USA.gov News

February Features on USA.gov

1. New Web 2.0 Tools on USA.gov
2. American Heart Month
3. Lincoln’s Bicentennial and President’s Day
4. African-American History Month
5. National Donor Day – February 14

1. New Web 2.0 Tools on USA.gov

Visit Government 2.0 for the latest tools available on USA.gov and other federal websites. With these tools, USA.gov hopes to engage the public and improve access to government information and resources.

Here are just a few of the Web 2.0 tools you can find on USA.gov:

Blogs – Check out our library of active federal blogs.

Word Cloud – See a visual representation of the 75 most popular search terms on USA.gov.

Videos – Find government videos on health topics, space travel, food preparation, and more.

News – Get the latest RSS feeds from across the federal government!

Gadget 2.0 – Find government gadgets or widgets developed and maintained by one agency and shared across the web.

2. American Heart Month

February is all about hearts. Valentine’s Day tends to get most of the attention, but the whole month of February is dedicated to educating the public about heart health.

Heart attacks and strokes are the leading cause of death in the U.S., making heart education a life-saving endeavor. The major risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, and inactivity. Are you at risk? If so, take steps today to begin improving your heart health and wear red on February 6 to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

Mes Nacional del Corazón

Día Nacional de Vestir Rojo

3. Lincoln’s Bicentennial and President’s Day

February 12, 2009 is the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. This anniversary allows us to reflect on Lincoln’s life and legacy as we continue to pursue the ideals that he embodied.

Visit LincolnBicentennial.gov to learn more about our 16th President, including some interesting facts, such as:

• At 6’4”, he was the tallest American president
• Kept letters, bills, and notes in his stovepipe hat
• Worked as a rail splitter, store clerk, and lawyer

In recognition of all past American presidents, the third Monday in February is observed as a federal holiday. This year, President’s Day falls on February 16.

4. African-American History Month

During African-American History Month, explore the informative and inspiring materials provided by the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Department of Education. You’ll find links on influential African-American artists, inventors, civil rights figures, entrepreneurs, and others.

For additional resources on African-American history and culture, check out USA.gov’s Culture and Ethnic Groups page, where you can research genealogy, learn about plans for a new national museum, and more.

5. National Donor Day – February 14

February 14 is National Donor Day—a reminder that the need for organs, marrow, and blood is critical. Approximately 130,000 are in need of organ, marrow, blood stem cell, or cord blood transplants; and, every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.

Here are a few ways to help:

• Fill out an organ and tissue donation card and register with your State Donor Registry (make sure your family knows you want to be a donor).
• Join the National Registry as a potential donor of marrow and blood stem cells.
• Learn how you can donate your baby's umbilical cord blood stem cells at birth.
• Donate blood.