·http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/plans/

The Denver Public Library has received widespread acclaim for their Western History & Genealogy digital collections. This particular nook contains hundreds of building plans and drawings from the greater Denver area and beyond. The wonderful items here are divided into nine thematic areas, including Landscape Architecture, Fisher and Fisher, Edwin A. Francis, and Civic Center. This last area contains a myriad of plans for proposed civic buildings and dramatic structures both in Denver and Cheyenne, WY. It's fascinating to see how various architects thought they might craft lasting tributes to a certain civic spirit and community. The Architectural Details area is a fine find as well, and it contains over 160 window details from high school buildings and ornate fences for private residences. [KMG]

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·http://www.une.edu/cas/core/teaching.cfm

This particular resource was developed by members of the Core Curriculum Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New England. Here, visitors can peruse dozens of links leading to high quality resources for college instructors. The materials are divided into three areas: Recommended Books and Articles, Teaching Techniques and Sample Activities, and Critical Thinking: Resources and Activities. The first area offers some solid suggestions, complete with nice annotations. The Teaching Techniques area contains links to helpful pedagogical fact sheets from Harvard, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and New York University. Additionally, the last area contains a helpful set of meditations on teaching critical thinking from Dartmouth, Michigan State University and others. [KMG]

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·http://ocw.jhsph.edu/index.cfm/go/viewCourse/course/casestudiesinphc/coursePage/index/coursePage/index/

How does one learn about primary health care? Some might attend public health schools while others will find different ways to explore this fascinating field on their own. One particularly nice resource on the subject is this course from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Offered as part of the Open Course Ware initiative, the course was first developed in the fall of 2011 and was co-taught by Henry Taylor and Henry Perry. It was designed to introduce students to "the origins, concepts, and development of community-based primary health care through case studies from both developing and developed countries." The materials here include the syllabus, lecture materials, readings, and assignments. Within the Lecture Materials section visitors can watch or listen to conversions on the roots of community-based primary health care and women's empowerment via public health. Additionally, visitors can look over the course assignments or check out some of the discussion questions. [KMG]

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·http://www.urban.org/publications/412932.html

One policy issue that has befuddled some of the best minds in the federal government is how to reduce the growth and cut the cost of the prison system. Amidst much conversation about the so-called "prison-industrial complex," there is much to be said for such a timely report. Authored by Julie Samuels, Nancy G. La Vigne, and Samuel Taxy of the Urban Institute, this November 2013 report takes a close look at possible solutions to this vexing problem. In short, the authors note that "the most effective approach is a combination of strategies, including early release for current prisoners and reducing the length of stay for future offenders, particularly those convicted of drug trafficking." The report is divided into ten sections, including "Policy Options to Ease Growth and Reduce Costs" and "Main Drivers: Who Goes to Prison and for How Long?" [KMG]

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·http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13079/nsf13079.pdf

What is the mission of the National Science Foundation (NSF)? This nine-page document released by the NSF in April 2013 provides an elegant and thoughtful answer to this query. As the first page notes, "We support all fields of fundamental science and engineering, keeping our nation's scientific enterprise focused on the furthest frontiers of research." The piece goes on to talk about the NSF's methods, the projects it funds, and some of its recent successes. These successes include safer sutures, 3-D printing, and barcodes. Journalists and others will enjoy the "NSF at a Glance" section, as it provides information on the foundation's competitive awards, support for basic research, and facts and figures on its average grants and proposals. [KMG]

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·http://marine.usgs.gov/coastal-plan/usgs-ntl-coastal-plan.pdf

This 30-page plan for a comprehensive national coastal program was crafted by the U.S. Geological Survey and it addresses how to best develop "effective solutions to coastal problems." The executive summary here is a tightly written synopsis of the many issues and goals related to the broad pattern of coastal change across the country, including shoreline erosion, declines in living marine resources, and problems surrounding chemical contamination. Moving on, the document contains regional maps of the United States that identify critical issues for each geographic region, along with proposed study projects. Additionally, the document provides some more detailed information on projects in the San Francisco, Tampa, and Chesapeake Bays. Near the conclusion of the document, visitors can learn about proposed timelines for these various research activities. [KMG]

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·http://www.maa.org/publications/periodicals/convergence/whos-that-mathematician-images-from-the-paul-r-halmos-photograph-collection

Do you ever find yourself wondering "Hey, who's that mathematician?" Well, wonder no more as this collection from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) can provide answers to such a query. Noted mathematician Paul R. Halmos snapped hundreds of photographs of mathematicians he met around the world. Recently, these photos were digitized by the Archives of American Mathematics and they are being added incrementally to this site. Visitors can scroll through the photos here and read about each of these distinguished scholars, complete with some personal memories from their colleagues and the like. Also, users are encouraged to chime in with their own memories, thoughts, and possible corrections to dates or affiliations mentioned within each profile. [KMG]

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·http://www.issues.org/index.html

What's the relationship between climate change and national security? How will online education change the higher education landscape? These are but a few of the questions answered within the pages of Issues in Science and Technology magazine, which is sponsored by several organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the University of Texas at Dallas. Visitors to the site can read all of the articles from each issue or they can elect to purchase a hard copy if so desired. The homepage also contains links to Special Collections of articles which cover disasters, education, energy, nuclear power, and ten other topics. The online archive dates back to fall 1996 and visitors can also search across the entire print run. Additionally, the site also contains a very helpful science and technology job board, which is a great resource for those looking for a career change. [KMG]

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·http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/alfred-stieglitz-autochromes

The dramatic nature photography of Alfred Stieglitz is well-known around the world. But what of his autochromes? The autochrome process is an interesting one, crafted by the Lumiere brothers in 1903 to create color photos. Stieglitz discovered the process in 1907 on a visit to Europe and several years later he began experimenting with the process himself. He frequently took photos of family and his business associates and he created hundreds of these images. The Yale Library has digitized a number of these remarkable images and placed them online here. This collection contains 29 images, including several paintings and wonderful autochromes of Edward Stieglitz, Hedwig Stieglitz, and Dorothy O. Schubart. [KMG]

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·http://openvault.wgbh.org/collections/roll-rock-and-roll

Sixty years after it took the world by storm, rock and roll continues to be a vital musical force. It may have branched off into a million little variations, but it remains the subject of documentaries, scholarly volumes, and much more. This collection from the WGBH Open Vault brings together dozens of interviews with rock and rollers from the 1950s to the 1990s. These interviews were originally conducted as part of a co-production between WGBH/Boston and the BBC. All told, there are over 160 interviews here with folks like Ben E. King, Al Kooper, Dick Dale, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff. Each video also has a transcript and complete bibliographic information. Visitors can search through interviews by name, date, or media format. Users are encouraged to leave their own comments on the videos as well. [KMG]

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·http://www.asia.si.edu/explore/yoga/

As the introduction to this exhibition from the Smithsonian's Sackler Museum points out, "Yoga is a global phenomenon practiced by millions of people seeking spiritual insight and better health. Few, however, are aware of yoga's dynamic history." Works from 25 museums and private collections located in the US, India, and throughout Europe have been borrowed in order to mount this show. On the website, view 15 selected images that document yoga's centuries-long history through a variety of formats such as manuscripts; video - some of the earliest yoga instruction on film; painting; sculpture; postcards and publications. For example, a Look Magazine cover from 1937 depicts Koringa, the mystery girl. Koringa was a magician and performer who adopted the characteristics of a yogini, a female practitioner of yoga. Koringa's image can be viewed in conjunction with an 11th century sandstone relief depicting an earlier Yogini as a powerful goddess. There is also a map that plots the original locations where exhibition items were created. [DS]

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·http://www.thehenryford.org/museum/liberty/

What is liberty? What is justice? These are two timely questions that concern most learned citizens. The Henry Ford Museum has created this online exhibit which explores ideas about independence, voting rights for women, and the civil rights movement. The online exhibit complements an in situ exhibit and visitors can view highlights from that exhibit, take a video tour, and read though a rich historical timeline, complete with key dates and artifacts. There are actually four timelines here, and each one contains several dozen documents, including the Mayflower Compact, the Bill of Rights, and a Klansmans Creed from 1922. Educators will appreciate the fact that the site also includes a set of resources for them, including lesson plans and classroom activities. [KMG]

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·http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc

The Golden State is well chronicled in this digital newspaper collection created by the University of California, Riverside. The offerings here include over 400,000 pages of significant California newspapers published from 1846 to 1922, including the first California newspaper, the Californian. First-time visitors can get started by looking over the Featured paper on the site's homepage. There are over two dozen titles, including the Amador Ledger, the Los Angeles Herald, and the Mariposa Gazette. Additionally, visitors can search by tags, dates, or publication using the site's search engine. Interested parties can also help out the project by adding corrections to the database. All visitors need to do is create a login and they can get started right away. [KMG]

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·http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/

The exquisite visual offerings created by National Geographic over the past 125 years are well known by the general public around the world. This fine corner of their website brings together the work of their many fine staff photographers, videographers, and community members who contribute to this expansive brocade. After creating a free login, visitors can start their journey through the site by looking over the Photo of the Day or the "Best of…" slideshows that bring together highlights from past months. The "Editors' Picks" area offers thematic collections, such as "Photographing Lions," "Tel Aviv," "Patterns in Nature: Water" and "The Space Between." Shutterbugs will enjoy the online tutorials and tips contained in the "Photography Tips" area. Here they will find detailed suggestions on how to photograph details, urban landscapes, the night sky, and many other settings, times, and vistas. Finally, the site contains the "Featured Bios" area which has details on some of the fine photographers profiled here, including Paul Nicklen, Joel Sartore, and Mark Thiessen. [KMG]

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·http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/

Suicide is a serious and preventable public health problem. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention works to provide public health professionals, concerned individuals, and organizations with resources about suicide prevention. The Alliance was established in 2010 with a goal of saving 20,000 lives by 2015. It has a distinguished leadership group which includes the secretary of the Army and the president of the National Association of Broadcasters. The materials on this website are divided into six primary sections, including Leadership, National Strategy, Priorities, and Resources. In this last area, practitioners and others will find key documents such as the "Revised National Strategy for Suicide Prevention" and "Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative." Moving on, the Priorities area contains a brief listing of key goals for the Alliance over the short and long term. Finally, within the Media area visitors can find links to official press releases, short videos, and so on. [KMG]

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·http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/sets/72157628017141829/

The Boston Public Library has crafted dozens of thematic collections documenting travel posters, Boston sports temples, industrial landscapes, and other bits and pieces from this vast and wonderful world. This particular collection documents many facets of business life and culture in and around the Hub. Here visitors will find over 110 images of switchboards at New England Bell, works spaces at New England Life Insurance, banks in East Boston, and Polaroid's famous leader, Edwin Land. The Flickr format is fantastic for using these images, as visitors can create their own collection, add comments, tags, and so on. [KMG]

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·http://www.crowdhoster.com/

Interested in creating your own crowdfunding project but, alas, you may not know how to code or how to create a website for such an initiative? The Crowdhoster application is just for you. This app can be used to create a campaign page complete with a funding progress bar, links, and customizable content areas. Visitors can look over the features area, check out examples, or read over their setup guide. This version is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]

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·http://cupcloud.com/

Cupcloud is a free application that allows users to save, open, and share multiple documents and web pages simply. The program assists interested parties with accessing these materials from any computer or device, and it's great for collaborating on group projects and the like. There's a helpful How to Cup section here, along with a primer and a blog. This version is compatible with all operating systems, including Linux. [KMG]

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Stadium financing: Pay and play and pay some more
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/11/stadium-financing

Braves New World? Taypayer Funding Remains A Concern As Atlanta Rushes Towards New Stadium
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2013/11/13/braves-new-world-taxpayer-funding-remains-a-concern-as-atlanta-rushes-towards-new-stadium/

Here's How Cobb County Will Pay For The Braves' Ballpark
http://deadspin.com/heres-how-cobb-county-will-pay-for-the-braves-ballpar-1464404976

Atlanta Braves New Stadium Renderings
http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/new-braves-stadium/

Remembering the Wigwam
http://www.bu.edu/today/2012/braves-field-remembering-the-wigwam/

Boston Braves Historical Association
http://boston-braves.com/

Building a new sports stadium is never easy. Many agreements have to be made to get a new facility completed in good order and it can be hard negotiating with the team's owners, local officials, and community members. Currently, there's quite a struggle going on outside of Atlanta regarding the new stadium for the Atlanta Braves. The team has been working with the Cobb County stadium authority to receive quite a deal: $300 million in a variety of tax breaks and direct incentives. It remains a bit unclear on how much this sizable deal will cost taxpayers in the long run, but it is estimated to be between $200 and $450 million over several decades. While some remain quite skeptical, the team has provided figures that indicate that over 400,000 new hotel stays will be a side benefit of this new stadium. Interestingly enough, a number of political advocacy groups (including members of the local Tea Party organization) have already begun to express their dissatisfaction with this public-private partnership. [KMG]

The first link will take interested parties to a great blog post from The Economist about this recent stadium deal, complete with some nice links to other relevant news articles. The second link will take users to a great piece from last Wednesday on Forbes.com. The article details the situation according to tax reporter Kelly Phillips Erb. Moving on, the third link will take visitors to a nice piece from Deadspin about how Cobb County will pay for the Braves' new ballpark. The fourth link leads to a slideshow from the Atlanta Business Chronicle about the plans for the new stadium. As a bit of a throwback, the fifth link offers a video portrait of the first home of the Atlanta (then Boston) Braves: Nickerson Field. Finally, visitors will be taken to the official homepage of the Boston Braves Historical Association, which is chock-full of material on the team and their former stars, which included Babe Ruth in the autumn of his career.