General Interest
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/exhibits/greene/
With his work for the Masons, the University of Texas, and various institutions in Dallas, Herbert Miller Greene established himself as an architect of the first rank. Greene was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania in 1871 and after obtaining an architecture degree from the University of Illinois he went on to Dallas to establish the firm Hubbell and Greene. This particular online exhibit grew out of a 2005 in situ exhibit at the University of Texas, and it contains a detailed biography of Greene (along with newspaper articles about his work), along with an "Architectural Legacy" section. In this section, visitors can view the works that he built around the state of Texas, complete with detailed photo galleries and architectural plans. The section also includes a brochure from his firm, along with a list of his projects. [KMG]
http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/
"Solutions for Your Life" is the tagline for the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, and it's a thoroughly apt description of the services they provide. Administered jointly by the University of Florida and Florida A&M University, the Service is dedicated to "developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences and to making that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life." Just by looking at their homepage, visitors will get a sense of the cornucopia of material they've brought together. Hints on grilling, the current housing situation in the state, tips on looking for a job, and catch and release fishing are but a few of the topics covered by their many experts. Those persons looking for specific information can use the search engine, or they can click on over to the broad thematic categories on the left-hand side of the page, which include "Environment", Lawn & Garden", "Agriculture", and "Sustainable Living". Finally, visitors can click on their FAQ area and also learn about their work throughout the state in the "Success Stories" section. [KMG]
In recent years, the Oxford University Library has embarked on a number of ambitious digitization projects. One of their projects has focused on a collection of 1400 prints of political cartoons from the period of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. The collection includes prints from both British and European publications and focuses on changing representations of Napoleon and on British fears of invasion. Visitors to the site can make their way through this collection, which is searchable by artist, title, and subject. The images presented here are taken from original etchings contained in volumes of A.M. Broadley's "Napoleon in Caricature" from 1911 and J. Holland Rose's "Life of Napoleon" from 1905. First-time visitors might get a good sense of the materials covered here by looking at the subject list which ranges from "Allegorical figure" all the way to "Whig party". [KMG]
http://www.thehenryford.org/research/index.aspx
The Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan, is comprised of a museum, an IMAX theatre, a factory tour, and a recreated 19th century village. Their website offers a great digitized view of all that the Center has to offer. At the top of the site, on the left hand side, is a search engine called Smart Site, which allows the visitor to tell the search engine whether they are "Just Browsing", "Educator", "Tourist/Out of Town Visitor" or even "A Private Event Planner or Bride". There are two interactive maps available of the Greenfield Village and the Museum, also found at the top of the homepage. Educators of all sorts will enjoy the many resources for their classroom students, summer camp students, daycare students, and homeschoolers, which can be found under the "Education" tab in the top middle of any page. Because Henry Ford had a great affection for collecting, and had the means to do so, the Benson Ford Research Center has physical and online exhibits of items that are not just automobile-related. Visitors can click on the "Exhibits/Collections" tab on the far right side of the homepage, and then go to the "online exhibits" link to see "Innovators", "Toys", and "Historic Dress: The Henry Ford Historic Costume Collection". [KMG]
The Convention on Biological Diversity: Forestry Biodiversity is a program of The United Nations and United Nations Environment Programmes. Visitors who would like a comprehensive explanation of forest biodiversity should check out the heading on the left side of any page "About Forest Biodiversity", and its accompanying links "What is Forest Biological Diversity?", "What's the Problem?", "Why Does it Matter?", and "What Needs to be Done?" Keeping up on the news relating to REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), put out in a bimonthly newsletter, is easy when users sign up for the e-newsletter. Head to the "Implementation" section on the far left side, and click on the "REDD e-newsletter" for information on how to subscribe and to read the guidelines for authors to submit material to REDD. Also under the "Implementation" section is the link to "Case Studies" which offers over 50 documents to download, from "Expansion of Industrial Logging in Central Africa" to "Assessing Human Well-Being in Sustainable Forest Management" to "Application of Ecosystem Approach in Finland - Landscape Ecological Forest Management Planning". [KMG]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/polio/
This episode of PBS's American Experience series tackles the crusade against polio that came to a dramatic crossroads in 1950. The story not only illuminates the details of the disease, it also shows how donations from average Americans provided significant funding, and how Americans banded together to help fight the disease. Many scientists, polio survivors, doctors, and parents are interviewed for the film, and despite knowing the outcome--invention of the Salk vaccine and eventual eradication of polio in the United States--the film is still very compelling. Under "About this Film" on the left side of any page, the website provides details such as the "Cast & Crew" of the film, "Photo Gallery", and the "Show Transcript". The "Learn and Explore" section, also on the left side of any page contains fascinating features including "Story Highlights", "Teacher's Resources", and "Then & Now". For visitors without access to a TV, clicking on "Watch the Film Online", in the middle of the page, allows anyone to watch the complete film online. [KMG]
http://www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/
Originally created in 1995 by the Texas State Legislature, and moved eight years later from the office of the Attorney General to Sam Houston State University, the Crime Victims' Institute provides studies of crime victims, online local and national resources for crime victims and links to criminal justice education. The "Publications" available on the site can be accessed on the far left hand side of the menu and include Legislative Briefs, Research Briefs, Survey Reports, and General Information. "Videos", also available on the far left hand side of the menu, include a video entitled "Stalking: Real Fear Real Crime" that is a training tape inspired by a real crime victim. The left hand menu also contains three important categories for all victims: "Victim Compensation", "Victim Impact Statement", and "Victim Rights", which provide links in English and Spanish, as well as victim impact forms. Almost the complete text of the Texas Crime Victim Bill of Rights is also available under the "Victim Rights" link. [KMG]
http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/61
This online exhibition from MoMA presents views of eight video installations created by Dutch artist Aernout Mik (b. 1962) during the last thirteen years. Mik's fictional scenarios combine images that seem fairly plausible - such as people in what appears to be a hotel meeting room or maybe a courtroom, with imposing desks and chandeliers. But some elements are awry - there are men with t-shirts pulled over their heads sitting and lying on the floor, random papers littering the area, and skinheads walking on top of the desks. The eight works included in the show are: Fluff, 1996, 16mm film loop transferred to DVD; Middlemen, 2001; Osmosis and Excess, 2005; Vacuum Room, 2005 - which is the example described above; Raw Footage, 2006, compiled by Mik using news footage; Scapegoats, 2006; Training Ground, 2006; and Schoolyard, 2009. At the museum, Mik's works are displayed in both gallery spaces and more unusual places such as stairwells. [DS]
