·http://www.library.georgetown.edu/exhibition/aggregate-planning-and-building-lauinger-library-lauinger-librarys-35th-anniversary

This online-only exhibition commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Lauinger Library at Georgetown University. Complete with beautiful photographs and informative annotations, the site presents a chronological history of an important architectural landmark. Entries include the baseball field where the library would eventually be constructed, a number of provisional plans for the building, photos of the construction process, and popular press reviews of the finished product. Of special interest is the 1970 press release announcing that the library would be named for Joseph Mark Lauinger, an alumnus killed in the Vietnam War.[CNH]

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·http://www.facultyfocus.com/

Faculty Focus, a frequently updated, multifaceted blog from Magna Publications, is a must read for college educators who want to stay up on trends, resources, and teaching techniques. With almost two-dozen carefully chosen topics listed on the homepage, academics are sure to find something to pique their interest and stretch their knowledge. Check out App of the Week for tips on education-friendly applications for your phone, tablet, and computer. Next, take a look at the Online Education section, penned by professors experimenting with web-based formats. Creating a free account with the site allows readers to access Free Reports, a compendium of dozens of reports on topics relevant to higher education, each packed with ten to twelve citations for further investigation. The White Papers section is another excellent resource that examines some of the most important issues in academia; however, this service is available for a fee. [CNH]

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·http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/understanding-the-cosmos/

Humans have been closely observing the sky for millennia. This exhibit from the Library of Congress, entitled "Understanding the Cosmos: Changing Models of the Solar System and the Universe" includes primary sources from the ancient Greeks to the Medieval Arabic astronomers, and beyond. All files are available by HTML and for free PDF download. Begin with the astonishing 15th century Arabic manuscript by Abd Al Ra?man Ibn Umar. Look at original drawings of solar and lunar eclipses by Galileo and Copernicus. Educators will find the Teacher?s Guide, a short compendium to the exhibit, especially useful. [CNH]

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·http://www.aacc.nche.edu

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is a well-known advocate for community colleges and their students. Through various efforts, it promotes student access, learning, and success, leadership development, economic and workforce development, and global and intercultural education. This website is a mega-resource for anyone engaged in community colleges, from teachers to students to administrators. After skimming the homepage for the latest AACC developments, readers may want to navigate to Resources, where they will find a list of AACC Programs, the Career Center, the Community College Finder, Crisis Management Planning Resources, and other services. Other helpful links include Advocacy, Events, News, and Publications. [CNH]

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·https://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/center/econed/

"If ignorance paid dividends, most Americans could make a fortune out of what they don't know about economics." So says the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Luther H. Hodges. This site from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) seeks to transform that ignorance into understanding. Features include Student Interactives, Lessons, and Online Exhibitions & Facts. The Student Interactives and Lesson Plans sections are segmented for specific age groups, from the fifth grade through the end of college. Educators will want to start with the Teacher Guide accompanying each feature. For instance, the guide to the Money Mania interactive provides a background and teaching tips for social studies teachers working with students from grades nine through twelve. Links reach out into nearly limitless resources available on the IMF web page. [CNH]

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·http://omicsonline.org/psychology-psychotherapy.php

Academic psychologists publish good, empirical research all the time. But unless you belong to a large university database, it's almost impossible to access. The Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy, a peer-reviewed medical journal, seeks to address this problem by making research on mental health accessible to the general public on its free, open access website. Viewers can read the journal's mission statement on the homepage before browsing Most Viewed Articles, Current Issue, Past Issues, and Special Issues. Keyword searches are easy and the results will offer related search suggestions based on journal name or even famous authors in the subject. The journal is available in both English and French. [CNH]

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·http://library.gwu.edu/scrc

The Special Collections Research Center at George Washington University?s Gelman Library seeks to "collect, preserve, and make accessible primary resources and rare or unique materials" to researchers around the world, regardless of academic or institutional affiliation. To better understand the Collections, begin with the short video on the homepage, which provides an overview of the center?s mission, philosophy, and current holdings. The American Labor History collection is particularly noteworthy. Not only does the collection include political cartoons and memos from the labor and civil rights movements in its assortment, but a handy Labor History topic page is provided for searching facilitation. Next, take a look at Access and Use for information on how to request materials. The Collections page conveniently lists the scope of the Collections by category, including Washingtoniana, American Labor History, and many others. [CNH]?

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·http://www.dinosaurnews.org/

Publishing the latest findings and theories in the wide world of dinosaur science since 1998, Dinosaur News will raise the eyebrows of even the least paleontologically inclined. Did you know that tyrannosauruses may have hunted in packs? Are you curious where the apocalyptic asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs came from? Want to hear about the latest dinosaur exhibits from around the country ? and the world? The Dinosaur News has all this and more. Visitors can explore a variety of features, including Links We Like and What Readers Say, but may wish to start with The Dinosaurnews Daily. This newsfeed-style site is updated daily and offers exciting headlines, photos, videos, and more. Make sure to sign up for the Dinosaur News Newsletter, then tour the well-appointed bookstore and the gift shop if so desired. [CNH]

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·http://www.avianknowledge.net/

The Avian Knowledge Network is a partnership between diverse government agencies, organizations, and people across North America. Together this conglomerate of bird lovers and conservation projects seeks to promote access to tools and data for tracking and protecting avian wildlife. The News section, which includes blogs about the latest developments in the organization, is a great place to start. Next, take a look at the Nodes ? those organizations that are gathering and processing data for the project. These include Avian Knowledge Northwest, Midwest Avian Data Center, and nearly a dozen others. The Resources page features useful Fact Sheets, Reports and Publications, Presentations and Workshops, and a National Sampling Grid. [CNH]

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·http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bzppg

Produced by the BBC, The Secret History of Our Streets is a touching chronicle of Great Britain, as told through the lens of the changing landscapes of its cities and towns. Over the course of nine episodes and two seasons, the filmmakers draw out themes of class and gender, changing values, two world wars, and the rise and fall of an empire. On the site, viewers may peruse short clips from each episode, examine period photographs, and gather a sense of how life was in Britain?s past, and how these developing cultural mores have shaped the present. Non-UK residents may access full episodes via YouTube and Vimeo. [CNH]

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·http://www.unfpa.org/swp#ref_state-of-world-population-2013

Each year, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) releases an annual report highlighting new developments in world population. This year's report, The State of the World Population 2013: Motherhood in Childhood, focuses on the ramifications of adolescent pregnancy in diverse situations around the globe. While the full 132-page PDF can be downloaded in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic, the site also offers Feature Stories and Videos on such topics as teenage pregnancy in Laotian villages, South African teenage mothers, and Jamaica's new program for preventing childhood pregnancy while supporting young mothers. Previous Years' Reports are also available here and feature other important facets of population news, such as urban growth and international migration. [CNH]

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·http://www.fruitsinfo.com

Did you know that Roman Ruby grapes, a delicacy in Japan, can sell for upwards of $6,000 a pound? Do you ever wonder how many varieties of apple there are in the world? Fruitsinfo.com is an abundant resource for all things fruit related, from current research on fruits and health to fruit recipes. You can search the site by category or click on Tropical fruits for a list of dozens of fruits from the tropics, including acai, breadfruit, Burmese grapes, and many others. Also, check out Exotic fruits, Accessory fruits, and Hybrid fruits. There is much to digest on this site, and the Fruits Quiz is an especially fun way to test up on dietary facts and nutritional trivia. [CNH]

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·http://botanicaldimensions.org/

Ethnobotany is the study of how people and cultures interact with plants and the natural environment. This website by Botanical Dimensions, a leading non-profit in the field, provides an overview of ethnobotany, its tools, knowledge, and context. After perusing the Homepage, readers will want to turn to the Ethnobotany section for a helpful explication of the discipline. Next, click the Projects page, where you can read about Botanical Dimensions? past and present projects, including work in Mexico, Peru, the United States, and other countries. Photographs of projects are available in the Archives and the Articles page features blogs about events and conferences sponsored by Botanical Dimensions. [CNH]

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·http://www.interfaithdialog.org/

The Dialogue Institute of the Southwest seeks to answer the question, "How can citizens of the world live in peace and harmony?" Established as a non-profit in 2002, the Institute organizes academic and grassroots programs such as art contests, dialogue and friendship dinners, conferences and panels, and academic research, among other activities. Chapters have now been founded in Texas, New Mexico, Mississippi, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. After orienting to the Mission and Vision on the website, readers will want to access the Media link, with portals to In the Press, Press Releases, Messages, and YouTube videos of conference talks and dialogues. Anyone interested in peace studies and the use of dialogue to overcome ethnic, cultural, religious, and national strife will find myriad tools and inspirations on this valuable website. [CNH]

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·https://insighttimer.com/

What with the hundreds of new studies on meditation being published every year, more and more people are practicing around the world for stress relief, emotional regulation, and a number of physical complaints. This convenient app can be downloaded to your Android, iPhone, or iPad for free. Equipped with beautiful bells, the timer can be set for anywhere from one minute to 24 hours. The app also displays a map of the world, showing where users are currently meditating. [CNH]

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·http://www.intellinote.net/

Intellinote is designed for anyone who works in teams. Utilizing a blend of project management structures, online discussion, and collaborative note taking, this innovative app builds seamless, team-oriented projects out of convenient, shareable "workspaces." Best of all, it?s completely free for teams of up to five. Intellinote supports Windows and Apple systems and is compatible with iOS for iPhone and iPad, as well as Android. [CNH]

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Bill Gates and his wife give $1 million to gun control push
http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/26/technology/gates-gun-control/

Bill, Melinda Gates Donate $1 Million to Gun Control Campaign
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/25/bill-gates-gun-control_n_5711529.html

Bill Gates donates $1 million to US gun control campaign
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/bill-gates-donates-1million-to-us-gun-control-campaign-9693448.html

Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
http://wagunresponsibility.org/about-594/

History of gun-control legislation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/history-of-gun-control-legislation/2012/12/22/80c8d624-4ad3-11e2-9a42-d1ce6d0ed278_story.html

10 Big Questions in the U.S. Gun Control Debate
http://people.howstuffworks.com/10-questions-in-gun-control-debate.htm#page=0

There are few issues in contemporary America that arouse such unmitigated ire as gun violence and what to do about it. In fact, gun control has been a hot button topic since it?s inception during the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed the National Firearms Act through congress and effectively halted the sale of machine guns and sawed-off shotguns. These days, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms estimates there are about 310 million privately owned guns in America. The United States has a gun homicide rate 30 times higher than other developed countries like Great Britain and France. Perhaps statistics like these motivated the habitually a-political philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates to turn their attention away from health care in Africa this week, when they donated $1 million to a Washington State ballot initiative that would require background checks on gun sales and transfers. [CNH]

The first two links, from CNN Money and the Huffington Post, provide coverage of the donation from American news outlets. The third link, from British newspaper The Independent, provides a perspective from across the Atlantic. Readers can follow the fourth link to the website for the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the non-profit pushing Initiative Measure No. 594, and the recipient of the Gates's philanthropy. Interested parties might like to peruse The Washington Post?s History of Gun-Control Legislation, an excellent outline of the last 80 years of federal attempts to regulate private gun ownership. The final link will take readers to an informative, fair-minded analysis of gun control from the website, How Stuff Works.