The Scout Report -- Volume 16, Number 34

http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/broadband_report.pdf?n=35

As states struggle with financial difficulties, there continues to be growing concern about the access to broadband service. Many policy makers consider this question of access as a way to encourage economic growth and development in certain rural and urban areas. This 42-page report from the Pew Center on the State was released in June 2010, and it discusses how states are attempting to ramp up broadband access, along with providing a detailed analysis of what broadband matters. The report starts with a brief overview, and then visitors are invited to view the report's interactive content, which includes "How Fast is Your State's Internet?" The report is a "must-read" for persons with an interest in public policy and governance, and it is one that touches on a number of timely topics. [KMG]

http://www.bucknell.edu/x16293.xml

This large collaborative project involved researchers from Bucknell University and California Lutheran University interested in a rather compelling diary. The document in question was kept by a young woman from 1943 French colonial Indochina and the journey she took while writing the diary. In 2004, a group of students retraced the footsteps of the young woman, and this website documents their findings and experiences. The project was led by Professor David Del Testa, and visitors to the project site can read biographies of each student, download their respective diaries, and also download the original journal written by Claudie Beaucarnot in 1943. Also, the site contains a "Navigating the Digital Journey" section where visitors can view a detailed map of the journey. [KMG]

http://sites.nationalacademies.org/BPA/BPA_049810

Every ten years, the National Research Council (NRC) of The National Academy of Sciences produces a series of surveys related to their areas of scientific inquiry. The public release of the Astro2010 survey of astronomy and astrophysics took place on August 13, 2010, and visitors to this site can read the report and also watch the webcast from the release event. The goal of this publication is to "recommend priorities for the most important scientific and technical activities of the decade 2010-2020." Drawing on the expertise of scholars at Stanford University, Vassar College, the University of Chicago, and other institutions, the report is a crucial piece of work on what should be done across the board in these two branches of the physical sciences. [KMG]

http://www.education.noaa.gov/
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has so many publications, booklets, and educational activities available across the agency, that they have created this website to make it easier for teachers, students, librarians and the general public to access them. Visitors will find that due to their extensive involvement in helping remedy the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the website's "Highlighted Program" is about NOAA's collection of resources regarding the oil spill, compiled for use in the classroom or as background material. Visitors can click on "Gulf Oil Spill Resources" to browse the large number of materials, including "Multimedia", "Lessons & Activities", "Real World Data" and "Background Information". There is a two-minute animation of surface oil on the Gulf from the day the rig caught fire, exploded and sank, to the day the leak was stopped, in "Surface Oil Movement in Gulf Animation" in the "Multimedia" menu. One of the lessons for students that may be of interest to many is how the oil spill affected the feathers of birds, and the best method to clean them. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.montrealsciencecentre.com/kids.html
The Montral Science Centre's Kids section of their website has some fantastic games and simulations that encourage kids to "embrace interactive challenges", and can shed light on topics adults will find interesting too. Visitors will find that many different topics are explored, including implementing sustainable international development on a natural disaster-hit island in the game called "Sayansi". Visitors hoping to be future forensic scientists or fans of the CSI TV series will enjoy "Interactive File on Criminalistics", which explores the autopsy of a murder. This game won an education prize in 2005, and is suitable for ages 10 and up. The "36 Solutions" game requires visitors to play brief games to reveal a modern invention, and hear what it's about. One of the games revealed an image of a freezer pop that was made of cough medicine and flavoring in order to make medicine more palatable to kids. The narrator emphasizes that the freezer pop is in medical, tamper-proof packaging, so kids don't mistake it in the freezer for a traditional popsicle. There are at least half a dozen other games to play on this site, and all are well worth exploring. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://indiahabitat.org/main.htm
The India Habitat Centre (IHC) was created in New Delhi, India, to "provide a physical environment [to] serve as a catalyst for a synergetic relationship between individuals and institutions working in diverse habitat related areas." Their website gives visitors a generous glimpse into what it is like to enjoy such features as the "Habitat Film Club", "Habitat Learning Centre", and the "IHC Visual Arts Gallery". Like a multi-faceted community center, the IHC houses a "Habitat Library & Resource Centre" and offers a monthly "Habitat Walk", among other activities. The "Habitat Walk" gives community members the opportunity to visit various natural and historical sites, and provides several pages of background on the sites that visitors can download or print from the "Habitat Walk" link on the website. The center also reaches out and empowers the community by encouraging students and non-students to participate in their annual contest for the Habitat Young Visionary Award, a photography fellowship, and in the recent past, internships in a non-governmental organization. [KMG]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/energy-and-sustainability

Energy and the broader ideas surrounding "sustainability" are hot topics today, and Scientific American has created this website to provide access to high-quality information about these subjects. The website begins with a list of "Latest Stories", and there is also a "Most Popular" listing so that users can gauge what other folks are interested in. Users shouldn't miss the "Multimedia" area, which offers up features like "How Much Is Left? The Limits of Earth's Resources", which is quite amazing. After a dramatic introduction, the piece allows visitors to watch an interactive timeline and view video clips which provide some insight into this situation. There are other features here, including "The Music of Language" and "When the Sea Saved Humanity". The site also features links to selected articles from the magazine and a listing of materials by topic. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.sras.org/study_resources

The School of Russian and Asian Studies (SRAS) consists of a "team of consultants and advisers dedicated to education and educational opportunities in Russia and Eurasia." Along with information about their programs, the website also has a series of study resources, including newsletters, student guides, free TOEFL practice exams, and mini-lessons. The "Newsletter" archive dates back to 2002, and the "Politics in Translation" section features Russian political platforms and other documents in side-by-side translation. Moving on, the "Mini-Lessons" area has some short explorations of funerals in Russia, the language of business, and haggling. Also, the site includes a "Student Guide" that talks about everything from visas to transportation within several major Eurasian cities. [KMG]

http://howbigreally.com/

Ancient worlds, environmental disasters, festivals, and spectacles all come together at the BBC Dimensions website. Using information from a variety of different sources, including Google Maps, the site makes dramatic and visually stimulating displays that can be used in the classroom or for personal edification. Visitors can start by typing in a place name into the search engine, or they can use one of the categories, such as "Space", "Depths", and "Cities in History". Urbanologists will be delighted with the "Cities in History" area, as it contains 14 different locations that take guests through Stalingrad in 1942, the inner city walls of Beijing, and the ancient city of Rome. The fantastic feature of all of these maps is that they "juxtapose the size of historical events with your home and neighborhood." It is really a novel concept, and its one worth visiting several times. [KMG]

http://www.askaforensicartist.com/

How exactly does one become a forensic artist? It is not easy, and this website provides some rather direct and frank advice about the profession. The Ask a Forensic Artist (AAFA) site is well organized, and first-time visitors should make a beeline for the "FAQ" section. Here they will find answers to questions like "What is 'Forensic Art'?" and "What training is available in Forensic Art?" The remaining sections include "Careers", "Gallery", "Artist Interviews" and the thematic "Categories" area on the right-hand side of the page. The "Artist Interviews" includes profiles with forensic artists working in many fields of law enforcement. The "Gallery" features a few samples of forensic art, and the "Careers" area includes some basic information for those who wish to get started in the field. The site is rounded out by a list of career-related sites and helpful blogs. [KMG]

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/agc/

Arnold Genthe had an urbane German upbringing in Berlin, Frankfurt, Korbach, and Hamburg. Born in 1869, he wanted to become an artist, but a family relation discouraged him. Fortunately, he ended up moving to America in 1895 to become a tutor, and while there in began to experiment with photography. Over the following five decades, he would go on to document the aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake and take photos of President Woodrow Wilson, Arturo Toscanini, and many others. Eventually his tremendous collection of work found its way to the Library of Congress, and here visitors can traipse through over 16,000 of his images. Along with a brief overview of the collection, visitors should also read the informative essay here titled "The Negative and the Print: Genthe's Photographic Techniques". It is easy enough to search the collection, although visitors can also browse the selections by name, subject, or format. [KMG]

http://www.pbs.org/nbr/

The Nightly Business Report was first broadcast on South Florida's public television station WPBT in 1979. Today over 250 public stations now carry the program across the nation. In the past thirty years, the program has grown by leaps and bounds, and it has received many accolades from a number of professional organizations and media groups. Visitors to their website can watch each episode in its entirety, and also peruse their "Features", "Blogs", and "Resources" areas. In the "Features" area, visitors can find topical coverage, dedicated blogs, and external links related to health care reform, retirement options, and today's green revolution. The "Blogs" area includes five different blogs from program commentators that delve into specific financial topics. Finally, visitors are also encouraged to use the social media links here to keep tabs on the updates to the site. [KMG]

http://www.unce.unr.edu/

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension was formally started in 1914, and back in those days, they were involved with the effort to build good roads around the state. In the past century, their mission has expanded exponentially, and this site contains items about their work in the Silver State as well as a number that are of general interest. The materials on the site are divided into six primary sections, including "News & Events" and "Publications". In the "Publications" area, visitors will find fact sheets and reports on agriculture, community development, horticulture, natural resources, and family life. Visitors interested in the policy implications of their work will want to click on over to the "Programs/Impacts" area. Here they can look over information about their thematic programs and about their various initiatives throughout the state. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/gamble/

The Duke University Libraries website is the home of a digital collection with 5,000 photographs taken by Sidney Gamble from 1917-1932. Gamble was a China scholar, a sociologist, and amateur photographer, and this online collection is composed of photos from China, Japan, Korea, San Francisco, and Russia. Interestingly, the collection of photos was also used in two freshmen writing classes at Duke where the students were tasked with captioning some of the photos and the "captions [were] intended to contextualize Gamble's photos in the dramatic changes that took place during this period." Visitors should click on "Duke Writing 20, 2009: A Changing China Through Photos" to see the captioned photos, which elevate the educational content and interest of the photos. The student who captioned the first photo, "American Board Girls's School Middle School Classroom" explains the photograph in detail and places the classroom's arrangement, the presence of a picture of Jesus on a wall, and the presence of girls in the classroom in historical context. [KMG]

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/andy_warhol/index.php

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, was organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum, and is now on view at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition features several large pieces that Warhol created in collaboration with other artists, especially Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Francesco Clemente. One of these works, the Origin of Cotton, 1984, can be viewed in the online exhibition. Inspired by Warhol's collaborations, the website also includes a link to a Flickr pool of images created by museum visitors, by adding onto Warhol's iconography. The images are animations so that it is possible to see how museum goers' contributions were layered on. [DS]

http://monarchwatch.org

Monarch Watch is a research program based at the University of Kansas and its goal is to encourage citizen scientists of all ages to help in Monarch conservation efforts. Visitors interested in participating in the conservation efforts will not only find tagging activities, in which more than 100,000 children and adults participate every fall, but also projects that teach about providing food and shelter to Monarchs - mainly planting milkweed and growing butterfly gardens. The "Research Projects" section of the homepage provides links to five scientist/student partnership projects that classrooms can try. The "Monarch Size and Mass" project teaches students how to safely take different types of measurements of live Monarchs, record the data, and send it to the Monarch Watch program. The purpose of the project is to learn what enables some Monarchs to survive their yearly 2,500 mile migration to Mexico, and what prevents some from surviving the migration. Some of the other projects for the classroom include "Tagging Monarchs" and "Larval Monitoring". There is also a Monarch Watch Blog, Forums, an email list as well as links to follow them on Facebook and Twitter. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.mylivekey.net/

Remembering password logins can be a tricky business, and LockMagic 6.0 provides a way to make this whole process a bit easier. Essentially, the program allows users to access and share encrypted files using email addresses. Visitors don't have to change the way they work, and they can still just use their existing information with the application. This version is compatible with computers running Windows XP and newer. [KMG]

How Do You Pronounce 'Nevada?' You're Probably Wrong
http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/08/23/how-do-you-pronounce-nevada-youre-probably-wrong/

You heard it right: Bill would let them say Ne-VAH-da
http://www.rgj.com/article/20100822/NEWS/8220380/1321

FAQ of Nevada Facts
http://nsla.nevadaculture.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1141&Itemid=410

Howard Hughes: Welcome Home Howard, or Whatever Became of the Daring Aviator
http://digital.library.unlv.edu/hughes/

ARKan-SAW or Ar-KANSAS
http://www.soskids.ar.gov/5-8-history-arkansas.html

In Relation To The Pronunciation Of the Name "Arkansas"
http://books.google.com/books?id=LdUTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA462&dq=arkansas+pronunciation&hl=en&ei=roNyTKWgK5TqnQfVx_DgBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=arkansas%20pronunciation&f=false

The mispronunciation of place names can be aggravating to local residents, particularly when a politician or newscaster makes such a slip of the tongue. Recently, one Nevada politician decided to step into the treacherous linguistic waters surrounding the pronunciation of the state's name, and reaction throughout the state has been rather curious. The politician, Las Vegas Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, submitted a bill draft request that would note that while the preferred pronunciation of the state's name is "Ne-VAD-a", those who pronounce it "Ne-VAH-da" would not be roundly chastised. Mortenson is seeking tolerance of those who use the Spanish pronunciation. Retired Nevada state archivist Guy Rocha has mentioned that the supposed Spanish pronunciation of the word is inaccurate: "If it was Spanish, it would be pronounced 'Nay-VAH-da', because the 'e' in Spanish is a long A." While Mortenson won't be in office for the 2011 legislative session, he is hoping to have a colleague see the bill through on his behalf. [KMG]

The first link will take visitors to a post from Time's Newsfeed about the proposed legislative action regarding the pronunciation of Nevada. The second link leads to an article on the subject from this Sunday's Reno Gazette-Journal. The third link will whisk users away to an excellent FAQ regarding many aspects of Nevada history and culture, including an answer to the question "How did Nevada get its name?" In keeping with the Nevada theme, the fourth link leads to a very interesting digital collection from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries on the world of sometimes Nevadan, Howard Hughes. Moving on to the matter of another state's pronunciation, the fifth link explains the reason why "Arkansas" is pronounced "ARK-an-SAW" in most quarters. Finally, the last link leads to an intriguing bit of testimony published in the 1908 Proceedings of the Arkansas Historical Association regarding the state's pronunciation.