October 2011
64 posts
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You Can Help End Domestic Violence
One in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but it also has a negative impact on family members, friends, coworkers, other witnesses, and your community. It’s a serious and sometimes fatal matter.
Domestic violence prevention begins with education. You can help end it by
Volunteering your time at a local...
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Happy Halloween! →
On average, Americans eat 24.7 pounds of candy each year. Get other fun Halloween-themed facts from the Census Bureau.
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Drop Off Your Unused or Expired Medications
More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. Studies show that most of the drugs are obtained from family and friends’ home medicine cabinets.
This Saturday, October 29, you can dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications at a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collection site.
Find a drug collection site near you. New collection sites are being...
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Install and Regularly Inspect A Smoke Alarm →
If your smoke alarm was installed before October 13, 2001, it needs to be replaced. Learn about different types of smoke alarms you could choose.
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Get Answers to Your Questions About the New...
Earlier this month, USAJOBS3.0, the central place to find job listings, was launched to make it easier to find and apply for federal jobs. However, since the launch of this new version of the site, some people have experienced problems.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) manages USAJOBS, and they are working to improve the system to make it easier for you to find job vacancies that...
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Share Your Thoughts on How to Improve Student... →
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Department of Education have sketched out an idea that they think could improve the way schools communicate financial aid offers to students. They want to know what you think. Share your comments and rank features to improve student financial aid.
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Find the Best Student Loan Repayment Option →
If you’re struggling to pay your student loans, the student debt repayment assistant may be able to help. Answer a few questions about your loans and ability to pay, and the assistant will help you find the best repayment option.
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Participate in Red Ribbon Week
The last week of October is recognized as Red Ribbon Week, to encourage people to live a drug-free life. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration works with community coalitions and prevention groups to plan Red Ribbon activities, ranging from classroom events to stadium-sized rallies.
Red Ribbon Week is held in honor of DEA Special Agent Enriqué “Kiki” Camarena, who was killed in 1985 in Mexico...
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Learn To Tell the Difference Between Friend and... →
Do your teens know friend from foe when they’re online? This game will test their knowledge about online friends.
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The Price of Stamps Will Increase in 2012
The cost of Forever stamps will increase by 1 cent on January 22, 2012. This means sending a First-Class letter will soon cost 45 cents. This is the first price increase for Forever stamps since May 2009.
Once purchased, Forever stamps can always be used to send a one ounce, First-Class letter, no matter how many times the price of the stamp changes in the future. You do not need to add an...
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Friday is the Deadline for Video Contest Entries →
Friday is the last day to enter your video in our contest. Answer common questions about government services and you could win $1,000.
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Four Simple Halloween Safety Tips
Use these tips to avoid safety scares this Halloween.
Pick visible costumes
Pick brightly colored costumes. It will be easier for cars to see you on dark roads. If you want to wear dark colors, stick some reflective tape on the costumes to make them more noticeable. You can also put reflective tape on candy bags and or carry a flashlight.
Use face paint instead of a mask
Masks can obstruct...
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Order a Free 2012 Women's Health Calendar →
The 2012 Women’s Health Calendar offers information about common health concerns for women, risk factors for disease, and ways to take charge of your health. It will help you stay organized and healthy.
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Many Preventive Screenings Offered At No Cost...
The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 23, 2010. Many insurance plans are now required to cover the full cost of preventive services, like medical screenings and vaccines.
Some of the screenings covered include
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Depression
Type 2 Diabetes
Talk to your insurance provider to find out what is covered under your plan. Many of...
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Check Your Credit Report →
Have you checked your credit lately? Protect yourself from fraud with this free and safe service.
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Find Ways To Conserve Energy This Month
This October is Energy Awareness Month, and it is a good time to go over your energy routine and think of ways to conserve energy in your home and daily life.
Pay attention to the energy use in your home so you can monitor how much you are using. Simply unplugging some large energy consumers when they are not in use, such as home entertainment systems, and turning off lights when you leave a...
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Find a Flu Shot Clinic Near You →
Flu shots are the best protection against getting the flu.
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How to Safely Use Decorative Contact Lenses
Decorative contact lenses are lenses people use to change the color or design of their eyes. These lenses can be a solid color, or have an image, such as a star, to change the look of your eyes, and are often used as a part of a costume.
The lenses do not improve vision like normal contacts, but are generally used for cosmetic reasons. All contact lenses, including decorative ones, are considered...
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Census Bureau Releases New Statistics About United... →
Learn about these things and more:
The U.S. population increased by nearly 10% since the 2000 census.
In 2009, 16.7 percent of people in the United States were not covered by health insurance.
Of the 77.3 million people ages 3 and up enrolled in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in 2009, 86.5% were enrolled in public schools in 2009.
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One Small Step For Man
Audio Transcript
NEIL...
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Laws Regulating Cellphone Use in Cars Vary by...
In the last few years, many states have passed laws about how drivers can use cellphones while in their cars. Each state’s laws are slightly different. Here’s a general overview of what you need to know about cellphone use in cars.
Handheld Cell Phones: Nine states, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.
All Cell Phone...
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Order Free Posters That Teach How To Become... →
This colorful poster illustrates the steps someone would need to take to become the President of the United States. Order free copies to hang in classrooms, libraries or even your kids’ bedrooms.
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Get Help When You're Trying to Quit Smoking
Smokefree.gov can help you or someone you care about quit smoking. Get information and professional assistance to support both immediate and long-term needs as you become a nonsmoker.
You can get assistance in the form of:
A step-by-step quit smoking guide
Information about a wide range of topics related to smoking and quitting
An interactive U.S. map highlighting smoking information in your...
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It's National Protect Your Identity Week →
Learn about how to prevent or respond to identity theft.
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Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Tomorrow →
Learn more about the health and drug plans available.
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The Benefits of Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Every year some 700,000 people become U.S. citizens at naturalization ceremonies across the country.
By taking the Oath of Allegiance new citizens pledge to be faithful to the Constitution and to serve their new country when needed. In exchange they will enjoy many of the benefits and privileges of being a United States citizen, including the following:
Bringing Family Members
U.S. citizens can...
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Seven Ways to Prevent Furniture Tip-Over Accidents...
Furniture and TV tip-over incidents are one of the top hidden hazards in the home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) encourages you to inspect and anchor furniture and TVs in order to protect young children from a preventable tragedy.
Between 2000 and 2010, the CPSC received reports of 245 tip-over-related deaths, and more than 90 percent involved children 5 and younger. The...
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How to Find and Participate in Clinical Trials →
If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial for a medical condition, you can search listings and find a variety of trials near you.
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WatchVideo description: This slideshow shows some of the many pictures of Mars that the Spirit rover has captured over the years.
Video by NASA.
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Four Simple Tips to Stay Safe from Fires
More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires. Most of these deaths can be prevented by having a working smoke alarm. As a part of Fire Prevention Week 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is sharing tips for keeping your home and family safe.
Here are four simple things you can do today to be ready for a fire:
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home
Test smoke alarms...
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Help Name These Moon-bound Spacecrafts →
Teachers of grades K-12 can enter their students in a NASA contest to name the two spacecrafts heading to the Moon right now.
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Drug and Alcohol Overdoses for Young Adults Up...
According to the National Institutes of Health, hospitalizations among 18 to 24-year-olds increased between 1999 and 2008 by
25 percent for alcohol overdoses
56 percent for drug overdoses
76 percent for combined alcohol and drug overdoses.
122 percent increase for poisonings from opioid pain meds like OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin
Signs of alcohol or drug overdose can vary. Some signs...
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Celebrate Pink Ribbon Sunday to Raise Awareness... →
From the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health:
The FDA’s Office of Women’s Health launched the Pink Ribbon Sunday program to educate African American and Hispanic women about early detection of breast cancer through mammography. The program strives to reduce breast cancer health disparities by empowering community leaders to develop mammography awareness...
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Happy Columbus Day!
Every year, on the second Monday of October, the United States celebrates Christopher Columbus’ landing in the Americas. Columbus’ official siting of new land was October 12, 1492.
Columbus, a native of Italy, scoured Europe for royal sponsors of his expedition to find the New World. Finally, in 1492, Isabella I of Spain funded his trip. Columbus took off from Spain in August 1492 with 90 men on...
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Ada Lovelace Day Celebrates Women in Science
Image description: This moth was found trapped in the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University on September 9, 1945. Image courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.
Today is Ada Lovelace Day, a day to celebrate achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There are many women in government who have made notable...
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