·http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/scwmemory/

The University of California, San Diego in collaboration with several Spanish civic associations, including the Federacion Estatal de Foros por La Memoria and others, have put together this remarkable digital archive of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist Dictatorship. Since 2007, several teams of graduate students have been recording audiovisual testimonies of militants, witnesses, and victims of the Spanish Civil War and Francoist repression. On this site, visitors can listen to dozens of recorded testimonies in English and Spanish and also read about the interview protocol and methods. The Video Catalog area contains some helpful resources, including information about each participant and their specific involvement in the war. [KMG]

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·http://phil.cdc.gov/phil

The goal of the Public Health Image Library (PHIL) is to offer "an organized, universal electronic gateway to the Center for Disease Control's pictures." The site welcomes public health professionals, laboratory scientists, students and the general public to use this material for reference, teaching, presentation, and public health messages. On its homepage, visitors can use the PHIL Quick Search to look for photos, illustrations, or videos. The Featured PHIL Collections contains thematic sections that deal with influenza, natural disasters, environmental health, and bioterrorism. Photographers and those working in health care and education will also want to look over the What's New In PHIL area to get the latest detailed information. Finally, visitors can also use the Contact Us area to have specific queries answered. [KMG]

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·http://blog.hud.gov/

If you're interested in the world of urban development and housing in the United States, you'll find the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Official Blog (HUDdle) most compelling. The blog is designed to share information about the department’s programs, provide a forum for interacting with the public and also get feedback about the work being done. The archives date back to 2010 and visitors can search past posts by categories, including Healthy Homes, Foreclosure, and Budget. The posts are thoughtful and well-written and include commentaries from varied undersecretaries, interns, and other guests. Those interested can sign up to follow the blog and the agency on Twitter and other social media platforms. [KMG]

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·http://livingwage.mit.edu/

In many parts of the United States, families working in low-wage jobs make insufficient income to live locally given the high cost of living. Some of this can be due to rising real estate costs and the like and a number of organizations have worked to craft living wage legislation in a number of cities. This Living Wage calculator helps visitors estimate the cost of living in their community or region. Visitors can get started by selecting a location from the list presented here. Additionally, they can also use the search engine to look for specific places. For each place, visitors can learn about the living wage, typical expenses, and so on. It's an interesting policy tool and it can be used to teach students about economics, the job market, and much more. [KMG]

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·http://serc.carleton.edu/eet/writing_tectonics/index.html

How does one write about plate tectonics? It's an important question for those studying the earth sciences. This resource from the Earth Exploration Toolbook was created by Sabina F. Thomas and William A. Prothero and is designed to help students use a range of images of earthquakes, volcanoes, and seafloor ages to craft just such a paper. On this site, visitors can take advantage of teaching notes, step-by-step instructions, and a range of tools. Instructors will find this material quite useful and it's important to note that students are encouraged to use these resources for improving their own skills of scientific inquiry and synthesis. [KMG]

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·http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_6981643_000/index.html

Working together with the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University, Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections have digitized 97 issues of the Tibet Mirror. This remarkable publication was issued from 1925 to 1963 in Kalimpong and "chronicles the most dramatic social and political transformation in Tibet." The paper relayed information about World War II, the independence of India, and other global news to Tibetan readers. Visitors to the site can read through all of the issues at their leisure and should feel free to download entire PDF files for their own consultation. There are a few gaps in the publication years here, but overall it is a tremendous resource. [KMG]

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·http://www.nsf.gov/news/classroom/chemistry.jsp

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a number of thematic areas dedicated to providing resources for educators interested in the physical and biological sciences. This particular collection brings together items related to chemistry, many of which come from the National Science Digital Library. The items here are introduced in a way that's familiar and friendly and topics include Chemistry Now and ChemTutor. Visitors can learn about the intended audience for each resource and also the types of educational material they can find within these digital pages, including videos and lesson plans. Visitors may sign up to receive updates when new materials are added to the site. [KMG]

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·http://apdl.kcc.hawaii.edu/

Based at the Kapi'olani Community College, the Asia-Pacific Digital Library (APDL) brings together six great collections that explore a variety of topics, including the ethnobotany of the first Polynesian settlers, the weather patterns in Hawaii, and the stories of the Hawaiian born Nisei. The ethnobotany collection is an arresting exploration of how early Hawaiians used fibers, foodstuffs, and other items as part of their everyday lives. One rather unique offering here is the Traditions of O'ahu exhibit. Here, visitors can learn about the stories of this ancient island as experienced by its earliest inhabitants. The stories are organized by district and visitors can also learn how their lives were affected by the seasons and the passing forces of nature. [KMG]

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·http://www.brookings.edu/research/essays/2014/monnets-brandy-and-europes-fate

When some people think about long-form essays on political science, their eyes might glaze over. Never fear: The Brookings Essay features are here. This latest installment from those good folks in Washington, D.C. explores the world of Jean Monnet and how he was committed to integrating the European countries in a meaningful way. The essay is broken up in a very effective fashion with photographs, images, and other visual delights that make the reading quite effective and easy. Interestingly enough, Monnet was not a public servant but a private citizen who was intently curious about the world and how Europe might become integrated in a way that respected nations' sovereignty and also worked to create a sense of unity and communion. It's a remarkable essay and one that will send interested parties looking for the other essays in this series. [KMG]

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·http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/s/social/

Cornell University Library's Social Welfare Digital Collection brings together manuscripts, early journals, narratives, reports, letters, photographs, prints, and much more that document the history of social welfare in the United States. The two foci here include the historical development of social welfare services in New York and the history of social welfare provisions by and for African Americans. On the homepage, visitors can look over the Featured Item and then Browse around at their leisure through more than 25 titles, such as "Dangerous Classes of New York, and twenty years' work among them" and "North of Slavery." Visitors can also look over two timelines documenting the parallel foci mentioned above. The site’s Search feature allows for a basic search across all items in the collection. [KMG]

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·http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/kayefine/kayefine-home.html

Danny Kaye and his wife Sylvia Fine entertained the American public for decades and their life in musical entertainment is a testimony to their love of performance. This digital collection from the Library of Congress brings together items that include printed music, photographs, videos, audio recordings, and manuscripts. There's a great interactive timeline here that provides visitors with information about key events in their lives which include on-stage performances and live nightclub appearances. The Photographs area contains over 830 photos of Kaye's performances around the world entertaining the troops and much more while the Videos & Film area contains wonderful clips from films like The Inspector General. The site is rounded out by a collection of Manuscripts which includes Fine's music and homework from Brooklyn College, her song transcripts, and more. [KMG]

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·http://content.clic.edu/cdm/macalestercollege

The CLIC Digital Collections bring together digital collections from eight different colleges around the Twin Cities, including Hamline University and Macalester College. Here, visitors can take advantage of several collections from Macalester, including Macalester Views and Oral History Collections. The oral histories offer insight into the goings on around campus over the past several decades as told by faculty, students, and others. The Views provide over 150 items that tell the story of Macalester students in all different settings, including Ghana, El Paso, and Fiji. The site also includes a wonderful Fine Art Collection from St. Catherine University that connects students, faculty, staff, and the general public to meaningful works of art. [KMG]

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·http://www.lawrence.edu/library/find/images_digital_collections

Appleton, Wisconsin’s, Lawrence University continues to work diligently to digitize its library holdings that might be of interest to the general public. These collections include items from the department of theatre arts, along with items from Lux, the online home for the university’s scholarly and creative works. It's a great way to learn about some of its most compelling projects, including wonderful honor projects, such as "Learning from Experience: A Philosophical Perspective." Moving on, the theatre arts area contains images, programs and other bits of ephemera from shows like Cabaret, Cinderella, and much more. [KMG]

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·http://digital.houstonlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/maps

Houston has been called the city of the 21st century, so it makes sense to look back at its past development through maps that document its many changes. This digital collection from the Houston Public Library brings together 44 wonderful maps of Houston, Galveston, and other surrounding areas. The really intriguing items are the Houston Street Guide maps, which date from 1904, 1912, and 1913. Other nice contributions are the official railway maps that document the city in the late 19th and early 20th century. Visitors can zoom in and out around these maps in fine detail and they will want to bookmark the site for extended visits. [KMG]

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·http://digitalprojects.libraries.uc.edu/elliston/

Based at the University of Cincinnati, the Ellison Projects holds over 700 recorded readings and lectures given under the auspices of the University of Cincinnati’s Department of English and Comparative Literature and the University Libraries since 1951. Since that time, the writers Robert Frost, Louise Gluck, Derek Walcott and many others have graced the school with their words and musings. Visitors can look around via six sections, which include Poetry Readings, Fiction Readings, Discussions, and Interviews. The News & Events section is another great find, as visitors can look over the upcoming readings that may be worth an in-person visit. This is a marvelous resource and definitely one that is engaging, topical, and creative. [KMG]

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·http://everhour.com/

If you're looking for a simple time management and reporting tool, why not give Everhour a look over? First-time visitors would do well to start with the Features area to get acquainted with all of the bells and whistles. It's very user friendly and visitors can customize the appearance of the program to reflect the order and tempo of their workday. This version is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]

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·http://www.mobento.com/

Mobento is a free online video platform that cuts through the dross that can be ubiquitous across the web. On the site, visitors can search through hundreds of videos dealing with technology, energy independence, anthropology, and much more. The videos are culled from high quality sources, such as NASA, Stanford University, and TED. This helpful application is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]

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Frankie Knuckles, 'Godfather of House Music', Dead at 59
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/frankie-knuckles-godfather-of-house-music-dead-at-59-20140401

Frankie Knuckles dead
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-frankie-knuckles-obit-20140331,0,565674.column

Remembering Frankie Knuckles: House-Builder
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2014/04/remembering-frankie-knuckles

Frankie Knuckles Dies: Highlights from the house music pioneer's brilliant remixing career
http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/01/frankie-knuckles-dies-highlights-from-the-house-music-pioneers-brilliant-remixing-career-4684823/

Stars pay tribute to Frankie Knuckles
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/dj-frankie-knuckles-dead-stars-6902395

House Music from Chicago
http://www.5chicago.com/

In the annals of contemporary popular music, house music occasionally gets overlooked. Early on, some questioned: Is this really music? As an act of remixing, re-imagining, and reinventing songs new and old, it most certainly was and remains so today. This week, the genre lost its true godfather: Francis Nicholls, who was universally known as Frankie Knuckles. Born in the Bronx, he moved to Chicago as a teenager in the late 1970s. He became the DJ at the Warehouse where he became known for bringing together curious indie-label soul curiosities, disco classics, and synth-disco from the Continent. Soon these all-night affairs drew a standing-room, velvet-rope type of crowd and by the early 1980s, Frankie was known all around the world. By the late 1980s, Frankie was working with all manner of artists, including Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson. He kept a demanding club performance schedule for most of his career, but he always made sure to come back to Chicago on a regular basis to perform at big summer festivals in Grant Park. [KMG]

The first link will take visitors to a well-written Rolling Stone obituary on Frankie by Michaelangelo Matos. As a fine tribute, the piece also contains links to Frankie performing at the Warehouse in 1981 and other venues. The second link will take visitors to another obituary, this time from the Chicago Tribune. Moving on, the third link will take users to a piece from The Economist about the life and times of Frankie and the fourth link will whisk the musically minded to a timeline of Frankie's various accomplishments and accolades. An article from the Manchester Evening News that provides testimony from British counterparts on Frankie's lasting legacy as a DJ can be found via the fifth link. Finally, interested parties can follow the last link to explore an online music magazine about the house music scene in Chicago.