http://swi.indiana.edu/arden/gi_specs.shtml

The immortal Bard knew his fair share of discontented winters, and it would be interesting to know what he would have thought about this rather fascinating online interactive game created by the Synthetic Worlds Initiative at Indiana University. Arden allows users to explore the world of Shakespeare's many plays in a highly interactive and user-friendly fashion. With funding from a variety of sources (including the MacArthur Foundation) Edward Castronova and his colleagues have created this virtual world which allows users to move around in 17th century clothing and even join guilds. For anyone interested in virtual worlds, Shakespeare, and any number of related matters, this website and accompanying game will be a very welcome find. Users should note that the game will run on computers running Windows 98 and newer. [KMG]

http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/gallery/viveladifference/

It is easy to argue that despite the geographical proximity between England and France they are worlds apart. This was even truer during the 18th century, when there were both certain similarities and a significant amount of enmity. The Fitzwilliam Museum has opted to explore this fascinating period through the world of satirical prints from 1720-1815 that look into stereotypes that began to be represented visually at the time. Visitors can read the introductory essay offered on the homepage, and then move along to selections of prints from both nations that are both intriguing and delightful. Everything from French fashions to the treatment of prisoners of war is explored in these prints. Additionally, visitors can learn about the print-making techniques deployed in these renderings and learn more about the publishers of these works. [KMG]

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/menuag.html

The extension programs at public universities throughout the United States do a great service for budding gardeners, farmers, and others. The Colorado State University Extension's Agriculture Resources site is offered in that noble tradition, and visitors will find resources culled from the expertise of their research staff and extension agents. First-time visitors can start by looking through the "Topics" area, which covers everything from crops and soils to sustainable agriculture. Visitors can take a look at dozens of fact sheets, which include such titles as "Aphids in Alfalfa" and "Clothes Moths: Identification and Control in the Home". Moving on, the right side of the homepage includes links to other relevant resources, such as a grape growers guide and information about foot and mouth disease. [KMG]

http://mathdl.maa.org/convergence/1/?pa=content&sa=viewDocument&nodeId=1679

Utilizing dynamic models to explain different aspects of geometry can be a powerful pedagogical tool. This is exactly what inspired Eduardo Veloso and Rita Bastos to write this classroom exercise for the Mathematical Association of America's "Convergence" site. In this exercise, mathematics educators will receive an introduction to several key aspects of the history of geometry through four examples. These examples include Albrecht Dürer's double projection and Piero della Francesca's perspective image. After reading the background essays on these projections, users can download the dynamic versions of these constructions for their own use and edification. It is worth noting that several of the constructions are available in French. [KMG]

http://www.learner.org/interactives/dailymath/index.html

Math in the "real world" happens all the time, and it can involve everything from buying a car to following a simple (or complex) recipe. The "Math in Daily Life" site offers up a series of interesting ways to get students thinking about how math works in everyday life. Created by Annenberg Media, this set of interactive exercises looks at the manifestation of mathematical principles in areas of life such as home decorating, finances, and of course, cooking. In each section, users will find hands-on exercises that complement well-written essays that help introduce visitors to seven different topical areas. Finally, the site includes a list of relevant websites, including links to The Math Forum, the U.S. Census Bureau, and The Metric Conversion Card. [KMG]

http://www.sciencecases.org/chagas/chagas.asp

The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science has served as the repository of many a fine case study, and this recent addition to their site takes on the world of tropical disease. Created by Cathy Santanello and Jennifer Rehg of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, this study is set in Costa Rica and its narrative introduction will help draw students into the exploration of this "mysterious ailment". After the introduction, the case study offers up a few background websites that deal with diseases in this region of Central America, and then moves on to ask some important initial questions. The other three parts of the study are similarly organized, and they include "Quest for a New Treatment" and "The Diagnostic Dilemma". [KMG]

http://cts.stat.ucla.edu/

The Center for the Teaching of Statistics at UCLA is concerned with both providing a resource for colleagues at their university but also for the statistics community in general. Along with forming collaborative partnerships with area institutions, they have also created this site for statistics educators across the country. Visitors interested in these materials should start by clicking on the "Lab Manuals and Datasets" section. Here, they will find information on how to teach Advanced Placement level statistics and also learn about their interactive aids designed to help the teaching format in college-level probability and statistics courses. Additionally, visitors should browse on over to the "Papers" section, which includes helpful documents written by staff members and associates at the Center. [KMG]

http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2007/freud/

Diving into this web exhibition created by MoMA on the work of artist Lucian Freud without considering the title ("The Painter's Etchings") or reading the introductory texts can be a bit disorientating. One might ask, "Why are there so many oil paintings in a show of etchings?" The first sentence of the introduction makes it clear: "Lucian Freud is a painter who also makes etchings." The purpose of the exhibition is to present Freud's etchings alongside his paintings and drawings, in order to see the relationships between the works. For example, Freud's daughter, Bella, has been a frequent sitter for her father since the 1980s. In the show, there are 5 etchings and a painting of Bella, dating from 1981 to 1995. Each of these images of Bella can be selected and compared to the others. There is also audio for several of Freud's sitters, such as a short recording of art critic Martin Gayford, who posed for both a painting and an etching in the exhibition, comparing these experiences. [DS]