U.S. Domestic Airline Fee Chart

Airline Fees are a fact of life (hastened by $140/barrel oil), it is important that everyone take into account airline fees while shopping for airfare. To that end we have compiled a handy comparison list of U.S. domestic airline fees.

Fees are changing rapidly and we’ll do our best to keep the chart up to date.

It should be noted that 1st and 2nd checked bag fees are waived for passengers with “elite” status.

Source: FareCompare.com

Resources of the Week: UK and European Factsheets
By Adrian Janes, Information Services Librarian, London Borough of Havering, UK

Editor’s note: We are very pleased that Adrian is now a regular contributor to DocuTicker, our sister blog. He adds a steady stream of UK and EU documents, and we know these are useful to researchers on both sides of “the pond.” This week, Adrian shares some of his favorite resources.

Following on from the Resource Shelf collections of factsheets derived from US sources, this article will give a taste of some of the similarly high quality documents, on various subjects, which can be obtained from UK and European sites.

The Economic and Social Resource Council gives information on broad areas of life in Britain. Topics include Economic Performance and Development; Governance and Citizenship; and Social Stability and Exclusion.

Taking a wider European view, one of the key ways in which the European Union (EU) fashions policy is from a regional perspective. The overall aim is to make the EU a coherent network of regions without such great economic disparities as currently exist. Inforegio offers an archive of factsheets on regional policy, covering programmes from the late 1990s through to the current funding period of 2007-2013.

In terms of the governance of the EU, there is an excellent collection of periodically updated factsheets from the European Parliament. The headings are How the European Union Works; Citizens’ Europe; The Internal Market; Common Policies; Economic and Monetary Union; and the EU’s External Relations. Each heading in turn is broken down into detailed accounts of particular aspects of the subject (e.g. within How the European Union Works there are descriptions of each of the main EU institutions).

As noted, factsheets can be found on all manner of subjects. An interesting set is provided by Sport England, in its Promoting Sport Toolkit. This covers all the main aspects of how a sports club might publicise itself. However, what makes this collection particularly useful is the fact that, with a little adaptation, most of it can be employed for needs other than sport. For example, there are explanations of how to write a press release, how to embed Google Maps in a web page, and how to create a website. The Case Studies section explains the characteristics of potential participants in sport or exercise. Again, such information could easily be transposed — in this case for other sorts of campaigns aimed at British consumers.

Factsheets ostensibly intended for children and young people are often very good basic primers or refreshers for adults too. The Born Free Foundation’s Kids’ Club has well-illustrated and informative Animal Factsheets on creatures such as lions, basking sharks, polar bears and elephants. In a similar vein, the Young People’s Trust for the Environment has a wide range under the two major headings of Animal Facts and Environmental Facts. Although some topics are peculiar to Britain (e.g. Britain’s Disappearing Habitats), in the environmental field many necessarily have wider relevance (e.g. Climate Change). Some animals covered, for example bison, are also not native to the UK.

The UK Government’s Environment Agency site is truly packed with information, although not all of it comes in the form of a factsheet. The information on Waste is typical, being a mixture of factsheet, webpages and links. In this case, much is aimed at business disposal of waste and the legal obligations involved. One particular area covered is the important WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations, which in turn derive from the EU’s WEEE Directive that came into force in 2007. Factsheets can actually be located for just about any area of the Agency’s work, but finding them often involves proceeding through a chain of links.

This is just a sampling of the remarkable amount of worthwhile information, in concise format, located on the websites of trustworthy UK and European sources. Even if people or organisations may not think of their efforts in terms of Open Access, having a Web presence certainly inspires some with the desire to share their knowledge more widely, and factsheets achieve this aim admirably.

Adrian Janes is an Information Services Librarian with the London Borough of Havering in England, where he has particular responsibility for Government and European Information. He has also contributed to Free Pint and FUMSI, and is a contributor to DocuTicker.

Facts for Features — Special Edition: 2008 World Series
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Tampa Bay Rays will play the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series beginning Wednesday, Oct. 22, in St. Petersburg, Fla. This will be the 104th edition of major league baseball’s best-of-seven championship series, marking the first World Series appearance for the American League champion Rays since entering the league in 1998. The National League champion Phillies make their sixth appearance, with their only victory coming in 1980 over the Kansas City Royals. To commemorate this occasion, the Census Bureau has compiled a collection of statistics relating to the metropolitan areas — Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla., and Philadelphia — represented by the teams in this year’s Fall Classic. Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.

Worldwide Threats to Shipping Reports
Source: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

The Worldwide Threats to Shipping Report, compiled and published weekly by the Office of Naval Intelligence, contains a summary of recent piracy acts and hostile actions against commercial shipping worldwide, organized by geographic region. The report also includes any recent developments in the efforts to prevent piracy and prosecute the aggressors.

Hat tip: Combined Arms Research Library

Resources of the Week: Cold or Flu?
By Shirl Kennedy, Senior Editor

It seems like whenever the seasons are in transition, more people get sick. In some cases, it may be allergy. The weather patterns change and new particles of whatever are floating around in the air where you live. If you’ve lived in one place for awhile and you do have allergies, you’re well aware of those times of the year that are most troublesome for you.

But as we move on into the colder weather (here in the Northern Hemisphere), flu season also approaches. And we start seeing more information about who/what/where/when/why/how to get a flu shot. Should you get one? All the information you need is here in the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) document: Influenza Vaccination: A Summary for Clinicians. Though it’s “for Clinicians,” this summary is written largely in non-technical language and tells you pretty much everything most people need to know about flu shots. (Always check with your own health care provider, however. Remember that we are information professionals, not medical professionals.) This document is part of CDC’s Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals site, which falls under the more general resource, Seasonal Flu site, where you’ll find a wealth of information for both health care providers and consumers.

Where can you get a flu shot — that is, besides your own doctor’s office, which may not be convenient. Check the American Lung Association’s Flu Clinic Locator. Just plug in your zip code, provide a geographic distance range via the dropdown menu, and specify a range of dates. The Lung Association also provides a wealth of influenza information for consumers.

And then there’s the National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus, if you really need A LOT of information. The Flu page informs us that

Flu is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. Between 5% and 20% of people in the U.S. get the flu each year. The flu can be serious or even deadly for elderly people, newborn babies and people with certain chronic illnesses.

It continues on from there to describe symptoms, and it provides a huge, nicely organized collection of links to more information — from the basics to clinical trials, journal articles, multimedia resources, organizations, directories, alternative therapies and much more.

But let’s face it. Even if you’re vaccinated and extremely well-informed, you may well get sick anyhow. Most of us get up and go to work every day, go shopping, go to the movies, participate in community activities…there’s no avoiding people and their germs. And if you’re a parent, you know that every small child is a viral smörgåsbord. So here you are, feeling lousy. Is it a cold or the flu?

According to the CDC:

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Colds, of course, occur much more frequently. According to the American Lung Association, “Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between September and May.” (Children get six to eight.)

This adds up. According to the CDC, “In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer 1 billion colds.”

You can get a cold by touching your eyes or nose after you touch surfaces with cold germs on them. You can also inhale the germs. Symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days after infection and last 2 to 14 days. Washing your hands and staying away from people with colds will help you avoid colds.

There is no cure for the common cold. For relief, try

• Getting plenty of rest
• Drinking fluids
• Gargling with warm salt water
• Using cough drops or throat sprays - but not cough medicine for children under four
• Taking over-the-counter pain or cold medicines - but not aspirin for children

Earlier this year, if you remember, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended against giving over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to children under the age of two. In general, this stuff needs to be stored where curious little people can’t get to it. Says the CDC:

An estimated 7,000 children ages 11 and younger are treated in hospital emergency departments each year because of cough and cold medications, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately two-thirds of those incidents were due to unsupervised ingestion (i.e., children taking the medication without a parent?s knowledge).

Read the complete study published earlier this year in the journal Pediatrics.

As we all know, there is no “cure” for the common cold. But there are things you can do and ingest to make yourself feel better. The Mayo Clinic offers a rundown of what works and what doesn’t.

We just hope you stay healthy.

NRF Holiday HQ
Offers:
+ 2008 Holiday Consumer Spending Survey (PDF; 94 KB)
+ Holiday Forecast: NRF Expects Holiday Sales to Grow 2.2%, Lowest Growth in Six Years
+ NRF 2008 Holiday Survival Kit: Holiday FAQs, historical information, 2007 consumer research highlights, and more (PDF; 1.3 MB)

Source: National Retail Federation

Facts for Features — Veterans Day 2008: Nov. 11

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day has evolved into also honoring living military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Facts for Features — American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2008

The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, getting endorsements from 24 state governments, to have a day to honor American Indians. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994. This Facts for Features presents data for American Indians and Alaska Natives, as this is one of the six major race categories.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Car Shoppers Can Save Money and Time with 2009 Fuel Economy Guide

To help consumers make well-informed choices when purchasing new vehicles, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) have unveiled the 2009 Fuel Economy Guide.
…
Fuel-efficient models come in all types and sizes, so consumers can save thousands of dollars over a vehicle’s lifetime without sacrificing performance. Included in the 2009 fuel economy leaders are diesel vehicles certified to EPA’s tightest emissions standards. Consumers now have access to the cleanest diesels ever available in the U.S. marketplace.

Each vehicle listing in the Fuel Economy Guide provides an estimated annual fuel cost. The online guide includes an interactive feature that allows consumers to insert their local gasoline prices and typical driving habits to receive a personalized fuel cost estimate. Fuel economy estimates now include the revised test methods implemented in model year 2008. These revised tests better reflect “real world” driving conditions and habits, including higher highway speed limits and use of accessories such as air conditioning.

For the first time, the Fuel Economy Guide is available to mobile users (fueleconomy.gov/m), and is readily accessible from a mobile device, smart phone, or personal digital assistant (or PDA).
+ Find a Car — Model Year: 2009
+ Print full guideModel Year: 2009 (PDF; 674 KB)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Press Room: Cruise Lines International Association
We have compiled the following resources to provide you with information about the cruise industry, hot-off-the-press releases, links to affiliates or staff who can assist you - plus comprehensive information on all of the CLIA member lines.

Includes:
+ Cruise Industry Source Book - Facts about CLIA, cruise line profiles, fleets listed by ship and by line, CLIA committees and other contacts.
+ Cruise Industry Overview - Market/growth statistics, market potential, cruisers, vacation comparison, destination sampling, cruise prospects, source of business, North American port embarkations.
+ CLIA Market Research - CLIA’s biannual Market Profile Study, and annual Economic Impact Study.
+ Press Kits and Releases - The latest press kits with industry news and special seasonal events, downloadable cruise line images, and CLIA’s Public Relations contact information.

One-in-Five Speak Spanish In Four States — New Census Bureau Data Show How America Lives

At least one-in-five residents of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas spoke Spanish at home in 2007, according to new American Community Survey data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationwide, an estimated 35 million, or about 12.3 percent, hablan español at home.

The annual release of American Community Survey data about the social, economic and housing characteristics of the nation’s population also show state rankings on topics such as which state had the highest household size (Utah), and which had the highest percentage of college graduates (District of Columbia and Massachusetts).

+ Detailed tables
+ MSA ranking tables (xls)
+ ACS Media Tool Kit
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Resource of the Week: ResourceShelf Special Collection — Media Guides, Factbooks, Fact Sheets, Press Kits
By Shirl Kennedy, Senior Editor

Last June here on ResourceShelf, we started “collecting” media guides, factbooks/fact sheets, and press kits from a variety of government agencies, professional societies and other organizations. Why? Because they are so utterly useful. Since these resources are designed for primarily for media outlets, they are content-rich, and may also include photos and/or contact information.

You can usually ferret these out on your own when visiting organizational websites by clicking on links that say “Press,” “Media Center,” etc. Generally, you’ll find a collection of press releases (though if you look at as many of these sites as I do, you’ll find yourself shaking your head over all the press release archives that haven’t been updated since you had to connect to the Internet with a modem and an acoustic coupler). If you’re lucky, you’ll also find online media guides, factbooks or meaty FAQs. These can be good ready reference material or fodder for papers and reports.

A dozen examples of what we found:
+ Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress: Fact Sheets
+ GLAAD Media Reference Guide, 7th Edition (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
+ Guide to Researching Public Records (Federal Election Commission Press Office)
+ Human Genome Project Media Room
+ Major League Baseball: Media Guides (PDF) for All 30 Teams
+ A Media Guide to Disability (Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities)
+ National Weather Service: Information Center
+ Planetary Fact Sheets (NASA)
+ Psychology Topics (fact sheets — American Psychological Association)
+ Terrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Field Guide for Media (via U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Newsroom)
+ ToxFAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Contaminants Found at Hazardous Waste Sites (Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry)
+ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Species (Endangered Species, Birds, Invasive Species, Pollinators, Image Library, Wildlife Fact Sheets)

State statutes of limitation for credit card debt

CreditCards.com compiled a state-by-state listing of credit card debt statutes of limitations. Click on a state; more information will appear below the map.

Source: CreditCards.com

NOAA Historical Hurricane Tracks Web Site Helps Users Prepare for Big Storms

As the U.S. coastal population continues to grow, so do the hazards when big storms approach. Now, an on-line tool, Historical Hurricane Tracks, helps users get a quick picture of coastal areas with the greatest frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms — and that historical “snapshot” can help community members and local emergency managers develop better plans for storm preparation and recovery.

NOAA’s Historical Hurricane Tracks includes data on storm strikes through 2007. Current hurricane activity can be followed at the National Hurricane Center Web site.

Source: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

A massive selection of facts about the Hispanic population in the United States. Including:

45.5 million
The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2007, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are approximately 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.

22.4 million
The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 Census — less than half the current total.

48%
The percentage of the Hispanic-origin population that lives in California or Texas. California is home to 13.2 million Hispanics, and Texas is home to 8.6 million.

1.6 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.

Source: U.S. Census