NSDL Scout Reports for the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences
The second issues of the second volumes of the Life Sciences Report and Physical Sciences Report are available. The Topic in Depth section of Life Sciences Report annotates sites on animal tails. The Physical Sciences Report's Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about frozen soil.
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American Shores: Maps of the Middle Atlantic Region to 1850
http://www.nypl.org/research/midatlantic/
Drawing on the holdings of the New York Public Library (in particular the Lawrence H. Slaughter Collection), and sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, this online exhibit is devoted to offering a number of historically significant maps of the Mid-Atlantic region up to 1850. The site begins with a brief essay on the nature of the items featured on the site and continues with three other sections -- Basics of Maps, Maps Through History, and Geographical Areas. The Basics of Maps section provides a valuable introduction to the various aspects of cartography and the basic layout of maps. Maps Through History draws the user's attention to the importance of nautical maps of the area, most notably those of the Hudson River and charts of the North Atlantic. The final section, Geographical Areas, has a selection of important maps beginning with early maps of New York City neighborhoods and finishing with a survey map of the tidewater region of Virginia completed by Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson. [KMG]
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Counting on the Internet [.pdf]
http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/pdfs/PIP_Expectations.pdf
Released on December 29, 2002, and authored by John B. Horrigan and Lee Rainie, this 17-page report was sponsored by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The report draws on a recent sample of 2,000 Americans who were queried about their Internet usage, including what type of information they expected to be able to find online. Overall, 97 percent of all Internet users surveyed expected to be able to find online information about either government, health care, news, or commerce, which can be compared to the 64 percent of non-Internet users who thought they would be able to find similar information online. Interestingly enough, 86 percent of all senior citizens who used the Internet also felt they would be able to find this type of information, compared to the much lower 41 percent of non-Internet using senior citizens. The full report also contains an important section detailing the report's methodology. [KMG]
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The Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition
http://www.yale.edu/glc/
Located at Yale University, the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition is "dedicated to the investigation and dissemination of information concerning all aspects of the Atlantic slave system and its destruction." Created by a major gift from Richard Gilder, the Center's Web site provides detailed information about the fellowships, conferences, publications, and educational materials that are a part of the Center's diverse set of activities. Researchers and students will want to first examine the Source Documents section, which features primary and secondary source materials related to slavery, slave resistance, and the abolitionist movement. Also, visitors will want to examine the Bibliographies section, which contains extended bibliographies on topics such as "Abolitionists Abroad: American Blacks and the Making of Modern West Africa." Finally, scholars will want to examine the materials about the Center's fellowships, which support research projects that are complementary to the aims of the Center. [KMG]
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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
http://www.whoi.edu/home/
Established in 1930, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is one of the world's most well-regarded research institutions, devoted to the mission of developing a fundamental understanding of the processes and characteristics that govern how the oceans work and how they interact with the earth as a whole. From the site's main page, visitors can develop a general understanding of the Institution's activities by looking through the information provided about their research departments (e.g., biology and marine chemistry); their research groups; and their highly-regarded ocean institutes, which include the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute and the Ocean Life Institute. Students and educators will want to make sure and visit the Dive and Discover section of the site, which allows users to "travel" on the bottom of a number of oceans in a miniature submarine. Divided into six sections, the trip contains a host of information for people who are interested in learning about the variety of life in the Pacific Ocean and about different geological processes, like plate tectonics. [KMG]
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United States Early Radio History
http://www.ipass.net/~whitetho/index.html
The history of technology, particularly of communicative technologies such as the radio, is often overlooked by scholars. With this in mind, Thomas H. White has developed this fine site containing "articles and extracts about early radio and related technologies, concentrating on the United States in the period from 1897 to 1927." The site itself is divided into four large sections, ordered by chronological period, with the last section containing original pieces by Mr. White, covering such topics as "U.S. Callsign Policies: 1911-2003" and "Washington D.C.: AM Station History, 1920-2003." Each of the topics is essentially a long-form essay, containing numerous hyperlinks to reproductions or transcriptions of original primary documents, including documents relating the efforts to provide entertainment and news over the telephone in the first few decades of the 20th century. Overall, the site is a fascinating place for those persons hoping to learn a bit about the early history and development of the radio and its subsequent effects on related technologies. [KMG]
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Airline Traffic and Urban Economic Development [.pdf]
http://www.igpa.uiuc.edu/publications/pdf/airports5.pdf
In recent years, a great deal of controversy has been raised about the development of new airports and the expansion of existing airport facilities. Often smaller municipalities have complained about increases in air and noise pollution, while some business leaders and politicians are insistent that these developments will reap major dividends over the long-term life of the facility. With this in mind, Professor Jan K. Brueckner has written this 25-page working paper (in conjunction with the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) that explores the economic benefits that might be accrued by a metro area (specifically Chicago) by increased airline traffic. In the paper, Professor Brueckner shows that a 10 percent increase in passenger enplanements in a metro area leads approximately to a 1 percent increase in employment in service-related industries. However, he is also quick to note that "airline traffic has no effect on manufacturing and other goods-related employment." Professor Brueckner concludes that the expansion of Chicago's O'Hare airport "would raise service-related employment in the Chicago metro area by 185,000 jobs." Throughout the paper, Brueckner makes a compelling argument that is sure to be of interest to those in the fields of public policy and urban development. [KMG]
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Delaware Public Archives
http://www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/
Located in Dover, the Delaware Public Archives is the state's official repository for all types of government and state agency documents, including many from Delaware's days as a British colony. While there is plenty of information on their interaction with state and federal agencies, most visitors will want to take a look at their online finding aids to the Archives holdings and their online digital collections. From the main page, visitors can use an online search engine that will allow them search over 3600 word processing files, each of which represents portions of records groups within their holdings. Also, visitors seeking to learn more about using the Census for research will want to read the guide to census records, and potentially, the guide to using probate and genealogy records at the Archives. Finally, the archive has a fine selection of digital collections, which include photographic collections from the state highway department, the Kent County Pauper Books from 1815, various Civil War records (such as enlistment documents), and various images of Delaware towns and cities. [KMG]
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MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html
With MIT OpenCourseWare, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology plans to make course materials for nearly all its undergraduate and graduate subjects available online, free of charge to anyone who cares to use them. An ambitious project created as part of the university's mission "to advance knowledge and education to best serve the nation and the world," MIT OpenCourseWare currently offers course materials for a wide range of subjects, including biology, with much more on the way. Users should bear in mind that MIT OpenCourseWare is an informal learning venue only, not a degree or certificate-granting program. This site is also reviewed in the January 24, 2003 NSDL Life Sciences Report. [RS]
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National Institute of Mental Health: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/childmenu.cfm
Developed as a public service by the National Institute of Mental Health, this Web site contains a wealth of materials that will be very useful to mental health practitioners, parents, and those who work with young people in any capacity. First-time visitors will want to read the brief notes on the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as the section dealing with the treatment of children with mental disorders, which answers some basic questions about various disorders and psychotropic medicines commonly prescribed to treat these conditions. The Educational Materials section provides a number of booklets, fact sheets, and additional Web sites on such conditions as autism, depression, learning disabilities, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Researchers and health care professionals will want to examine the sections devoted to current research reports and multi-center collaborations, including the Child and Adolescent Research Consortium and the Child Abuse and Neglect Working Group. [KMG]
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Eye Contact: Modern American Portrait Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery
http://www.npg.si.edu/cexh/eye/index.html
This exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery uses portrait drawings dating from the 1880s to the 1980s to show the ways in which the art of portraiture has been changed by trends in 20th century art. Visitors will find easy navigation through the show's five sections. One of these is New Themes for a New Century, talking about 20th century themes such as Celebrity Culture; Gender, Race, and the Body; and the Uses of Photography. Included are a comic-book style portrait of Robert Kennedy by Roy Lichtenstein that appeared on the cover of Time magazine on May 24th, 1968, and pop artist Andy Warhol's romantic drawing of realist artist Jamie Wyeth that Warhol began by tracing Polaroids of Wyeth projected onto the canvas. Audio comments by Wendy Wick Reaves, curator of the exhibition, are available in selected sections. [DS]
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Inside Chiquibul: Photographing Central Americas Longest Cave
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/chiquibul/intro.html
From National Geographic.com comes the Inside Chiquibul: Photographing Central Americas Longest Cave Web site. Well known is the exquisite photography that accompanies National Geographic publications, and this site provides similar products free to online visitors, along with special features that only can be produced on a Web site. The main map page shows a perspective map of the cave, along with indicators where either a regular picture is available or where an iPEX 360 degree image was produced. The various subject matter includes the cave entrances, repelling in the cave, stalactites and stalagmites, other rock formations, and more. The descriptions and visuals presented on the site make it a must visit. This site is also reviewed in the January 24, 2003 NSDL Physical Sciences Report. [JAB]
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The Detroit Institute of Arts
http://www.dia.org/
Founded in 1883, the Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the finest art museums in the United States and is well-known for its fine holdings in American art of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Visitors to the site will want to begin by examining the Collection section, which features selected images from the Institute's holdings, most notably selected works from the Hudson River School and the American Impressionists. Scholars will want to examine the Research Library and Archives section of the site, which features an online catalogue of the 175,000 volumes held by the Library. For visitors hoping to visit the Institute in person, detailed information on their current and ongoing exhibitions is provided by the site, along with an events calendar featuring some of the activities at the Institute, which include storytelling sessions for children and music performances. [KMG]
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Behind the Name: The Etymology and History of First Names
http://www.behindthename.com/
Created by Mike Campbell, a Canadian with a great interest in linguistics, this site is a cornucopia of information about the etymologies of first names. Containing information on over 11,000 first names, users can begin by entering their own first name into the search engine (which can be customized), and information will be returned about the origin of the name and other helpful details. From the site's home page, users can also click on a number of topical headings, such as Spanish Names or Biblical Names to see an entire list of names related to these cultures or themes. Also helpful are a series of short essays on the general origins of first names, names by usage, and elements of first names. Users can both post questions to the message boards provided on the site and view lists of the most popular names by year, going all the way back to the year 1900. [KMG]
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Booknotes [RealPlayer]
http://www.booknotes.org
The Booknotes Web site is dedicated to providing information about the long-running Booknotes television show, and as such, will be of great interest to those with a passion for reading nonfiction. On the site, users can sign up to talk about the books featured on the show, as well as creating a personal video collection of their favorite Booknotes moments. The main highlight of the site is the archive of transcripts from the show, dating back to 1989. Users can browse through full-text transcriptions of interviews with Anita Hill, Katharine Graham, Walter Cronkite, Frank McCourt, Edmund Morris, and Richard Nixon. With Real Player installed, visitors can also watch the entire program for free on their computer. Finally, for those interested in purchasing audio or video recordings of the program, ordering information is included on the site. [KMG]
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Fats Waller Forever Digital Exhibit [RealPlayer]
http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/ijs/fw/fatsmain.htm
Born in Harlem in 1904, Thomas Wright Waller would become one of jazz's most renowned pianists, along with composing some of its most memorable compositions, including "Ain't Misbehavin" and "Honeysuckle Rose." This online exhibit, produced by the Institute for Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, features recordings and photographs of Fats Waller in his prime. Also, as users navigate through the different sections, selections from Fats Waller's hundreds of recordings play as they browse. Short essays, many of them by Paul Wachlin, describe various facets of Waller's legendary stride-piano style, his recording legacy, and the extensive manuscript holdings within the Institute's Dana Library. The site is rounded out by a section of additional readings and references for those seeking to learn more about the life and musical achievements of Fats Waller. [KMG]
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CostAware 1.1
http://www.netinternals.com/products.html
Some Internet service providers are beginning to charge for downloads after a certain byte limit is reached, and with this in mind, CostAware 1.1 can help users keep track of the size of their downloads. This version of CostAware corrects some earlier bugs in the program, while allowing users to monitor their domestic and international downloads. CostAware 1.1 is compatible with systems running either the Windows 2000 or XP platforms. [KMG]
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WebPage Translator 1.2
http://alphaomega.software.free.fr/webpagetranslator/Web%20Page%20Translator.html
Available in a number of languages (including Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian), this helpful program allows users to translate entire Web pages from one language to another in real time. WebPage Translator also includes an embedded help guide that will assist users in effectively using the program. Compatible with all computers running Mac OS X, the program does not require installation and takes up a small amount of memory. [KMG]
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Scholarship Reveals that Public School Segregation is on the Rise in Certain Parts of the United States
Report: School Segregation on Rise
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=261892
A Multiracial Society with Segregated Schools: Are We Losing the Dream?
http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/research/reseg03/reseg03_full.php
Increases in College Financial Aid Urged
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=college16&date=20030116&query=gary+orfield
Is School Race Plan Pointless in City?
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-deseg19s1.html
Powell, Bush differ over University of Michigan
http://www.detnews.com/2003/schools/0301/20/schools-64263.htm
University of Michigan Admissions Lawsuits
http://www.umich.edu/~urel/admissions/faqs/comply.html
This week, a report from the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University noted that many public schools around the United States (particularly in the South) were becoming more segregated, a fact that the researchers attribute to several key Supreme Court decisions, such as the 1991 ruling in the case Oklahoma City v. Dowell. The study also noted that, because resegregation in the South had been rapid, public schools in the region remain more integrated that those in the Northeast and the West Coast. Interestingly, the study also reported that the average white student in the United States attends a school where 80 percent of their fellow classmates are also white.
The first link leads to a recent article from the Harvard Crimson about the recent report on school segregation. The second link will take visitors to the entire report, researched and written by a team of scholars and researchers at the Civil Rights Project. The third link leads to a news article from the Seattle Times that discusses the potential for making college more affordable for low-income students by increasing the limits on federal grants and loans. The fourth link takes visitors to a Chicago Sun-Times article on the potential for reducing the public school segregation levels in Chicago, something that has been mostly unsuccessful over the past thirty years. Concerning a related issue, the fifth link is to a Detroit News article that discusses Colin Powells stance on the question of the University of Michigans admissions policies as regards to minority enrollments. The final link leads to a site provided by the University of Michigan that offers some explanations about why their admission systems are in full federal compliance, and are not in fact quotas, as some have claimed. [KMG]
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