http://www.omarkhayyamrubaiyat.com/

Written by the Persian mathematician and astronomer Omar Khayyam in the 12th century, the Rubaiyat consists of approximately 1000 quatrains. The Rubaiyat has been translated into over 70 different languages to become the most widely known poem in the world and both the beautiful poetry and the underlying philosophy of the Rubaiyat are responsible for its widespread and enduring popularity. Without question, one of the most famous verses from this collection is "Here with a loaf of bread beneath the bough/a flask of wine, a book of verse-and thou". This site is dedicated to exploring all aspects of this famous collection of writings, and visitors to the site can read a number of translations of this work and also learn more about Khayyam, Fitzgerald, and others who have been involved with the Rubaiyat. Visitors can also learn more about the celebrations which will take place in 2009 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Fitzgerald's masterful translation of this beautiful work. [KMG]

http://ncartmuseum.org/exhibitions/farfromhome/main.shtml

When artists are working in different parts of the world, how do they choose to interpret what they find? It's an engaging question, and one that is explored thoroughly by this recent exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The online version takes visitors through the exhibit by offering up images in the "Works of Art" area. There are many highlights here, but visitors shouldn't miss Ledelle Moe's "Congregation" or Jose Bedia's "Clavado a su suerte". The site also includes biographical information about each artist, and several podcasts featuring interviews with several of the artists. Also, the weblog here is a real find, as it really allows artists to offer their intimate thoughts on how their own personal history is reflected in their work. [KMG]

http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/ballyhoo/

Since their creation, posters have been used to promote everything from toothpaste to teen idols, and along the way many critics have asked questions about how these devices depict their subjects. The National Portrait Gallery has created this exhibit with just that purpose, and they are also interested in looking at the poster as a form of popular portraiture. The exhibit explores a number of themes, chief among them "Broadsheets & Show Posters", "The Poster Craze", and "Export of American Culture". Each of these themes is accompanied by a selection of images from the exhibit, along with a brief narrative introduction. Visitors will definitely want to check out the audio slideshow of the exhibit, which is narrated by curator Wendy Wick Reaves. Also, visitors can read her thoughts on the exhibition on the National Portrait Gallery's weblog, "Face to Face". [KMG]

http://www.howtogoorganic.com/

People have been wondering about how to "go organic" for decades, and interest in organic everything seems to be growing exponentially. Created by the Organic Trade Association, this website provides in-depth information for producers, processors, and individuals about how to make the transition to organic. The primary sections of the site include "Pathway for Producers", "Pathway for Processors", and "Key Resources". Most people will want to start by looking over the "Key Resources" area, as it includes thematically organized resources that deal with crops and farming, business and marketing, certification, and livestock and ranching. This area provides a broad range of web-based resources, most of which are available at no charge. Moving on, the "Regional Guide" section features an interactive map that includes the best organizations, web sites, and publications available across the United States. [KMG]

http://sportshistory.uoregon.edu/

The history of athletics at the University of Oregon is the primary subject of this site created by the University of Oregon Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives department. While telling the basic story of this history is important, the site also tells "the story of athletics in higher education." Visitors can peruse topics that include "The Track and Field Legacy", "The University's Response to Title IX", and "The University's Approach to Changes in Athletics". Within each section, visitors can view photos and other original documentary materials that tell the story of such luminaries as track legend Steve Prefontaine and others. Additionally, visitors can view their highly interactive timeline of events, which features options that allow users to toggle various sports on and off as they move through time. As expected, those who know what they are looking for can also search the collection by keyword. [KMG]

http://www.national-economists.org/podcasts/

Founded in 1968, the National Economists Club (NEC) is an educational organization which "aims to encourage and sponsor discussion and an exchange of ideas on economic trends and issues that are relevant for public policy." They sponsor a wide range of activities and one of their most compelling efforts of late can be found on this site. In January 2007, they began recording their luncheon speeches and making them available here as podcasts. With well over fifty podcasts currently available, visitors can browse through them at their leisure and also sign up to receive their RSS feed. So far, the talks have included such interesting topics as "Getting Serious about Renewing and Modernizing Public Education", "Where is Europe Heading?", and "Measuring Innovation in the 21st Century Economy". [KMG]

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intpro.jsp

The Southern Poverty Law Center has been monitoring the activities of hate groups and extremist activities since 1981. Today, their Intelligence Project continues to track over 800 hate groups across the United States. First-time visitors to the site can look over the "Top Hatewatch Headlines", which offer brief synopses of current activities within the various groups. From there, visitors will want to visit the "Intelligence Report" section. Here, they will find the current issue of this magazine, which frequently includes guest editorials, interviews with former hate group members and leaders, and information about how the Center is combating these different groups and their activities. Additionally, the site also includes an interactive map of active hate groups in the United States. [KMG]

http://media.moma.org/subsites/2008/olafureliasson/

Previously mentioned in the September 21, 2007 Scout Report, http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2007/scout-070921-geninterest.php#8 , the physical version of Olafur Eliasson's exhibition "Take Your Time" has migrated from San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), where it was organized, to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. The associated web exhibition is different enough to be worth a second look as well. For example, the web display of the piece 360° room for all colours 2002, in the San Francisco exhibition takes the user inside the circular, multicolored room created by the artist, and includes audio commentary by curator Madeleine Grynsztejn. In contrast, the MoMA version provides more textual "label" type information about the piece, placing it in the artistic tradition of panoramas, and provides a closer look at the outside. In addition, while interview footage of Eliasson was shot at SFMOMA, the videos have been updated with views of his artwork installed in New York. [DS]