Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Just Asking Questions
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Policy

Your Tax Dollars at Work, DataFerrett Division

Matt Welch | 8.7.2013 4:59 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

And the worst animated GIF in the service of government work goes to … the Census Bureau! Take a gander at the little fella to your right, but not for too long! You don't want to think about why he can't stop smiling…. 

"This tool looks like it was designed circa 1995," notes Wonkbook writer Evan Soltas, "but it gives you Census microdata. Amazing, useful for wonks[.]"

Rest assured, literalists: "FERRETT stands for Federated Electronic Research, Review, Extraction, and Tabulation Tool." So they, uh, meant it?

And don't worry, ladies: There's video.

Link via the Twitter feed of Kevin W. Glass. 

Wait, did someone say something about ferrets?

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Rep. John Lewis Praises Snowden's Act of 'Civil Disobedience'

Matt Welch is an editor at large at Reason.

PolicyCultureGovernment Spending
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (24)

Latest

NYC Proposes a Pantry To Give Away Free Pet Food. That Won't Solve the City's Animal Shelter Crisis.

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 11.8.2025 7:00 AM

You Can Thank This Ohio Klansman for Expanding Your Freedom of Speech

Jacob Sullum | From the December 2025 issue

Trump Vowed To Stop Crypto Crackdowns. Samourai Wallet Proves He Hasn't.

Joakim Book | 11.7.2025 5:07 PM

This Ruling Does Not Bode Well for Trump's Attempt To Portray Journalism as Consumer Fraud

Jacob Sullum | 11.7.2025 2:40 PM

Is Trump a Socialist?

Andrew Heaton | 11.7.2025 1:45 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300