U.S. Army Spc. Brett Hyde, with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, performs sentinel duty at the Tomb of the Unknowns before the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Every year a ceremony is held on Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery. It begins with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Learn more about Veterans … Read more
The Sun unleashed a medium-sized solar flare that is visually spectacular. The large cloud of particles mushroomed up and fell back down looking as if it covered an area of almost half the solar surface. Two NASA spacecrafts observed this event from three different view-points. Video by NASA
A soldier to soldier message for returning military veterans
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Thomas Cavallo throws a couch on a pile in Staten Island. Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit worked to support Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts in New York and New Jersey. Hurricane Sandy formed in the western Caribbean Sea and affected Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Bahamas before … Read more
What are the Benefits of International Education?: This week is International Education Week. Learn more about the benefits of international education and exchange.
New programs exploring novel approaches to cell-to-cell communication and understanding undiagnosed diseases, which represent challenges or scientific opportunities for a wide array of health research, are the latest priorities for the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. The funding was announced today by NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., after he received broad community … Read more
National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced today the appointment of David M. Murray, Ph.D., as Associate Director for Disease Prevention and Director of the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP). Dr. Murray is expected to join the NIH on September 23, 2012.
By Carolyn L. Bird, Ph.D., USDA eXtension’s Financial Security for All Community of Practice Leadership Team Member What is SNAP? SNAP is the short name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The SNAP program has the twin goals of improving health by combating hunger and … Read more
With the rising cost of food, feeding a family on a budget isn’t easy, but there are resources that can help. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, provides eligible families with help purchasing food. Find out if you’re eligible and apply for the SNAP program. If you’re eligible, you’ll … Read more
Image description: Amelia Earhart’s Pilot License, issued May 16, 1923. Earhart achieved international celebrity as the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane in 1928. Seventy five years ago, she and a co-pilot disappeared during a flight over the Pacific. Timed to coincide with her disappearance, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is … Read more
Happy Independence Day! Today is the United States’ 236th birthday!: July 4th is Independence Day, an American holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of the Independence on July 4th, 1776. Did you know that the estimated population of the United States was 2.5 million people in July of 1776? This July 4th, the … Read more
You don’t have to be outdoors to have a fun summer. In fact, some of the most gratifying and enriching activities might happen within the four walls of one of our country’s 123,000 public libraries. If you haven’t been to the library lately, you should check it out.
Listen to the Stars and Stripes Forever March: Listen to Sousa’s Band playing Stars and Stripes Forever from the Library of Congress’ National Jukebox.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) provides advice on fireworks safety and statistics about fireworks injuries. If you plan to use fireworks this Fourth of July, read this first. From the CPSC: Fireworks Injuries Fireworks. They are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day. Yet, the thrill of fireworks can also bring pain, and … Read more
Image description: Fireworks explode near the U.S. Capitol on July 4. Photo from the Architect of the Capitol
What percent of an IRA does a person have to take each month after they are 70 years old? Asked by Charlie on Facebook. If you have a traditional IRA, you must receive a minimum distribution starting when you are 70 1/2 years old. In order to figure out what that amount is, you must first find … Read more
The Library of Congress recently launched a new exhibition about Books That Shaped America. It features influential books that were written by Americans, such as: Catch-22 The Catcher in the Rye The Great Gatsby To Kill a Mockingbird Little Women Uncle Tom’s Cabin Currently, there are 88 books on the list and the Library of … Read more