Saturday, January 21, 2006

The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry

The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry: "The Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future, and that it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones."

Baseball Gloves recalled Due to Chance of Infection from Aspergillus Mold.

Baseball Gloves recalled Due to Chance of Infection from Aspergillus Mold.: "These gloves could contain aspergillus mold.uch mold usually does not affect healthy individuals, but could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems or in individuals who have impaired immune systems. "

Water-Damaged Homes After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita --- New Orleans Area, Louisiana, October 2005

Water-Damaged Homes After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita --- New Orleans Area, Louisiana, October 2005: "After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall on August 29 and September 24, 2005, respectively, large sections of New Orleans (Orleans Parish) and the three surrounding parishes (Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard) were flooded for weeks, leading to extensive mold growth in buildings."

The Study of Acid Reflux in Asthma

The Study of Acid Reflux in Asthma: " The purpose of this study is to determine if subjects with symptomatic asthma who are assigned to treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug such as Nexium have fewer asthma attacks than similar subjects assigned to placebo treatment."

A Study of Omega-3 as a Treatment for Major Depression

A Study of Omega-3 as a Treatment for Major Depression - The purpose of this study is to determine whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are effective as a monotherapy for depression.

IH636 Grape Seed Extract in Preventing Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women at Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

IH636 Grape Seed Extract in Preventing Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women at Risk of Developing Breast Cancer - This purpose of this study is to determine the side effects and best dose of IH636 grape seed extract in preventing breast cancer in postmenopausal women at risk of developing breast cancer

Materials Documenting History of Western Music Now Online

Materials Documenting History of Western Music Now OnlineThe overall archives contains approximately 3,500 items documenting the history of Western music from the medieval period through the modern era.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Helping Your Money Last Through Retirement

Helping Your Money Last Through Retirement: "Everyone wants to enjoy a financially secure retirement. Do you know if you've done enough planning to ensure your retirement savings will last a lifetime? Whether you're planning to retire, or already are, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has two publications that can help."

Helping Your Money Last Through Retirement

Helping Your Money Last Through Retirement: "Everyone wants to enjoy a financially secure retirement. Do you know if you�ve done enough planning to ensure your retirement savings will last a lifetime? Whether you�re planning to retire, or already are, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has two publications that can help."

FDA Statement on Fraudulent, Unapproved Influenza-Related Products

FDA Statement on Fraudulent, Unapproved Influenza-Related Products: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers the sale of unlicensed or unapproved influenza -related products as a potentially significant threat to the public health and is taking measures to protect consumers from fraudulent products that claim to prevent or treat seasonal or avian (bird) influenza in people."

Building Self-esteem: A Self-Help Guide

Building Self-esteem: A Self-Help Guide: "Before you begin to consider strategies and activities to help raise your self-esteem, it is important to remember that low self-esteem may be due to depression. Low self-esteem is a symptom of depression. To make things even more complicated, the depression may be a symptom of some other illness."

2005 Fraud Trends: Consumers Being Hounded by Internet and Telemarketing Scams

2005 Fraud Trends: Consumers Being Hounded by Internet and Telemarketing Scams: "WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today the National Consumers League (NCL) released its annual lists of the top telemarketing and Internet scams that plagued consumers in 2005. More consumers are reporting scams, and victims are losing more money, according to the nonprofit organization, which is headquartered in Washington, DC. Based on information that consumers provided last year to NCL's National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch program, the average loss to telemarketing fraud rose from $1,974 in 2004 to $2,892 in 2005, and Internet fraud losses more than doubled, from an average of $895 in 2004 to $1,917. The number of scams reported rose by 39 percent for telemarketing fraud and 12 percent for Internet fraud."

How to spot 10 Common Spam Scams

How to spot 10 Common Spam Scams: "While some consumers find unsolicited commercial email - also known as �spam� � informative, others find it annoying and time consuming. Still others find it expensive: They're among the people who have lost money to spam that contained bogus offers and fraudulent promotions"

Update: Confirmed Human Infections with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Turkey

Update: Confirmed Human Infections with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Turkey: "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Turkey's national influenza center has confirmed additional human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in 3 children from the province of Agri in Turkey. Two of the children are siblings, and both had exposure to diseased birds. One of the ill siblings has died. Outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry have been reported in Agri Province since December 2005."

Thursday, January 19, 2006

2006 National Book Festival to Be Held Sept. 30

2006 National Book Festival to Be Held Sept. 30: "The 2006 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by first lady Laura Bush, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine). The festival is free and open to the public."

U.S. Women Earn An Average Of $588 Per Week

U.S. Women Earn An Average Of $588 Per Week: "Women who usually worked full time had median earnings
of $588 per week, or 80.4 percent of the $731 median for
men. The female-to-male earnings ratios were higher among
blacks (87.4 percent) and Hispanics or Latinos (86.3
percent) than among whites (79.8 percent) or Asians (76.7
percent). "

Three wild poliovirus cases identified in East Harerghe Zone in Ethiopia

Three wild poliovirus cases identified in East Harerghe Zone in Ethiopia: "Additional rounds of polio vaccination campaigns will be necessary after the recent identification of three children who were found to be infected with wild poliovirus in East Harerghe Zone of Oromia Region. Symptom onset ranged between 12 October and 6 December 2005"

Disaster Preparedness Outreach Comes to South Florida Fairgrounds

Disaster Preparedness Outreach Comes to South Florida Fairgrounds: "ORLANDO , Fla. -- Hazard Mitigation Advisors will be on hand during the South Florida Fair to assist residents affected by Hurricane Wilma in developing hazard preparedness plans for their homes and/or small businesses, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT). "

NOAA PLANS SHIFT IN GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE ORBIT TO IMPROVE WEATHER FORECAST COVERAGE OVER SOUTH AMERICA

NOAA PLANS SHIFT IN GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE ORBIT TO IMPROVE WEATHER FORECAST COVERAGE OVER SOUTH AMERICA: "In Buenos Aires on Tuesday, NOAA, the Comision Nacional de Activades Espaciales, and the World Meteorological Organization announced news of the repositioning of GOES-10. Shifting the spacecraft from its current position above the equator in the West to a new spot in orbit will greatly improve environmental satellite coverage of the Western Hemisphere, especially over South America. "

California Releases Draft Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan For Public Comment

California Releases Draft Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan For Public Comment: "Emphasizing that preparedness is the key to saving lives, California Department of Health Services (CDHS) Director Sandra Shewry today released for public comment a draft revision of CDHS' Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan."

Counties with Fastest Growth in Employment

Counties with Fastest Growth in Employment: "In June 2005, Pasco County, Florida, which is north of Tampa, had the biggest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S. "

More than Losing Weight

More than Losing Weight: "There is more to exercise than getting slim. Researcher Brian Duscha of Duke University Medical Center found this in a look at more than 130 overweight men and women."

QUICK AND EASY ACCESS TO IRS FORMS AND PUBLICATIONS

QUICK AND EASY ACCESS TO IRS FORMS AND PUBLICATIONS: "The Internal Revenue Service has many forms and free publications on a wide variety of topics to help you understand and meet tax filing requirements. If you need IRS materials try one of these easy options"

Afghanistan Travel Warning for American Citizens

Afghanistan Travel Warning for American Citizens: "This Travel Warning provides updated information on the security situation in Afghanistan. The security threat to all American citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Afghanistan issued June 09, 2005. "

Schwarzenegger Calls for Freeze in Student Fee Increases

Schwarzenegger Calls for Freeze in Student Fee Increases: "Governor Schwarzenegger's January Budget proposal eliminates the 8 percent fee increase on UC and CSU students scheduled to take effect this year in the fall. "

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Taxpayer Alert: Certain Tax Returns Go to Different Centers than Last Year

Taxpayer Alert: Certain Tax Returns Go to Different Centers than Last Year: "WASHINGTON - As taxpayers begin to prepare their tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service notes that some may be sending their returns to a different service center than last year. Those who received a tax instruction booklet from the IRS in the mail and use the labels included with the booklet can be assured that their tax returns will go to the correct address. Taxpayers who e-file are not affected by these changes."

New Requirements for Travelers Entering the U.S.

New Requirements for Travelers Entering the U.S.: "The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States."

FDA Announces New Prescription Drug Information Format to Improve Patient Safety

FDA Announces New Prescription Drug Information Format to Improve Patient Safety: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today unveiled a major revision to the format of prescription drug information, commonly called the package insert, to give healthcare professionals clear and concise prescribing information."

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Credit Reporting Agency Settles FTC Charges

Credit Reporting Agency Settles FTC Charges: "Consumer reporting agency Far West Credit, Inc. will pay $120,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it did not follow reasonable procedures to assure the accuracy of the information in the consumer reports it sold to mortgage companies, in violation of federal law."

Cranberry Juice for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

Cranberry Juice for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections: "The purpose of this study is to determine whether daily consumption of cranberry juice lessens the symptoms and prevents the recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study will also determine whether drinking cranberry juice for 6 months selects for less virulent bacteria in the rectal, vaginal, and urethral areas"

New Identity Theft Quiz Helps Teach Users to Be On Guard Online

New Identity Theft Quiz Helps Teach Users to Be On Guard Online: "The quiz is one of several offered by OnGuard Online, a new multimedia, interactive consumer education campaign launched by the FTC and a partnership of other federal agencies and the technology industry. "

Group Counseling for Smoking Cessation

Group Counseling for Smoking Cessation: "The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of group therapy for cigarette smoking cessation. The group meets for 8 sessions and includes education and group discussion about the effects of smoking and ways to cope with withdrawal symptoms and other challenges to maintaining abstinence. In one condition, the groups also learn techniques based on cognitive therapy, to help cope with negative feelings. "

Ape Escape®3 for PlayStation®2 and Ape Escape Academy for PSP� EXPANDS WITH NEW INSTALLMENTS

Ape Escape®3 for PlayStation®2 and Ape Escape Academy for PSP™ Released Today: "Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced the release of Ape Escape® 3 designed exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Ape Escape® Academy for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system . Created by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., these new additions expand the well-known "

Watch a live broadcast of prostate cancer surgery on January 19, 2006

Watch a live broadcast of prostate cancer surgery on January 19, 2006: "Two forms of high technology will join together this January to allow the public and physicians to view a less invasive surgery for prostate cancer from the comfort of their home or office"

Suicide: Helping Patients and Their Families After an Attempt

Suicide: Helping Patients and Their Families After an Attempt: "The purpose of this brochure is to provide healthcare professionals with some quick tips to enhance care in the emergency department (ED) for people who have attempted suicide, while also providing information on the Health Insurance Portable and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), patient discharge, and resources about suicide for medical professionals, patients and their families. This brochure can also be distributed to patients."

Northridge Earthquake Anniversary Marks Opportune Time to Prepare for Next Inevitable Disaster

Northridge Earthquake Anniversary Marks Opportune Time to Prepare for Next Inevitable Disaster: "LOS ANGELES - Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi on Monday urged Californians to prepare for future emergencies, noting that the devastating Northridge earthquake, which struck twelve years ago tomorrow, left many unprepared residents in financial ruin. "

Monday, January 16, 2006

FEMA Provides Classrooms For Displaced Students

FEMA Provides Classrooms For Displaced Students: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working to help Louisiana school districts meet additional demand created by displaced and relocated students. FEMA, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has provided dozens of temporary buildings to schools throughout the state. "

E-Passport Testing to Begin at San Francisco International Airport

E-Passport Testing to Begin at San Francisco International Airport: "WASHINGTON, D.C. - A live test of e-Passports, that contain contactless chips with biographic and biometric information and the readers that are capable of reading these e-Passports, begins January 15, 2006 at Terminal G at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This test is a collaborative effort between the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore that will run through April 15, 2006"

Online Consultations in Psychiatry Through Videoconference

Online Consultations in Psychiatry Through Videoconference -This study will provide online consultations through videoconference in the field of psychiatry. The method provided will offer general practitioners the option of providing online videoconferencing to reduce costs of medical treatment and improve service.

Acupuncture for Non-Cyclical Breast Pain

Acupuncture for Non-Cyclical Breast Pain: "Breast pain or mastalgia is a common and troublesome symptom for many women. Whereas cyclical breast pain related to hormonal fluctuations can frequently be treated, non-cyclical breast pain can go untreated due to its various etiologies and non-specific presentation."

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Asian Ginseng: Its Uses, Side Effects and Sources

Asian Ginseng: Its Uses, Side Effects and Sources: "This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb Asian ginseng--common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Asian ginseng is native to China and Korea and has been used in various systems of medicine for many centuries."