U.S. Government Printing Office: Pueblo Distribution Center marks Milestone of Service

Have you ever ordered a publication from the Pueblo Distribution Center? Here's a video that celebrates it's 40th anniversary of service.

Bullying in Schools: An Overview

The Department of Justice has released a report on bullying. From the report, "Researchers from the National Center for School Engagement conducted a
series of studies to explore the connections between bullying in schools, school
attendance and engagement, and academic achievement."

Which States Are Seeking Flexibility from NCLB

Wondering which states are pushing No Child Left Behind reform by asking for flexibility?

President Nixon's Grand Jury Testimony

Now you can read the transcripts of President Nixon's Grand Jury Testimony online at FDsys.gov.

History of the U.S. Geological Survey Library System

Histories of departments, agencies, programs and libraries are an interesting way to learn more about our government. They're also a great resource for research papers. Here's a look at the history of the U.S. Geological Survey Library System.

A New Look for Census.gov

The Census Bureau has redesigned their website. For particulars about the redesign, see the blog post Census.gov Transformation - Pardon Our Dust. The true test? How difficult or easy is it to locate historical stats.

VA Health Topics

Veterans and their caregivers will find the new tool, Health Topics - A to Z Index, from the VA a useful point of reference for health issues and questions. The tool will continue to grow as topics are added.

Safety & Healthy Winter Tips

Be sure to stay safe & healthy during this winter by adding these tips from the CDC to your checklist.

Before You Panic Over Turkey Giblets & More

If you don't have time to read Hotline Answers "Panic Button" Food Safety Questions before you begin prepping your holiday meal then at the very least you'll want to bookmark the site for easy reference while you cook.

Fire Safety: Smoke Alarms

Fires can be the result of space heaters, unattended pots on stoves, faulty electrical systems or Christmas trees. No matter how a fire begins, lives can be saved with the use of working smoke alarms. Do yourself a favor & check the batteries in your smoke alarms. Get facts from the Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Need Trivia?

Or, even more importantly, thinking about your spring research project? If so, bookmark the Guide to State and Local Census Geography for use in February. Enjoy the last day of finals!

Driving + Cell Phone = Distraction

Read the official highway accident report that includes the recommendation of banning the use of cell phones & texting by the National Transportation Safety Board. Need talking points? Distraction.gov has these along with ways you can get involved.

Bugs, Drugs, $$ & More: Customs & Border Protection 2011 Report

Yes, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped pests, drugs, money and even illegal meat & animal byproducts from entering our country. Here's the news release with highlights and for more specific data see the site for statistics.

12 Days of Holiday Tips for Kids

Wondering how you'll entertain the kids once school is out? Check 12 Days of Holiday Tips for Kids from Kids.gov for some neat ideas. Even though the site is at tip #8, all of the tips can be downloaded here. Even better, the site has some ways to entertain adults.

DOJ Legislative Histories

The Department of Justice has digitized legislative histories that were once only available to DOJ employees. Listed by their popular names, they include the Telemarketing Fraud Prevention Act of 1998 & the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986. A fantastic site for our law & history students.

More About Twitter & the Library of Congress

Twitter users, you should feel better about the gift of Twitter to the Library of Congress after you read this FAQ. At least, I hope you'll feel better.

Documents of the Month: Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is the topic for the display this month.

• USS Arizona Memorial
• The Attack on Pearl Harbor: World War II Commemorative Bibliography 
• Infamous Day: Marines at Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941
• Pearl Harbor: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Chronicle
• 7 December 1941: The Air Force Story
• The "Magic" Background of Pearl Harbor
• Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 Overview and Special Image Selection
• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
• Navy Commemorates 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Middle School Kids (& Teachers) Rock

Why would anyone consider teaching middle school? Because middle school kids are curious & bright. Also, change is the name of the game. Learn why & more from Middle Grades Matter.

Tracking Santa!

Alright parents, add this one to your list of things to do on Christmas Eve, NORAD Tacks Santa. Can't wait? The countdown went live yesterday and the site includes lots of fun activities including video messages from troops around the world.

Bullying in Alabama

Here's another resource for those needing assistance with the topic of bullying, Stop Bullying in Alabama. The site is by the Alabama Department of Education and offers advice for students, parents & teachers in a variety of formats.

Protecting Your Computer

Hopefully you'll read this before you begin your Cyber Monday shopping. Take a few minutes to protect your computer from cyber fraud by using this guideline from the FBI.

Air Travel During the Holidays

Here are some useful tools that will come in handy for those dealing with air travel during the holidays:

• My TSA app
• Flight Delay Information - Air Traffic Control System Command Center
• Helpful Hints for Holiday Travelers

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

National Traffic and Road Closure Information

Getting ready for the drive home for Thanksgiving? Add this site, National Traffic and Road Closure Information, to your checklist of things to do before you leave.

Teachers: Finding & Using Law Primary Sources in the Classroom

Teachers looking for law primary sources and ideas on how to use the sources should check out the blog post from the Library of Congress, Teaching with the Raw Materials of the Law: Primary Sources and the Legislative Process.

Minerals in Our Environment

Minerals are in many of our everyday items. Learn which items include minerals from this poster by the USGS.

Note to science teachers - this might be useful in your classrooms.

North Birmingham, AL Air Quality Information Now Available

Read the answers from the questions asked about the air quality monitoring studies of North Birmingham during the August 1, 2011 meeting held at the Hudson K-8 school.

The answers are on the JCDH's website, http://www.jcdh.org/misc/ViewBLOB.aspx?BLOBId=415 & on the EPA's website, http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/airtoxic/BPAT%20Intro.htm.

GPO Has an App

Download the very first app released by GPO. It's a way to access information on Members of Congress. You'll be able to search members by name, state, chamber or party.

Electronic Media: Keeping Children Safe

It can be a daily struggle to stay on top of your child's electronic media exposure. Get some tips from the FCC's Parent's Place. The site offers tips on television shows (ratings & parental blocking) and online safety.

J. Edgar Hoover

Add to your J. Edgar the movie knowledge by listening to FBI This Week podcast on J. Edgar Hoover.

Christmas Jobs & Crowd Control

We've all seen the videos of eager shoppers pushing through just opened store doors in order to grab the best deals first. Unfortunately, that eagerness often leads to injuries. Even temporary holiday help needs to be aware of crowd management tips.

Thanksgiving Volunteer + Food Safety

Will you be helping to serve food this Thanksgiving? If so, you might want to read this food safety fact sheet first.

SCOTUSblog

Stay up to date with the Supreme Court by following their blog, SCOTUSblog. Launched in late September, it's another way to connect with the Supreme Court.

Book Report - How to Help Your Children Write One

Is a book report in your future? If so, check out these pointers on how to help your child write a book report.

How much is your daily indoor water use?

Timing is everything. As I type, our campus is handling a broken water main. So - do you know how much water you use each day? Use the questionnaire from the USGS to get an idea of how many gallons of water you use each day.

Documents of the Month: Veterans Day 2011

Veterans Day is November 11, 2011 and is the topic for our display this month.

• Veterans, 2000 
• Veteran Resource Center
• Helping our veterans succeed : general SBA information
• Veterans
• Veterans Day 2011: Nov. 11
• VA Million Veteran Program: a partnership with veterans
• Veterans History Project : project instruction kit
• Veterans History Project : preserving stories of service for future generations
• The Library of Congress Veterans History Project : field kit : conducting and preserving interviews 
• Veterans affairs issues
•  Quality initiatives undertaken by the Veterans Health Administration
• Potential costs of veterans' health care
• Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Department of Veterans Affairs : accompanying report of the National Performance Review 
• Serve, support, simplify : report of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors : subcommittee reports & survey findings
• Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses : special report
• Veterans in prison or jail 
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Small business assistance for veterans

Looking for Historical Topographic Maps?

Add the historical topographic map collection from USGS to your list of resources. Alabama is not yet able to be searched but it's possible to search other states, by scale or map name.

New Documents on Display

Beginning this month, we'll display some of our new tangible documents on the shelf to the right of the documents counter. Feel free to browse the documents during the next week or so. I would like to thank Rebekah Wood for setting up the display. We hope you'll enjoy it!

A Lifetime of Good Health: Your Guide to Staying Healthy

National Institute of Justice Special Report: The Road Ahead: Unanalyzed Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases

Look Beneath the Surface: Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking in the U.S. (CD)

Government Printing Office 2010 Annual Report: Celebrating 150 Years (DVD)

Macondo: The Gulf Oil Disaster

A Collection of Solid Waste Resources (CD)

Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective

Foreign Relations of the United States, Vietnam, October 1972-January 1973

Letter from the President Regarding the Commencement of Operations in Libya

Flu Shots

Have you had your flu shot? If not, consider the information provided by the CDC in their 2011-12 Influenza Vaccine and Vaccination Information page.

Need to find a flu clinic?



Learn more about the flu:

Financial Aid Resources

A big part of the college decision process is the tuition. As in, how will you pay for your tuition? If you're still working on the answer to that question, then check out these financial aid resources:

• Student Loans, Forgiveness
• Financial Aid Overview
• Student Aid on the Web 
• 529 Plans

Archives Myths

Here's an interesting post from the Smithsonian about myths.

Student Loans

Alright SU students, I know you're thinking about finals (yes, finals) right now but at some point you might have to make payments for a student loan. If you haven't heard, the President is talking about a change regarding student loan payments.

If you're already paying student loans, then here is the repayment assistant for student debt (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) & here is an income-based repayment calculator (Federal Student Aid).

Penny Increase in Price of Forever Stamps First Since May 2009

From this news release, the USPS will add a penny to the cost of Forever stamps beginning 2012. More about the price changes are here.

Quit Smoking

Need help in order to quit smoking? Use smokefree.gov for tips & tools. The site offers a mobile app, QuitGuide, & SmokefreeTXT that sends encouraging text messages and advice.

History: The Articles of Confederation

What is the Articles of Confederation? Answer: The first constitution of the United States.

CDC Learning Connection

The CDC has pulled together learning products and resources for the public health community into the CDC Learning Connection. I imagine this would be a useful tool for our nursing students and graduates.




Current nursing students also have access to our medical & health related databases which are listed on the appropriate subject guides:

• Anesthesia
• Nursing
• Medical and Health Sciences

Most databases require a SU userid & password in order to search.

Documents of the Month: Domestic Violence

For the rest of October, our display will highlight the topic of Domestic Violence.

• Office on Violence Against Women: Working together to end the violence 
• There's NO Excuse for Domestic Violence
• Violence Between Intimates
• Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence: A workplace issue
• New Numbers for Domestic Violence Victims and Others (English & Spanish)
• Danger to Police in Domestic Disturbances - a new look
• Confronting Domestic Violence: The role of criminal court judges
• Understanding and Preventing Violence
• Domestic Violence, Stalking and Antistalking Legislation
• Domestic and Sexual Violence Data Collection
• STOP The Cycle of Violence: What you can do
• Domestic Violence by Police Officers
• Family Violence: A workshop manual for clergy and other service providers
• The Shelter Experience: A guide to shelter organization and management for groups working against domestic violence
• Violence Against Women: Causes and Prevention
• State Domestic Violence Laws and How to Pass Them: A manual for lobbyists
• The Effective Coordination of Volunteers
• Child Protection in Families Experiencing Domestic Violence

Alerts for Data Overage Charges

Soon smartphone, cell phone & other wireless device owners will receive automatic alerts before going over the agreed data usage plan. This is due to an agreement between the FCC & CTIA (The wireless association). The White House Blog post, Celebrating an Innovative Approach to Consumer Protection, has a good description of the agreement along with links to the announcements.

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010

The Census report, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010, is now available. For highlights (it's 95 pages) see the news release. 

Clinical Trials

Looking for a clinical trial? ClinicalTrials.gov is one way to search both for trials and results by condition, drug, sponsor or location.

Super Committee AKA Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Have you added the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to your list of sites to monitor? The committee is in the news for not having open meetings. Read the committee rules regarding meetings and hearings to see if you agree with the set rules.

Social Security Benefits - Are You Eligible?

Use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to determine which Social Security Benefits you are eligible for and for application instructions.

Fire Prevention

It's officially COLD in central Alabama which means it's space heater time. Please, use good judgment when using a space heater. For tips on space heater safety and more, read Fire Prevention from the CDC.

Scareware

I have a feeling that more of us will be online between now and Monday than usual so that means we'll see more pop-ups & warnings. Take a few minutes to read this helpful blog post on how to handle scareware before you begin surfing the 'net.

performance.gov

Watch our government as they cut waste by using performance.gov to keep track of the data & system changes. The areas to watch are acquisition, financial management, human resources, technology, performance improvement, open government, sustainability and customer service.

Hosting Opportunities

Have you considered opening your home to an international student? Hosting is not just about having a student in your home. You could host an international scholar or professional. As well, the length of  time varies. Learn more about hosting from Hosting Opportunities by the Department of State.

Social Health Hub

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has created a social health hub that will make it easier for the public health community to develop & adopt best practices for the usage of social media.

How Hard is My Water?

How hard your water is determines how much detergent & soap you need to use among other things. Sometimes it's nice to know how hard or soft the water will be at your vacation destination. Use the map and chart from USGS to learn where the hard water is in the US and what makes it hard.

Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force

The Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force has been released in its entirety by the National Archives.

SU community, you may find the report in HeinOnline (login required).

After School Snacking

What are your favorite snacks? Need some ideas? What about food safety for kids at home alone after school? Parents, get ideas & more from the snacking post on the FoodSafety.gov blog.

College students, don't worry - there's a section just for you guys.

InsureKidsNow.gov

If you need to find healthcare coverage for your children, check out InsureKidsNow.gov. The site will help you to locate no-cost or even low-cost health insurance for children and possibly their parents.

Click here for Alabama health coverage programs.

Got a Deer? How Old Is It?

Need to find out how old your deer is?

Flexibility - No Child Left Behind

I've pulled together a list of resources from the White House & Department of Education that mention the suggested flexibility to No Child Left Behind:

• President Obama: "Our Kids Only Get One Shot at a Decent Education" (White House Blog)
• Weekly Address: Strengthening the American Education System (White House Blog)
• What NCLB Flexibility Means for You (ED.gov Blog)
• Teacher Makes a Personal Case for NCLB Waivers (ED.gov Blog)
• Obama Administration Offers Flexibility from No Child Left Behind  (ED.gov Blog)
• ESEA Flexibility (Department of Education)

Food Safety Milestones

We've come a long way regarding food safety. Curious? Check out the Snapshot of Food Safety Milestones in the History of the FDA. 

Personal Income for Metropolitan Areas, 2010

Finding from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that for 2010, personal income in metropolitan areas actually rose 2.9%. Read the report to learn which issues had an impact on personal income.

Free Museum Day!

Need something to do this weekend? Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 is Free Museum Day! Visit the website to see which museums near you are participating & to obtain your free ticket. Note, this offer is for one person plus a guest. 

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Quick Reference Guide

Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed on September 20, 2011. The Quick Reference Guide answers questions about the repeal. The Department of Defense has pulled together a feature of the top stories, videos, and a history of the process.

What Are the Most Important 20 Minutes of Your Day?

If you have children in your house, the answer is reading. The Census Bureau has pulled together data that shows how poverty impacts the frequency of reading time. 

Get more data about our children by visiting the Children's section of the Census Bureau.

LoC Prints & Photos Blog: Picture This

Can't get enough of the Library of Congress? Add their prints & photo blog, Picture This, to your reading list. The latest post is a behind the scenes look at how they manage the collection.

The Night Sky

Fall is a great time to be outside, especially at night. Take a few minutes the next time you're out at night and look up at the sky. Is it dark or lighter due to nearby lights? Believe it or not, a dark sky (natural darkness) is becoming a rare thing. Learn how our National Parks Service is working to manage our natural darkness with their Natural Lightscape Management program.

The American Jobs Act of 2011

An authenticated  version of the American Jobs Act is now available on FDsys.

The White House has a blog post describing how the American Jobs Act will impact your community.

America Invents Act

Learn how the America Invents Act impacts the current processes and procedures followed by inventors, companies and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Is the Movie Contagion Making You Nervous?

Evidently the new movie Contagion is making some of us wonder how our country would handle an outbreak. Curious about how the CDC investigates possible outbreak? Check out the blog post, Outbreak Investigation: A Cheat Sheet, to learn more.

September 11: Remembering, Honoring

I've pulled together a collection of government sites that are remembering or honoring September 11th.

•  Remembering Sept. 11, 2011 10th Anniversary Honoring the Victims Department of Defense
• Ten Years Later: The Justice Department After 9/11
• Beyond "Where were you?"—let's talk about September 11 National Museum of American History
• 9/11 Tenth Anniversary includes commemorations USA.gov

Let's continue to remember and honor the event by teaching the details or virtually exploring the memorial.

• Teaching About September 11 Using Primary Sources from Library of Congress
• 9/11 Memorial app USA.gov

Heat Safety Tool

The new Heat Safety Tool app from the Department of Labor and OSHA will enable both employees & employers to determine the heat index which will then help employees to avoid heat stroke.

This is a welcome addition to the growing number of goverment apps.

Note, for now it's only available for Android users.

Should You Buy or Rent a Home?

If you're listing the pros and cons of buying versus renting a home, use this Ginnie Mae calculator to help with your final decision.

Note: Samford University is closed today, September 6, 2011. We'll see you tomorrow.

Labor Day 2011

The Department of Labor has put together a Labor Day 2011 site complete with a history of Labor Day, a collection of videos and a collection of tools.

Enjoy your Labor Day!

Are You Finding Mystery Fees on Your Phone Bill?

USA.gov's blog has provided an excellent resource on the topic of mystery phone bill fees. One reason for the fees? Cramming. Yes, that's right, cramming.

What do Andrew Johnson, the Starr Report & Infant Care all have in common?

Answer: The Government Printing Office (GPO).

This month we thought we'd explore the documents from the 150 year anniversary of GPO as our display. (Apology - this post didn't appear on the first of September as intended.)


All of the documents on display are mentioned in "Keeping America Informed: The U.S. Government Printing Office 150 years of service to the nation."

• Trial of Andrew Johnson
• The Jefferson Bible
• Style Manual: An official guide to the form and style of Federal Government Printing
• War of the Rebellion: Official records of the Union and Confederate Armies
• Indexes to the Public Papers of the Presidents: Nixon
• Indexes to the Public Papers of the Presidents: Kennedy
• Indexes to the Public Papers of the Presidents: Obama
• Infant Care
• The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65)
• Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
• 100 GPO Years, 1861-1961: A history of United States public printing
• The Federal Register: What it is and how to use it
• GPO/2001: Vision for a new millennium
• Informing the Nation: Federal information dissemination in an electronic age
• Budget of the U.S. Government
• The Starr Report: The findings of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr on President Clinton and the Lewinsky affair
• From Red Tape to Results: Creating a government that works better & costs less
• Study to Identify Measures Necessary for a Succesful Transition to a More Electronic Federal Depository Library Program
• United States Code Title 44- Public Printing and Documents chapter 3 section 305 Public Printer: employees; pay
• Public Law 103-40 Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enchancement Act of 1993

Enjoy a video of the 150th anniversary exhibit at GPO:

energy.gov Goes Local

Have you visited the Energy Department's website lately? They have added a feature to search your town for alternative fuel stations. As well, you can easily discover how your much your state spends on energy and how much you use.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is now the 395th National Park. Curious about how the memorial was created? Read Building the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial from Smithsonian.com. 

Allergies & Food Safety Fact Sheet

Monitoring food labels for allergens is an ongoing challenge because you never know when a safe food product might add an allergen to the list of ingredients. To help answer questions, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has this Allergies and Food Safety Fact Sheet.

Women's Equality Day

On August 26, 1920 the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was signed into law. This amendment gave women the right to vote.

Gluten-Free Food Labeling

Here's a guide that will help you to understand gluten-free food labeling. Do you know which foods are naturally gluten-free?

Virginia Earthquake

While I'm certain yesterday's earthquake had nothing to do with our Internet outage this morning, it did cause a lot of excitement. Here are some resources about the earthquake along with a way for you to let USGS know if you felt the quake:

• Magnitude 5.8 - VIRGINIA
• What to Do After an Earthquake
• Did You Feel It? — Tell Us !
• Earthquake in Washington, D.C.

Here are some interesting earthquake facts:

• US Earthquake Information by State 
• FAQs - Earthquake Myths 

Immunizations for Children 7 thru 18 Years Old

According to the CDC, we should follow these recommendations for immunizations for children ages 7 through 18 years old. Your pediatrician will be able to answer your questions about what is right for your child.

Let's Talk About Equal Pay

Equal pay can be a touchy subject because it involves money. The Women's Bureau section of the Department of Labor has pulled together a list of equal pay documents that show progress in the area along with the work that still needs to be accomplished in order to close the pay gap. While a lot of progress has been made, we still have a long way to go.

Oil Consumption by Country, Region or Commercial Group

The U.S. Energy Information Administration Countries site has oil consumption along with oil producers data by country, region or commercial group. This is a fascinating look at how our world uses and produces oil. This site is perfect for student research since I imagine oil will be a popular topic this coming semester.  

Trying to Save Money?

Incorporate these tips from 66 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY into your daily life. 

Social Security Offices Will Close Early

Is Your Student Studying Abroad This Semester?

If so, read this post from the State Department then bookmark the links & download the Smart Traveler app (for iPhone) mentioned in the post.

What is Caller ID Spoofing?

Learn more about caller ID spoofing & how you can keep yourself from becoming a victim.

Are You Knee Deep in Debt?

Or maybe ankle deep? Here's another FTC Facts for Consumers but this one is about debt. It includes tips to help yourself along with debt relief services and bankruptcy/damage control information.

Stats About 2008-09 College Graduates

2008–09 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study: A First Look at Recent College Graduates describes

the enrollment and employment experiences of a national sample of college graduates who completed a bachelor’s degree in the 2007–08 academic year 1 year after they graduated (from the forward).

Buying a Used Car

Purchasing a used vehicle carries a certain amount of risk. However, the risk can be lower today due to the certified pre-owned retailers. You can help manage the risk by reading the FTC Facts for Consumers report on Buying a Used Car.

What about buying a car online? The FBI offers this reminder of a scam & how to avoid becoming a victim. Added 08-16-11

Healthy Weight - it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle!

It's true, maintaining a healthy weight is a lifestyle change & like most changes, it takes time. Use this site for motivation and ideas because it is hard but it is so worth the effort. 

Asthma Rates And Air Quality Data: Are They Linked?

Alabamians know that we often have air quality warnings during the summer. Is there a link between poor air quality and asthma? Listen to the Tracks FAQs How Do I Link Asthma Rates And Air Quality Data? podcast by the CDC to learn if there is a connection.

Reserve Your Place Under the Stars

Thinking of escaping before school begins? Are you planning your next big get away? Add Recreation.gov to your list of planning tools. The site offers one-stop planning for recreational activities, locations & reservations offered by the National Recreation Reservation Service. Their tagline, "reserve your place under the stars" makes me dream of s'mores.

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update

Get the latest data on gasoline and diesel fuel prices. The site includes price per gallon along with historical data that could be useful for a research paper.

Documents of the Month: Back to School

We're showcasing a combination of back to school and No Child Left Behind documents in honor of the best time of the year.

• Back to School Tax Relief Act of 2002
• America Goes Back to School
• No Child Left Behind
• Tips for Helping Children to Read
• Reading Tips for Parents
• Educating Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students
• Repaying Your Student Loans
• Choosing a School for Your Child
• Preparing Your Child for College
• Helping Your Child Succeed in School
• Helping Your Child Learn Science
• Helping Your Child Become a Reader
• Helping Your Preschool Child 
• Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics
• Helping Your Child with Homework
• Helping Your Child Become a Responsible Citizen
• Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence
• Building on Results: A blueprint for strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act
• Teaching Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Instructional strategies and practices
• No Child Left Behind: A desktop reference
• So That Every Child Can Read... 

School Supplies: 2011 Sales Tax Holidays

Who doesn't love new school supplies? Consult this handy list to see if and when your state offers a sales tax holiday.

Debt Ceiling Documents

I've tried to pull together the latest agreed on debt ceiling documents but I'm sure I'll be updating this list in the future.

• Bill Summary & Status S.365 (Thomas)
• Debt Ceiling Bill (FDsys)
• Roll call votes for bill (Senate)
• Putting Americans Back to Work: President Obama Speaks on the Debt Compromise (White House blog)
• Text of Budget Control Act Amendment (House of Representatives Committee on Rules)
• Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline (White House)

Are You Ready?

Many parts of our country have already experienced a natural disaster this year and residents from Texas are getting ready for Don. We're only halfway thru 2011 and some of us are already thinking about fall tornadoes in the south. If you are not prepared for a disaster, then consult the FEMA guide, Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness that will help you and your loved ones to be prepared.

Keeping Kids Safe Online

Learn how to keep your kids safe while they're online by using these tips from the FBI.

How & When to Pack a Cooler

You might have seen the funny PSA's that focus on keeping certain types of food cold. Here's a blog post from the USDA that gives tips on how to pack a cooler and when you should consider using one. They're not just for outdoor sporting events.

Air Toxics Monitoring & Schools in Alabama

The EPA has been monitoring the air toxics near 4 schools in Alabama.

College Affordability

Is your teenager previewing colleges this summer? If so, check out these reports from the College Affordability and Transparency Center.

U.S. Postal Service

We know that there will be significant changes ahead for our Postal Service but other than possibly losing Saturday delivery, what else could change? Read the GAO study to learn more:

Dire Financial Outlook and Changing Mail Use RequireNetwork Restructuring

History of the Topographic Branch (Division)

Mad about maps? What about the folks that dedicated their time and effort into creating maps of our country?

The Debt Limit: What, How & Why

Begin with this blog post from USA.gov and follow the link to a press release from the US Treasury.

Tsunami of 1700

Follow the clues to learn how an earthquake that began in North America caused a surprise Tsunami in Japan during 1700.

The Orphan Tsunami of1700—Japanese Clues to a Parent Earthquake in North America