For once, the weather agrees: it's Sunshine Week

Today's the first day of Sunshine Week, which

is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know.

We won't be doing much different here on the Prairie, where sunlight is a vital part of our ecosystem and transparency a frequent topic. Government data, after all, should be so readily accessed that even cows can get at it; those multi-chambered stomachs are a great tool for analysis.

And what better way to start the week than a cheery tune for atmosphere: