Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Initially a holiday commemorating the harvest, Thanksgiving was proclaimed a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. Tradition followed that it would be celebrated on the last Thursday of every November. In 1939, a year with five Thursdays in November, President Franklin Roosevelt declared that Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every month. We still follow that practice. The Library of Congress website has an interesting Thanksgiving Timeline for those looking for information on the history of the holiday.
If you are looking for some unique facts and figures about the holiday, be sure to check out the Census Bureau’s Thanksgiving Day Facts for Features. The Census Bureau has compiled food production and agricultural data for several Thanksgiving favorites, including turkey, cranberries, pumpkin, and more. Other interesting tidbits in this document include information on places in the US named Turkey, Cranberry, and Plymouth.
For safe preparation of your holiday bird be sure to check out the USDA’s Food Safety Fact Sheet for Turkey. Finally, if you are traveling anywhere for the holiday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers tips on what you can and can’t pack when traveling by air. Or check your flight and airport status in real-time by using the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Flight Delay Information Chart.
Thanksgiving Timeline, 1541-2001: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/thanksgiving/timeline/1541.html
Thanksgiving Day Facts for Features: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/012692.html
USDA Food Safety Fact Sheet, Turkey:http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/turkey_from_farm_to_table/index.asp
TSA Tips http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
FAA Flight Delay Information Chart http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MONTH
November has been designated National Alzheimer’s Disease Month. According to the National Institute of Aging: Department of Health and Human Services, Alzheimer’s affects up to four million Americans; it is the most common form of dementia among older people. Alzheimer’s Disease causes changes in the brain, which begins with mild memory loss progressing to serious mental damage and even death. There are ten warning signs that your loved one may be suffering from Alzheimer’s, including: memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation to time and place, and poor or decreased judgment. The National Alzheimer’s Association provided a full list of symptoms. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be a devastating experience for both the victim/patient as well as the caregiver. The National Alzheimer’s Association has resources to help caregivers and family members cope with this debilitating disease. Family, friends, and support groups are vital to those who care for Alzheimer’s patients.
For more statistics regarding Alzheimer’s Disease and those affected by it, visit the Indiana State Department of Health’s page on Alzheimer’s.
NADM http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081029-5.html
National Institute on Aging http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Department of Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/
Full list of symptoms http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_symptoms_of_alzheimers.asp
Resources to help cope http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_14980.asp
National Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org
Indiana State Department of Health on Alzheimer’s http://www.in.gov/isdh/20259.htm
UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON
It’s Holiday Season 2008! In celebration of the upcoming season, the Census Bureau has released its Facts for Features for the season. Facts for Features is a series that gives statistical information related to a particular event. For example, did you know that the US Postal Service expects to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Maybe you wanted to know the population of Santa Claus, Indiana (2,320) or North Pole, Alaska (2,183).
Other fun statistics include sales figures for Christmas tree farms in the United States and candles for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Or you can prepare yourself for “Black Thursday” by brushing up on department store figures from years before.
Now is also the time of year when many people start to decorate their homes for the holidays. However, it is important to remember to use decorations properly. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that there are more than 14,000 candle-related fires each year. For a list of tips to help prevent that and other catastrophes, see their press release. The State of Indiana offers driving tips for staying safe during the holiday season.
US Census Bureau www.census.gov
Facts for Features http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/012876.html
CPSC http://www.cpsc.gov
Holiday Safety Press Release http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08104.html
State of Indiana Driving Tips http://www.in.gov/core/3030.htm
AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH
In 1990, President George HW Bush approved a joint resolution proclaiming November to be National American Indian Heritage Month. Since that time, November has been designated as a month to recognize the cultures and to educate the public about the history and traditions of the American Indian and Alaska Native people.
The National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution, has some great exhibits and information online for those wanting to learn more about American Indian history, art and culture. Among the many online exhibits are Indian Humor, Listening To Our Ancestors and Identity By Design.
The Indian Health Service also provides a great photo gallery, with images of American Indians through history. Select images for viewing by category and historical era.
Indian Health Service, National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: http://www.ihs.gov/PublicAffairs/Heritage/index.cfm
National Museum of the American Indian: http://www.nmai.si.edu/
NMAI Indian Humor Exhibit:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/indian_humor/
NMAI Listening To Our Ancestors Exhibit: http://www.nmai.si.edu/listening/
NMAI Identity By Design Exhibit: http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/identity_by_design/IdentityByDesign.html
Indian Health Service Photo Gallery: http://www.ihs.gov/publicinfo/photogallery/index.cfm
LEARN ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
There are a lot of rumors flying around about the economic situation around the world. But where can you go to get actual facts? The official website of the United States government has compiled data about the government’s response to the crisis as well as what we as individuals can do. The website includes links to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and to hearings before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
Of particular interest to citizens is EconomicRecovery.gov, a site through the Department of Commerce that provides links to help people save money, protect their homes and find jobs. It includes tips on avoiding foreclosure and how to still eat healthy when money is tight. For example, planning meals before you shop, sticking to your shopping list and buying store brands may all help to save money.
You can also visit the White House’s official website to look at their Economic Fact Sheet, which outlines the limits and focus of the federal government’s response to the crisis. To see how Indiana is dealing with the crisis, visit its Plan for Community Assistance.
Official Website of the US government www.usa.gov
Federal government’s response http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8206&p_created=&p_sid=&p_lva=7230&p_sp=&p_li=&p_topview=1
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.1424: House Committee http://oversight.house.gov/
Senate Committee http://banking.senate.gov/public/
White House www.whitehouse.gov
Fact Sheet http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/economy/
Indiana’s plan for community assistance http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/27250.htm
by Katharine Springer & Elisabeth O’Donnell