Arnold Schoenberg Center
http://www.schoenberg.at/default_e.htm
Perhaps best remembered for his musical forays into the world of atonality, Arnold Schonberg remains at the focal point of this particular Web site, sponsored by the Arnold Schoenberg Center. The site contains an amazing amount of material on the composer, ranging from an extended biographical essay to a complete listing of his compositions, complete with first performance date, location, and other germane information. The site also contains material on the mission of the Center (located in Vienna) and links to information about using the archives at the Center, which contain a great deal of Schoenberg's correspondence and personal effects. The site also has a section where visitors can purchase Schoenberg related material, such as audio recordings and the journal published by the Center. [KMG]
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Organization of Black Screenwriters
http://www.obswriter.com/
Devoted to the art of screenwriting, the Organization of Black Screenwriters (OBS) site has a variety of materials of interest to people working in the cinematic arts. The site is a valuable source of information on the group's activities, including their screenwriting competitions and their upcoming meetings, workshops, and seminars. Particularly helpful for those in the field will be the sections on scriptwriting resources and job opportunities. OBS also offers a calendar of events and a screenwriting forum where visitors can post questions about the screenwriting process, getting started in the movie business, or any number of other topics. Additionally, there is information on joining OBS and a section devoted to recent news and accolades garnered by current members. [KMG]
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The American Project [RealPlayer]
http://www.theamericaproject.org/
Alix Spiegel is the producer of these often amazing radio documentaries that are on This American Life and All Things Considered on National Public Radio. Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, these programs run through the gamut of off-beat and timely topics. The shows on the site include the quest to locate all of Screamin' Jay Hawkins 57 children, a piece on Hitler's yacht, and a group of urban adventurers in New York City. The show archive has over 20 shows, and new ones are being added. Also, there is a place to send feedback and suggestions for future shows. [KMG]
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Northern Lights
http://www.northern-lights.no/
Sponsored by Andya Rocket Range, the Norwegian Space Centre, and Nordlyssenteret, this intriguing site contains a host of material relating the history, science, and legend behind the Northern Lights, sometimes referred to as "Aurora Borealis." Sections of the site include The Physical Phenomenon, which is devoted to explaining the science behind the lights, and "The Mysterious Light," which offers some of the lore and legend associated with the Northern Lights. A nice feature of the site allows visitors to ask questions of the researchers at the site who will respond in a public forum. The site also has ongoing discussion boards, lists of places one can best view the Northern Lights, and a featured photo of the month submitted by a visitor to the site. [KMG]
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The Parallax Project
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/parallax/index.html
The Parallax Project at the Digital Research Library of the University of Pittsburgh makes available 10 digitized volumes of star data, calculations, and astronomical observations collected by researchers working at the Allegheny Observatory between 1910 and 1969. Originally published in the periodical Publications of the Allegheny Observatory of the University of Pittsburgh, data is provided in the form of articles, equations, tables, and graphs. Parallax Project visitors can browse scanned page images that preserve the layout and format of the originals, or search on a variety of criteria, such as Star Name, Declination, Parallax, and Parallax Error. A virtual keyboard is provided to make it easier to include Greek characters in star names. There is also a section on the Allegheny Observatory: its history ("born" 1859), its telescopes, and links to other observatories. For the astronomically challenged, What is a Parallax? by Dr. George Gatewood, Allegheny Observatory Director, explains. [DS]
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National Peanut Board
http://www.nationalpeanutboard.com/index.html
For those with an interest in peanuts, the National Peanut Board Web site will provide a host of information on this well-known legume. The site has different themed sections dealing with the history of the peanut, and continue on to give a detailed explanation of the production process involved with turning peanuts into a host of products. Additionally, the extensive research and promotion activities of the National Peanut Board are detailed on the site. A map shows the primary peanut growing regions on the United States and a cookbook offers a multitude of ways to use peanuts in different dishes. Perhaps the most interesting part of the site is a section offering a range of facts on the peanut and its uses throughout the world. [KMG]
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Wonder Books: Rare Books on Early Museums
http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/wonderbound/
This virtual exhibit sponsored by the National Museum of Natural History asks the question: "Why are centuries-old natural history books vital to scientific research?" Using materials from the Rare Books Collection at the Smithsonian, the exhibit offers a variety of images dealing with natural history museums of the past to allow for the exploration of parallels and contrasts between the operations and methods of present-day natural history museums. Materials in the different sections of the exhibit deal with the preservation and maintenance of specimens and the methods by which a natural history museum might be organized. Finally, there is a section devoted to further reading on the history and evolution of natural history museums. [KMG]
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