General Interest
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/home.do
Poetry is often seen by some as inaccessible, which is quite a shame, considering the beauty that can be contained within a single stanza, or in some cases, the mere elocution of one word. Hearing poetry read is a wondrous joy, and The Poetry Archive is a great way to enter this world. Established in 1999, The Poetry Archive contains readings by hundreds of poets, including a number of real historical gems from those who have passed away. The site also includes a “Lucky Dip” feature, which takes visitors to the work of a poet selected at random from their generous collection. The homepage contains links to a number of educational resources, including those for teachers seeking to utilize the contents of the site in their classroom and for those looking for a brief introduction to reading poetry. One recording that should not be missed is by the late John Betjeman, whose poem “A Nip in the Air’ contains the words: “Now if the harvest is over/And the world cold/Give me the bonus of laughter/As I lose hold”. [KMG]
http://ndm.si.edu/EXHIBITIONS/fashion_in_colors/
Fashion in Colors creates a new way to explore the history of costume - by color. Historic garments are displayed along with fashions designed by over a dozen twentieth century designers, including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Junya Watanabe. For example, the blue grouping includes an English brocaded taffeta dress from the mid-18th century; a late 19th century day dress dyed mauve, the first synthetic aniline dye color; a Balenciaga cocktail dress from 1959; and a pleated polyester organdy dress designed by Watanabe/Comme des Garcons in 2000. Yellow, red, black, multi-color and white all provide similar groupings. Visitors may also browse by designer, or take a virtual tour of the galleries by color. [DS]
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/
At the time of their creation, public information films created by the British government after World War II may have been seen as overly didactic and pedestrian in their approach to filmmaking. Fifty years on, they are most correctly seen as a fascinating way to gain some insight into this particular moment in British history. The National Archives has created this website which contains several dozen of these public information films that deal with such diverse subjects as public health, a trip on a London bus, and the Berlin airlift. Before delving into the films, visitors may wish to peruse a timeline of pertinent events during the years 1945 to 1951 and also read about the austere conditions around much of the United Kingdom during the period. [KMG]
Perhaps no toy is as maligned as the yo-yo, despite its long and colorful history. The roots of the yo-yo can be traced back to antiquity, and there is even a Grecian urn in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that depicts that most well-known of yo-yo maneuvers: walking the dog. Visitors with a penchant for the yo-yo will appreciate the wide range of materials that can be found on the site, particularly the rather compelling online exhibit of highly valuable yo-yos, such as the 1984 Olympics No Jive model. For those who want to continue their exploration of the yo-yo, there is the “Profiles & History” area, which contains player and company profiles, along with historical photographs of yo-yos in action. [KMG]
http://www.ricebowljournals.com/
Over the past few years, a number of online journal communities have been created on the web to facilitate group dialogue around a variety of issues. As one might surmise from its title, the Rice Bowl Journals website is aimed at primarily serving the Asian online journal community. The diarists featured on the site can be examined by ethnicity and location, and visitors may also wish to browse the journals by category. Perhaps of equal interest are the online discussion forums, which allow visitors to offer commentary on current events, campus life, and the art of online journaling. The site is rounded out by a FAQ area and a place for visitors to leave feedback. [KMG]
http://www.roanoke.com/multimedia/crooked/franklin.html
The Crooked Road runs through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and has a storied place in the history of country music and Appalachian culture. This past summer, Ralph Berrier Jr. and Kyle Green of The Roanoke Times set out to document the music and musicians of the area, stopping in such small towns as Floyd, Ferrum, Galax, and Clintwood. Along the way, they documented their experiences through extensive reportage and photography, all of which is included on this nice multimedia feature. Visitors can view videos taken along their journey, learn about how a bluegrass tune is constructed, and listen to audio vignettes of each stop they made. The site also includes a fine recipe for a local favorite, Great Smoky Mountains’ grilled veggies, and number of podcasts for portable listening enjoyment. [KMG]
