GovernmentExecutive.com

Those of you who joined me the last time I guest-hosted here will remember my ongoing fascination with the reports that the Government Accountability Office releases on a regular basis. Obviously GAO studies an extraordinary range of issues, and performs a vital function as an independent investigative apparatus of government. And there is a real value to just having an established fact-of-the-matter about even the most basic issues of public service provision.

That said, I still get a kick out of their report titles, and today does not disappoint:

Hospital Emergency Departments: Crowding Continues to Occur, and Some Patients Wait Longer than Recommended Time Frames

This is obviously an important issue. But who's writing the titles to these things, Andy Rooney? I eagerly await tomorrow's report: "Airline Peanuts: Most Are Of Less-Than-Satisfactory Flavor And Quantity."

Okay, nerd alert. Fans of NCIS and Bones read on at your peril.

Slate is proposing a TV show based on the IRS's criminal investigation division. I would TOTALLY watch a cross-over of that show with NCIS and Bones. Every case would have to involve a member of the Navy who committed tax fraud, resulting in a body being horribly mutilated. There would be SO MUCH interagency cooperation that there'd have to be a character from the Federal Executive Boards just to coordinate.

I saw an advanced screening of the new Russell Crowe-Ben Affleck-Rachel McAdams thriller last night, and while most of my impressions have to be saved for the piece I'm writing about "State of Play" and journalism movies for The Atlantic this week, I will say if mainstream reporters and Congressmen brought as much energy and passion to examining government contracting as they do in this movie, it would probably be a good thing.

SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED MONDAY'S "HOUSE, M.D."

Okay, by now it's fairly common knowledge that Kal Penn has left the hit drama "House" and will be joining the Obama administration to be associated director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. I know one office that's going to see a SERIOUS spike in calls. But Penn's good looks aside, Michael Ausiello, the amazing TV reporter at Entertainment Weekly talked to him about the decision, and Penn had this to say about public service:

AUSIELLO: Safe to say you're taking a huge pay cut?
PENN: Oh, yeah. There's not a lot of financial reward in these jobs. But, obviously, the opportunity to serve in a capacity like this is an incredible honor.

But it's hardly like Penn isn't going to be paid less than a living wage. So if a movie star can live on a government salary, it says something about how he values public service, and how folks in the private sector who are bemoaning the loss of their multi-million dollar bonuses might have slightly skewed worldviews.

You've seen those ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com commercials, right? Well, Slate's Seth Stevenson chronicles the Federal Trade Commission's attempts to spoof the jingly ads to promote AnnualCreditReport.com, which unlike its commercial rival, is actually free. I basically agree with his assessment; the rhymes are much less good, although the flatness of the rhythm reminds me of the Kills a little bit, actually. Still, it's an attempt to compete, which is something, right?

This is a guest post by Amelia Gruber, one of my editors:

Is anyone else wondering if the writers of the NBC comedy “The Office” have taken a page from the Obama administration? Those of you who watched last night’s episode might have noticed that toward the end, when new boss Charles Minor is restoring order after Michael’s departure, he assigns Stanley to be Dunder Mifflin’s “productivity czar.” Maybe we have been too immersed in federal management issues, but this seems reminiscent of Obama’s new “performance czar” position. We hope, though, that Obama finds somebody who won’t be doing a crossword puzzle when the nomination is announced.