Each New Year, a new batch of creative works enters the public domain as their copyright terms expire and they become free to use, reuse, and share. Public Domain Day is observed each January 1st to commemorate the works that enter the public domain. In 2022, thousands of works first published in 1926 became public domain, including A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, and Franz Kafka’s The Castle, as well as over 400,000 sound recordings from pre-1923.
Read moreToward the Beloved Community: MLK Day 2022
This coming Monday, January 17th, 2022, is MLK Day, a federal holiday that recognizes the birthdate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and commemorates his life and work as a civil rights activist and leader.
Read moreBe Winter Weather-Ready: Disaster Preparedness Resources
Texas is still seeing moderate weather so far this winter; however, 2021’s Winter Storm Uri illustrated the need for emergency and extreme weather preparedness in the event of power outages, lack of running water, and other weather-related dangers.
Here are some ways you can prepare yourself and your home for extreme weather and other emergencies.
Read moreSuicide Prevention and Mental Health Resources
The end of any year can be difficult for many, as the holiday season often brings about emotional, mental, social, and financial challenges. 2021 saw further pressures to our mental well-being. Although September is observed as National Suicide Prevention Month, we would like to share the following suicide prevention and mental health resources as we wrap up another uniquely challenging year.
Read moreComing to a Passport Near You: Non-Binary Gender Marker
The U.S. Department of State currently allows people to select a binary gender marker (M or F) for their U.S. passports, “even if the gender [they] select does not match the gender on [their| supporting documentation such as a birth certificate, previous passport, or state ID.” In addition, passport holders may “request a new passport with a different gender than the one [they] have on [their] current passport” by following the instructions on the Department of State’s “Selecting your Gender Marker” webpage. Further, there are plans for an “X” gender marker on U.S. passports for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming people, which is expected to be available in early 2022.
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