General Interest
Parents of young people today may find it difficult to sort the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to locating and evaluating quality educational activities and entertainment for their children. Fortunately there is the Parents' Choice Foundation, which (since 1978) has served as a non-partisan evaluator of children's books, videos, toys, audio products, computer software, television, and magazines. Each year, the foundation releases lists of its recommended products, based on the opinions of teachers, parents, and, appropriately, young people themselves. The criteria for selection is quite rigorous, as the judges are looking for products that honor universal human values, teach with flair, stimulate imagination, inspire creativity, and above all do not "extol violence." On the website, visitors can examine lists of these products dating back to 1995, read about the current award winners, and examine themed reading lists, such as those dealing with science fiction and those designed especially with compel young boys to develop a love of reading. [KMG]
http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/
The Ancient India Web site from the British Museum is designed especially for middle schoolers and teachers, but all ages will enjoy exploring. There are six chapters: Buddha, Geography, Hinduism, Indus Valley, Time, and Writing; each with divisions entitled Story, Explore, and Challenge. Story in the Buddha chapter is the life of the Buddha; Explore under Hinduism features trading card-sized images of 16 Hindu gods and short descriptions; and the Geography Challenge is to plan a pilgrimage to see holy sites of the Buddha's life, traveling on foot. Other fun sections include the Writing section challenge, where students decipher ancient Indian writing, and the interactive timelines in the Time chapter. Throughout the site, clicking linked words in the text pops open a glossary with definitions of difficult terms.
[DS]
Email: information@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
http://users.bathspa.ac.uk/greenwood/
Developed by Mark Annand, this rather compelling fully interactive online version of Greenwood's Map of London from 1827 is a real treat for persons interested in the history of cartography or for those with any interest in the city of London and its urban form. Interestingly enough, the map captures London in a historical moment right before its growth would become exponential over the coming decades as it grew into one of the world's great cities. Visitors can click on a large version of the map, then continue on into the various precincts of London with great detail and resolution. Visitors the site may also want to consult a list of place names also featured on the site, which will allow them to move quickly to any number of places. From the list, visitors may go immediately to the map panel containing Covent Garden, Marylebone, Vauxhall, and the British Museum. [KMG]
http://www.americanradioworks.org/
Radio documentaries have been around almost since the beginning of regularly scheduled radio programming, but not all are created equal (or with great aplomb), and the American Radio Works is certainly one of the finer documentary production units in the field. Based at Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul, Minnesota, Radio Works' primary themes include public affairs documentaries on major social and economic issues, investigative reporting, and the Living History series, which seeks to document the 20th century American experience "through the lives of those who witnessed it." The web-browsing public will be glad to know that all of the radio projects are available online here, and can be listened to in their entirety. Visitors can listen to close to 40 of their productions, including their most recent production which deals with the extensive phone conversations recorded by Presidents Johnson, Kennedy, and Nixon during their terms in the White House [KMG]
With a lyre serving as their organization's totem, the Poetry Society of America has served the poetry community of the United States for over seventy years. The Society may be best known for its annual awards, which include the prestigious Frost Award, the Cecil Hemly Memorial Award, and the Shelley Memorial Award. Aspiring poets can read about the entry guidelines for these awards, along with being able to peruse a list of previous recipients of both the Frost Award and Shelley Memorial Award, including such literary luminaries as Conrad Aiken, Kenneth Rexroth, Elizabeth Bishop, Gwendolyn Brooks and Wallace Stevens. Even more compelling is the inclusion of works by the most recent recipients, whose august number includes Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Also on the website are lists of helpful outside poetry-related websites, a calendar of upcoming events sponsored by the Society, and a direct link to the Favorite Poem Project, which was begun by former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky. [KMG]
http://www.securityoncampus.org/
Created in the aftermath of an unfortunate and tragic death of a young woman on an university campus in 1986, the mission of the Security on Campus organization is "to educate prospective students, parents and the campus community about the prevalence of crime on our nation's college and university campuses." From their homepage, individuals can obtain information about crime statistics on over 6000 colleges and universities in the United States, read the latest news from around the country regarding campus safety issues, and view clips from the educational videos produced by the organization. The website is well organized, containing sections of materials especially designed to assist parents, students, lawyers, reporters, and institutions. Finally, visitors may also elect to receive email updates from the Security on Campus organization. [KMG]
