power that we have to make great things happen for ourselves. Hmmmmm…maybe God and the universe is trying to tell me something? Maybe it's time to pursue new goals and make greater things happen so that I can make more of a difference in other's lives as I enrich my own?
The above was shared by a Facebook friend. It has become my new mantra. I don't personally know this beautiful lady, Dr. Campbell, but I'd like to. I can, without hesitation, say that I am very thankful to have come across this post. Like every human being, I go through ups and downs. Some days I am strong and full of faith and positivity. And other days, I struggle something fierce to keep my head above the heart-wrenching, suffocating waters of life. This short message from Sherrie truly embodies the ultimate survival guide, as far as I'm concerned. She manages to brilliantly say what I know in my heart, but all too often have a hard time accomplishing. Simply put, staying inspired can keep you on the positive and successful track of life. When I really think about it, I see how I do this already, without really knowing it. I will get overwhelmed with the stresses and negative forces in my life and there will be something that will inspire me, fill me up and help to rebuild my spirit, putting me back in a positive state of being. Whether it's music, exercise, special moments with my angel babies, quality time with my true love, prayer, praise or affirmation of some sort from my students, co-workers, family, a quote, or lovely share like this one from Dr. Sherrie Campbell, that inspires me and fills my empty, aching spaces, reminding me of all the good there is to live for… whew… where would we be without these fulfilling moments?
Dr. Campbell is so incredibly right! We must stay inspired. Our inner wellbeing relies on it!
I love that she states to "focus forward, focus inward…let go of the past and focus on what you can do today to make your life better." I read and reread her words above, and I believe it is now part of my anthem for a better life. Patience and faith are key. So as you grasp hold of that faith that you know is within you, as you're having to reach through pain and/or grief, and you pull patience from your toes that you never knew you were capable of, remember to allow yourself to be inspired. Seek out those things in your life that provide priceless inspiration that begin to fill your heart and soul from the inside out and renew your inner workings that keep you full of the beautiful spirit of life and love. Stay inspired!


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Eladio Dioko
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by Eladio Dioko - June 30, 2016 - 12:00am
The interment of an alleged drug lord named "Jaguar" last Monday was a significant social phenomenon. It was attended by an estimated 2,000 people many of whom sported black t-shirts imprinted with the face of the...
Abetting doleout mentality
by Eladio Dioko - May 4, 2016 - 10:00am
Listening to the campaign promises of presidential contenders one gets the impression that Filipino voters are gullible people whose choice can easily be influenced by doleouts.
by Eladio Dioko - October 21, 2015 - 10:00am
In a gathering of about a hundred students during a seminar on moral values the speaker asked: Who among you go to Mass every Sunday?
Few advocates for federal system
by Eladio Dioko - September 30, 2015 - 10:00am
The idea about converting our system of government into a federal set-up has been circulating for some time. Yet it has not morphed into a massive national movement.
As the country is poised to choose a new president two aspirants have already publicly declared their candidacy, while a third is about to announce her decision to join the electoral fray.
PNoy to campaign for his man?
by Eladio Dioko - August 12, 2015 - 10:00am
It was reported the other day that President Aquino will "campaign vigorously" for Mar Roxas' quest for presidency.
Anointment and horse-trading
by Eladio Dioko - August 5, 2015 - 10:00am
The 2016 presidential contest is emerging into a three-cornered fight.
Super typhoons
by Eladio Dioko - November 6, 2014 - 12:00am
Thank God, super typhoon "Paeng" only skirted the country and moved away without doing a landfall the other day.
A Rama-Davide collaboration?
by Eladio Dioko - July 11, 2013 - 12:00am
It's a good thing that Governor Hilario Davide III and Mayor Michael Rama have already met, although informally. Both used to work together at City Hall and I'm sure they are on talking terms.
It's a rainy season in the country. It's a flood season too, especially in urban areas. In Cebu City for one, a downpour always fills some streets with water impeding the flow of traffic and causing inconvenience...
Talks of Chacha but. . .
A new initiative for charter change proposed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. sometime ago has recently developed in the House of Representative.
Education is the solution
by Eladio Dioko - June 6, 2013 - 12:00am
As children flock to public schools, which opened last Monday, the usual complaint of congested classrooms or lack of them was heard.
More on Pedro Calungsod's sainthood
by Eladio Dioko - October 4, 2012 - 12:00am
As Cebuanos happily wait for the big day when one of them will be elevated to sainthood, preparations are underway for the more than 3,000 pilgrims who will witness that Vatican ritual on the 21st of this month...
As we await the sainthood of Pedro Calungsod
On October 21, a Cebuano named Pedro Calungsod will be canonized in Rome. When this happens he will be the second Filipino saint, the first being Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.
Media men and recollections
Archbishop Jose Palma made the right move in conducting a spiritual recollection for media people recently.
On the CCSC and Palarong Pambansa
The quick response of the lifeguard at the Cebu City Sports Center swimming pool last Monday certainly saved the life of a twelve-year-old girl from drowning. This was not the first time that near drowning incidents...
As Congress is poised to pass the RH bill
Last Monday, the House of Representatives voted to terminate the debates on the Reproductive Health bill and start the period of amendments.
Chacha, an impossible dream?
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. have not given up on their Chacha initiative despite the contrary reaction of President Aquino.
New call for Charter Change
There's a call to amend our 1987 Constitution spearheaded by no less than Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.
DepEd and tech-voc education
DepEd is reported to be reviving its technical-vocational division purportedly in connection with its K+12 program.
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Fr. Edd B. Lleva
Joey Villar
Jose P. Sollano
Norvie S. Misa
Preciosa S. Soliven
Rebecca C. Rodriguez
A.M. Dela Serna
Adong Hagupit

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Welcome Families and Students the the 2018-19 School Year!
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In a full moonlight she comes alive from the tunnels, laced up and glowing like an angel. She is a creature who moves with an alluring dance.
When she coos, your knees might tremble: your heart might skip. Multicolored and multicultured, TEA is the face of a world with no borders and no boundaries. She is the white rabbit you follow into the rabbit hole. She is the ominous temptress in your nightmares.
TEA is a Canadian born Artist, who had a natural allure and boldness since she was little. Adorned in eccentric clothes and personality, and an opulent view of the world... her small town knew she was here, to create and entertain. Dance and performance art is a large part of her history, and has helped develop who TEA is today. The stage is no stranger to this creature, and the bright lights are her home. Collecting more creative skills, memories, and artistic intellect has been a part of her young years... to give the world something they have been deeply craving. She is finally ready now, welcome... TEA KITTAGUCCI.
Listen to Tea Kittagucci now.


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Posted: October 13, 2016 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, killing zombies, living dead, monsters, mystery, novels, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, Uncategorized, walking dead, zombie books, Zombies
Tags: A Higher Education, After the Dark, Aftermath, Almost Dead, apocalypse, apocalyptic fiction, Blood Required, book finale, books, Breakdown, creative writing, Dark Territory, Dead Dolls (Part One), Dead of Night, Demon Night, Desolate Shores, Detour, Dinner and a Movie, Don't Feed The Dark, Don't Feed The Dark Book Four Phantoms, Don't Feed The Dark Book Three Recruits, Don't Feed The Dark Book Two Almost Dead, Don't Feed The Dark is now in print, drama, End Game, final week, finale, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Further Actions Pending, Get the Guns, Goodbye Charlie, Happy Hour, Horror, horror fiction, killing zombies, living dead, Lost, Marvin's Day, Micom and Micolad, monsters, mystery, novels, Nowhere Safe, online free zombie novel, Phantoms, Playing With Fire, Prisoners, Railway Exodus, Recruits, Red Light, Reunions and Departures, Scott Scherr, Secrets, serial fiction, serial novels, Sign of the Times, Southbound Nightmares, Stand, State of Emergency, survival, survival fiction, suspense, talk shows, The Cave, The Den, The Devil's Dark, the future of Don't Feed The Dark, The Long Winter, The Marina, The Plant, The Stand, the undead, thriller, Through the Eyes of a Devil, Uncategorized, Uprising, walking dead, War in the Woods, War of the Gods, Wasteland, Welcome Home, writer's blogs, writing, zombie books, zombie outbreak, zombie serial novel, Zombie Talk Show, zombies, Zombies "spin-off" stories
"What the fuck is that?" Hagar asked. "Shit… shit!"
The bell continued to ring causing them all to panic.
Gina immediately grabbed the binoculars from Diane and looked across the pond.
The dead in the street had stopped, turned, and were staring toward the chapel. The former woman, the yellow-eyed demon who had once saved Tony's life, took a few steps toward the strange sound and cocked her head to the side. The rest of the dead who had been going through the houses were now returning to the street.
Gina's nerves were on edge. For a moment, it seemed as though the woman were staring directly at her.
The bell suddenly stopped.
"I don't see anyone up there," Diane said, aiming her rifle toward the bell tower.
Gina continued to stare at Helen. Oh please, God, let them turn away. It's just a stupid bell… nothing more.
All at once Helen turned toward the horde gathered behind her and began frantically waving her hands at them until they were all riled up. She then pointed one bony arm at the chapel.
The dead began to race toward the pond, splitting at the middle of the road that curved around both sides.
Fuck me! Gina turned toward the others. "We need to hide… right now!"
"Gina," Marcus was pointing toward the closest house.
She was already moving. "Everyone, get inside! If we're lucky, they'll go straight for the chapel and we might have time to get out of here."
They were all moving now. No one looked toward the pond as they heard the mob of yellow-eyed monsters making inhuman sounds that made their skin crawl.
When they reached the front door of a large two-story house, Marcus turned the knob.
It was unlocked.
They quickly entered and hunkered down in the living room as Gina locked the front door. "Watch the windows!" she hissed. "Stay low and out of sight!"
They all took up fighting positions near the front windows as Gina remained near the door, her gun drawn, her heart pounding in her chest.
The dead stormed past their location. Howls of madness ripped across the day. One of them leaped onto the front porch of the house and scurried across, jumping back into the front lawn and screaming with hunger.
"Holy fuck," Diane whispered. She was trying to keep her hands from shaking as she lost count of the dead which sprinted across her rifle sites. "There's so many."
"Gina," Marcus was pointing toward the back of the house. "We can make it into the woods if the dead haven't cut off the backyard yet. I remember seeing this house before. The yard's fenced in and might provide cover. But we'll have to hurry."
Gina nodded, trying to stay calm and not let her terror seize her. You can't afford to panic, bitch. Get it together or you'll get them all killed. She looked around for Tony and found him standing one of the couches up on its side.
"Hagar!" he called.
Hagar couldn't stop pacing. He had the look of a man who wanted to shoot everything. He turned to Tony, breathing hard.
"Calm down," Tony said. "Get over here and help me move this."
With Hagar's help, Tony moved the large couch and laid it against the front door. He looked to Gina and watched her face go pale. "Gina?"
She wore a face that Tony never wanted to see again. She was staring at him like he was already dead.
"Fuck… they stormed the chapel… tore the door off like it was nothing." Diane was taking deep breaths to steady her aim. "Whoever rang that bell better be long gone by now."
Gina finally looked away from the man she loved and said, "Let's get to the back… while we still have time."
They moved away from the living room, carefully watching every corner and window with guns raised, until they reached a sliding glass door. Beyond was a large glassed-in patio, with an in-ground pool. Surrounding the greenhouse looking structure was an eight-foot tall wooden fence.
They stepped out on to the patio and stopped. The smell reached them first.
"Dear God," Tony whispered, putting a hand over his nose and mouth.
They stood frozen before the pool. It was full of decomposed bodies.
There were twenty-five men, women and children floating in the large pool, their bloated and rotting corpses staring up into the sky. Their disfigured faces were surprisingly serene as if they were simply enjoying a last minute apocalyptic swim before the end.
"They did not struggle," Marcus said, staring into their collective lifeless eyes. "They weren't drowned or shot… they went to meet Death without resistance."
Gina stared at him.
Marcus smiled and then pointed past her toward a glass door which exited near another door in the wooden fence. Beyond were the woods. "Give me two minutes, Gina. I'll make sure the woods are clear."
"Do it," she said.
Marcus quickly crossed the patio with Diane. After letting himself out the gate, Diane provided cover from the fence.
Hagar was the first to notice the plastic cups scattered about the patio. He picked one up and sniffed it, causing him to make a gagging sound.
"What is it?" Gina asked him.
"Hold on." Hagar looked around and found what he was looking for. There was a long table in the corner of the patio where a large punch bowl had been placed. There was red liquid and mold running across the surface of the table, surrounding the bowl and several tipped over plastic cups. Floating in the large bowl were ancient dead bugs within the bowl which were also scattered about the table. "Whatever was in the punch killed these insects."
"Poison?" Tony asked.
"That would be my guess." Hagar nodded toward the pool. "Looks like they took the coward's way out. Fuckin' pussies."
Tony bent down for a closer look at the corpses. "This happened months ago… probably before the winter storms. Why did they give up so soon? They couldn't have known then what we do now."
Gina was staring at the remains of a little blond-haired girl floating face first in the pool. Her arms and legs were completely extended, a teddy bear still attached to her right hand.
"We need to leave," she whispered.
Marcus returned. "All clear. The dead are still at the chapel. Now's our opportunity."
"Okay." Gina was relieved. "Now all we have to do is stay quiet and-"
The thunderous sound of a rifle resounded five times, shattering glass down upon them like rain.
"What the fuck?" Hagar cried out, trying to move out of the way of falling glass. "Who's fucking shooting at us?"
"Not at us," Gina said. "The glass."
Tony's face went grave. "With all this noise… the dead will be drawn right to us!"
"Let's go!" Gina led them out the rear gate and into the woods.
Two minutes later, the dead surrounded the house and attacked. Fortunately, they discovered the decomposed bodies… and tore into them like buzzards.
They moved north through the woods for an hour, traveling farther away from the compound than Gina wanted, but she was not willing to risk cutting back over to the main road where the beasts might pick up their scent. They all agreed that it was no longer certain how cunning these monsters had become and if they'd set up a trap anticipating their need to get to the roadways.
They also agreed that they were being hunted.
It was too much of a coincidence that Helen and her horde had just happened to arrive at Whaler's Cove to catch them by surprise.
There was also the matter of the mysterious shooter who had tried to give away their position. At present, he or they, could be anywhere.
Darkness was quickly settling over the woods and they desperately needed a place to lie low for the evening.
Near dusk, they caught a break as Diane grinned from ear to ear and said, "I knew if I kept looking hard enough I'd find one eventually!" She pointed up toward a large Oak tree, surrounded by several smaller trees.
At first, no one knew what Diane was so pleased about until Marcus saw the large Oak with several pieces of lumber nailed into the trunk. He looked up and followed the makeshift ladder until he discovered what looked like an ancient camouflaged treehouse cradled in the nook of three large branches, roughly thirty feet off the ground.
Before he could ask, Diane stepped over. "It's a hunter's blind," she said. "By the looks of her she's been in use for quite some time. Whoever assembled it took a little pride in its construction and concealment. It's better than most I've seen, and one of the bigger ones as well. We've found our hideout for the night."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You want all of us to go up… there?"
She smiled. "What's the matter, afraid of heights?"
"No, just small outhouses built into trees where they don't belong."
Diane laughed. "Trust me, it's bigger than it appears from down here… and sturdy, too."
Gina shook her head as she craned her neck back to examine the small wooden box with narrow slats built into the four walls big enough for observation and for sticking a rifle out. It was decorated with old brush, primarily pine, and various other branches that were attached to the outside with some sort of wire. She looked to Diane. "You hunters take this shit seriously, don't you?"
"Only when there's serious game involved," she said. "I noticed several old deer tracks and pine groves all over these woods as we passed. I don't know what The Change has done to most of the wildlife, but this was once a big gaming area for sure. Regardless, that's as safe as we're going to get tonight. We'll be off the ground, hidden from those bastards' ability to smell us out, and perhaps have a chance to see them coming long before they see us. What says you, Gina?"
The others looked to her feeling as skeptical about climbing up into the old treehouse as she did. But she had to admit, if not for Diane, they never would've known it was there.
The others looked bone-tired and they were quickly losing the light. It wasn't clear from their road map what else might be available in this area and the forest continued to loom large around them.
Gina smiled. "We've had to endure a lot of things, but I don't think a night spent crammed into a tree fort will ever make the top ten list."
Diane was correct; the hunter's blind was much bigger than it appeared from the ground. After a nerve-wrecking climb up the wooden planks, all five of them were able to fit snugly into the 4 x 4 foot box, but standing was out of the question, since the ceiling was only five feet from the floor. Aside from some occasional creaking brought on by the wind, the blind was well constructed and after managing to spread their legs out by sitting side-by-side, everyone began to feel the monster of exhaustion steal over them.
Gina took the first watch as she positioned herself in front of the observation slot facing the way they'd traveled from. Most of the others had quickly fallen into a deep sleep, feeling safer than they'd felt since coming out of the compound. Diane was right; they were made invisible by the blind, and not a moment too soon as darkness began transforming the woods all around them.
Within an hour, night had swallowed up the forest floor as the last of twilight burned bright red in the western sky above and through the skeletal-looking trees still yet to bear their full spring attire. Gina was amazed by the view from up here. She'd never seen the forest from above and was grateful for a moment to feel anything… anything at all. Her moment of tranquility was quickly stolen away as the mouth of the night finally closed down tight over the day until everything surrendered to the dark. She could not even see her own hand in front of her face, let alone anything beyond the narrow slat which she suddenly wished she could close. It was the forest itself that bothered her. There was no sound… no sound at all.
When she was a kid her father had taken her out into the woods behind their home at sunset to fish at a nearby pond. It had become dark quicker than expected and little Gina was freaked out by all the nocturnal sounds.
Her father had said, "What's the matter? All that noise is just the night animals' way of celebrating being alive. They don't get to play during the day… so that's all they're doing now, Gina."
When she was young, she always tried to picture the many creatures she could not see in the dark, playing games with each other and having a good old time. It often made her laugh as she told her father what she pictured them doing in the dark.
Gina tore herself away from the memory of her father. My God, I hadn't thought about that in a long, long time. She hated the way memories snuck up on her and made her feel… sad. That was all there was now was that deep sadness which wanted to bury the rest of the living until they were all smothered by them… those mother-fucking memories!
Aside from the predators of memory, Gina was more disconcerted by the awful silence that dominated most of the world now… especially the forest. It felt so unnatural to not hear all those night creatures from her youth playing in the dark. With the exception of a small number of infected animals who had survived the initial outbreak and had bitten humans, turning them into the same red-eyed monstrosities which once attacked her old group outside an abandoned boxcar a million years ago, most of the other animals had simply died off and no one knew why.
Gina tried not to peer out into the night, tried not to move and feed her over-tired imagination. She was afraid that whatever creatures now resided out there, would hear her breathing and climb the tree to devour them all.
A light snore from Hagar made her shift slightly. She relaxed and smiled, thinking, the true end of the world has finally happened: The day I find that asshole's snoring… comforting.
Indeed, anything was preferable to the long silences left over in the wake of the dead.
"Gina?"
It was Tony. He sounded half-asleep.
"Gina? Are you still there?"
"Yes, Tony," she whispered. "I'm still here. Everything's alright. Go back to sleep."
"Just… just making sure. Just… needed to make sure you were… still there." The big man fell back to sleep.
Gina stared toward him in the dark. She reached for him, found his arm, and then moved her hand down until she found his hand and held it. "It's alright… I'm not going anywhere," she whispered to him.
She felt him respond by squeezing his hand gently around hers.
Gina failed to realize how tired she was until that moment. Her eyelids fell as she drifted away to a place where night creatures played and danced and sang the night away while she and Tony held hands and joined them, far from the dead places where silence consumed all joy.
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Gylion says:
I'm afraid that Nines will be used as bait…
I suspect you might be on to something, Gylion. I also suspect you may already know who rung that bell ;)


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Tag: Commerce Department
Census: No Time for On-the-Job Training
By John C. Yang
Do you have the qualifications for this job? How many times have we each had to answer that question in our career as we sought a new position?
If reported rumors are true, the next potential Census deputy director could be someone who is uniquely unqualified for the position. Advancing Justice | AAJC is deeply concerned, as this person would negatively impact the upcoming 2020 Census. According to media reports, the Trump administration could potentially name Thomas Brunell, a Texas political science professor with no prior background in statistical agency expertise or management experience. It is disturbing to learn that the administration is considering someone for a deputy position who did not make it through the vetting process for consideration as the Census Director.
As a former political appointee in the U.S. Department of Commerce, I understand the demands of a senior management position in a high-profile federal government department. I also know first-hand why it is necessary to have a civil servant with extensive knowledge and experience to support the department director. The partnership between senior career staff and political appointees is critical. Without senior leadership that includes career civil servants, a department can make decisions in a vacuum and make unforced errors that career experts would know how to avoid.
The U.S. Census Bureau is going to need stellar leadership to combat the challenges facing the 2020 Census, which has been impeded by ongoing inadequate funding, a current vacancy in the director's position, and a rapidly approaching Census Day (April 1, 2020). To maintain integrity, objectivity, and an effective decennial census, the deputy director candidate must have economic and statistical skills, understand the inner workings of interacting with Congress, and understand how the Census Bureau's current functions and products can aid in securing an accurate count in 2020. With only two years left to plan for and implement a fair and accurate count, now is not the time for on-the-job training. The Census is a mandated part of the Constitution but it is much more than a requirement for our communities.
The Census is vital for a functioning society, and for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved populations, the Census makes sure that our communities are not undercounted, rendered invisible, or unable to access necessary resources. In order for the Census to properly operate, leadership must have the appropriate experience and understanding to ensure an accurate count. Unfortunately, Brunell appears to be the opposite of what the country needs. During Brunell's career, he has testified in favor of redrawing congressional districts and authored a book opposing competitive elections. He is clearly not someone committed to impartiality and objectivity — an essential function of the job he wants to hold. At a minimum, many will see him as being partisan in this role — and this perception is enough to chill participation in already hard-to-count communities who are weary of participating with the government in today's hostile climate.
In any job, the role of the employer is to make sure the best, most qualified candidate is hired. Brunell is not the right person. The 2020 Census can't afford for the administration to nominate an individual who is unqualified and politically partisan. We need senior leadership at the U.S. Census Bureau who are committed to securing properly funded, objective, and accurate count of the U.S. population.
John C. Yang is the President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC.
This article was originally posted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC on December 7.
Posted on December 11, 2017 December 10, 2017 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census Operations, Politics and the CensusTagged Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Census 2020, Census Director, Commerce Department, John C. Yang, Thomas Brunell. 2 Comments
Senate Appropriators Discuss Census Funding Concerns with Commerce Secretary
By Howard Fienberg, director of government affairs, Insights Association
"Not only did the Government Accountability Office add the 2020 Census to its high-risk list, but a critical computer system was recently discovered to have surpassed its budget by $309 million. As the 2020 Census approaches, such news does not instill confidence in the Department's preparation for this constitutional requirement."
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) opened discussion about the Census Bureau at a recent hearing reviewing the Department of Commerce's FY2018 budget proposal with a bunch of concerns about the decennial Census and how to fund it. Shelby chairs the Senate Appropriations CJS Subcommittee, which determines funding for the Census Bureau.
The 2020 Census "is very important to this committee," Shelby continued, "because this is a very expensive item" with a "ballooning cost." He asked Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to prioritize "activities to reduce overall cost."
"How," Shelby asked, "does the 2020 budget request keep the budget on track to ensure that the 2020 census remains at or below the cost of the 2010 census," and "are changes planned for the upcoming year that will affect current cost projections?"
Secretary Ross started with the resignation of Census Bureau Director John Thompson. "We have appointed a temporary replacement for him and are actively seeking a new permanent director of the census. We hope to have that completed as soon as we possibly can."
The Census Bureau has "been a great concern" for Ross, specifically "making sure we do accurately count every person where that person normally lives" and doing so "as economically as we can." He continued:
"Census as you know undertook a very large technological change in the way the Census is taken. Their hope in that is to preserve the accuracy and yet reduce the budgetary cost. My concerns about it have been the complexity of what they're trying to do and the number of moving parts that have to be brought together at the right time under the right cost. I'm particularly concerned that many of the key contracts are on a time and material basis and that is a very dangerous way to do contracting in that it has an implied incentive for the contracting partner to perhaps use more time than one might if it were on a fixed-cost basis."
In response, the Commerce Department finance staff have partnered with OMB staff "to do a crash review of what has been going on and why there was suddenly this 47% surprise overrun, what are the implications for the relationships between the census department and these contractors going forward, and what may be the maximum possible cost we could encounter should we continue with the full technological effort underway, or should there be some modification."
Ross indicated that he did not "have a high degree of confidence in the budget" request from the White House for FY18, but he promised the subcommittee "that when we come back, it will be a number we can stand behind."
For more background, see the Insights Association 1-pagers on Census funding and the American Community Survey (ACS).
This article was originally posted on the Insights Association's website on June 20.
Posted on June 23, 2017 June 22, 2017 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census 2020, Census Operations, Congressional OversightTagged Census 2020, Commerce Department, Commerce Justice and Science, Government Accountability Office, OMB, Richard Shelby, Senate, Wilbur Ross. 1 Comment
It must have been spring fever. In a flurry of activity in May and June, House and Senate appropriators dutifully considered and approved their respective bills to fund Commerce Department (and many other) agencies next year, including a reader favorite: the U.S. Census Bureau. The House of Representatives went one step further, burning the midnight oil to pass the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill (H.R. 4660) over a two-day period.
But now it's mid-July. You've been sitting at the edge of your seats, waiting anxiously for the next episode of the Census Bureau funding soap opera, ready to swing into action to save 2020 Census innovations and reliable ACS data from death by a thousand budget cuts. Or maybe you haven't been thinking about this at all; a good book at the beach sounds like way more fun. But on the off chance you're wondering about the radio silence since the Senate stood poised to tackle its version of the Commerce spending bill (S. 2437) more than a month ago, let me fill you in what you missed. Nothing.
In fact, the Senate couldn't even muster the votes to start debate on the bill. The minority leader balked over an issue, completely unrelated to the bill, that no one quite recalls anymore. (I think it had something to do with coal.) Now, everyone seems to have thrown their hands up in the air and started counting down the days until a blissfully long August recess, after which it will be time to wipe the mothballs off the ineradicable Continuing Funding Resolution.
And here's where you need to put your book aside and roll out of your lounge chair. Because if you thought the House's $238 million raid on the Census Bureau's budget spelled deep trouble for 2020 Census planning and other core surveys, think about the consequences of no funding increase at all for the nation's premier cyclical program. As the name implies, a continuing resolution (CR) funds federal agencies at this year's levels. Not exactly an ideal situation for a 10-year activity that must "ramp up" to stay on schedule, with immutable deadlines looming. Chief among those are required reports to Congress on the topics (April 1, 2017) and questions (April 1, 2018) for the 2020 Census (including the American Community Survey, the modern version of the census long form); Census Day (April 1, 2020); population totals used to reapportion the House of Representatives (December 31, 2020); and detailed population data to redraw congressional districts (March 31, 2021). Oh, the irony.
The Census Bureau, already behind schedule due to previous budgets cuts and funding delays, has four major 2020 Census field tests planned for FY 2015. Under the microscope will be cost-saving innovations and questionnaire updates: the feasibility of replacing universal pre-census address canvassing with targeted updating; using automation, real-time data and administrative records to manage and streamline costly follow-up with unresponsive households; new strategies to boost self-response, especially on the Internet, as well as methods for pre-registration and processing electronic responses that lack unique identifiers; revised questions on race and ethnicity; assistance for non-English speakers; and improving estimates of mail, online and telephone response. By the end of 2015, the Census Bureau must lock in a design for the next census and begin systems and operational development.
What to do, people? Time for what Washington-insiders quaintly call an "anomaly," more easily understood as an exception to flat-line funding in the CR. Without one, either the 2015 census tests will start falling like dominos, jeopardizing the reforms needed to modernize the headcount, or the bureau will have to scale back other surveys to pay for them. The 2020 Census isn't the only cyclical program at risk; planning starts next year for the quinquennial (still love that word!) 2017 Economic Census.
An anomaly for the Census Bureau in the all-but-inevitable FY 2015 CR seems like a no-brainer. Whether Congress will come to its census… er, senses… remains to be seen.
Posted on July 21, 2014 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census Budget IssuesTagged American Community Survey, census day 2020, Commerce Department, Continuing Resolution, H.R. 4660, redistricting, S. 2437. 1 Comment
A Sweet Pot of Honey
News flash: The 2020 Census was on the congressional radar screen — if only for a few brief, but shining, moments.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), who heads an appropriations subcommittee, opened his panel's hearing this week on the Commerce Department's FY2015 budget request by talking about the census. Eureka!
The Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee amicably discussed the Commerce Department's funding needs with Secretary Penny Pritzker for two hours. The secretary gave a repeat performance the next day before Senate appropriators. As lawmakers took their turns questioning a personable and well-prepared Pritzker, I was all ears.
Chairman Wolf noted the Obama Administration's proposed 28 percent funding increase ($754M) for 2020 Census research, testing and planning. (The 2020 Census includes the American Community Survey.) He hoped the cost of the next census wouldn't exceed the $13 billion price tag for the last one. Which he then reminded everyone was the cost of a new weather satellite. Uh oh.
The National Weather Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Satellite and Information Service, and their parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), got a lot of air-time at both hearings. There are sea bass fishermen in Rep. Andy Harris' (R-MD) coastal Maryland district. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) is concerned about weather satellites. Ranking Member Chakah Fattah (D-PA) praised the weather agency for saving lives.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), ranking member on both the appropriations committee and subcommittee (translation: influential), schooled me in the challenges facing the red snapper industry. After learning about catch limits, stock assessments and curtailed fishing seasons, I shall henceforth view any selection of a fish entrée as a contribution to the nation's economic engine. (Putting a positive spin on things, Secretary Pritzker noted that red snappers are getting bigger.)
But I digress. Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) (also of both the committee and subcommittee) reminded everyone several times that her panel was heavy on coastal representation. A virtual caucus of legislators knee-deep in the intricacies of the Commerce Department's vast reach over everything marine, all under the auspices of NOAA. Which eats up more than 60 percent of the department's budget. Did I mention that there is a "polar gap" in satellite coverage, which can affect livelihoods along our – um – coasts? When Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) highlighted the importance of disaster assistance for fisheries, the chairwoman practically said "amen."
Speaking of the economy, I learned that Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is responsible for doling out community rebuilding grants after a natural disaster. For example, after devastating tornadoes hit Alabama a few years ago. In the district of subcommittee member Rep. Robert Aderholdt (R-AL). Which is not on the coast, by the way.
Appropriators are very concerned about the economy, especially rebuilding the manufacturing sector, stopping unfair trade practices and boosting exports, creating jobs, and supporting innovation. That would be Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Minority Business Development Agency, International Trade Administration, Patent and Trademark Office, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
Which brings me back to the Census Bureau, one of 11 major Commerce agencies. After my "eureka" moment at the start of the House hearing, I had to wait a good long while for the topic to come up again. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) finally weighed in, noting that the census needs to ramp up for 2020 and wondering if the Census Bureau would be ready. Cue the secretary's talking points about a "timely, trusted, and accurate" census for a lower cost per household. Good, said Rep. Diaz-Balart, because after the 2010 Census, Miami-Hialeah area officials were shocked when their Community Development Block Grant funding went south. Something must have been wrong with the count, the congressman said; perhaps there were too many vacant high-rise units — symbols of the recession's real estate bust — in the count? And after suggesting that the Census Bureau work more closely with local leaders, it was on to travel and tourism because, you know, Commerce houses the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. Miami is a gateway to the U.S. for much of the world. It's also on the coast.
Rep. Wolf did loop back around to the census during his closing set of questions. Recent data breaches at major retailers clearly were on his mind when he expressed doubt about using personal devices for door-to-door interviewing. Cyber-security is a top priority for the Census Bureau, the secretary assured him, pointedly emphasizing the need to test the "Bring Your Own Device" concept. NIST, by the way, is ground-zero for protecting the nation's cyber-security infrastructure.
The chairman also sought assurances that the Census Bureau is taking seriously congressional concerns about the American Community Survey's response burden on the public. Oh, and he questioned the administration's proposal to cut $45 million from the National Weather Service's budget.
The Census Bureau's work barely crossed the Senate radar screen, save a couple of references to the debacle with handheld devices before the 2010 enumeration. Sen. Mikulski did cheerfully inform the secretary that fishing is part of Maryland's "psychic identity."
The total request for the Commerce Department is $8.8 billion. That $1.2 billion for the Census Bureau in FY2015 is starting to look like one sweet pot of honey.
Posted on April 11, 2014 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census Budget IssuesTagged and Science Subcommittee, Andy Harris, Census 2020, Chakah Fattah, Commerce, Commerce Department, Economic Development Administration, Frank Wolf, House Appropriations Committee, Justice, Mario Diaz-Balart, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Nita Lowey, Penny Pritzker, Richard Shelby, Robert Aderholdt, Senate Appropriations Committee, Susan Collins, weather satellite. 3 Comments
'Tis the Season (It's Budget Time Again!)
It's appropriations season! Which wouldn't merit a chuckle except, doesn't it seem like appropriations season is year-round now? Maybe it's just me.
This gives me a chance to sound like a broken record – not an enviable trait when I am trying to get your attention. But President Obama has unveiled his budget request for Fiscal Year 2015, and it is my solemn duty as an advocate of all things census to make visions of smartphone-friendly questionnaires, linked government databases and shrinking dollar signs dance in your head.
The Obama Administration requested $1.211 billion dollars for the Census Bureau. That's a tempting pot of gold for lawmakers looking to fund programs that constituents can see and touch. Research and testing for a statistical exercise five years away? Not so exciting.
Still, the Census Bureau needs every penny of its request to keep 2020 Census planning on track and to maintain a robust, comprehensive and user-friendly American Community Survey (ACS). Let's break this down, shall we?
The FY2015 proposal is $266 million more than the current year discretionary appropriation of $945 million, a 28 percent increase. (The Census Bureau also receives roughly $30 million for two mandatory surveys.) All of the new money is for the Periodic Censuses and Programs account ($961M requested; +269M increase), which includes the 2020 Census and ongoing ACS ($689M requested; +226M increase).
The window of opportunity for 2020 Census research and testing will close in 2015, when the Census Bureau must select a design framework (a decision already a year behind schedule) and begin the second phase of census planning: operational design and systems development. In a related new initiative, the president requested a bump in funding to build an enterprise-wide integrated system for data collection and processing (Data Processing Systems — $65M requested; +34M increase). Sure would beat having unique systems for each survey and census, don't you think? And the Census Bureau hopes to resume the Boundary and Annexation Survey, suspended this year due to budget cuts. The results come in handy when you want to put all of those enumerated people and houses in the right city, village or town.
Remember congressional angst over the ACS that led to an embarrassing 2012 House vote to eliminate the survey (with no Plan B as to how the government would function without the data)? The Census Bureau must complete a well-timed, comprehensive review of ACS content and methods next year, ahead of a national field test in 2016 and submission of topics to Congress by April 1, 2017.
The Census Bureau needs money for other programs that have been in congressional crosshairs. The 2012 Economic Census is almost history (FY2015 is the last of its six-year cycle), but as Blood, Sweat, and Tears once sang, what comes down must go up. Or something like that. Anyway, the end of one six-year quinquennial census cycle is the start of a new one; the $119 million request (+5M increase) will allow the Census Bureau to finish analyzing and disseminating 2012 Economic Census data and start planning for the 2017 canvass of American businesses.
Finally, the president is proposing $248 million for the Census Bureau's second major account, Salaries and Expenses (S&E), a decrease of $4 million from current year funding. The ongoing activities covered under S&E include vital economic, demographic and social statistics collected through the Current Population Survey, Survey of Income and Program Participation, and other programs.
We'll have more information about the Census Bureau's plans for 2015 when the Commerce Department releases detailed budget justifications in a week or two. In the meantime, congressional appropriators are getting down to work. The deadline for submitting testimony to the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies is March 31; the Senate subcommittee deadline is April 25. Let's see if we can make the foundation of our democracy and basis of informed decision-making sound as exciting as we know it is.
Posted on March 5, 2014 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census Budget IssuesTagged American Community Survey, appropriations, Boundary and Annexation Survey, Census 2020, Census Budget, Commerce Department, Current Population Survey, Data Processing Systems, Economic Census, FY2015, House Appropriations Committee, Periodic Censuses and Programs, Salaries and Expenses, Senate Appropriations Committee, Survey of Income and Program Participation.
Sequestration Cuts' Impact on Statistical Agencies
This blog post is provided by Steve Pierson of the American Statistical Association. Steve found three letters from statistical agencies that indicate the impact of the so-called sequestration cuts on these agencies.
In response to a request from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (MD-D), federal agencies have sent letters to Mikulski on how sequestration would affect them. The letters are posted on the Senate Appropriations Commitee website and contain sequestration impacts for the Census Bureau, BLS and NASS. The other agency letters do not go to a level of detail to include the impacts on other federal statistical agencies (BEA, BJS, BTS, EIA. ERS, NCES, NCHS, NCSES, IRS SOI, SSA ORES).
In the letter from the Commerce Department, the following impacts for the Census Bureau are listed:
Sequestration would have to cut a total of $46 million from the Department's Census Bureau. The Census Bureau will be forced to significantly cut contract dollars and not fill hundreds of vacancies, pushing back research and testing for the 2020 Decennial Census as well as seriously delaying the release of critical economic and demographic data needed for this calendar year.
The last benchmark of economic statistics supporting America's assessment of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other key economic indicators was taken in 2007, prior to the recession. If the sequestration cuts move forward, the Census Bureau will be ready to make major departures from past operational designs that are intended to save money without diminishing quality. The Census Bureau has committed to executing a Census that would cost less per household in real dollars. Cuts now are virtually guaranteed to force the Census Bureau to ask for larger investments later, putting at risk that goal of achieving more significant forced to impose a six-month delay in releasing vital statistics for these indicators, putting at risk our ability to take accurate stock of current economic conditions and well-being and potentially impacting policy making and economic decisions in the private sector.
Furthermore, delays in developmental work for the 2020 Decennial Census will increase the risk that the Census Bureau will not be ready to make major departures from past operational designs that are intended to save money without diminishing quality. The Census Bureau has committed to executing a Census that would cost less per household in real dollars. Cuts now are virtually guaranteed to force the Census Bureau to ask for larger investments later, putting at risk that goal of achieving more significant savings.
In the letter from the Department of Agriculture, the section on the National Agricultural Statistical Service states that sequestration would stop FY13 scheduled activities for the Census of Agriculture including data processing. The letter goes on to say that data will be incomplete and not statistically sound for publication, which will "negatively affect decisions made by farmers, business and governments and ultimately will bring volatility to food markets and impact prices consumers pay."
The Department of Labor letter states, "With millions in reductions, BLS would have to eliminate or reduce some of its programs."
Presumably what is presented above for these three agency is paraphrased from much more substantive documents presented by Census, BLS and NASS to their respective departments.
Given the impacts of sequestration to the federal statistical agencies (and NSF and NIH), the ASA continues to urge its members to head the call late last year of 2012 President Bob Rodriguez: ASA President Asks ASA Members to Help Avoid Steep Cuts to NSF, NIH, and Federal Statistical Agencies.
HHS and NSF Letters to Senate Appropriations Committee outline sequestration impacts to NIH and NSF, An ASA Community blog entry, 2/15/13.
Fiscal Cliff Deal Delays Across-the-Board Cuts; FY13 Budget Uncertain; FY14 Request Due, an ASA Community blog entry, 1/14/13.
'Statisticians: Guardians of Democracy,' a nice piece about the importance of the U.S. Census Bureau by ASA Fellow Rod Little, an ASA Community blog entry, 11/28/12.
White House document reports 8.2% sequestration cuts for NSF, NIH, and statistical agencies, an ASA Community blog entry, 9/18/12.
With Sequestration Six Months Away, Activity to Avoid the Cuts Ramps Up, an ASA Community blog entry, 7/13/12.
Posted on February 19, 2013 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census Budget Issues, Congressional OversightTagged budget, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Commerce Department, National Agricultural Statistics Service, squester, Steve Pierson. 1 Comment
Budget Deja Vu: Guard The Piggybank!
Were you getting ready to burrow underground for a while, census fans? (Didn't the groundhog see his shadow?) Not so fast! President Obama's Census Bureau budget request [PDF] for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013) compels us to shake off early-in-the-decade cobwebs and convince lawmakers that a modest increase in funding for the agency will not break the federal bank.
In fact, it just might save the Treasury significant money in the foreseeable future, as successful testing of electronic response options for ongoing surveys could reduce costly door-to-door data collection in the 2020 Census, and continuous updating of the national address list and digital map could eliminate universal pre-census address canvassing, which also comes with a high price tag. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The president proposed a total budget of $970 million for the Census Bureau, a 3 percent rise over the Fiscal Year 2012 funding level of $942 million. Truth be told, Congress pretended to give the Census Bureau $942 million last year, but in the light of day, it appropriated only $887 million, directing the agency to use $55 million from the now well-known, much-maligned Working Capital Fund (WCF) to make up the difference.
The top program priorities in 2013 will be the Economic Census and continued planning for the 2020 Census. Next year (which starts October 1, 2012) marks the peak of a six-year planning and implementation cycle for the 2012 Economic Census ($112 million), as the Census Bureau gathers information from 3 million business enterprises across the country (using 4.6 million forms, in case you're into numbers). It's worth remembering that this quinquennial measure of the nation's economic health almost came to a screeching halt last year when House appropriators reduced (whacked!) the bureau's budget request by a quarter. Lawmakers came to their senses after economists kindly pointed out that the nation needs data from this census to produce key indicators such as Gross Domestic Product.
As 2010 Census activities wind down with final evaluations and data products, planning for the next decennial enumeration is on its cyclical upswing. We aren't talking big money yet, but the 2020 Census budget request ($131.4 million) is nearly double the FY2012 funding level ($66.7 million), a bump appropriators might find hard to swallow unless there's a good reason. Fortunately, there are several.
It seems like a no-brainer but Congress has been known to ignore the obvious, so it's worth repeating. The Census Bureau must invest resources early in the decade to ensure cost-effective, successful implementation of census operations down the road. The pace of technological change and rapid evolution of communication modes make ongoing research and testing essential. Similarly, keeping up with changes in the nation's housing stock and roads could save hundreds of millions of dollars (now that's real money!) during census preparations in 2018-19, allowing the bureau to confine final address checking to areas in frequent transition. And steps the agency takes now to improve large acquisition and contract management for the census could help it avoid billion dollar (literally) mistakes later.
Overall, the president's funding request for the Census Bureau appears to be reasonable and responsible, taking advantage of cost savings whenever possible and investing prudently in programs that will yield, both directly and indirectly, savings for the agency and the nation in the future. For example, American households can answer the American Community Survey electronically starting in January 2013, saving an estimated several million dollars a year. The Census Bureau will try again to update its Supplemental Poverty Measure, an important policy building block that the bureau couldn't pay for in FY2012.
Let's hope legislators can resist the urge to dip into the WCF piggybank again, as funding caps continue to shrink. I'm not holding my breath though. (Have I mentioned recently that Senate appropriators helpfully encouraged the Census Bureau to spend less on the 2020 Census than it did on the 2000 count, without adjusting for inflation? I'm still chewing on this.) Census officials haven't ignored congressional hand wringing over the lack of transparency in WCF practices; the agency is seeking outside expertise to help it improve performance measures and business models.
When you think about it, the bones of the census funding story haven't changed, but it seems like it's getting harder to get lawmakers to listen. So dust off those winter blues, census gurus, and start reminding your elected representatives that they can't do their jobs without the rich store of data the Census Bureau produces. The bureau's budget is a drop in the bucket when compared to the value of the public and private sector decisions that ride on its work, day in and day out.
Posted on February 27, 2012 by The Census ProjectPosted in Census 2020, Census Budget Issues, Congressional Oversight, Economic CensusTagged Commerce Department, electronic census.


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