No matter where you are in Minnesota, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Independence Day.

Green groups have been pressuring electronics manufacturers to take responsibility for the afterlife of their products and you can help, too.  E-Stewards offers lists of accredited U.S. recyclers.

Need help making your federal student loan payments more manageable? IBR Info has all the information you need about new federal student loan repayment and forgiveness programs.

See how MRES is using technology (and more) to educate, promote, and advocate for renewable energy.

Building a deck or fence this summer?  Check your local municipal code before you start construction.  The lack of a building permit or a height variance could result in a citation or penalty, so play it safe and plan ahead!

Epicurious' guide offers sizzling grilling and barbecue menus, technique videos, how-tos, outdoor entertaining gear, and everything else needed to conquer the coals.

Look at Auto Shop 101 for links to automotive categories and info sites.

Census Bureau statistical information is crucial to businesses, government agencies, employers, educators, transportation planners, law enforcement officials and legislators. It is important to know how your private information is protected when you are counted in the 2010 Census while still allowing data to be gathered as a useful resource for creating new jobs and strengthening the economy. Visit the Bureau's Data Protection and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

 

In 1993 Jackson was granted a patent for "Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion." The shoes allowed the wearer to lean beyond their center of gravity.

An incredible wealth of information can be found in our nation's historic newspapers. We are in the midst of an explosion of digitization projects that are providing access to this phenomenal resource. One of the go-to-sites is Chronicling America - Historic American Newspaper http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/  available free through the Internet. For the state of Minnesota Chronicling America offers the St. Paul Daily Globe, 1878-1896 (with slight title variations). The newspaper digitization project is an outgrowth of the United States Newspaper Program http://www.neh.gov/projects/usnp.html 1980 to 2009.

Concordia Language  Villages is offering day camps for kids in the Twin Cities. Overnight camps are also available for youth, adults, and families! There are still openings, but register soon!

Check out ParentZone Minneapolis to find museums, classes, birthday hotspots, and services to entertain, care for and educate kids of all ages.

Plan your summer fun with the Star Tribune guide to family attractions, festivals and concerts in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota's Historic Bridges.  Pictures and info on bridges from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The annual two-day family oriented Dragon Festival  on July 11 -12 at the Phalen Lake Park, Saint Paul with colorful displays of cultural heritage , Asian treats and performances in an effort to increase cross-cultural understanding.

Follow the latest new on the recent elections in Iran and the aftermath at CNN.com.  Much of the news out of Iran is being shared via social media outlets.  Mashable.com offers tips on how to track the Iran elections on Twitter and other social tools.

Reports out of Japan about possible North Korean missile launches increases tension around the world.  Check CNN.com for develpments.  The Huffington Post reports on  the recent arrest and sentencing of two american journalists in North Korea.

Stephanie Rosenbloom of the New York Times reports that the recession is driving shoppers into the arms of Wal-Mart and other discount retailers, where they eschew even semi-conspicuous consumption and select the cheap choice.

This article by James Robertson in Yes! Magazine will help you to understand.

The Legislative Reference Library has a page of resources on unallotment, including a detailed description of the governor's budget plan.

Look for information and resources from University of MN Extension.

The library is partnering with the Neigborhood Development Center to offer a full set of classes for entrepreneurs this summer. Attend one or all and get a leg up on the competition and build a money-making business.

Are you unsure how to use LinkedIn to advance your job search? Hit the hyperlink here and for eleven tips from a social media expert.

Voting has started to elect the next president of Iran.  Cnn.com has the latest news.

Looking for a news program in Spanish or German?  Interested in Bluegrass or Jazz?  Look no further, try PublicRadioFan.  With over 1,200 international public radio stations, this site offers easy access to your favorite radio program by name or category.  Whether you're looking for BBC News or a current broadcast of "All Things Considered," this site has it all.

Politics in Minnesota has published a nice explanation on the use of unallotment in Minnesota.

Check out this page of health check tools.

A recent article in the London Review of Books provides an interesting look at Wikipedia with an exploration of its background, problems and strengths, and how it may fare in the future.

There are many options in and around the Twin Cities to be a tech geek during the summer.  Try the Pavek and the history of radio and its technology, or the camera obscura at the Science Museum of Minnesota, or the Bakken and electricity and magnetism, or The Works Technology Museum for kids.

AltWeeklies.com brings together a selection of news and features published in the 129 papers that belong to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. The Association
provides a directory of its newsweeklies, including links to each paper's website.

Protect your skin when you're out in the sun. Learn more. 

Does your child attend a charter school? Read about the new regulations passed during the 2009 legislative session.

 " A genealogist is not eccentric, she has just lost her census!"  Deciphering  census abbreviations for occupations and relationships can be frustrating, although  strict instructions were given  to each enumerator. Individual enumerator inventiveness and language issues can still cause problems for modern family researchers.

Interested in the Supreme Court confirmation hearings?  Check out Supreme Court Nominations, Present -1789 to learn more about this fascinating process or review some of Sonia Sotomayor's Appeals Court opinions.

its government bails out private business?    Read this article in Der Spiegel, and look for similarities between Germany's plight and ours.

The Library of Congress has put together information about Judge Sotomayor.  Take a look and learn more about the judge recently nominated for the Supreme Court.

On the plus side President Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act on May 22, making it harder for card issuers to raise interest rates without warning, among other reforms. On the down side most of the changes under the law won't go into effect for nine months, and certain small businesses are currently left out of the benefits.

Look at ConsumerGuide Automotive Buying Guides for a concentrated dose of shopping advice.

Help may be a few clicks away. Bridge to Benefits provides a quick way for a Minnesota family to determine if it is eligible for a wide range of assistance.  Children's Defense Fund Minnesota initiated the project.

Find Minnesota golf courses by city and see their design features.  Also view the top ten Minnesota golf destinations. 

Check out the Small Business Resource Center for comprehensive information from trade journals  and specialty publications that will help you  grow your  small business.

Before you begin your health information research, take the tour at MedlinePlus.  Also available in español.

A celebration of the more than 90,000 refugees who have made Minnesota their home in the past 30 years with cultural performances, speakers, activities, food, and resources fair on June 20 at the Minnehaha Park

Wolfram Alpha is an answer engine, not a search engine - give it a math equation to solve, information on a date, compares things (i.e. countries), and much more. AND it gives sources.

Follow updates from Minnesota Public Radio as the state Supreme Court hears arguments in the race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman.

When tucking our new plants into garden beds for the summer, we'll want to consider the plant's Hardiness Zone. The region where the coldest winter temperatures occur will determine the zone, such as 1 to 10. More recently, the heat and humidity are being considered as equally limiting.