National Institute on Aging

As Bette Davis famously said, "Old age ain't no place for sissies."  Along with white hair and wisdom come the aches and pains of deteriorating biological systems.  Fortunately, the National Institute on Aging has a mission to "discover what may contribute to a healthy old age as well as to understand and address the disease and disability sometimes associated with growing older."  Its site offers health advice and news, statistics, and information about things such as clinical trials:

http://www.nia.nih.gov/

You can fight the Grim Reaper by staying informed, and always keep in mind Maurice Chevalier's observation that "Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative."

Equal Rights Amendment

March is Women's History Month and yesterday was International Women's Day.  So, in honor of those events, let's revisit the history of the Equal Rights Amendment with this essay from the Library of Congress' American Memory site: 

http://www.memory.loc.gov/ammem/awhhtml/aw03e/aw03e.html

If it makes you want to burn your bra, please try to resist the urge.  Good bras aren't cheap.

Highway Statistics

An overabundance of snow this winter has made travel difficult for many people across the country.  If you aren't able to get out onto the highways at the moment, perhaps you'd enjoy reading about them in the Federal Highway Administration's annual publication, Highway Statistics.  It provides statistics on bridges, highway infrastructure, highway travel and travelers, vehicles, motor fuel, conditions and safety, and so on: 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm

When spring finally arrives, you'll be able to hit the road as a much better informed driver.

Counterterrorism Fly Team

The terrorist group Al-Shabaab has recently called on its supporters to attack shopping malls, such as Minnesota's Mall of America.  If someone in your area answers that call, who could local law enforcement turn to for help?  Since 2002 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has had a specialized unit call the Counterterrorism Fly Team:

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/counterterrorism-fly-team

They are "A small, highly trained cadre of counterterrorism investigators—including Special Agents and Intelligence Analysts—based at FBI Headquarters who stand ready to deploy anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice." 

While it's reassuring to know that these experts exist in the real world, it also sounds like an excellent premise for a new TV show.  (Perhaps "Criminal Minds: CFT?")

Alcohol Research

If you celebrated Valentine's Day, or Presidents' Day, or Mardi Gras with an adult beverage or two, you may have at least a passing interest in scientific research on the subject of alcohol.  The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism publishes (or possibly published, the latest issue came out in 2013) a journal devoted to the topic entitled "Alcohol Research: Current Reviews:" 

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/journals-and-reports/alcohol-research

If, on the other hand, you just need to know how to cure a hangover, this page from Medline Plus may be helpful:  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002041.htm.

National Institute of Justice

Criminals are getting more sophisticated every day.   The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is trying hard to keep law enforcement one step ahead of the bad guys.  "NIJ was created in 1969 and has been in the forefront of nearly every innovation in criminal justice research and policy ever since. Understanding the nature of criminal careers, the effects of sanctions, the ways technology can improve practice, and the operations of the criminal justice system have all been deeply influenced by NIJ research findings:" 

http://www.nij.gov/Pages/welcome.aspx

In essence, NIJ is where eggheads and gumshoes meet to try to keep John Q. Public safe from the hooligans.

African American History Month

February is Black History Month (or African American History Month, if you prefer).  Several federal agencies, including the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, have pooled their resources to create a site dedicated to the event:
 
http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/index.html

It not only provides links to the legislative documents that created the commemoration, it also includes a wealth of multimedia materials about black history.  Since February is also American Heart Month, Canned Food Month, and National Cherry Month, you may want to enjoy some heart-healthy canned cherries while you explore.