U.S. Army Bands

The U.S. Army rocks!  Literally.  The Army supports several different musical groups within its ranks.  Why?  "Army Bands provide music throughout the spectrum of military operations to instill in our soldiers the will to fight and win, foster the support of our citizens, and promote our national interests at home and abroad."  To find out more about these bands and see if one is performing near you, see the site below:

http://www.music.army.mil/

Other branches of the military support their own bands as well.  Who would have thought that saxophones were such an important weapon in our military arsenal?

The Condition of Education

The news these days about the public education system in America is mixed at best.  Some places are laying off faculty and others are giving them raises.  Tuition is going up and student loan rates are also going up.  No wait, they're going down again.  Student test scores are better...and also worse.  It's hard to keep track of what's really going on at any given moment.  But, if hindsight is 20-20, here's a look at the recent past from the National Center for Education Statistics that may help us get a clearer picture of The Condition of Education:

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/index.asp

Extreme Heat

Steamy, sweltering, blistering, scorching, oven-like, Tabasco-y...whatever you want to call it, it's hot out there.  To find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the extreme heat, see this guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp

During the last few decades "more people in this country died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined."  Learn to keep your cool and you won't be one of them!

Transportation Disaster Assistance

Imagine for a moment that you were one of the survivors of Asiana Airlines Flight 214.  How would you deal with the airline, and state investigators, and federal investigators, and all the other parties involved?  Wouldn't it just be chaos?  No, not necessarily.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has a Transportation Disaster Assistance Division (TDA) that "coordinates the disaster response resources of federal, state, local, and volunteer agencies:" 

http://www.ntsb.gov/tda/index.html

They also provide assistance and advice to first responders and legislators.  So, whether it's a plane, train, or automobile that crashes, if the NTSB decides to investigate, the TDA will be there to help.

Abandoned Mine Lands

Abandoned mines have been featured in many horror movies, and for good reason.  They can be both dangerous and scary.  But, even if you've wisely decided not to explore the spooky old mines that you know about, there may be dozens more around your area about which you're unaware.  To find out more about abandoned mine lands and what's being done to make them safe, see this page from the Bureau of Land Management: 

http://www.abandonedmines.gov/index.html

And, if you see a "Keep Out" sign, think back to the fate of the people in those horror movies and please do what it says. 

Sleep Apnea

Does someone in your household snore?  Do they ever seem to stop breathing entirely, then start back up again with a gasp?  Do they suffer from morning headaches or daytime sleepiness?  The cause of all these problems could be a form of sleep apnea.  See the page below from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for more information and a video that shows what happens during an episode: 

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to other serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and stroke.  So, if you or a loved one have the symptoms, talk to your doctor today.  (And please, do your best not to doze off as you're driving to the doctor's office.)

REAL ID Act

Way back in 2005 Congress passed the REAL ID Act, which "enacts a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission report urging the Federal government to 'set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.'”  As of this year, many states (including Louisiana) haven't yet complied with the requirements of the REAL ID Act.  In those states you may occasionally hear that you'll soon need a passport even for domestic flights because the Transportation Security Administration will no longer accept your state's drivers' licenses as proof of identity.  Don't panic!  See this site from the Department of Homeland Security to find out why: 

http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-faq-public

Still, given how slowly many government services are moving these days due to budget cuts, it might not be a bad idea to start the process of obtaining or renewing your passport...just in case.