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Archive: July 2011 (24 Posts)

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

South Sudan and The Law Library

Posted by: Hanibal Goitom

On July 9, 2011, a new African nation was born; South Sudan declared its independence and became the 54th African nation and 193rd member of the United Nations.  This came to be after the people of South Sudan overwhelmingly supported the secession (with about 99% of voters in favor) of South Sudan from Sudan in …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

The Inspiring Story of Nelson Mandela

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

Today, July 18, is Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday and the second annual Nelson Mandela International Day.  This day was officially observed for the first time last year following the adoption of a resolution by the U.N. General Assembly on November 10, 2009.  The resolution acknowledged “Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Hacker’s Law – Pic of the Week

Posted by: Andrew Weber

The following is a guest post by Bacilio Mendez II, an intern in the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress. Computer hacking has been in the news a bit of late and we here at the Law Library of Congress thought that we would turn this confusing moment in the societal consciousness …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Trial By Ordeal In Liberia

Posted by: Hanibal Goitom

While considering a post on Trial by Ordeal (TBO) in Liberia, the first thought that came to my mind was to define the term.  The first online source (not particularly authoritative or official) I could find defined it as “a primitive method of determining a person’s guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to …

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What is THOMAS.gov on Jeopardy?

Posted by: Andrew Weber

This government website was mentioned in the Library of Congress category during the recent Jeopardy! Kids Week. It’s always fun when someone you know references your work.  And it’s definitely rather cool when it is referenced on TV.  One of my colleagues, Tammie, received an email from a friend that said: Jeopardy just had a …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Canadian Government Wants Term Limits for Senators

Posted by: Kelly Buchanan

The following is a guest post by Steve Clarke, Senior Foreign Law Specialist. Canada‘s new majority Conservative Government headed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper has introduced a bill (Bill C-7) that would limit Senators to one nine-year term.  The 105 members of Canada’s upper house currently have no terms of office and are only obliged …

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We’re Here to Serve

Posted by: Andrew Weber

The following is a guest post by Megan Lulofs, who works as a contractor from CGI in our Collection Services Division, and as an independent consultant in our Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress. Just last week I started answering questions from our Ask A Librarian service–and I love it. I’ve been looking forward …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Are Vacations Harmful? – Pic of the Week

Posted by: Christine Sellers

The following is a guest post by Bacilio Mendez II, an intern in the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress. For many Americans, summer means family barbecues and baseball, but there are those among us who dread this warmest of seasons for one reason in particular – flying. After the fireworks and …