General Interest
The popular images of westward expansion throughout the United States in the middle of the 19th century include frequent invocations of the "iron horse", or the railroad. The federal government gave huge incentives (such as massive land grants) to a number of railroad companies in the decades following the Civil War, and these companies made good on their promises to bring the railroad through tiny villages, military outposts, medium-sized towns, and large cities across the Great Plains. Any users interested in seeing some of the first-hand visual documentation of these events will want to take a look at the Western Trails online exhibit created by the Kenneth Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas (with generous support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services). Here visitors can view a monograph that describes the building of the first railroad bridge across the Missouri River in Kansas City and first-hand accounts of trips taken abroad the Union Pacific Railroad and the Kansas Pacific Railway, among a number of compelling historical documents. [KMG]
http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/exhibits/africanart/
This website created by the Philadelphia Museum of Art complements an exhibition that "surveys the artistic achievements of just a few of the many cultures of sub-Saharan Africa" organized by the Seattle Art Museum, using artifacts from its African collections. The largest section of the Web site, African Voices, features interviews with African artists, art historians and others, focusing on particular aspects of African cultures. For example, Hannah Kema Foday, a Mende woman from Segbwema, southwestern Sierra Leone, now living in New York city, speaks about Sowei masks and initiation for girls into womanhood. The other two sections - African Art in Motion and Contemporary African Art, show the expressive use of figures in African sculpture and the work of modern African artists, living in Africa and all over the world, respectively. [DS]
As stated in the terms of the United Nations Charter, the UN Security Council has primary responsibility for "the maintenance of international peace and security." Given the importance of the Council, it is not surprising to find that its online presence affords visitors the ability to view live streaming webcasts of its proceedings, and that many of the materials are available in six different languages. Visitors to the site will find it well-organized and that they will have access to information about the members of the Security Council, along with detailed voting records of each member nation, plus frequent news updates on their activities. For many visitors, the section containing the Secretary-General's Report will be a place to visit several times. Here they will find a number of detailed reports on the various peace-keeping missions initiated by the UN and potentially volatile situations around the world. [KMG]
http://www.foliagenetwork.com/
Fall brings the transformation of many of the deciduous forests across the eastern half of the United States as the leaves turn a host of shades, ranging from a dark-hued purple to the glory of the shades of red and yellow that also abound. For those many devotees of following these festive foliages, the Foliage Network website is a good way to keep track of these changes. Using a network of "trackers" from locations as diverse as northern Wisconsin to southern Maine, the Foliage Network provides foliage maps which are updated twice a week. The reports also give detailed information on where visitors may go to see the best foliage for that week. The site also offers information about what to see and do in each area, and various potential lodging options and so on. [KMG]
http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/
A number of new magazines have been launched in the past few years to explore different issues surrounding various communities, whether they be those communities that come together under the banner of a shared sexual orientation or ethnicity or so on. Focusing on the Asian-American community, Hyphen is one such publication. As its website notes, "We offer in-depth profiles of change-makers in our community and a glimpse into the world of artists and writers who are re-envisioning and rewriting what it means to be Asian American." While the magazine only has four issues yet far, the website provides access to some of the more compelling material from each issue. Visitors to the site can also browse through a listing of upcoming events and also view a list of websites related to the magazine's primary mission. [KMG]
http://www.whistlingrecords.com/
Whistling seems to have acquired a poor reputation in recent decades, with some people finding the habit rather obnoxious. What people may not know is that the practice of whistling remains immensely popular, and that there are several international whistling competitions held each year. Of course, some six or seven decades ago, there were a number of whistlers who honed their craft on records, often providing the backdrop to the vocal choruses of artists such as Perry Como. This fine site provides a host of information about the great whistlers of the past, such as the amazing Fred Lowery, Muzzy Marcellino, and Brother Bones, who is best known for his recording of Sweet Georgia Brown (which visitors can listen to on the site). There are a number of audio selections here that are a great deal of fun, and also some nice cover art for albums such as "Whistling on the Beach of Waikiki" and the rather intriguing "The Birds Sing His Praise". Finally, there are some whistling discographies, including one dedicated to those records that were intended to teach people how to whistle for fun and relaxation. [KMG]
The idea of creating conservation districts through the support of private landowners was one that had gestated for decades before the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) was formed in 1946. Currently, there are over 3000 conservation districts throughout the United States, and the NACD effectively acts as a unified voice that represents the interests of these districts and also helps develop national conservation policies and fruitful partnerships with other agencies and organizations. First-time visitors to the site will want to perhaps go to the directory section to learn more about the NACD and look through the site's interactive map to learn about where the various conservation districts are located. Students and practitioners may want to look through the electronic publications area, which includes such helpful materials as the organization's in-house weekly news briefs (called eNotes) and their publications produced through effective joint-partnerships, such as Forestry Notes and Conservation. [KMG]
