NORAD Tracks Santa

You better watch out.  You better not cry.  You better not pout.  I'm telling you why.  Santa Claus is coming to town...and NORAD is tracking him.  The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking and reporting Santa's position on Christmas Eve since 1955.  This site explains how the tradition began, thanks to a misprinted phone number in a newspaper, and provides a link to the tracking site:

http://www.norad.mil/AboutNORAD/NORADTracksSanta.aspx

Parents can watch Santa's progress with their children and reassure them that Santa has not upgraded to delivery drones, but still delivers his toys the old-fashioned way.  Happy holidays!

U.S. African Development Foundation

The recent passing of Nelson Mandela may have all of us feeling as though we're just a little bit African.  As an African, you might be pleased to know that there's a U.S. government agency, the U.S. African Development Foundation, whose sole purpose is to help the people of Africa:

http://www.adf.gov/

As its site says, "USADF provides grants of up to $250,000 directly to marginalized community groups and enterprises in Africa. These grants help organizations create and sustain jobs, improve income levels, and address social development needs."  Who knows, one of those grants may be helping to feed or educate the next generation's Nelson Mandela right now.  So, hakuna matata, y'all.

Economic Data Cuts

It's "The Case of the Disappearing Data," but there's no need to call in Nancy Drew.  It's quite clear that the cause of this disappearance is budget cuts.  The Bureau of Economic Analysis can no longer afford to gather and publish all the statistics it has been producing over the last several years.  You can see details about the data no longer being collected in this BEA blog post:

http://blog.bea.gov/2013/11/21/lapi-budget/

The situation begs the question, if the economy has gotten so bad that we can no longer track the economy, how will we know when it gets better?  Solving that mystery may require someone even smarter than Sherlock Holmes.

Oysters

Oysters become a controversial topic at this time of year.  Some people think they're delicious and a vital part of the Thanksgiving menu.  Others think they taste like rubbery snot and don't want them within fifty feet of their Thanksgiving dinner.  Whichever camp you fall in, you may be alarmed to see this page from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which talks about the dramatic decline in ecologically important oyster reefs over the last few centuries: 

http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/abouthabitat/oysterreefs.html

Sadly, it may provide additional ammunition for both sides of the debate.  If things become too heated, perhaps you can distract everyone with a new debate about whether that starchy side dish should be called dressing or stuffing.  In any case, have a safe and happy holiday.

JFK and the NLM

As we all look back at the legacy of John F. Kennedy this week, one little known chapter concerns his connection to the creation of the National Library of Medicine.  Read all about it on this page posted by the Library: 

http://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2013/11/18/john-f-kennedy-and-the-national-library-of-medicine/

With this sort of accomplishment as part of his legacy, it's no wonder so many people remember him so fondly.

FDA and Trans Fat

After seeing recent news reports, you may be asking yourself, "What exactly is trans fat and why is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) targeting it?"  If your self doesn't happen to know the answer to that question, this site from the FDA does:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm372915.htm

Trans fat, found in partially hydrogenated oils, has been linked to heart disease by causing an increase in "bad" cholesterol.  As the site says, the CDC "estimates that a further reduction of trans fat in the food supply can prevent an additional 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year and up to 20,000 heart attacks each year."  But, the FDA's decision isn't yet set in stone.  The link to the "Federal Register notice" will take you to a site where you can offer an opinion on whether or not the FDA should do what it's proposing.  Let them know what you think...right after you finish that Twinkie.

Devices on Airline Flights

Do you ever fly on a commercial airline?  Do you own a smart phone, tablet, or laptop computer?  If so, you may be interested to know that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last week that airline passengers may soon be able to use personal electronic devices "during all phases of flight."  The new rules will be implemented as each airline proves to the FAA that its planes can safely allow the use of such devices in "airplane mode."  Read more about it in the FAA press release:

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=15254

Even though you may be able to use your device before and during take-off, I'm sure the flight attendants would still appreciate it if you'd at least pretend to be listening to their safety speech.