December 2012
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Shop Government Auctions →
Did you know the federal government has an auction website? Shop for anything from homes to computers and jewelry at http://govsales.gov
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Wishing You and Your Family a Happy Holiday... →
We hope our holiday tips help you celebrate within your budget, keep your family safe, protect the environment and more! If you’re celebrating with kids, make sure to check out the holiday tips from Kids.gov.
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Track Santa's Journey Around the World →
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End-of-Year Charity Giving Tips from the IRS
As 2012 comes to a close, individuals and businesses need to remember some key tax provisions for making contributions to charity. The IRS offers these reminders for year-end giving:
To deduct monetary donations you must have a bank record or written document from the charity stating the name of the charity, the contribution amount and the date.
Contributions are deductible in the year made,...
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Have a Pet-Safe Holiday Season
Make sure that everyone gets to enjoy the holiday season by keeping the four-legged members of your family safe this December. It’s easy to get distracted at this time of year, so if you have pets, try to keep these ideas in mind:
Avoid tinsel and clean up strings and ribbon right away. Swallowed decorations can seriously damage internal organs, leading to a painful and dangerous situation.
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Give the Gift of Service This Year →
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is service. Find volunteer opportunities in your area from Serve.gov.
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Most Popular Topics of 2012
2012 was the year of the Presidential election, NASA putting the Curiosity Rover on Mars, the summer Olympics in London, and so much more. It was also a year of unspeakable tragedies that left the nation at a loss for words. We’ve shared information about a lot of different subjects over the course of the year. Here’s a look at what was most popular on our blog and on USA.gov in 2012. Popular Blog...
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Find the Latest Airport Closures and Flight Delays →
If you have holiday air travel plans, check this map for the latest airport closures and flight delay information.
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Feed People, Not Landfills
By Lena Kim, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge team
The holidays symbolize family, friends, food, festivities, and it is a season of caring and giving. This holiday season, you can give back to yourself, your community, and your environment with one small act – reducing the amount of food you waste.
Wasted food is the number one material that goes...
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How to Mail a Message of Condolence to Newtown, CT
The U.S. Postal Service has established a unique Post Office Box to which the public may send condolences to those affected by the December 14, 2012 tragedy in Newtown, CT.
Those who wish to send expressions of comfort should address them to:
Messages of Condolence for Newtown PO Box 3700 Newtown CT 06470
“We understand that there is an outpouring of support for everyone in the Newtown area,...
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Free Publications to Help You Be Physically and... →
Do you want to be healthier and more financially organized in 2013? These free publications can help. Order yours at
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Food Safety Gifts for Festive Foodies
By Maribel Alonso, Technical Information Specialist, USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
These days, it seems everyone knows (or is) a foodie, a self-proclaimed guru of all things edible. To add to the myriad of “foodie gift guides” shopping sites have created this month, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline has put together a list of inexpensive kitchen essentials, most of which are small enough to fit...
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Show Your Support for our Military This Holiday... →
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Give Green Gifts with Energy Star Products
By Una Song, program manager for the ENERGY STAR program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Electronics are a popular gift for the holidays, and now you can give a great gift that also gives back in many ways. ENERGY STAR certified electronics – home entertainment and office products – not only make great gifts; they also save energy, money and help protect the climate.
ENERGY STAR Home...
