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)