NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology
The eighth issue of the second volume of the MET Report is available. Its Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about online multi-user environments.
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Institute for the Study of International Migration
http://www.georgetown.edu/sfs/programs/isim/
Founded in 1998 and part of the Walsh School of Foreign Service, the Institute for the Study of International Migration at Georgetown University focuses its work on "all aspects of international migration." Along with administering a certificate program, the Institute sponsors a number of ongoing research projects, including ones dealing with cooperative efforts to manage emigration, immigration homeownership, and forced migration. Persons visiting the DC area will want to take a look at the Institute's schedule of upcoming human events forums, whose topics in the past have included "Children in War," "Human Rights and Human Trafficking," and "Globalization and Landlessness in Guatemala." Scholars and persons working in this field will most definitely want to look at the Publications section of the site, which is thematically organized, and contains working papers and final reports from the past five years. [KMG]
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A Guide to Smart Growth and Cultural Resource Planning [.pdf]
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/histbuild/smartgrowth/SmartGrowthGuide.pdf
Edited by Rick Bernstein of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, this 72-page guide is an outgrowth of Wisconsin Act 9, which stipulated that every comprehensive plan address cultural resources in the affected community or region. The guide itself is divided into two main sections, Planning and Implementation. Within each of these sections, the guide contains chapters dealing with creating and executing a cultural resource survey, educating the community about the resulting cultural resource plan, and potential funding sources. Because they contain an example of a model historic preservation ordinance for small communities and the city of La Crosse's own archaeological preservation ordinance, the appendices are also very helpful. While some material within the report is specific to existing Wisconsin laws and practices, much of the guide will be a welcome addition to the toolbox of historic preservationists and planners throughout the United States. [KMG]
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Ancient Near East.net
http://www.ancientneareast.net/
The ancient Near East has been the birthplace of some of civilization's most important advances, among them written language, the impulse to urbanism, and crop cultivation. Created and maintained by Paul James Cowie (a doctoral student at Australia's Macquarie University), the site is a fine resource for both scholars and the general public. Scholars will want to make sure and take a look at the conference diary section, which lists upcoming conferences and various calls for papers and other submissions. The announcements section is of additional interest, as it gives advance notice regarding related activities, including international symposia. For the general public, a host of sections (such as museums and galleries) offer comprehensive listings of Web-based resources ranging from Egyptology links to those dealing with cuneiform. The Web site also contains a listing of links to museums that specialize in the antiquities and archaeology of the Near East located around the world. [KMG]
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Holocaust Denial on Trial
http://www.hdot.org/ieindex.html
The past few years have seen a number of demonstration projects arrive on the Internet for use as pedagogical tools in college-level instruction. One such project is the Holocaust Denial on Trial site, developed as part of Emory University's Witness to the Holocaust Program and the Institute for Jewish Studies. Visitors unfamiliar with the case will want to begin with the background section, which outlines the nature of the case, along with answering some basic questions about the participants in the trial. The site contains literally hundreds of primary documents related to the widely discussed British court case in which David Irving (a British Holocaust denier) sued Professor Deborah Lipstadt and her British publisher for libel. The site begins with the complete text of the judgment against Irving, and follows with full-text transcripts spanning from the January 2000 opening statements to closing remarks in March 2000. This site provides an in-depth look into one of the most riveting court trials regarding the nature of Holocaust scholarship (and libel), as well as serving as a well-conceived online educational tool. [KMG]
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Do Public Expenditures Improve Child Outcomes in the US?: A Comparison Across Fifty States [.pdf]
http://crcw.princeton.edu/workingpapers/WP03-02-Harknett.pdf
Written by Kristen Harknett and her colleagues at Princeton University's Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, this working paper examines the effects of public expenditures on child outcomes across the United States. The outcomes analyzed in the paper include child health and mortality, standardized test scores, child poverty, and adolescent behavior. Building on recent scholarship, the researchers estimate public expenditures on children across more than thirty social programs and tax credits in 1996. The second section of the paper reviews prior research in the field, while the third section describes their data and methods. The authors conclude that "the returns on investments in children are both broad and impressive." The tables referenced within the paper are attached to the conclusion of the document for those interested in taking a look at their definitions and data. [KMG]
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Jainism: Jain Principles, Tradition, and Practices
http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/jainhlinks.html
With over 4 million adherents (most of whom live in India and across Southeast Asia), Jainism is one of the world's oldest religions. Developed and maintained by Professor Yashwant K. Malaiya of Colorado State University, this site contains a number of links that will be quite helpful to those seeking to learn more about this religion that places a premium on non-violence, reverence for all life, and the freedom from attachment to material things. Persons looking for a broad overview of Jainism will want to browse through some of the links contained in the Introduction section, as many of them lead to sites that outline the basic tenets of the faith. Other sections of the site contain links to its key texts, regional organizations, and vegetarianism. Overall, this is a helpful compendium of links for persons hoping to learn more about Jainism. [KMG]
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The Paul Bowles Web Site
http://www.paulbowles.org/
Composer, distinguished author and translator, and man of belles letters, Paul Bowles passed away in 1999 in Morocco, which was for many years was his primary place of residence. Bowles best-known work is probably his novel The Sheltering Sky, though he also translated Sartre's "Huis Clos" (upon which he bestowed the title "No Exit") and was an accomplished composer of music for the theatre. Created by his long-time friends and colleagues, this authorized Paul Bowles site contains a number of reminisces about his life from such friends as Ned Rorem (the noted American composer), Rodrigo Rey Rosa, and Irene Herrmann. Some provided essays interview Bowles, some discuss his literary legacy, and others talk about his many compositions. All in all, the site offers a number of insightful and intimate commentaries on one of America's most storied writers of the 20th century. [KMG]
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Mathematics Help Central [.pdf]
http://www.mathematicshelpcentral.com/
This helpful site offers a number of resources, mainly intended for college-level mathematics students. The bulk of the site's material is contained in the Lecture Notes section. Seven complete sets of notes from math professors are presented, with emphases on courses in college algebra, pre-calculus algebra and trigonometry, and calculus, among others. Ready-to-print graph paper can be downloaded in a variety of grid sizes and layouts. A section of lecture notes on discrete mathematics is also given, although it is a work in progress. This site is also reviewed in the April 25, 2003 NSDL MET Report. [CL]
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Modern Haiku
http://www.modernhaiku.org/
With its origins in 15th century feudal Japan, the haiku is one of the most delicate forms of poetry and, despite its deceptively simple meter, can convey a wide range of emotion, feeling, and nuances. Started in 1969 by Kay Titus Mormino, Modern Haiku is a journal dedicated to promoting and publishing the work of those writers and poets working on this particular form of poetic expression. On this site, visitors can browse the last seven issues of the journal, which is published three times a year. Each issue features a number of poems, featured cover art, a note from the editor, and a featured critical essay. From the main page, visitors can browse a list of recent and past book reviews featured in the journal, along with information about submitting work to the editor. [KMG]
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The Legacy of Genghis Khan [Flash 5]
http://www.lacma.org/khan/index_flash.htm
Genghis Kahn, the 13th century ruler who unified the Mongol people, created an invincible army that swept across Asia and established an empire extending from Korea to Hungary. This exhibition from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents the other legacy of Genghis Kahn, the "manuscript illustrations, opulent decorative arts, and splendid architectural elements" that document the cultural cross-fertilization that occurred when western and eastern Asia were united as the Mongol Empire. The Web version of the exhibition allows visitors to closely examine six artifacts, Shah Zav Enthroned, a page from the Great Mongol Shahnama (Book of Kings); a white marble Dragon Protome, from a building at Xanadu; a stone grave marker carved with peonies, clouds, and scrolls; a brush painting showing six horses; a gold and blue textile fragment; and a blue and white porcelain wine jar. The two-dimensional items are almost more fun to explore than the sculptures, because the site is programmed with a DetailZoom, a tool that allows users can hone in on particular sections of each piece, view explanatory captions, and then back up and see the whole artifact. [DS]
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The Victory Garden
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/
Over the past 28 years, "The Victory Garden" (broadcast on PBS) has become one of the most enduring and respected "how-to" show on television. The show's current host is Michael Weishan, a nationally known horticulturist who leads viewers through some of America's finest gardens, along with offering a number of segments devoted to small and large-scale projects for those with a green thumb who watch the show. Their Web site serves as a valuable adjunct to the television program, as it features detailed information on the projects covered in each segment, such as how to start a miniature terrarium, backyard composting, and selecting aesthetically pleasing planters. The Inspired Gardens section allows users to re-visit places from the program, including the Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Rhode Island and the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Epicureans will also find the several dozen recipes available here a delight, as they range from an adventurous crawfish and dill pizza to the more understated old-fashioned omelet. [KMG]
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Musicals101.com
http://www.musicals101.com/
Around for close to two hundred years in one form or another, musicals are much loved by many professional and amateur companies who tread the boards. Authored and maintained by John Kenrick, an expert on musical theater history (and a personal assistant to six Tony-winning producers), the site contains close to 900 Web pages of information about the history, development, and current traditions of musical theater. Persons seeking basic information about the history of the art form will want to read the essay "What is a Musical?" Each historical section is divided into smaller sub-sections, so users can move to each section quickly. One of the best sections on the site is devoted to Mr. Kenrick's reviews of cast recordings, current and past productions, and those recordings that should be avoided. Finally, Mr. Kenrick also offers brief "courses" online dealing with some of the great names of musical theater, such as George M. Cohan and Ethel Merman. [KMG]
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Lewis and Clark as Naturalists [.pdf, Flash, Quick Time]
http://web4.si.edu/lewisandclark/
In late May of 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark sent forth from St. Charles, Missouri with a directive from President Thomas Jefferson. One of their charges was to collect and record information about the plants and animals they found along their journey westward. Anticipating the bicentennial of their departure, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History has created this fine Web site that allows visitors to travel with Lewis and Clark as they moved across the Great Plains and into the Pacific Northwest, examining the plants and animals they encountered. Regrettably, very few of the actual specimens collected by the explorers are intact, so the Smithsonian has drawn on its own massive collections to stand in as surrogates for the original specimens. Visitors can browse the collection by species, state in which each specimen was collected, or by date each specimen was collected. Each specimen contains information about where it was found and comments from the explorers about each specimen. The interactive map allows viewers to move along the trail of Lewis and Clark and click on each place where specimens were collected to obtain a detailed description of the locality and the object. Finally, there are a number of lesson plans designed to be used in conjunction with the Web site. [KMG]
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ThreeStooges.net [Real Player]
http://threestooges.net/default.asp
There are two types of people in this world: those who love the Three Stooges and those who cannot stand them. The latter group will probably want to avoid this site, but for Stooges aficionados out there, this site is a great place to visit. Developed by Robert Davidson, this Web site is a cornucopia of sounds, Stooge shorts, transcripts, and videographies all related to the Stooges' long performing career. From their vaudeville beginnings, the Stooges became a household name through their short films. Later, they then experienced a type of renaissance as the shorts made their way to television syndication in the 1950s. The site contains lists of the Stooges fabled physical comedy routines, a filmography, production crew listings, and monitor screen wallpaper that users can download for their own use. Additionally, visitors can find over twenty complete Stooge shorts to watch here, including the much-loved "Disorder in the Court," "Three Little Beers," and "Calling all Curs." Overall, this site is a great deal of fun and rather addictive. [KMG]
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The Handbook of Texas Online
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/index.html
Sponsored by the Texas State Historical Society, this online guide to Texas is an excellent resource for students looking for information about the Lone Star state. The casual browser may want to look in the Browse section, which is divided into place names; "what" (covering many subjects, such as business and education); "who;" and "when." The Handbook also contains many images, which can be immediately located by going to the Multimedia section, which lists them all alphabetically. The Handbook can also be searched in its entirety, although most of the entries can be found quickly through the Browse section. For those persons looking to purchase a hard copy of the Handbook, information is available on the site. There is also an online form where visitors can make article revision suggestions, or suggest new article topics to be covered in future editions. [KMG]
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SiteSucker 1.1.4
http://home.earthlink.net/~rcranisky/SiteSucker/index.html
SiteSucker 1.1.4 is an application designed to allow users to automatically download entire Web sites from the Internet. By entering a URL, the application will transfer the contents of the site to the local hard drive. During the downloading process, users can monitor how many files have been downloaded, how many files are remaining, and how many errors have been logged during the process. A great tool for Web developers, this latest version of SiteSucker is compatible with all systems running Mac OS 9 and higher. [KMG]
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NetRipper 2.0
http://www.net-ripper.com/index.php
Net Ripper 2.0 is an application that takes photos and other images from Web sites and turns them into slide shows. The images are automatically resized to fit the entire screen and can be used in a variety of formats, such as presentations or reports. A progress window indicates how many images have been downloaded, while also features thumbnail images as well. Available for use for free for thirty days, this version of NetRipper is compatible with all systems running Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher. [KMG]
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Nickel to Get New Look and Design
Mint to Debut New-look Nickel as Early as This Year
http://www.TimesDispatch.com/news/more/MGBWIQOIXED.html
Nickel's Back Side Gets Lewis-Clark Makeover
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=nickel25&date=20030425&query=nickel
Nation to Get Newly Designed Nickels
http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=433
Cantor Introduces Legislation to Keep Monticello on the Nickel
http://www.coinresource.com/news/cantor_monticello_act.htm
American Numismatic Association
http://www.money.org/index.shtml
History of Wooden Money in the United States
http://www.wooden-nickel.net/history/
Over the past few years, coin collectors and the general public have been elated over the new state quarters, and now, the nickel is due to receive a similar makeover. The United States Mint officially announced this week that the back of the nickel (which currently features Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson) will soon be changed to feature images celebrating the 200th anniversary of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Some collectors have been eager for a change to the current nickel, which was last modified in 1938 when the image of a buffalo on the coin's back side was replaced with Jefferson's home. The change was not without controversy; when the initial discussions occurred, there was an uproar from many state residents unhappy with the removal of the image of Monticello from the coin. A member of the House of Representatives from Virginia, Eric Cantor, introduced legislation to keep Monticello on the nickel, but backtracked when a compromise was reached that would bring the image back to the coin in 2006.
The first link leads to a recent news article about the design change of the nickel from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The second link leads to additional coverage of the story from the Seattle Times. The third link takes visitors to a press release from the United States Mint describing this "renaissance of coin design." The fourth link leads to coverage of Representative Cantor's legislation designed to retain the use of Monticello on the nickel from CoinResource.com. The fifth link leads to the homepage of the American Numismatic Association, where visitors can learn about coin collecting and view online exhibits of rare and unusual coins. The final link leads to a page dedicated to telling the history of wooden nickels, which were invented during the Great Depression. [KMG]
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