First Study of American Indian Health

The National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, released their first study about the health characteristics of American Indians on Wednesday, April 27, titled Health Characteristics of the American Indian and Alaska Native Adult Population: United States, 1999-2003.

It reports on these health characteristics: basic demographic data, such as race, education, age, income, poverty status, and having health insurance; health behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, physical activity, and overweight status; health care utilization, such as the use of doctor's offices or HMOs, and non-use of healthcare facilities due to high health care costs; health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and deafness; mental health status, such as feelings of depression, distress, and hopelessness; and respondent-assessed overall health status.

National Library Week Contest Winners

What was your excuse for not returning library books?

Here is the top 10 list of excuses for National Library Week 2005.

Turn Off TV, Turn on Life

Turn Off TV, Turn on Life is the national slogan for TV Turnoff Week (April 25-May 1). Besides being a good idea for all those students who need to study for finals, the sponsor of this national initiative provides information on the TV habits of American households.

Under TV Facts & Figures, this website provides fact sheets, famous quotes, and documented research. The information presented is accompanied by bibliographies that include newspapers, magazines, websites, reports, and government information.

Government Views of Iraq: An Online Bibliography

Government Views on Iraq is an online bibliography organized by the Cohen Library, City College of New York. This bibliography contains approximately 100 topics composed from government documents and information.

A description from the website:

The bulk of the resources are from the United States, there are international entries as well. Resources include such items as U.S. Congressional Hearings and Resolutions, Federal Agency reports, transcripts of press conferences and briefings, USAID Fact Sheets, legislation, news releases and Presidential Communications, as well as texts of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the Geneva Conventions and Protcols, selected international treaties and information on governance post Saddam Hussein including regulations, memoranda, orders and public notices from the Coalition Provisional Authority as well as resources of the Iraqi national elections on January 30, 2005 and information on the Iraqi Transitional Government.

I Hear America Singing

I Hear America Singing is a Library of Congress Web site, that invites visitors to experience the diversity of American performing arts through the Library's unsurpassed collections of scores, sheet music, audio recordings, films, photographs, maps and other materials. Special presentations on selected topics highlight some of the unique and unusual materials in the Library's collections. This site is a continually growing resource, and visitors are encouraged to return regularly to see what's new.

Visiting the Virtual Vatican

The Vatican has produced a wonderful website where a researcher can access the Vatican library and archive to examine objects like 15th century manuscripts.

Because of the recent passing of Pope John Paul II, the Vatican created a historical chronology of the Pope John Paul's life from 1978-2005. Each year's entry is subdivided into four areas: Words of the Holy Father, Videos, Travel, and Events.

WMD Commission Report

The report about WMDs is now available by the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The Comission was created by Executive Order 13328 on February 6, 2004 and charged with the responsiblity of assessing whether the Intelligence Community is sufficiently authorized, organized, equipped, trained and resourced to identify and warn the United States of potential threats associated with WMDs.

James Madison Papers Available Online

The Library of Congress recently announced the release of the James Madison Papers, a part of the American Memory Project.

The James Madison Papers include approximately 12,000 items captured in some 72,000 digital images. This digital archive about the "Father of the Constitution" includes correspondence, personal notes, drafts of letters and legislation, an autobiography, legal and financial documents, and miscellaneous manuscripts.

State Education Data Profiles

The State Education Data Profiles is a new resource produced by the National Center for Education Statistics that collects information in elementary/secondary education, postsecondary education and selected demographics for all the states in the U.S.

The National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, is responsible for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations.

April Fool's Day: Behind the Holiday

April Fool's Day is one of the most light hearted days of the year, yet it stems from a serious subject—the adoption of a new calendar.

Ancient cultures, including those as varied as the Romans and the Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. Many countries, however, resisted the change. In fact, some European countries held out for centuries (Scotland until 1660; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700; and England until 1752).
In 1564 France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year's day to Jan. 1. However, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false.
In 1752, Great Britain finally changed over to the Gregorian Calendar, and April Fool's Day began to be celebrated in England and in the American colonies.

Pranks and jokes are of course still popular on this day—not to mention the rest of the year.
"April Fool's Day: Origin and History."

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