Wednesday, April 04, 2012

The End of the Dollar Bill Bill - is There an Echo?


Ladiesss and gentlemennn. . . in this corner we have  Metal Dollar Maniaaaa!  In the opposing corner we have Give Me My Greenbackkks!  Now, I draw your attention to the center of the ring for our featured match-up -- the Currency Optimization, Innovation and National Savings (COINS) Act.

S.2049  was introduced in January by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.). The senators’ bill is a companion piece to House bill H.R.2977 , the Currency Optimization, Innovation and National Savings (COINS) Act, introduced in September by Republican Reps. David Schweikert (Ariz.) and Jeb Hensarling (Texas).  The bill calls for a transition from the paper dollar to the dollar coin within four years; the House bill now has 12 co-sponsors. 

The paper dollar became part of the U.S. currency during the Lincoln administration in the early 1860s.  However, there has been a long-running battle to replace the paper dollar with the dollar coin and the movement has "gained fresh momentum."  So much so, Crane & Co., the Massachusetts-based firm that provides the paper for the currency and Sicpa Securink Corp., a Swiss-based in company that supplies ink for the paper currency have stepped up their lobbying initiatives. 

Proponents of the initiative argue that replacing the paper dollar would be better for the environment and save the taxpayer dollars – as much as $50 million a year.   Those opposing the elimination of the one-dollar bill suggest that the environmental impact is not accurately portrayed, since the currency paper is made from cotton and linen fibers.   Moreover, an October, 2011, poll from Lincoln Park Strategist found the Vast Majority of Americans Reject The Idea Of Getting Rid Of The Dollar Bill And Moving To A Dollar Coin.




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Einstein Archives Online Relaunch

"Albert Einstein wrote famously that imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge, he said, was limited. "Imagination encircles the world."
...
“Knowledge is not about hiding, it is about openness,” Hebrew University President Menahem Ben-Sasson said at the launch of a new public website that archivists hope will soon provide easy access to all of Einstein’s personal and professional writings.

The archive, which is made of more than 80,000 documents spanning Einstein’s 76-year life, includes manuscripts of his scientific and nonscientific writings, his correspondence with scientific and nonscientific colleagues, and writings with friends and family." (See more at CNN.com here)



"The Einstein Archives Online Website provides the first online access to Albert Einstein’s scientific and non-scientific manuscripts held by the Albert Einstein Archivesat the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, constituting the material record of one of the most influential intellects in the modern era. It also enables access to the Einstein Archive Database, a comprehensive source of information on all items in the Albert Einstein Archives." (See more at the Einstein Archives Online here)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Monday, April 02, 2012

National Archives Release 1940 Census

Want to find out what the United States was really like in 1940?  The National Archives released 1940 Census data today.  Fox News gives a snapshot of information available:

The Census Bureau paints the picture of a very different country -- sample professions in 1940 included frame spinners and rivet heaters.
In 1940, there were 5.1 million farmers. Today there are 613,000.
Several famous names are among those still alive today who were counted in 1940, including Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman.

For a little context, the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred Dec. 7, 1941. 

 Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Research Resources: Medline Database

If you are interested in locating journal articles in the field of medicine, nursing, dentistry, the health care system, medical law and policy, take a look at the Medline database. This database provides comprehensive full text articles for 1,470 journals as well as citations and abstracts.  Coverage begin for all journals from 1949 with full text coverage from 1965.  

To access Medline:

  • Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
  • Click the "Health Law/Medicine" link
  • Scroll down to "Medline"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat