The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 4

American Profile, from C-SPAN, has been exploring the lives and careers of lawmakers and journalists since 1982. After scouting some of the more recent videos on the landing page, readers may like to select View all videos from this series. This navigates to an archive of all 279 videos in the series, which may be investigated chronologically, by keyword, or by using the advanced search to filter by Tag, Person, Organization, Location, or Event Type. While all of the videos featured here are interesting in their own right, highlights include a panel discussion about the life and career of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, documentary producer Geoffrey O'Gara's thoughts on the life and career of Dick Cheney, a fascinating interview with former presidential candidate and Vermont Governor Howard Dean, and a panel discussion with some of the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. [CNH]

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According to the California DMV, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. It is no surprise, then, that educators, parents, and community members continue to search for ways to ameliorate the poor driving records of young people. This site, sponsored by Toyota, is designed to assist educators as they help teens learn safe and responsible driving skills. Here readers will find several interesting sections: Know Your Role, which encourages educators to practice what they teach; Test Your Knowledge, which offers a quiz designed to help educators learn some basic facts about teens and driving; Prepare Lessons, which helps educators create lessons on topics such as Factors that Impact Driving and Teen Knowledge; Create Engaging Classes, which includes a number of engaging activities, such as the Distracted Drivers Board Game and Role Playing; and, finally, tips on how to get parents involved. [CNH]

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Many readers looking for cutting edge research in scientific fields often find the material blocked by paywalls. The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) solves that problem by publishing the articles of various open access journals on the web, for free. On this page, readers will find the latest from The Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, such as the January 2016 article, "Three-Gorges Dam Fine Sediment Pollutant Transport: Turbulence SPH Model Simulation of Multi-Fluid Flows." Journal entries range from articles concerning the transport of pollutants to papers on heat transfer to tracts about convective flow under controlled conditions. Readers may peruse all issues dating back to 2008, when The Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics was founded. [CNH]

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The Scholarly Kitchen seeks to aggregate a host of opinions and insights about the world of academic publishing. Here readers will find posts dedicated to predictions about the future of the field, the increasing online networking that scholars may look forward to, the importance of empathy on the Internet, and many other topics. The approximately dozen regular bloggers on the site are insiders who work for universities and publishers and present a knowledgable perspective on a wide range of topics related to scholars, publishing, and the complex relationship between the two. With posts dating back to February 2008, readers will find a tremendous source of information on the various intricacies and trends in contemporary scholarly publishing. [CNH]

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Histography stands as a shining example of the exciting ways that web technology can make learning fun. Originally created as Matan Stauber's final project at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, the editorial stories and interactive timeline take readers into historical events that span an epic time frame, from the Big Bang to just a few months ago. Drawing from Wikipedia's seemingly infinite stash of entries, Histography self-updates daily so that readers never miss out on new interpretations of old events, or on the new events that are shaping the world today. The display is reminiscent of a sound wave; entries are ordered chronologically from left to right, increasing in quantity around certain pivotal points in history. Hovering over each black dot reveals the corresponding Wiki Page, Related Events, and even Video clips when available, while resizing the scale at the bottom of the timeline expands or narrows the focus, sharing entries that cover decades, centuries, and even millennia. Thematic timelines have also been created for certain topics, such as Literature, Music, Wars, Politics, Women's Rights, and others. From the fall of the Kanem Empire (in 1387) to the composition of the first blues song (in 1912), educators and the general reader alike will find much on the site to engage and intellectually enliven conversations of all kinds. [CNH]

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Educators assembling lessons on biotechnology will find much to appreciate in this list of teacher resources from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Here readers will find Animations, Audio files, Case studies, Images, Interactives, Lesson plans and Videos in a variety of biotech-related subjects, from agriculture to ethics to genetics. Of the many beneficial resources here, Understanding the Human Genome Project offers a nice representation of the information provided here. The link navigates to a National Institute of Health site that offers timelines, information about genes and gene sequencing, and an excellent lesson on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic research. Other resources include England's Nuffield Council on Bioethics, which features a number of excellent discussion prompts, and a Sumanas Animation site complete with biotech animations that are perfect for illuminating student understandings of the topic. [CNH]

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This set of more than two dozen Themed Resources from the Library of Congress covers topics as wide ranging as the experiences and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans to the rise of consumer culture to the importance of holidays to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Tied together by various threads of American history and culture, the resources all feature images, text, and lesson plans of outstanding quality. Readers may want to scroll down the list of topics to see what strikes their fancy. Most themed pages include primary sources, lesson plans, related exhibitions, collections, and a section for students. The Political Cartoons section is certainly a highlight, as it provides images of original cartoons dating back to the nineteenth century and concerning issues such as child labor, imperialism, unions, elections, and other topics, as well as an excellent teacher's guide, a helpful analysis tool, and a student discovery set that may prove engaging to a wide range of middle and high school students. [CNH]

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Journalist Marc Myers has been writing JazzWax, his award-winning daily jazz blog, since the summer of 2007. Along the way, he has interviewed over 300 jazz, rock, and R&B musicians, commented on rare and contemporary jazz recordings, and reviewed performances of all kinds. Jazz enthusiasts will find much to love on the site, where they may start by reading the most recent entries before delving deep into the archives. Scrolling down the homepage readers will also find links to dozens of Myers' Wall Street Journal articles, organized alphabetically by subject (in most case, musicians), or exclusive JazzWax Interviews with greats like B.B. King, Billy Joel, Buddy DeFranco, Smokey Robinson, and Sonny Rollins, among many others. Readers will also read Marc Myers: Liner Notes, Myers' reviews of albums, watch Marc Myers on Video, or explore the numerous Obits posted on the site. In all, JazzWax functions as a virtual storehouse dedicated to the greatness of jazz. [CNH]

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The London-based Reuters news agency was founded in 1851 and employs several thousand journalists in nations around the world. On the Business News Headlines section of its site, featured here, readers will find breaking economic and financial news from a range of global markets, from the United States to the European Union, to India, China, and Russia. Recent articles have examined the extent to which Volkswagen's managers knew of the emissions cheating its engineers were engaging in before the "defeat devices" scandal erupted in fall of 2015, the slumping stock prices of American Express after a disappointing earnings forecast, and the $23 million salary and bonuses that Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein earned in 2015. Readers may also select Browse By Date to call up a list of headlines, for more efficient scouting. [CNH]

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Founded in 2008, the Art Story Foundation has been working ever since to demystify modern art and share the ideas of modern and contemporary artists with the world. On the site, readers will find five main sections: Modern Artists, Styles & Movements, Timelines, Ideas & Critics, and the Art Story Blog. The Timelines are a great place to start, revealing historical overviews of the most important works in modern art, a synopsis of major trends, and a timeline of Jewish artistic achievement, among others. The Styles & Movements sections is also excellent. Here readers will find an alphabetized list of modern art's most important movements and styles. Each article provides a Synopsis, Key Ideas, and other information to help readers gain a better understanding. In addition, Artists can be scouted alphabetically, with biographies of Josef Albers, Grace Hartigan, Pablo Picasso, and dozens of others who have shaped modern art in the 20th century. [CNH]

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Residential Architect, a Journal of the American Institute of Architects, isn't only for residential architects. Anyone who is interested in the latest trends in home building and design will find fascinating articles, photos, and more from this excellent resource. For example, "North Carolina's 2015 Matsumoto Prize Awards Six Modern Houses" features six incredible, award-winning houses, including the modern, environmentally responsible, 1,750-square-foot Aiyyer Residence. Located in Carrboro, North Carolina, the cube-style house boasts a zinc wall inspired by tree bark and takes advantage of the wooden lot and excellent daylight through well-placed windows. Or readers may prefer to watch author Sarah Susanka expound on the principles of her Not So Big book series, which clarifies how modern architects can meet sustainability goals by building reasonably sized houses. Readers may also like to scout the journal by sectional tabs, which include Projects, Tech & Products, Practice, Culture & Criticism, and Awards. A simple search function and a bi-monthly newsletter also make it easy to find and stay up-to-date on plenty of beautiful and interesting building ideas. [CNH]

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Mindfulness has gone mainstream. Anyone who has read the recent articles in the New York Times, the Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, or any of the other dozens of news outlets that are now covering the introduction of mindfulness into schools, offices, and other settings, will know that mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. For those who would like to know more, this special section from Psychology Today features dozens of articles and posts on the topic, including advice on how to live in the present, tips on how to build a mindfulness practice, overviews of current research on mindfulness, and even how mindfulness might help people suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. The articles are organized by sections such as Live in the Moment, Mindful Eating, A Mindful Life, and Recent Posts on Mindfulness. Indeed, for readers looking for a more comprehensive look at this growing trend, this collection of material can be a wonderful first step. [CNH]

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Started by photographer, archivist, and curator Anusha Yadav in 2010, the Indian Memory Project uses photographs and textual narratives from family archives to contextualize the rich history and culture of the Indian subcontinent. The best way to explore the site is with the Interactive Timeline, which can be located under The Project tab. Here they will find resources arranged in chronological order and accompanied by short annotations from the contributor. For instance, an image from around 1860 showcases the contributor, Jenny Mallin's, great, great, great grandparents. Mallin then details how members of her family sailed to India in 1798, and that Ms. Mallin still cooks out of her family's 150-year-old cookbook. Or, circa 1915, readers may be interested in a group wedding photograph in which friends and family pose for a snapshot in Kakinada. The narratives, photographs, and letters that make up the Indian Memory Project have been contributed by readers all over the world, and, of course, readers are encouraged to contribute their own histories to continue the conversation. [CNH]

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The Colorado Virtual Library is an innovative site brought to the world by the Colorado State Library. Here readers will find invitations to connect with Colorado's information resources, such as archives and library exhibits, as well as excellent technology advice, connections to Colorado newspapers, and a range of excellent history resources. Readers may like to begin by scouting the landing page, which opens with a selection of Popular Posts culled from the various sections of the website. One of these sections, Technology Tips, may be especially interesting and helpful for readers who are new to technology and the Internet. Meanwhile, the For Libraries section features stories, inspiration, and tips and techniques that may prove beneficial for librarians around the country. The real winner here, however, may be the Digital Colorado section, where readers may scout Digital News and Colorado Histories. This last area is organized in a way that allows readers to browse the state's history by era (Colorado Beginnings, Boom Years, or 20th Century & Beyond) or by alphabetically organized biographies. [CNH]

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Based on the research of Richard S. Dunn, the Tale of Two Plantations website provides a glimpse into the lives of about 2,000 slaves at Mesopotamia plantation, a sugar estate in western Jamaica, and Mount Airy plantation in tidewater Virginia. The site covers two overlapping time periods, 1762 to 1833 at Mesopotamia, and 1808 to 1865 at Mount Airy. One significant point of contrast between the two plantations is that at Mesopotamia, many more slaves died than were born, while at Mount Airy it was the reverse. This in turn meant that in Jamaica the slave owners imported large numbers of new slaves to replace those who had died. In Virginia, the owners sold off many slaves. Both procedures lead to the break up of families, underscoring the importance of the family records at the site. Family trees and lists for three families at the Mesopotamia plantation and four at Mount Airy can be viewed on this website, enhanced with detailed information about most of the individuals listed. There is also a hand drawn diagram of the largest of these families, Sally Thurston's, traced through four generations from 1801 to 1865. Richard Dunn extended Thurston's chart to 1870, and located fifty-one members of the Thurston family in the U.S. Census. [DS]

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Jing, a free screen capture app, is the next generation in screen shot software. Not only is it tremendously easy to use and creates excellent screen shots, it also offers extra capabilities that other similar apps can't. For instance, Jing captures video. So if readers want to record a YouTube or Vimeo clip that is playing on their desktop, they can adjust the X and Y axes to include, capture for the amount of time they desire, and then save to their computer or share to social media. Users may also use Jing to capture exactly what is happening on their own monitor. This feature easily lets users build tutorials or show friends simple shots from their desktops. After signing up for a free account, Windows and Mac downloads are available from the site. [CNH]

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For educators and others looking for new ways to organize their digital resources, LiveBinders offers a free and savvy way to create portfolios, share class materials with students, and find educational resources for both students and teachers. Each created binder receives its own title, description, and tag, as well as an access key (for when users share the binder with others). Users may then gather resources like websites, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel files, and others into their binders. Binders can also be placed on shelves, making organization streamlined and effective. Readers will likely benefit from watching the short introductory video that displays after creating the first binder. For further questions, the Help function can be very informative. [CNH]

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