http://digital.library.unlv.edu/skyline

There's so much that architects, urbanologists, and scholars of the American condition can learn from Las Vegas. This digital collection from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries brings together dozens of architectural drawings and renderings from the offices of two major hotel architects who worked in Las Vegas from 1954 to the 1980s: Martin Stern, Jr. and Homer Rissman. The materials here include site plans, master plans, and individual floor plans for many different buildings, including the Thunderbird Hotel, the Flamingo, and the Sands. Visitors can consult the About area to get started, and they should feel free to consult the Drawings, Projects, and Architects areas for more in-depth information. The Projects area is amazing, as it contains drawings and renderings of Circus Circus, the MGM Grand, and Xanadu, among others. Also, visitors can view the interactive timeline and leave their own comments on various items held here. [KMG]

http://www.utoronto.ca/ucwriting/handouts.html

Many universities have elaborate writing centers to assist students learn about the art of crafting wonderful and meaningful pieces of writing. The University College at the University of Toronto has collected over two dozen excellent resources designed to get undergraduates and others up to speed with the world of writing college-level papers. On the site, visitors will find resources like Organizing an Essay, Using Quotations, The Comparative Essay, Writing in the Sciences, and Dangling Modifiers. These short resources are designed as brief primers in each subject, and they are easily digestible by a range of users. The site also includes links to other high-quality writing centers, such as those at the University of Victoria and Purdue University. [KMG]

http://dlib.nyu.edu/undercover/

This rather fine website, a collaboration with New York University Libraries, complements the recent publication of "Undercover Reporting: The Truth About Deception." This work argues that "much of the valuable journalism since before the U.S. Civil War has emerged from investigations that employed subterfuge to expose wrong." The fascinating material here has been gathered into clusters, highlighting award-winning series, exemplary proponents of the practice, or recurring themes, including prison infiltrations, shadowing migrants, work, and gender, class, or ethnic impersonation, and dozens more. The stories here include the Chiquita Banana expose from the Cincinnati Enquirer, a close look into the world of nursing homes, and several classic pieces of reportage from the Depression on the plight of people thrown into poverty. Visitors can use the Browse tab to get started, and additional instruction can be found under the How to Use area. [KMG]

http://www.nih.gov/science/models/

What exactly is a model organism? As defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), such an organism is one that used in a number of research agendas and projects. On this site, visitors can find "information about national and international activities and major resources that are being developed to facilitate biomedical research using the animal models listed here." Visitors can use the listings on the left-hand side of the page to learn how mice, rats, chickens, frogs, yeasts, and other organisms can be well-suited for different types of scientific research. Additionally, the site includes information about resource sharing guidelines and a user's guide to the human genome. The site is rounded out by some reports of historic interest. [KMG]

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/builddna/

How does a DNA molecule grow? This is a key question for budding geneticists, and one that is eloquently answered via this online activity, offered courtesy of the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah. The site uses an elegant animation to show interested parties how DNA is copied every day and each time a new cell divides. Visitors can read about this process or they can just click on the Start Building tab to move various bits and pieces around to understand the world of DNA base pairs and such. Also, the site includes animations of DNA replications from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Biointeractive site and a comparison of the size of a nucleotide to other objects. Overall, it's a great resource for those with an interest in learning more about this most integral aspect of genetics. [KMG]

http://magis.manoa.hawaii.edu/maps/digital/quads.html

How does one map Hawaii? It's not an easy proposition, but the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been doing just that for over a century. The University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library has created this digital archive of topographical quadrangles for the state of Hawaii, and they are a real find. Visitors to the site will note that they can view the maps by island and that each map also contains a helpful index that can aid users in their search for specific areas of interest. Additionally, visitors can view historical USGS maps from 1910 to 1933 that provide additional layers of data about these rather unique locales. [KMG]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hhmi-bulletin/id411540287?mt=8

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a remarkable institution that stands at the forefront of research in a wide range of medical fields. This site provides access to the HHMI Bulletin via the iPad in a format that is most visually stimulating. On this site, visitors can browse screen shots of this most wondrous compendium, complete with exclusive videos, interactive graphics, and audio slideshows. Visitors with iPads who download the app can learn about the latest cancer research, along with fun primers of the basic work of the HHMI and updates about long-term projects. Those without iPads are still strongly encouraged to check out the HHMI Bulletin, available here: http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/. [KMG]

http://pudl.princeton.edu/collections/pudl0100

The Princeton University Digital Library offers a tremendous cornucopia of items stretching back thousands of years into antiquity. This particular collection offers up over 160 posters and 768 lobby cards from across the Middle East. These items were acquired in Lebanon in 2008 and they advertise upcoming films released between 1935 and 2007. Some of these posters are composed on multiple sheets, including some of elaborate 24 sheet displays meant for display on the side of multi-story buildings. Visitors can search the collection by creator and also look for specific film titles. Of course the items are in Arabic, but even those who do not read this language can satisfy their interest by looking at the images and creative advertising designs. [KMG]

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/online_tours/asia/chinese_jade/chinese_jade.aspx

The world of jade is utterly fascinating, and those captivated by this material will have a field day here. This online tour is part of the British Museum's commitment to broadening access to their vast array of items that might not normally be visible to the general public. Here, visitors can learn about the Chinese fascination with jade through 21 slides that profile unique and valuable items constructed of jade. The tour illustrates the development of Chinese jade from around 5000 BC to the modern period. The items here include lovely, long, and smooth Neolithic blades to later plaques, ornaments, dragons, animal and human sculptures. First-time visitors simply must start by looked at the magnificent coiled dragon that offers smooth contours and compelling details. [KMG]

http://www.phys.ufl.edu/demo/

The University of Florida has a distinguished physics program, and visitors can learn more about the world of physics via this handy website. The site contains photographs and descriptions of the experiments used to teach undergraduate physics classes. Visitors will note that on the left-hand side of the site are a series of drop-down menus. The categories here include Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Optics, among others. The site also includes a copiously illustrated demonstration manual, along with several PowerPoint presentations of note. Additionally, the site contains a range of videos that illustrate key physics principles, including topics in the field of astronomy, such as the motion of the planets. [KMG]

http://www.research.att.com/editions/2012_11_01_home.html?fbid=Bl2XNO8zkmA

The AT&T Labs organization constitutes one of the most celebrated research groups in the world. The group is willing to share some of its findings through this fine website, and visitors with a penchant for technological innovation will find much to enjoy here. The site includes a variety of featured stories, videos, projects, and papers. Of note is ?Tech View: Technology for Making TV Viewing Easy,? an article on voice activated remote controls. Visitors can sign up for updates and also read the "Profiles in Innovation" series, which looks at different researchers and their work at the Labs. Finally, visitors shouldn't miss the "Human-Computer Interaction" blog, authored by researcher Lana Yarosh. [KMG]

http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/gem/

From 1903 to 2004, the "Gem of the Mountains" was the official yearbook of the University of Idaho. During this time, the Gem recorded the controversies, histories, terrific achievements, and traditions of this august institution located in the quiet town of Moscow. In 2011-2012, the entire yearbook collection was digitized and processed for online viewing. Today visitors have access to over 100 volumes, which constitute over 33,000 pages and 3 terabytes worth of image files. The homepage features a collection of Famous Vandals, including noted Chemist Malcolm MacKenzie, along with Carol Ryrie Brink, the author of "Caddie Woodlawn." Visitors can wander around via the Spines area, or might do well to check out the Covers area, in which they can choose books based on covers they find intriguing. [KMG]

http://www.lib.uci.edu/ucihistory/index.php

The industrious anteater serves as the mascot of the University of California, Irvine, and this thoughtful website tells the story of the intense growth of its rather large campus. The materials here are culled from the official university archives, and the materials are divided into three sections: History, Place, and People. First-time visitors should click on the History area to get a sense of the institution?s growth. The site includes images from the "Early Years," including historic images of the campus site selection, the first day of classes in 1965, and media coverage from those early heady days. One rather fun area here is the UCI at the Movies section, which documents the campus's appearances on film, including guest appearances in "Poltergeist" and "Ocean's Eleven." The Place area brings together historic campus maps and architectural plans. Finally, the People area includes information about the chancellors on campus and stories from alumni, as well as accounts of students, faculty, and the community. [KMG]

http://rmoa.unm.edu/docviewer.php?docId=wyu-ah09972.xml

Created as part of the larger Rocky Mountain Online Archive, this collection contains a clutch of letters written by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody to one George T. Beck. Beck was a Wyoming sheep rancher, oil land developer, and the last president of the Council of the Territory of Wyoming before it became a state in 1890. He was also trained as a mining engineer and was president of the Shoshone Irrigation Company. Most of the letters here concern Cody's interest in this company and its water project. Visitors can read the letters, look over the collection summary, and view a brief biography of Cody and Beck. It's a very interesting look into a lesser-known side of this American icon, one that reveals his intense interest in this rather involved business venture. [KMG]

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/tokyo/

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) presents this online interactive to accompany its onsite exhibition, Tokyo 1955?1970: A New Avant-Gard, which is on view November 18, 2012?February 25, 2013. The website is designed as a timeline, that actually extends before and after the exhibition period of 1955 ? 1970. For example, events as far back as the 1872 founding of Tokyo's first Art Museum, or the fact that Tokyo's population reached 12.4 million in 2003, can also be seen. Similarly, during the exhibition period, the timeline reveals works of art in context with other political and social events. A selection of timeline points from 1958 includes the opening of the S?getsu Art Center; the United States returning the Haneda Airport, which had been used as a US Army Base, to the Japanese government; and Shiraga Kazuo's painting "Untitled." There's also a map of Tokyo, which changes over time, and some works of art and events can be plotted on the map. [DS]

http://www.whatroute.net/

How does your data travel? It's a great question, and one that be answered via the use of WhatRoute. This application is a network diagnostic utility that allows users to see the geographical route of the paths that packets from your computer take as they traverse the Internet. The results can also be viewed via Google Earth, which is quite a dramatic experience. This version is compatible with computers running Mac OS X and newer. [KMG]

http://start.fruji.com/

If you're looking for a basic Twitter analytics program, you'll want to check out Fruji. A basic subscription allows users to see up to 10 of their most popular followers, identify spam accounts, and track the growth of followers and tweets. Visitors can click on the "How it Works" link at the top to learn more about how the program uses your Twitter profile to offer up some simple, yet useful, analytics. This version is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]

Mexico's president-elect aims to focus on economy during U.S. visit
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/26/politics/mexico-president-us-visit/

Opinion: Mexico isn't a gangland gunbattle
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2012/11/25/mexico-obama-drugs-middle-class/1725841/

Won't You Be My Neighbor
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/11/26/won_t_you_be_my_neighbor

The Rise of Mexico
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567081-america-needs-look-again-its-increasingly-important-neighbour-rise-mexico

Special Report: Mexico
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21566773-after-years-underachievement-and-rising-violence-mexico-last-beginning

Mexico: Brookings Institution
http://www.brookings.edu/research/topics/mexico

In the past decade, the relationship between the United States and Mexico has become increasingly strained. A cursory review of mainstream US media would make Mexico seem like a country continuously besieged by gang violence and a raft of persistent social problems. However, this narrative does not do the country justice. In fact, there is renewed hope within Mexico, and a number of US publications, such as The Economist, are happy to report on the much sunnier reality that exists south of the border. Their report notes that the country has universal free health care and that the murder rate in the country continues to fall. And of course, the trade relationship between the United States and Mexico continues to strengthen, as Mexico remains the US's second-largest commercial partner. It will be interesting to see how this complex relationship evolves over the coming years. [KMG]

The first link will take visitors to a piece about president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto's visit to meet with President Barack Obama this week. Moving on, the second link will take interested parties to a thoughtful opinion piece by Shannon O'Neill, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the social and economic realities of Mexico. The third link will take visitors to a piece by Peter Hakim from Foreign Policy about this upcoming summit meeting. The fourth link will take visitors to the first piece from The Economist's special report on Mexico's future. The fifth link leads to the entire set of articles in this report, including subjects like "A glimmer of hope," and "The ebbing Mexican wave." Finally, the last link leads to the Brookings Institution's special page of reports, media events, and fact sheets on Mexico.