http://www.housesofthefuture.com.au/

If one were to showcase new housing technologies and innovative designs in Australia, it wouldn't be a bad idea to place such an exhibit next to one of the most instantly recognizable structures in the world. Well, that is precisely what the Australian government (in collaboration with private industry groups) did when they placed this remarkable "Houses of the Future" exhibition next to the Sydney Opera House. While the exhibit has since moved on to a new location, visitors who are curious about the future of the built environment (particularly in terms of domestic architecture and construction) will enjoy this interactive website. The website features six homes that are part of a "new generation of prefabricated dwellings emerging around the globe". The requirements for each new housing type were that they be prefabricated for easy transportation, environmentally sustainable, designed by an architect, and "futuristic in appearance and use of domestic space". On the site, visitors may look within each house, all the while learning about each structure's historical precedents, environmental features, and of course, its architects. For those interested in the potential of domestic architecture, this website will be quite a treat. [KMG]

http://www.tolerance.org/

While some groups only give lip service to spreading the good word about the importance of tolerance, the Southern Poverty Law Center has created this fine website to disseminate valuable materials for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating communities that welcome and value diversity. The site has much to offer, including daily news updates about groups and individuals working for tolerance and fighting hate, guidebooks for adult and youth activists, and educational games for young children. The site is thematically divided into areas for teachers, teens, children, and parents. The parents section has some great resources, including a feature titled "10 Ways to Nurture Tolerance" and a list of helpful books on the theme of tolerance for parents that is quite handy. Educators will find the "Teaching Tolerance" area a welcome find, as it contains a number of classroom activities and the current edition (along with an archive) of their Teaching Tolerance magazine. [KMG]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/

What do a 1940 Olympic poster, a signed Oscar Wilde book, and a Moravian ceramic flask have in common? Well, they've all recently been appraised on the rather popular PBS program, Antiques Roadshow. If one can't watch the show itself, this website is a nice surrogate, offering additional information about antiquing, including a glossary of terms, a virtual roadshow tour, and some helpful tips. Seasoned veterans may want to skip ahead to the appraisers section, where they may learn about the appraisers featured on each program, organized by specialty. Visitors can also get inside each of the stories featured on the program by visiting the "Follow the Stories" area where they can select an area of interest (such as decorative arts or folklore) or by browsing through a list of cities the Roadshow has visited in the past. Finally, visitors who can't make it to a taping of the show should feel free to submit their own antique story online here. [KMG]

http://ndm.si.edu/

Part of the Smithsonian Institution since 1967, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York was founded in 1897 by Amy, Eleanor, and Sarah Hewitt as part of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Today the museum is one of the largest design museums in the world, with a total catalog of more than 250,000 objects. The site is full of helpful material, ranging from the pragmatic (upcoming and ongoing exhibitions) to the playful (a series of very entertaining online games). Of course, users must be sure to check out the National Design Awards page, where they will have the opportunity to learn about the best designs of the year in a host of categories, including architecture, communications, and fashion. Finally, those persons interested in obtaining a master's degree in the history of decorative arts and design will want to learn about this rather compelling program offered jointly with the Parsons School of Design. [KMG]

http://www.residentassistant.com/

Now that students around the country are returning to college after winter break, it may behoove those in student services (or those with a young person who is attending college) to take a look at this helpful site. Designed specifically with resident assistants (RAs) in mind, the site contains over 2,300 pages of residence life materials including programming ideas, icebreakers, and articles on a host of different topics. There are also a number of articles that impart advice for new RA's, including those on common mistakes, keys to success, and planning successful trips for students under their charge. One particularly helpful feature is the "Ask the Experts" section, where persons seeking answers to residential life questions can pose their questions online, or review previously answered questions about community building, dealing with students who may have a substance abuse problems and so on. [KMG]

http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/

Under the able direction of educator Lyn Reese, the Women in World History Curriculum project has been developing materials that introduce women's history into the secondary level classroom for more than two decades. Teachers and parents will enjoy perusing the online materials here, which include reviews of various curricula, reviews of women's history books that may be useful in the classroom, and of course, some historical background essays on topics such as women and the Crusades and historical perspectives on Islamic dress. The site also contains 13 activities that educators may use in their classrooms. The topics covered by these activities include the role of women in the early Industrial Revolution period in England and the fight for global suffrage. Additionally, some of the educational materials featured here are available for purchase. [KMG]

http://www.senate.gov/comm/aging/general/

First established in 1961 as a temporary committee, the Senate Special Committee on Aging was granted permanent status on February 1, 1977. The Committee frequently commissions studies of issues related to relevant policy issues, such as the situation of Medicare and Social Security. During its history, various members of the Committee have worked to expose unacceptable conditions in nursing homes and add protections for seniors in the area of age discrimination. On this site, visitors can learn about upcoming hearings sponsored by the Committee, learn about prescription medicine assistance programs, and track important pieces of proposed legislation. Visitors can also read about the special issues that form the core interests of the Committee, such as repealing the death tax and identity theft, among others. Finally, users who elect to do so may also sign up to receive e-news via their email account. [KMG]