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

Visiting the USGS

Did you know you can visit the USGS? The visitors center is located in Reston, VA and has lots of things for you to do.

Building Stones of Our Nation's Capital

Can't make it to Washington DC this year? Here's a way to virtually enjoy the stones used to create the buildings in our capitol.

Swimming Pools & Diseases

Nobody wants to deal with an E Coli infection so let's practice some swimming pool disease prevention.

Find a Public Library

Have you found your local public library? If not, why are you waiting? Public libraries often have movies that you can check out and the latest best sellers for your summer trip. They also have free Internet, databases for research, kid programs and meeting rooms. Use this handy search from the Department of Education to find your local public library.

West Nile Virus & Humans on the Map

How many cases of humans contracting West Nile Virus have been reported in the United States for 2011? Note, this site includes historical data and links to maps for birds & mosquitoes along with other disease maps.

If you're a member of the Samford community & want to learn more about West Nile Virus, see our medical subject guide.

What are You Drinking?

Have you ever wondered how many calories you drink each day? You might be surprised. Plus, it's easy to cut back which will help you to lose weight.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/drinks.html?s_cid=tw_cdc643

The Final Countdown of the Space Shuttle Program

Missed the launch?

Missed Tweeting with the President?

A video of the town hall Twitter meeting is now available on the White House blog.

Documents of the Month: Anniversary of the First Man on the Moon

This month we are celebrating the anniversary of the first man on the moon by showcasing our Apollo and NASA documents.

• The First Lunar Landing as Told by the Astronauts: 20th Anniversary
• NASA's First 50 Years: Historical Perspectives
• Power to Explore: A History of Marshall Space Flight Center 1960-1990
• Apollo Over the Moon: A View from Orbit
• Apollo Expeditions to the Moon
• Remembering Apollo 11
• Biomedical Results of Apollo
• Instructor & Student Handbooks for Apollo 11
• Apollo by the Numbers: A Statistical Reference
• NASA Engineers and the Age of Apollo
• Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft
• The Apollo Spacecraft: A Chronology 
• Mission Report: Apollo 11
• "Before this Decade is out..." Personal Reflections on the Apollo Program
• Where no Man has Gone Before: A History of Apollo Lunar Exploration Missions
• Moonport: A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and Operations
• Apollo 11 One Small Step (NASA)
• Apollo 11 Command Module "Columbia," 1969 (Smithsonian) image below
   
  
  
  
  

14 New National Historic Landmarks

The National Park Service has announced 14 new National Historic Landmarks. Is one near you?

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy the day, have lots of fun & stay safe.

Fireworks!

Fireworks. They're hot. As in, really hot.  Stay safe if you plan on using fireworks this weekend.

One more thing, check with your local officials to see if your area is banning fireworks this year.