·http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-3881

Based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Astronomical Journal (AJ) publishes original astronomical research, with "an emphasis on significant scientific results derived from observations, including descriptions of data capture, surveys, analysis techniques, and astronomical interpretation." The publication was founded in 1849 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and since that time it has become highly regarded. Visitors to the site can read past issues for free and they can use the Most Read, Most Cited, and Latest Articles tabs to dive right in. Recent pieces in the AJ have addressed supernovae, infrared scientific measurement devices, and the numerical integration of rotational motion. On the site, visitors can contact the editorial board, learn about submission guidelines, and peruse the AJ's ethics policy. It is a rather wonderful way to learn about the latest research in this field and is a resource that users will want to bookmark for future consideration. [KMG]

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·http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2013/05/28-newark-manufacturing-mistry-vey-shearer

Many older industrial cities in the American Northeast continue to ask the question: "What's next?" Will they reboot their local economies by creating arts and culture districts? Will they hope to become start-up hubs? Or perhaps they can attract new knowledge economy workers? This 60-page paper by the Brookings Institution's Nisha Mistry (coauthored by Jennifer S. Vey and Richard Shearer) looks at Newark's competitive advantages in the 21st century as regards manufacturing. The paper is the culmination of the initial year of the Newark Manufacturing Initiative (NMI) which is focused on the development of transformative strategies to improve the local and regional climate for manufacturing. The basic thrust of the paper is that Newark can compete in the 21st century and that the city should encourage the creation of quality jobs and innovative, low-carbon, export intensive industries. The report includes an executive summary and chapters such as "Newark's Manufacturing Moment," "Newark's Manufacturing Challenges," and "Goals and Strategies." [KMG]

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·http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/EXTANNREP/EXTANNREP2012/0,,menuPK:8784414~pagePK:64168427~piPK:64168435~theSitePK:8784409,00.html

The World Bank offers trenchant commentary on a wide range of issues of global import, including food production, gender inequality, development practices, and higher education initiatives. As a result, the World Bank's Annual Report is given close attention by people all over the world. The 314-page report offers thoughtful commentary on all manner of activities, and it is beautifully designed and executed. The first page starts with a list of summary statistics, such as the number of people who gained access to basic health services and how many teachers were recruited or trained as a result of World Bank activities. Visitors can learn all about the World Bank's initiatives in the report or download smaller sections like "Responding with Global Knowledge and Experience" and "World Bank For Results 2012." Visitors can also look over the Corporate Scorecard, which includes a snapshot of results achieved by partner countries with support from the Bank. The Report is available in eight different languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. [KMG]

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·http://fmdrl.org/

This resource was created by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) and was designed to support the sharing and collaborative development of educational resources among family medicine educators. The initial grant for this endeavor came from the National Library of Medicine and the project has been expanded a number of times. The STFM Resource Library contains lectures, learning modules, case studies, recommended websites, and conference handouts. The materials are all made available at no cost, and visitors can get started by looking at the Recently Uploaded area. Here they will find "Teaching Today With Tomorrow's Tools," "Teaching Inpatient Billing and Coding," and dozens of other newer items. Moving on, visitors can also use the Search area to focus on certain items of interest or browse the FAQ area to find answers to common questions. Finally, visitors can create their own personalized accounts or upload their own materials for possible inclusion in the archive. [KMG]

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·http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=science&col_id=183

The homepage of this delightful digital caravan features a colorful image of the surmulet fish. It's a nice way to introduce this collection of classic illustrated zoologies. The books here are culled from the New York Public Library's vast holdings and include works from 18th century France, 19th century America, and the magisterial 1837 work The Birds of Europe. These marvelous works are both scientific documents and illustrative repositories of reproductive printmaking from a time before photomechanical processes became the primary method of producing book illustrations. The introductory essay, adapted from a work by Miriam Gross that originally appeared in Biblion: The Bulletin of The New York Public Library, is a great way to get started. Students of art, zoology, and other related fields will find much to wonder and think about here as one can engage in a bit of comparison by looking at these unique volumes side by side. [KMG]

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·http://www.education.noaa.gov/Marine_Life/Aquatic_Food_Webs.html

This nice site from NOAA starts with a bold statement: "Big fish eat little fish; that's how the food cycle works." It's a fitting introduction to this exploration of aquatic food webs. Offered as part of NOAA's main Education Resources site, this site offers a dozen well-produced videos, lesson plans, and data sets divided into areas that include Background Information and Multimedia. These items include "Tagging of Pacific Pelagics," "Census of Marine Life Biodiversity," and "Components of a Food Web." Visitors can also look over the Features area near the bottom of the site, whose offerings range from a profile of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to a longitudinal study of sea trout in the food web. Finally, visitors can use the social media tabs to share resources from the site with colleagues and others. [KMG]

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·http://mathcomm.org/

Created as part of the Mathematical Association of America's (MAA) outreach efforts, MathDL Mathematical Communication is "a developing collection of resources for engaging students in writing and speaking about mathematics, whether for the purpose of learning mathematics or of learning to communicate as mathematicians." The site contains materials on giving successful math presentations, talking about math to a diverse audience, and also communicating effectively with teammates working on a math project. Visitors shouldn't miss the Resources for Presentations: Handouts & Links area. Here they can find how-to-guides such as "Preparing a Poster Presentation" and "How to Give an Effective Math Talk." Also, visitors are encouraged to submit their own resources for possible inclusion on the site. The site is rounded out by a nice primer titled "Introduction to Teaching Math Communication." [KMG]

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·http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/

While eGFI may sound like a curious acronym, it is actually quite straightforward: "Engineering, Go For It!" The site is designed for teachers and maintained by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). The materials here are divided into six primary sections, including Class Activities, Web Resources, Lesson Plans, and Features. This last area is a real pip, including updates on everything from aerospace's application in the field of yacht design to Plagiarism Education Week. The Web Resources area brings together updates about useful new sites such as Daily Science News and a clutch of links on Earth Day. Of course, visitors won't want to miss the Lesson Plans area. Here they will find over 200 plans that include "Shake It Up with Seismographs" and "Working Together To Live Together," which invites students to experience civil and environmental engineering by planning a housing development. Finally, interested parties can read the engaging eGFI magazine, read student blogs, or check out the site's in-house video channel, E-Tube. [KMG]

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·http://cdm15015.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15015coll6

If you enjoy the Pacific Northwest, you have probably encountered many tales of Seattle's storied past. It is, after all, known in some parts as the "Emerald City," and is full of tales of its rough-and-tumble Skid Row, pioneer settlers from Scandinavia, and a whole host of intriguing characters. This particular website from the Seattle Public Library offers a cornucopia of ephemera related to the city's history. As the site notes, "This collection presents some of Seattle's historical 'sawdust'--unique and interesting materials." Many of these documents have not been widely accessible for many years, a situation this archive remedies. There are 25 items here, including "A Survey of Comic Books in the State of Washington: A Report Made to the Washington State Council for Children and Youth" and a fascinating document on regrading projects in Seattle titled "How Seattle Changed Its Face." Visitors can search all of the texts and browse at their leisure; those interested in urban planning and the like will probably end up whiling away a few hours enjoying these unique items. [KMG]

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·http://www.cca.qc.ca/en

Created in 1979 by Phyllis Lambert, the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) is an international research center and museum founded on the conviction that "architecture is a public concern." This website is a delightful mix of commentary, digital projects, and information about events at the Centre. A good place to start is at the CCA Recommends area. Here visitors can learn about recent books, musings, and other things that have crossed over the CCA's transom as of late. Recent entries have included thoughts on new books about the Seagram Building in New York and a rather novel piece on the history of guidebooks to Montreal. The Collection area contains information about the CCA's physical holdings, along with finding aids to its digital collections. These collections number almost two dozen and they include materials that deal with Expo 67 in Montreal and the professional practice of Aldo Rossi. Users shouldn't miss the Calendar, as it may inspire a visit to Canada to see one or more upcoming lectures, exhibits, or special events. [KMG]

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·http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/betty-parsons-gallery-records-and-personal-papers-7211

Born in 1900, Betty Parsons was one of the leading art dealers in New York City specializing in modern art; her gallery on 57th Street was a hub of activity for decades. As a young person, she lived in Paris for 10 years studying painting and sculpture, returning to New York in 1935. During the postwar period, she represented Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still, and Mark Rothko. It was an exciting period and what is most remarkable is that her prodigious collection of correspondence and personal papers ended up at the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art. This remarkable digitized collection contains over 61,000 pages of material, including correspondence with fellow gallery owners, personal financial records, photographs, stock inventories, sales records, sketchbooks, and pocket diaries. First-time visitors should start by looking over the Finding Aid area, which is tremendously helpful. As a whole, this collection will be most useful to art historians and others with an interest in the cultural milieu of the American art world in the mid-20th century. [KMG]

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·http://archive.org/details/culturalandacademicfilms

The Internet Archive bills itself as "universal access to all knowledge," and lives up to this promise by hosting dozens of thematic collections. This collection, covering Cultural & Academic Films, includes materials from the Academic Film Archive and the Media Burn Independent Film Archive, as well as documentaries by noted filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman. Also, the collection includes works from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology by Watson Kintner, who used film to document his travels around the globe. One amazing highlight here is the Buckminster Fuller Archive, a subcollection within this larger group. It features 42 hours of lectures delivered by this futurist, architect, and thinker, delivered during the last two weeks of January, 1975. The other subcollections here include the Chicago Film Archives, California Light and Sound, and the Global Lives Project. The Chicago Film Archives includes 39 films that explore everything from the Chicago World's Fair to the film "Cause Without A Rebel" about political apathy at Northwestern University in the 1960s. [KMG]

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·http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/

Librarians, information technology specialists, and others will find much to enjoy on this excellent collaborative blog created by the Library of Congress. Called "The Signal," it covers "exciting new developments that have an impact on digital preservation and access." There are 12 experts who contribute posts to the blog on a regular basis and there are well over 400 posts to browse through here. First-time visitors can look through the Categories area, which collects posts into themes such as Digital Content, Outreach and Events, and Tools and Infrastructure. Recent posts include "Hardware Matters," "What Do Researchers Want From Institutions that Preserve Digital Content?" and "Reality Check: What Most People Actually Do with Their Personal Digital Archives." Users are also encouraged to add their own comments and thoughts on each post or suggest materials for possible coverage by the site. [KMG]

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·http://www.nature.nps.gov/views/layouts/Main.html#/Views/

There is no true substitute for visiting one of America's great national parks, but this website, designed "to present the natural, cultural, and historical resources of our national parks," is a nice surrogate for an in-person jaunt. On the homepage, visitors can select a park or theme from several dozen headings, including National Mall, Whiskeytown, Glaciers, and Devils Tower. Within each area, visitors can examine a series of high-quality images, along with four or five sections that address different aspects of each topic or specific park. Perhaps the most useful elements of the site are the very fine resources for teachers. Clicking on the Teachers' Lounge area will bring up a number of high-quality educational articles, lesson plans, and educational standards guidelines. All told, there are 14 different lesson plans here, which are complemented by links to external resources and additional readings. [KMG]

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·https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id591684341

When you find yourself at the grocery store without your hastily scribbled family recipe for Baked Alaska, you might be out of luck. Next time, you may wish to download Task Paper 1.1 for your personal use. This handy list-making application allows users to set up their own handy list of tasks and the like. There are customizable visual formats that include a weathered piece of parchment and a handful of other visually pleasing designs. This version is compatible with devices running i0S 6.0 or later. [KMG]

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·http://www.montajapp.com/

Would you like to become an iPhone auteur? Such a goal is attainable with the rather fine Montaj application. Visitors can download the application and get started with the video editing and assemblage process. The FAQ area will answer a number of basic questions about how the application works, and there's also a video introduction that is very helpful. This version of Montaj is compatible with devices running iOS 6.0 and newer. [KMG]

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Poverty: Not always with us
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21578643-world-has-astonishing-chance-take-billion-people-out-extreme-poverty-2030-not

Losses from Disasters in East Asia and Pacific Raise Concerns for Poverty Reduction
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/06/03/losses-from-disasters-in-east-asia-and-pacific-raise-concerns-for-poverty-reduction

If People Could Immigrate Anywhere, Would Poverty Be Eliminated?
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/if-people-could-immigrate-anywhere-would-poverty-be-eliminated/275332/

United Nations Development Goals
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/poverty.shtml

United Nations Population Fund: Reducing Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Development
http://www.unfpa.org/pds/poverty.html

Poverty Reduction Strategies for the United States
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/events/2008/9/29%20poverty/bane_paper.pdf

What's the best way to move people out of poverty? The underlying issues vary widely from place to place, and the differences between the developed and developing world can be quite stark. The United Nations has long been interested in alleviating the plight of the world's poor, and back in 2000 the heads of 147 governments pledged that they would work with this organization to halve the proportion of people on the Earth living in the direst poverty by 2015. Since that time, great strides have been made. This week, the leaders of Britain, Indonesia, and Liberia have formally endorsed the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. This type of poverty is defined as those persons living on less than $1.25 a day. Most economists and others feel that the best way to reduce poverty is to encourage growth. In the past 10 years, developing countries have boosted their GDPs about 6% a year, and that has had a dramatic effect on poverty rates in said countries. It remains to be seen whether this goal can be achieved, but it's a laudable one and worth keeping tabs on over the coming years. [KMG]

The first link will take visitors to a great article from last week's The Economist about the recent announcement made regarding the eradication of poverty around the world. The second link will lead users to a news update from the World Bank about how recent disasters in East Asia and the Pacific may affect those regions' long-term prospects for reducing poverty levels. The third link will lead interested parties to a nice piece from Shaun Raviv writing for The Atlantic about how open borders might help eliminate poverty. The fourth link will take users to the original United Nations Millennium Development Goals regarding poverty. The fifth link will take users to the United Nations Population Fund's website on the programs designed to reduce poverty in the developing world. The final link leads to a thoughtful paper on poverty reduction strategies for the United States written by Mary Jo Bane of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.