Alien Pursuit of Toilet Technology Chronicled in Final 'Alien Droppings' Video

RJ Note: Thought this was a joke-- but looks like it's real. What creative juices they have!

PRNewswire -- They're back!!! Those pesky, potty-obsessed aliens from Kimberly-Clark Professional's otherworldly video contest are appearing once more on a computer screen near you.

To view the final installment in their intergalactic search for the next space-age technology, visit www.aliendroppings.com.

When last spied in a two-part video at the site, these mysterious extraterrestrials had made off with the universe's first electronic toilet paper dispenser, leaving a terrified human and an unpleasant "dropping" in their wake. The video ended with a challenge: Create a script for a third encounter between earthling and alien and win a Sony HD video camera valued at $1,200.

Now, more than 84,000 web hits later, Kimberly-Clark Professional has produced the winning script by Daniel Kane, a graduate student at Tufts University. The new video picks up where the first installments left off and sheds a light on why the creatures traveled from a distant galaxy to capture this innovative, new technology and then return it to its toilet stall home.

The contest represents one of Kimberly-Clark Professional's first forays into the viral video realm. The goal was to promote a new business-to-business offering -- eJRT, the first touchless electronic bath tissue dispenser for public restrooms.

"eJRT is a ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind product," said Ming Xie, Category Manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. "This contest allowed us to have some fun promoting a restroom technology that might well be appealing to a superior life form."

In addition to the grand prize, one first-prize winner received a year's supply of Kleenex Cottonelle bathroom tissue. Five second prize winners received a Potty Gift Pack of assorted restroom products.

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Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

This is Not Your Grandfather's Funeral

RJ Note: Oh, I don't know. I think the love that was in the room at my grandparents' funerals was pretty awesome. Sometimes, showing grief is a good thing.

(ARA) - The next time you attend a funeral, don’t be surprised if it more closely resembles the last wedding you went to than the somber farewell you bid your grandfather 20 years ago.

“In recent years, funeral services have gone from a more formal or structured service with religious music, scripture, prayers and little or no information regarding the life of the deceased to a celebration of a life remembered through various means of personalization,” says Billy C. Wells, the chief executive officer at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, a premier Dignity Memorial funeral service provider in Houston, Texas. Wells has either handled or helped arrange hundreds of funerals in his nearly 50 years in the industry, and says those held in recent years are a lot more memorable than those of yesteryear.

“The key to turning a funeral into a celebration of the life lost,” he says, “is the personalization which allows and encourages the family, their friends and visitors, to talk about the deceased and how he or she relates to the personalization items on display.”

Here’s just a small sampling of some of the more unique funerals Wells has seen recently:

* At a funeral for a well-known concert pianist, instead of having a casket for the visitation, the family opted to have a Steinway and Sons piano moved to the gallery of the funeral home and the florist created a huge spray of white flowers cascading from the strings of the piano onto a large carpeting of flowers surrounding the piano.

* For one visitation family members brought in items related to the deceased’s work as a professional horseman. Saddles, boots, numerous square bales of hay, partial fence structures, even a live horse in a make-shift temporary corral, transformed much of the décor of the funeral home.

* The florist turned the funeral home chapel altar into a hunting blind because the deceased was an avid hunter, and his hunting dogs were nearby in hunting position.

“By focusing the funeral on things the deceased enjoyed, as well as the experiences shared throughout his or her life, it encourages the sharing of stories and discussions of the deceased, and in some instances, may allow the family to learn of specials things about their loved one that otherwise they may have never known,” says Wells.

In addition to personalization, other changes that characterize the modern day funeral:

* The music is no longer strictly religious hymns. It includes the favorite music of the deceased.

* Receptions at the funeral home, or the family’s home after the service are more the case today than the exception. Many times they are elaborate catered events with entertainment.

* There used to be a time when photos were considered inappropriate. Today, it is commonplace to have video tributes, memory boards with selected photos, and even interactive voice tributes from friends or uploaded video tributes made at the funeral home during the visitation.

“Funeral services are changing to meet the needs of a generation that has different ideas about life -- and about death,” comments Tom Hendler of the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. “This is not your grandfather’s funeral. You can expect more, demand more and we can meet those demands. Our service standards go beyond expectation, to a level of service that actually surprises families because it is so far beyond what they imagined.”

For more information about the services available at modern day funerals, log on to www.dignitymemorial.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Watermelon May Havfe Viagra Effect

RJ Note: The refreshing sweet taste of watermelon. It's a favorite of mine in the summer time. Especially if I'm all hot and thirsty. Now, I can guess it just means .......fireworks?

July 3, 2008

A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited to Valentine's Day.....

Read the full story.

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Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Rid Your Home Of Pesky Ghosts And Spirits

RJ Note: Just couldn't resist this one.

/24-7PressRelease/ Anna Maria Prezio announces the release of her new book, " Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster" which was written to enlighten the reader on feng shui and reveal how it connects and relates to clearing negative energies, which can often be ghosts or spirits.
This exciting new book is unlike many feng shui books on the shelves.

"Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster is the first of its non-fiction genre to combine two unlikely art and science forms to guide those traumatized by entities and ghosts to overcome their fear through understanding, knowledge and resolve from such supernatural forces. This simply written book on how to release ghosts invites us on a personal journey with uplifting tales that begin in a small village in Southern Italy.

Anna Maria's confessions will elevate your spirits, clarify your need for a productive environment and help you to create a serene sanctuary we all call home.Over many years of feng shui consulations, Anna Maria Prezio was able to make the connection between negative energy and the presence of ghosts in an environment. In her book she explain this radical concept in an easy-to-read practical guide on how to apply feng shui principles to ghost-busting.

Learn one of the many feng shui mysteries on removal techniques in "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster"

Girls-- Get Your Creative Game On!

RJ Note: Come on. Get off that sofa and out of the pool. This sounds like a fun activity for a hot summer day.

Girls-- Get Your Creative Game On!
Rack Rooms Shoes Announces Shoe Naming Contest for Girls 7-12

The Milly’s? The Emma’s? The Cindy’s? Just like girls themselves, girls shoes go by very cool names these days. Since it can be such a tough job to think of all these highly creative brand names, Rack Room Shoes is asking some of its most important customers to weigh in. Girl’s ages 7 to 12 are invited to enter their most creative shoe name and even a logo design if they like, for Rack Room Shoes 2008 Name That Shoe Contest!

Entering is easy. Sales associates at any Rack Room Shoe stores will happily provide an entry form or the entry forms and rules can be downloaded from rackroomshoes.com. “This is a fun way to get our younger customers involved in the process. We encourage them to get creative, and share their most zany, brainy or fun shoe names. They can also sketch a logo for the shoe if they like, it’s optional,” says Jan Mauldin, Rack Room Shoes director of marketing. Entry forms must be returned to stores or mailed by July 12, 2008. A parent or legal guardians signature is required on the form.

Rack Room Shoes creative team will select a winner based on originality. The Winner will receive a year’s worth of free shoes (valued at $600) and a $1,000 scholarship. The Winner and their shoe name will also be featured on the Rack Room Shoes website.

“You can enter as often as you like,” says Mauldin. “We’re counting on getting flooded with entries from all the up-and-coming shoe lovers, designers and marketers out there!”

Hopkins in Egypt Today: Summer 2008

RJ Note: This sounds like a lot of fun. Join in on the archaeology dig in Egypt.

Follow along online as Johns Hopkins University Egyptologist Betsy Bryan and her team of graduate students, artists, conservators and photographers expand their investigation of Mut Temple this summer, turning their attention to the temple's Sacred Lake. Bryan and her crew are once again in Luxor, Egypt, sharing their work via "Hopkins in Egypt Today," their popular digital diary offering a virtual window into day-to-day life on an archaeological dig.

With new posts appearing daily through mid-July, visitors to "Hopkins in Egypt Today" at www.jhu.edu/egypttoday/ will find photos of Bryan and her colleagues working on site in Luxor. In collaboration with the American Research Center in Egypt, which also supports Johns Hopkins' work inside the temple proper, Bryan will excavate on the northeast arm of the lake after ARCE's engineers have drained the lake. Excavation will proceed from the region of an ancient stone dock in a swath around 20 meters in breadth down into the basin of the drained lake. Any materials found in the lake bed will be conserved and desalinated near the bank of the lake before being transferred to a protected environment. The primary goal of this brief dig is to develop procedures for more extensive excavation of the lake next year. The lake will be refilled with less saline water after the work is completed in July and will be drained again next winter when the dig resumes.

The team will consist of former Johns Hopkins graduate student Violaine Chauvet, now a lecturer in Egyptology at University of Liverpool in England; photographers Jay Van Rensselaer and Will Kirk; Hiroko Kariya, stone conservator; Will Schenck and Keli Alberts, artists; Lotfi Hassan, conservator; and three Johns Hopkins graduate students, Ashley Fiutko, Shaina Norvell-Cold, and Meredith Fraser, all of whom are finishing their first-year studies.

Joining the team in Egypt later this month will be Edward Bouwer, Abel Wolman Professor of Environmental Engineering and chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins. Bouwer's role will be to provide advice and recommendations on water management and contamination issues. The water quality in the lake is poor because of excess nutrients and salts and potential contamination from herbicides sprayed to control vegetation, Bouwer said. The water supply and quality issues influence the disposal of the water, and there are concerns about exposure to the excavators. Bouwer will also help with a plan to maintain good water quality in lake after the restoration project is completed.

The goal of the "Hopkins in Egypt Today" Web site is to educate visitors by showing them the elements of archaeological work in progress. The daily photos and detailed captions emphasize not only discoveries, but the teamwork among Bryan, her colleagues, students and their "gufti," the local crew members who are trained in archaeology. That teamwork is essential to a successful dig, Bryan said. The Web site typically garners more than 50,000 hits every winter, when the dig ordinarily is active.

According to Bryan, modern-day Luxor is rich in finds from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom, like the major discovery made by the Johns Hopkins team in 2006: a 3,400-year-old nearly intact statue of Queen Tiy, one of the queens of the powerful king Amenhotep III. Bryan has said that the statue is "one of the true masterpieces of Egyptian art." Bryan is the Alexander Badawy Professor in Egyptian Art and Archaeology at Johns Hopkins. Her work is funded by grants from the American Research Center in Egypt and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

World Population Approaches 7 Billion

RJ Note: Don't know about you, but I'm feeling the need to spread out. Feeling a little crowded, I guess.

World population is projected to reach 7 billion in 2012, according to
the U.S. Census Bureau. The world population hit 6 billion in 1999.

These figures come from the updated world population estimates and
projections released today through the Census Bureau’s International Data
Base (IDB). The IDB provides information on population size and growth, age
and sex composition, mortality, fertility and net migration. The data are
available for 226 countries and other selected geographies.

This revision to the IDB includes updated projections for 34 countries.
Compared to previous estimates, this revision indicates that the world
population will be 146 million larger in 2050.

The Census Bureau’s latest projections show world population growing
at a slower pace during the first half of the 21st century than the latter
half of the 20th century. The world population doubled from 3 billion in
1959 to 6 billion in 1999, but is projected to increase by only 50 percent
between 1999 and 2040.

Global population growth, about 1.2 percent per year, is projected to
decline to 0.5 percent by 2050. However, this growth will be concentrated
in less-developed countries.

About 1.5 percent of the current global population is 80 or older, with
more than half living in developed countries. By 2050, about 5 percent of
the world’s population is projected to be 80 or older, with about three in
four likely to be living in less-developed countries. For developed
countries, the percentage of the population 80 or older will grow to about
10 percent in 2050.

World population estimates and projections include the impact of HIV and
AIDS. Of the 34 countries updated in this revision, nine are hard hit by
this pandemic (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast], Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Guinea, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Central African Republic).
Data for other countries seriously affected by HIV and AIDS are also
available from the International Data Base.

The International Data Base offers online users a choice of ways to
retrieve demographic data, including:

· Country summary pages showing key population indicators <
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/summaries.html>

· Tables of demographic indicators for countries and regions <
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/tables.html>

· Population pyramids showing age and sex composition <
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/pyramids.html>.

For more information about this update, including the list of updated
countries, visit

Is Martian Soil Moist?

RJ Note: Still gotta wonder-- why?

A device born from the need to test soil moisture around peanut plants is now being used to help test the soil on Mars.

“We designed the device to measure the water content around peanut pods,” said Williams, an agronomist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “At the time, there was no way to measure without disturbing the soil and destroying the pod.”

The year was 1987 and Williams was on sabbatical working with a Washington State University research team led by Gaylon Campbell. The Phoenix Mars Mission landed on the Red Planet May 25. In its tool kit is an advanced version of Williams’ moisture probe.

“We were working on thermal property sensors then to measure heat capacity of soil,” said Campbell, now retired from WSU. “Before, people used a sensor with a single needle having a heater and temperature sensor inside, and measuring the change in temperature over time. We made a dual needle device with a heater in one needle and a temperature sensor in the other.”
Building on the concept

The device worked for Williams’ peanut research. The research team published their findings.
Campbell continued to improve the device. It and other similar models are now developed and sold by Campbell’s company, Decagon, which manufactures measurement devices used by the food and pharmaceutical industries and for agricultural research.

During the American Geophysical Union Meeting in 2004, the sensor device attracted the attention of a scientist working with NASA.

“A scientist from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (at the California Institute of Technology) stopped by our exhibit and said ‘That’s exactly what I need to send on the Mars lander,’” Campbell said.

And that is where the device is today.

Testing icy soil on Mars

Phoenix’s mission is to study the history of the water now frozen into the Mars permafrost and to check for carbon-containing chemicals that are essential ingredients for life. For the first time, it will also monitor weather at the plant’s polar region from a surface perspective.

NASA’s version of the moisture probe is called the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe. It will test how heat and electricity move through the soil. Ice in the soil can make a big difference in how well the soil conducts heat. The probe is a humidity sensor, too, when held in the air.

Phoenix is a lander, not a rover.

“When it lands it plops down in one spot and a little scoop or shovel on the end of a robot arm will take a sample from the soil on Mars,” Campbell said. “Our sensor is mounted on the scoop and the robot arm pokes it into soil for a measurement.”

So why do we need to know how much moisture is in Mars’ soil?

“They expect to find a lot of water in the polar region of Mars, but it’s believed to be in the form of ice,” he said. “When the robot arm scoops away a thin layer of dust, there should be icy soil below. The sensor will make measurements that confirm that it’s icy soil.”

Scientists on the Mars mission believe the planet used to be covered with water and are determined to find out where the water went.

By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia

John Wayne Recites John Mitchum's America

Thought this was so spectacular I had to share!

http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm

It only takes a few minutes.

U.S. Hispanic Population Surpasses 45 Million

The nation's Hispanic population increased 1.4 million to reach 45.5 million on July 1, 2007, or 15.1 percent of the estimated total U.S. population of 301.6 million.

National and state estimates by race, Hispanic origin, sex and age released today by the U.S. Census Bureau also show that the Hispanic population exceeded 500,000 in 16 states.

Hispanics remained the largest minority group, with blacks (single race or multiracial) second at 40.7 million in 2007. The black population exceeded 500,000 in 20 states. Blacks were the largest minority group in 24 states, compared with 20 states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group.

Blacks were followed by Asians, who totaled 15.2 million; American Indians and Alaska Natives, who totaled 4.5 million; and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, with 1 million. The population of whites (single race and not of Hispanic origin) totaled 199.1 million (See Table
1).

With a 3.3 percent increase between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, Hispanics were the fastest-growing minority group. Asians were the second fastest-growing minority group, with a 2.9 percent population increase during the period. The white population grew by 0.3 percent during the one-year period.

Overall, the nation's minority population reached 102.5 million in 2007 -- 34 percent of the total. California had a minority population of 20.9 million -- 20 percent of the nation’s total, Texas had a minority population of 12.5 million -- 12 percent of the U.S. total.

Four states and the District of Columbia were "majority-minority" (i.e., more than 50 percent of their population is made up of people other than single-race non-Hispanic whites). Hawaii led the nation with a population that was 75 percent minority in 2007, followed by the District
of Columbia (68 percent), New Mexico (58 percent), California (57 percent) and Texas
(52 percent). Next in line, though not majority-minority, were Nevada, Maryland and Georgia, each with a minority population of 42 percent (SeeTable 2).

Highlights for the various groups:

Hispanics

-- California (13.2 million) had the largest Hispanic population of any state as of July 1, 2007, followed by Texas (8.6 million) and Florida (3.8 million). Texas had the largest numerical increase between 2006 and 2007 (308,000), followed by California (268,000) and Florida (131,000). In New Mexico, Hispanics comprised the highest proportion of the total population (44 percent), with California and Texas (36 percent each) next in line.

-- The Hispanic population in 2007 had a median age of 27.6, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. Almost 34 percent of the Hispanic population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Blacks

-- The black population increased by 1.3 percent, or 540,000, between 2006 and 2007.

-- New York had the largest black population in 2007 (3.5 million), followed by Florida and Texas (3 million each). Georgia had the largest numerical increase between 2006 and 2007 (84,000), with Texas (62,000) and Florida (48,000) next. In the District of Columbia, the black
population comprised the highest percentage (56 percent); Mississippi (38 percent) and Louisiana (32 percent) were next.

-- The single-race black population in 2007 had a median age of 31.1, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. About 31 percent of the black population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Asians

-- The Asian population rose by 2.9 percent, or 434,000, between 2006 and 2007.

-- California (5 million) had the largest Asian population on July 1, 2007, as well as the largest numerical increase during the 2006 to 2007 period (106,000). New York (1.4 million) and Texas (915,000) followed in population. Texas (44,000) and New York (33,000) followed in numerical increase. In Hawaii, Asians made up the highest proportion
of the total population (55 percent), with California (14 percent), and New Jersey and Washington (8 percent each) next.

-- The single-race Asian population in 2007 had a median age of 35.4, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6.

-- Asians were the largest minority group in Hawaii and Vermont.

American Indians and Alaska Natives

-- The American Indian and Alaska Native population rose by 1 percent or 45,000, from
2006 to 2007.

-- California (689,000) had the largest population of American Indians and Alaska Natives on July 1, 2007, with Oklahoma (394,000) and Arizona (335,000) next. Texas had the largest numerical increase (8,300) since July 1, 2006, followed by Arizona (4,900) and Florida
(2,800). In Alaska, American Indians and Alaska Natives made up the highest
proportion of the total population (18 percent), with Oklahoma (11 percent) and New Mexico (10 percent) next.

-- The single-race American Indian and Alaska Native population in 2007 had a median age of 30.3, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. About 27 percent of the American Indian and Alaska Native population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of
the total population.

-- American Indians and Alaska Natives were the largest minority group in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders

-- The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population rose by 1.6 percent, or 16,000, from 2006 to 2007.

-- Hawaii had the largest population (269,000), followed by California (262,000) and Washington (50,000). California had the largest numerical increase (2,900) of people of this group, with Texas (2,500) and Florida (1,100) next. In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and
Other Pacific Islanders comprised the largest proportion (21 percent) of the total population, followed by Utah (1 percent) and Alaska (0.9 percent).

-- The single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2007 had a median age of 30.2, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. About 29 percent of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population was younger than 18, compared with
25 percent of the total population.

Whites

-- The non-Hispanic, single-race white population of 199.1 million represented 66 percent of the total population.

-- California, New York and Texas had the largest population of this group (15.6 million, 11.6 million and 11.4 million, respectively), but Texas experienced the largest numerical increase (95,000), followed by North Carolina (92,000) and Georgia (57,000). Maine (96 percent) had the highest proportion of whites, followed by Vermont (95 percent) and West Virginia (94 percent).

-- The white population in 2007 was older than the population as a whole: The respective median ages were 40.8 and 36.6. About 21 percent of the population of this group was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Also released today were tabulations by age:

-- Thirteen percent of the total population, 37.9 million people, was 65 and older in 2007.

-- The number of people 85 and older reached 5.5 million, or 2 percent of the population.

-- In 2007, working-age adults (18 to 64) totaled 189.8 million, which was 63 percent of the population.

-- The number of preschoolers (younger than 5) was estimated at 20.7 million.

-- The number of children 5 to 13 was 36 million, with children 14 to 17 numbering 17.2 million.

-- States with the highest percentages of older people (65 and older) included Florida (17 percent), West Virginia (15.5 percent) and Pennsylvania (15.2 percent). States with the lowest percentages were Alaska (7 percent), Utah (8.8 percent) and Georgia (9.9 percent).

-- States with the highest percentages of preschoolers included Utah (9.7 percent), Texas (8.3 percent) and Idaho (7.9 percent). States with the lowest percentages were Vermont (5.2 percent), Maine (5.4 percent) and New Hampshire (5.7 percent).

Unless otherwise specified, the data refer to the population who reported a
race alone or in combination with one or more other races. The detailed tables show data for
both this group and those who reported a single race only. Censuses and surveys permit respondents to select more than one race; consequently, people may be one race or a
combination of races. Hispanics may be any race.

The federal government treats Hispanic origin and race as separate and distinct concepts. In surveys and censuses, separate questions are asked on Hispanic origin and race. The question on Hispanic origin asks respondents if they are Spanish, Hispanic or Latino. Starting with Census 2000, the question on race asked respondents to report the race or races they
consider themselves to be. Thus, Hispanics may be of any race.

(See U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on the Presentation and Comparison of Race
and Hispanic Origin Data http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/compraceho.html)

These data are based on estimates of U.S. population for July 1, 2007. The Census Bureau estimates population change from the most recent decennial census (Census 2000) using annual data on births, deaths and international migration. More detailed information on the methodology used to produce these estimates can be found at http://www.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology/.

Fewer Mothers With a Recent Birth Rely On Government Assistance Than in 1996

Although participation in government assistance programs has risen somewhat in recent years among mothers with a birth in the last year, it is much lower than when welfare reform was enacted in 1996, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The report, Participation of Mothers in Government Assistance Programs: 2004, analyzes the socioeconomic characteristics of mothers participating in six different public assistance programs. These include Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF); food stamps; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); Medicaid; housing assistance; and other assistance. It shows that in 1996, 42 percent of mothers with a birth in the previous year were participants in at least one of these programs. The rate dipped to 29 percent in 2001 before climbing to 34 percent in 2004. The corresponding number, 1.6 million in 1996, dipped to 1.2 million in 2001 before rising to 1.4 million in 2004.

Overall, 7.5 million mothers of childbearing age (15 to 44), or 22 percent, participated in one or more of these programs in 2004. Those with infants were more likely participants than those with older children (34 percent compared with 20 percent).

Mothers were also more likely to receive public assistance if they were younger than 25, living with either no other adult or with an unmarried partner, a minority, did not work in the past month, never attended college, or did not receive child support.

Other highlights:

-- Overall, one in every two participant mothers (52 percent) worked while they received assistance. The rate ranged from 39 percent of those with a recent birth to 55 percent without one.

-- Seventy-eight percent of mothers participating in two or more programs were receiving both Medicaid and food stamps.

-- After accounting for differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the odds of foreign-born mothers receiving assistance was no different than native mothers.

-----------------

These data were collected from June 2004 through September 2004 in the Survey of Income and Program Participation. As in all surveys, these data are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. For further information on the source of the data and accuracy of the estimates, including standard errors and confidence intervals, go to http://www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/source.html.

Where Did Your Federal Dollars Go in 2006?

RJ Note: I just thought this was interesting reading, so am sharing...

The federal government disbursed $2.45 trillion in domestic spending in 2006, according to two reports published by the U.S. Census Bureau. That represented an 7.5 percent increase in federal spending over 2005.

The first of the new reports, Consolidated Federal Funds Report: 2006, provides a broad overview of how and where the federal government allocates funds. Statistics are provided for each federal department and agency, and presented by state, county and subcounty area.

The second report, Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2006, contains data on federal grants to state and local governments.

Defense spending totaled $400 billion in 2006. This amount includes procurement contracts, payroll, military pensions and grants. Department of Homeland Security spending totaled $57 billion.

Per capita spending among states was highest for Louisiana ($16,263). Mississippi was second ($14,516), followed by Alaska ($13,805). The states that received the lowest per capita distribution of federal funds were Nevada ($5,852), Utah ($6,162) and Minnesota ($6,175).

California received 10.3 percent of the total distribution of federal expenditures while Texas received 6.8 percent, followed by New York at 6.2 percent.

Nearly half of all domestic government spending (excluding interest on the federal debt) went to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which accounted for $1.16 trillion. The one-year increase in spending for these three programs was approximately $170 for every person living in the United States.

The government spent $739 billion on retirement and disability. Of that amount, 80 percent, or $594 billion, went to Social Security. Social Security was comprised of retirement insurance payments ($350 billion), survivors insurance ($107 billion), disability insurance ($99 billion) and supplemental security income payments ($38 billion).

The remaining federal dollars spent on retirement and disability went to civilian government workers’ retirements ($59 billion), military retirements ($36 billion) and veterans’ benefits ($34 billion).

California received the largest share of civilian federal government employee retirement and disability dollars ($5 billion), followed by Virginia ($4 billion). Florida received the most in military retirements ($3.7 billion), while Texas received the largest share of veterans’ benefits ($3.1 billion).

Other highlights:

-- The federal government spent $569 billion on direct payments other than retirement and disability, which included hospital insurance ($188 billion), supplemental medical insurance ($161 billion), earned income tax credits ($38 billion), food stamps ($30 billion), unemployment compensation ($28 billion), agricultural assistance ($28 billion), federal employment health and life programs ($21 billion) and housing assistance ($9 billion).

-- Procurement contracts for the federal government totaled $409 billion in 2006 with most going to the Defense Department ($266 billion). The Army received the largest share ($83 billion), followed by the Navy ($73 billion), the Air Force ($60 billion) and other defense ($50 billion).

-- Among the $143 billion procured by nondefense agencies, the Department of Energy had the largest amount ($22 billion), followed by the Department of Veterans Affairs ($16 billion), Postal Service ($15 billion), Homeland Security ($15 billion), General Services Administration ($12 billion) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration ($11 billion).

-- In addition to procurement funding, the federal government issued grants totaling $494 billion. Of these, Health and Human Services accounted for $283 billion, followed by Transportation ($58 billion), Education ($38 billion), Housing and Urban Development ($37 billion), and Agriculture ($26 billion).

Federal government direct expenditures for retirement and disability, direct payments, grants and procurement are provided for each state and county area.

Population figures used to calculate per capita for the 50 states, the District of Columbia and all counties come from the 2006 population estimates and can be found at < http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2006-1.html>.

The data in these reports are not subject to sampling variability but are subject to nonsampling errors, which include errors of response and processing.