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Image description: This composite image shows a single male...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:03:05 -0500

Image description: This composite image shows a single male hummingbird diving to a female. His tail feathers are spread to make a loud sound at the bottom. This courtship display is unusual because it features sound created with feathers instead of chirps or other vocalizations.

The image is part of research on feathers and sound taking place at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University and supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Image courtesy of NSF.

How can I find rules and regulations about ssa disability's five month wait rule?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:05 -0500

The Social Security Administration requires a five month waiting period to make sure that they do not pay disability benefits to people who do not have long-term disabilities. Learn more about this waiting period.

Find out if you’re eligible for Social Security disability benefits and learn how to apply.

Test Your Money Knowledge During America Saves Week

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:06 -0500

Currently, most Americans don’t save enough money for retirement or don’t have enough saved for emergency expenses like home or car repairs. If you’re in that position, you have a chance to take a look at your saving habits and learn ways you can make your financial future more stable during America Saves Week.

You can start by assessing your current savings progress:

Do you know your net worth — the total amount of your assests minus your debts?
Do you have a spending plan in place with specific goals?
Do you have credit card debt?
Do you save a portion of your tax refunds, gifts or other windfall payments?
Are you building equity in a home?

Based on your answers to these and other questions, you’ll get advice on next steps you can take to form a strong savings plan.

Learn more about America Saves Week and how to test your money saving knowledge.

How can I get a ROTC scholarship?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:05 -0500

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares students to become officers in the Military.

ROTC students commit to serve in the Military after graduation (generally four years of Active Duty) in exchange for a partially or fully paid college education.

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force each offer their own ROTC program. The Coast Guard doesn’t offer ROTC, but they do have a Student Reserve program.

Learn more about ROTC programs.

Protect Yourself and Others From the Flu

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:00:05 -0500

Protect Yourself and Others From the Flu:

It’s the height of flu season. Even with the vaccine, there are things you can do to protect yourself and others.

can a UK citizen apply for US green card lottery

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:03:05 -0500

Applicants from the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) were not eligible to apply for the 2013 Diversity Visa program. The list of countries that were eligible are listed in the program instructions.

The Diversity Visa program makes up to 55,000 visas available to people who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The online registration period for the 2014 program should open in fall 2012.

Learn more about the Diversity Visa program.

Image description: This brain-controlled modular prosthetic limb...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:05 -0500

Image description: This brain-controlled modular prosthetic limb (MPL) is controlled by surface electrodes, which pick up electric signals generated by the muscles underneath the skin. The electrodes then convert those patterns into a robotic function.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, along with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Labratory and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), developed the limb for military veterans who lost limbs in action.

The arm is the first to be created and has the same dexterity as a natural arm, including independent movement of the fingers.

On January 24, 2012, Air Force Tech Sgt. Joe Delauriers was the first patient to use the MPL. Delauriers was injured in an IED blast in Afghanistan where he lost both his legs and part of his left arm. With the help of the MPL, Delauriers is able to live off base, drive a car and hold his infant son without worrying about infections.

Amputees go through training before being fitted for the MPL. The training records muscle movements and collects data before the MPL is fitted.

Those involved in the program are hopeful about the future of the MPL and creating more limbs for those in the military and hopefully eventually for the public.

Image from the U.S. Navy.

Determine which tax forms you should be using

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:17 -0500

Determine which tax forms you should be using:

If you’re doing your own taxes this year, this guide will help you determine which form you should be using to make it easy to file your taxes.

Happy Birthday George Washington!

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:05 -0500

Happy Birthday George Washington!:

Today we celebrate George Washington’s Birthday. Contrary to popular belief, neither Congress nor any President has ever officially changed the name of the holiday to Presidents’ Day. Learn more about the holiday.

Image description: The Capitol’s great cast-iron dome is...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:05 -0500

Image description: The Capitol’s great cast-iron dome is an astonishing feat of architecture and engineering. The current dome is actually the Capitol’s second dome. An earlier wooden one was removed as a precaution against fire.

The replacement dome was planned by Thomas U. Walter, the architect of the Capitol extension. His design was influenced by classical European domes. To build the dome, iron brackets were embedded in five million pounds of brickwork laid on the old stone walls. The brackets hold an outer ring of 36 columns (one every 10 degrees). Thirty-six curving iron trusses rise to the lantern and support both the inner dome and the outer skin.

Work began in 1855 with the removal of the old wooden dome. In 1860, the New York foundry of Janes, Fowler, Kirtland & Company won the contract to finish the dome. At the outbreak of the Civil War the contractor was advised not to expect further payment but they decided to continue anyway. That decision inspired President Lincoln and others to see the dome as a sign that the nation would also continue.

The last section of the Statue of Freedom was positioned on December 2, 1863, and the interior was finished in 1866. The dome’s total cost was $1,047,291.

Photo from the Architect of the Capitol

Lowering Sodium Is a Key to Better Health

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:00:05 -0500

Nine out of 10 Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to heart disease and stroke. Nearly 800,000 people die each year from these and other vascular diseases. Sodium intake has a huge impact on our health.

Eating low-sodium is a real challenge

You can’t just “eat fewer pretzels” because —

Most of the sodium we eat comes from processed foods and restaurant food.
High sodium comes in common foods you don’t expect.
High sodium foods don’t always taste salty.
Breads, sandwich meats, cheese and cheesy foods like pizza & pasta, and chicken are some surprising high-sodium sources.

What can you do?

Take control of what you put in your body by preparing more foods yourself.
Compare labels, because brands vary their levels by a lot. And even most raw chicken and pork from the grocery store have been injected with salt water.
Limit processed foods high in sodium.
Eat more fruits and veggies - without sauce.
Tell your favorite restaurants and grocers that low sodium is important to you. Make sure that cafeterias and vending machines suppliers at school and work are aware as well.

Track your sodium intake

Most people need to limit their sodium intake to at least 2,300 mg a day. However, people who are older than 50, African Americans and people with high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease may need to limit their intake to 1,500 mg a day.

On average Americans intake 3,300 mg a day, which shows how far off target we are. In today’s busy world, it’s very easy to eat twice as much sodium as you should. Learn more about the effects of a high-sodium diet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How can I get free legal representation and advice so my daughter and I can move out of state trying to avoid a huge battle with my ex-husband

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:05 -0500

There are a number of ways to find and get affordable help from a lawyer. You may want to start by contacting your local Legal Services Corporation office.

Learn more about how to get affordable legal aid.

America Saves Week starts Sunday

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:00:05 -0500

America Saves Week starts Sunday:

Assess your savings plan and learn new strategies to help you grow your savings.

Aurora Borealis over Northern North America and Canada Video...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:00:05 -0500

Aurora Borealis over Northern North America and Canada

Video description:

This video was taken by the crew of Expedition 30 on board the International Space Station on January 29, 2012. This video begins as the space station is passing over the dark waters of the North Pacific Ocean northeast towards Vancouver Island. The Aurora Borealis can be seen far north, where both the under side and top of the aurora are visible. They continue to pass over Canada until the sun begins to come up in the east while over Quebec.

Video from NASA

I got an email from someone who claimed that SB 1698 and HR 3166 was a bill that would allow US citizens to be stripped of their citizenship if they are "engaging in, or purposely and materially supporting, hostilities against the US," without trial. Is this true?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:05 -0500

Senate bill 1698 and House of Representatives bill 3166 are both bills to create the “Enemy Expatriation Act.” The Senators and Representatives who introduced the bills are trying to make a change to an existing law, the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The Immigration and Nationality Act includes a list of reasons why a U.S. citizen or national could lose his or her nationality, such as serving in the armed forces of another nation. The bills’ sponsors are concerned that the Immigration and Nationality Act might not apply to terrorists. The proposed Enemy Expatriation Act would revoke a person’s U.S. nationality for “Purposefully and materially supporting hostilities against the United States.”

The government cannot revoke a person’s U.S. citizenship against his or her wishes without a federal trial. The Enemy Expatriation Act does not try to change this.

Both bills are in the early stages in the process of becoming a law. They are in committees, which is what happens after a bill is first introduced. Many bills never make it out of committee.

Stay updated on the status of S. 1698 and H.R. 3166, or read the text of the proposed legislation.

Want to know what happened today in history?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:00:00 -0500

Want to know what happened today in history?:

Find unique historical information and images for any date.

Everything You Need to Know about Vaccines

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:00:05 -0500

Keeping up with vaccines is not always easy, particularly if you live in a household with family members of different ages. Vaccination needs can also change quickly if there’s an outburst of a disease.

These days, however, figuring out who needs to get vaccinated, when and where is as easy as visiting Vaccines.gov, the federal government’s centralized portal for everything related to vaccines. The portal recently launched a Spanish-language version of the site.

“Vaccinations protect you but also protect family members and the community, and this website will help everybody get answers to some of the most basic questions about vaccines,” said Guillermo Avilés-Mendoza, a Public Health Advisor to the National Vaccine Program Office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Useful Information about Vaccines

The site offers information about vaccines from a practical and useful perspective. You’ll find, for example, vaccination calendars, explanations on how vaccines work and resources on which vaccines you need to take before going abroad.

In addition, you can:

Read about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
Learn which diseases are preventable through vaccines.
Become familiar with the many acronyms and abbreviations surrounding vaccinations.

“It’s a place where you can find practical and useful tools,” said Guillermo Avilés-Mendoza.

Who Needs to Get Vaccinated and When

It’s a myth that vaccinations are only for children, pregnant women and senior citizens. In fact, every year thousands of adults get vaccinated against flu. There are different factors that determine if you need to get vaccinated, including your age, lifestyle, medical conditions and the places you visit. You might also want to get vaccinated if there’s an outburst of a particular disease, like whooping cough.

Dozens of people died during an outbreak in 2010, most of them children under the age of one who couldn’t get vaccinated because they were too young. That’s why the federal government recommends that 11 or 12 year-olds get a booster of whooping cough vaccine, and that all adults get vaccinated against the whooping cough and get a booster every 10 years.

“The vaccine protects the person who took it, but also those who can’t get vaccinated, such as small children and people with weak immune systems,” said Avilés-Mendoza.

Find out who needs to get vaccinated and when.

Where to Get Vaccinated

Vaccinations are available in many places, from your doctor’s office and hospitals to pharmacies, churches and even schools and colleges. And many insurance companies cover the cost of vaccines. But what if you don’t have insurance?

You can always get vaccinated at the many community clinics funded by the federal government across the country. These clinics offer low cost vaccinations, so you pay what you are able to afford. Vaccinations.gov has a community clinic locator. Just type in your ZIP code.

“These clinics are great because they also offer other types of services such as prenatal care, dental and mental health services,” said Avilés-Mendoza.

Image description: A Mule Deer fawn catches a snowdrop at...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:00:06 -0500

Image description: A Mule Deer fawn catches a snowdrop at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver.

Photo by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

I plan to travel to the Dominica commonwealth in the Caribbean next month. What information do I need to travel there? I have a current passport.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:06 -0500

In addition to a valid passport, you may be asked to present a return or onward ticket when entering Dominica. Find more details about entry and exit requirements when traveling to Dominica.

For international travel, U.S. citizens need to have a passport or other valid documents in order to enter the United States. Caribbean cruises that begin and end in the U.S., called closed loop cruises, do not require you to travel with a passport. However, if you need to leave the cruise ship because of an emergency and you do not have a valid passport, you may have trouble entering or staying in a foreign country. You may also have difficulty re-entering the United States by air because many airlines require a valid passport in order to board the aircraft. Because of these reason, it is strongly recommended that you always travel abroad with a valid passport.

Find international travel requirements for other countries.

Five Ways to Keep More of Your Tax Refund

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:05 -0500

By Dan Rutherford from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

About 75 percent of taxpayers are expected to receive a federal income tax refund this year. If you’re one of them, here are five ways to help you keep more of the money you’re getting back from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS):

Automatically deposit your savings. Use IRS Form 8888 (PDF) to automatically deposit your refund into up to three accounts. You have the option to deposit some of your refund into your checking account and some into your savings account. You can also use the form to deposit refunds into retirement accounts, mutual funds, or U.S. Savings Bonds. All you need are your account numbers and routing numbers. Contact your financial institutions if you need assistance locating these numbers.
Use free filing services. Store-front tax preparers can charge you hundreds of dollars to file your taxes. But many taxpayers can use the IRS’s FreeFile service to complete and file their taxes free online.
Compare instant refund offers to direct deposit. Many commercial tax preparation companies market “free filing” or “instant refunds.” But these offers may come with hidden fees and strings attached.
Be sure to claim all credits or deductions. A tax credit lowers your tax bill dollar for dollar. A deduction lowers your taxable income, so the amount you save will depend on your tax bracket. Knowing which credits and deductions you qualify for can be complex and you may want to find a qualified tax preparer to help. Although a qualified tax preparer will generally charge for their service, if you qualify for the earned income tax credit, have children, have a mortgage, contributed to a retirement plan, or paid tuition, the added tax savings may be worth the extra effort and cost.
If you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, contact your local VITA site for free help. There are more than 12,000 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the United States. These sites offer you free tax preparation and assistance by trained volunteers if you meet the income limits. Call 1-800-906-9887 to find the VITA site nearest you. To learn more about the VITA program, visit the IRS website.

Learn more about how you can keep more of your tax refund from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.