The 2010 Census is a Breeze

The United States Census 2010 is touted as “One of the shortest forms in history–10 questions in 10 minutes.” Actually, even with four people living in my household, it took me less than half that time to complete.

The demographics/data geek in me wishes they’d asked a few more questions. As someone old enough to remember the 2000 “long form” census, this one seemed shockingly brief. I was curious about why there were no questions about ancestry or ethnicity beyond Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.

According to The Whole Story on the U.S. Census website, the “long-form” census that was distributed in 2000 and earlier has been discontinued in favor of the American Community Survey.

We capture that information on the American Community Survey (ACS), which is part of the official census but conducted throughout the decade on a rolling sample of about 2.5 percent of the population every year.

Still, it is important to complete and return the United States Census 2010 if you care at all about your community getting its share of billions of dollars in federal funding for hospitals, schools, job training centers, senior centers, emergency services, and bridges, tunnels and public works projects.

Here are the 10 questions:

1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
3. Is this house, apartment or mobile home: owned by you with a mortgage; owned by you without a mortgage; rented; occupied without payment of rent?
4. What is your telephone number?
5. What is your last name/first name?
6. What is your sex (gender)?
7. What is your age and date of birth?
8. Are you of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
9. What is your race?
10. Do you sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

Pretty easy, huh?

The Census and Social Media

Also of interest to me is the fact that in this instance, the government seems to be on the ball regarding publicizing the census and the benefits of completing it. It also has created an incredibly easy-to-use and useful website built on a Movable Type CMS. I was surprised to see all kinds of social media efforts when I visited the website. One can follow the 2010 Census on Twitter, become a fan of the 2010 Census on Facebook, watch the 2010 Census on YouTube, or view photos of the 2010 Census Road Tour on Flickr. There’s also a 2010 Census Countdown Clock available to install on your website if you’re really a geek about it.

So, just out of curiosity, have you received your 2010 Census in the mail yet? Do you remember previous versions of the census, and did they seem a lot longer? Do you have any qualms about providing this information? If so, why?

Suburban Housewife: Mother’s Cure

If you can get past the profligate use of the “F” word, this is a very funny video.

From the frumpy housewife sundresses and chino shorts, to the old Volvo station wagon, to the (very catchy) refrain: “Oxycontin washed down with Jack D, put it in a cup, it looks like iced tea,” they nailed it.

The first time you watch it listen to the lyrics. The second time you watch it, pay attention to her “posse,” the ridiculously unattractive men/boys gyrating in the parking lot.

Scenes from a Street in Chicago

It is a beautiful, sunny day in Chicago. Still cold, but sunny.

So, I walked to lunch at Wishbone. On the way back, my tummy full of black-eyed peas, I snapped these photos on my iPhone in the 800 block of W. Washington.

On my side of the street: an art gallery, with this on display in the front window:

Directly across the street: an auto body repair center with what I’ll guess is just a shout-out to passersby, something to make us all stop and feel beautiful for a second:

Today I am happy, not cynical, and so I’ll focus on the auto body shop. :-)

Google for Life: Search On

Wow. I missed this spot during the Super Bowl last night, but it’s definitely a favorite. Simple, understated, with no voiceover; this ad for search engine Google manages to evoke the most important, happiest, and possibly scariest events in a person’s life. Watch it more than once and the story comes to life. <sniff>

FLO TV, Not Sure About This

I’ve already seen two FLO TV ads during the Super Bowl, and I loved them both. The one with Jim Nantz is a hoot.

But I’m puzzled … is this an idea whose time came about 20 years ago? I can remember thinking, literally, dozens of times growing up: “If they can make a transistor radio that I can take poolside, why can’t they make a tiny little T.V. that I can carry around with me?” Really, what took so long?

And now that the technology has arrived, who’s going to carry around a tiny T.V. when you can just record whatever you want and watch it anytime you want on your giant flatscreen with surround sound at home? I guess the “spineless” boyfriend in the Jim Nantz spot, but who else? It’s cool that you can subscribe to the service so the television programs play on your phone or in your car, though coverage seems to be limited to larger cities (i.e. the entire state of West Virginia appears to be FLO TV-free at this point).

I’m sure I’ll be surprised, because people will buy anything. But I could have used this little gem when I was 15, on a week-long babysitting gig for a family who didn’t own a television.