Presidential Veto and Lawmaking

In the Collection, In the Headlines, Political Science / By / March 7, 2023

There was news coverage last week that President Biden might soon issue the first veto of his presidency.

How does a law get to the stage of being approved by the president—or not approved, which is a veto? According to usa.gov, here is the process (very simplified): A bill is introduced by a senator or representative and goes to committee where it is researched and discussed. Then the bill is voted on by the Senate or House of Representatives. If it passes the Senate or House, the bill goes to the other chamber of Congress and goes through a similar process. If both chambers pass the bill, the lawmakers work together to make a version that passes both the Senate and the House. If it passes both house of Congress, the bill goes to the president.

If the president vetoes the bill, it may be possible for Congress to override the veto.

For other information about the U.S. Congress and legislation, check out these books or ebooks from the Moraine Valley Library.

Losing to Win: Why Congressional Majorities Play Politics Instead of Make Laws by Jeremy Gelman
Heavy Lifting: The Job of the American Legislature by Alan Rosenthal
Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy by Cornelius M. Kerwin and Scott R. Furlong
The Limits of Party: Congress and Lawmaking in a Polarized Era by James M. Curry and Frances E. Lee

What’s up with the Gender Pay Gap?

General Information / By / March 2, 2023
5, 10 and 20 dollar bills are spread out
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck

According to new data from the Pew Research Center, a woman in 2022 typically earns 82 cents for every dollar earned by a man. A pitiful 2% increase since 2002. This gap is regardless of skill or educational level and is measurably larger for women of color. While the national statistics are certainly depressing, Illinois is no better.

As women’s history month begins I can’t help but wonder: how do we actually define the gender pay gap and how do we explain it?

How is the gender pay gap calculated?

The most common way that the gender pay gap is calculated is by comparing the median income of men and women who are employed full time. This is where the 82 cents per dollar figure comes from. While some disagree about the importance of this statistic, much of the controversy and confusion about the gender pay gap comes from attempting to explain its cause and its impact on society.

video from Harvard Kennedy School

What causes the gender pay gap?

There are several reasons that are commonly cited as causes for the gender pay gap. The types of work that men and women do – occupational segregation – is often in the forefront (see below). Others highlight the role of historical educational trends, work experience, or time away from employment as possible or partial explanations. These are all certainly plausible, but the crucial question is this: How much of the gap should be attributed to blatant discrimination and sexism? Some point out that these social forces all compound and can not be separated. In fact, 50% of Americans suggest that gender discrimination is a major reason for the gender pay gap.

a graph that demonstrated men's overrepresentation in the highest paying occupations and women's overrepresentation in the lowest
from Washington Center for Equitable Growth

The gender pay gap is almost certainly caused by a combination of all of these factors – including discrimination against women. I see no point in arguing about the cause or explanation – we deserve solutions not explanations. I want to live in a more equitable world and it is my hope that we can do much much better in the next 20 years.

Crowded Skies

In the Collection, In the Headlines / By / February 21, 2023

Recently the US government has been shooting down some high-flying, unknown objects. The first object was recovered and can be studied for identification. The searches for the other three objects have been abandoned due to weather and terrain, eliminating the possibility of identifying the purposes and origins of the objects. As it turns out, chances are pretty good that the most recent objects were legitimate research balloons. There are thousands of balloons in the sky right now. The US National Weather Service alone launches around 60,000 balloons per year. NASA uses balloons to study the atmosphere. Many other research organizations launch high-flying balloons all over the world as well.

Below you’ll find a glimpse of a graphic the New York Times recently published that gives an idea of the sizes and altitudes of various objects in the skies. You can view the full size graphic on the New York Times website. Spy Balloons. U.F.O.s. What Else Is Up There? And the New York Times article, A Rising Awareness That Balloons Are Everywhere In Our Skies gives more information about the numbers and various types of balloons being used.

If you haven’t yet signed up for your free subscription to the New York Times, you can do that right here, using your MVCC email address. To find out more about meteorology and how all these balloons might be being used, check out these books from the library collection.

What is the Internet Archive?

General Information / By / March 2, 2023
Internet Archive Logo

I am sure that many of you are aware of the “Wayback Machine” – a tool that lets users view functional “snapshots” of websites as they existed at various times in the past. While students will certainly enjoy looking back on the Moraine Valley Website, this is only part of what the Internet Archive does. With the lofty mission “…to provide universal access to all knowledge“, the Internet Archive is a free and open online library that contains:

All of these resources are powerful tools for research, and this is a service that savvy internet users should be aware of: Looking for an authoritative version of website you visited in the past? Seeking an old local radio broadcast? Maybe you want to read a chapter of an obscure text that you can not find in your local library? With a variety of Special Digital Collections available (scroll down if you follow the link) – you might find just what you are looking for!

But there is fun to be had too – some will want to check out The Manga Library, The Old School Emulation Center, or study some Cookbooks from the last 200 years! I have been continuously dying while trying to play Super Mario Brothers in the browser, and am brought back to the early 90’s in my cousins basement! As you are probably starting to sense – the possibilities are endless. Note: Some materials require you to create a free digital “Library Card” to check out materials.

If you are interested in participating or learning more, check out their ongoing projects. You can create a free account to begin uploading content today!

Click Here to Learn More
Click Here for a Tutorial Video

“About this result” on Google Search

General Information / By / December 11, 2022

Have you noticed those three vertical dots that are coming up next to Google search results? Google hopes that their “About this result” feature will make it easier for users to understand the results they are seeing.

Screenshot of Google Search Results Page

Clicking the three dots will pull up an “About this result” panel that includes key information about the website, and gives you the option to read “More about this page”. According to google, “If it’s a site you haven’t heard of before, that additional information can give you context or peace of mind, especially if you’re looking for something important, like health or financial information.”

Screenshot of "About this result" panel

“About this result” will certainly not cure the misinformation pandemic – but it is a time saving tool to be aware of. And if google is implementing this feature, I would be surprised (shocked!) if other search engines didn’t follow suit.

Baking and Cooking in December

General Information, In the Collection / By / December 13, 2022

Do you have some traditional treats that you make year after year for celebrations? Are you interested in looking for something new? Here are a few cookbook suggestions that are available at the library.

Two shelves with an array of five book covers. The top shelf shows Breads of the World, Holiday Cookies, and The World on a Plate. The bottom shelf shows The Perfect Cookie and Classic German Baking.

Breads of the World TX769 .I54 2013b

Holiday Cookies TX772 .H65 2014

The World on a Plate TX725.A1 H5674 2015

The Perfect Cookie TX772 .P47 2017

Classic German Baking TX721 .W45 2016

In addition to the books listed above, here are two ebooks that you might like to skim for ideas: Vegan Holiday Cookbook and Christmas Baking.

Book cover: Vegan Holiday Cookbook with an overhead view of a pie with one piece cut out
Book cover: Christmas Baking with a variety of cookies in a tray

Who is going to fact check the fact checkers?

General Information / By / December 15, 2022

With public trust in government and other institutions both near all time lows, can we expect people to put their trust in yet another group: fact checkers? Many have pointed to fact checking tools and services as part of the solution to the misinformation pandemic. But what happens when fact checking itself becomes polarized and politicized? Are we just recreating echo-chambers with partisan fact-checking services?

While I personally think that there are several useful and unbiased tools for fact checking, it can be dangerous to rely on a single source to filter the internet for you. These tools can absolutely save you time and energy, but if you are not comfortable relying on an outside source to fact check for you, you can use the same process that professional fact checkers use: Lateral Reading.

Lateral Reading is a strategic way to contextualize and verify information that you find online. The basic idea (which takes time and practice to master) is to open up new tabs on your web-browser and read “laterally” or side-to-side across the internet. Start searching the open web and ask yourself: Who or what is behind the information you are seeing? What are others saying about this news source or author or institution? What are others saying about this story? Can you find the original story or trace data/claims back to the original source? Once you are armed with this additional information and context, you can start to decide how seriously to take the information you are reading.

While there is no simple solution to combatting the spread of misinformation – there are steps that you can take to be a more informed consumer. Ultimately, each of us has the responsibility to decide who to trust online.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Economy and Economics

E-Resources, In the Headlines / By / November 14, 2022
Photo by Andre Taissin on Unsplash

Written by Eileen Davenport

Inflation.  Interest rates.  Monetary policy.  Rate hikes.  The Fed.  The FOMC.  Cryptocurrency.  What exactly do these words mean, and how will it affect you?  These are some of the terms that many people use, but not everyone understands.  The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has websites that outline and explain these concepts with brief papers on how these ideas affect the economy.  Open Vault explains economics in general terms, adding context to the market concepts that affect our lives every day.

Designed for teachers but useful for anyone with an interest in the subject, Econ Lowdown has resources on personal finance and economics.  The lesson plans are designed for K-college teachers, but clear definitions and real-world applications make the content here useful for anyone who wants to learn more.  You can learn at your own pace, and keep up-to-date with the latest updates on timely topics through the monthly Page One Economics newsletter.

IT’S WORLD CUP TIME!

General Information / By / November 11, 2022

Starting on November 20, in Qatar, and ending on December 18 with the final playoff, soccer fans will have almost a month’s worth of games in various venues or cities. Of course, not all games will be worthy of attention!

World Cup Trophy

And, yes, the United States is playing.

Here is more information from ESPN for you to find your favorite team or teams.

Enjoy.

Is This The Last Time We Fall Back?

In the Collection, In the Headlines / By / November 3, 2022

At 2am this coming Sunday morning we fall back one hour as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end once again. Is this the last time? It’s possible, but probably not.

If there’s one thing that most Americans seem to be in agreement about, it’s that they don’t want to change clocks twice per year. Both physical and mental health suffer as our bodies adjust. There is a difference of opinion though on whether we should stick with DST all the time, or use Standard Time all of the time. There are compelling arguments on both sides. Many businesses see increased profits with more daylight in the evening. There is also evidence of a decrease in accidents and crime. Sleep experts, on the other hand, tell us that our bodies are at their best when the sun is highest in the sky at midday. This is more in line with Standard Time. So, while a majority would like to stop changing clocks, we can’t agree on which system to make permanent.

In March of this year, the US Senate picked a side and unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which is set to take effect in November of 2023 and make Daylight Saving Time permanent. This means that we would spring forward in March of 2023 and then just stay on that time, never having to switch back and forth again. In order for this to happen, the US House must also pass the act before it gets sent to the White House for signing. The act is stuck for now, with the House of Representatives not taking any action on the measure. So this could be the last time we fall back, but only time will tell.

Find out more about the history of timekeeping with these books from the library collection.

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