 HubbleSite -- Out of the Ordinary...Out of This World
- "Nearly 400 years after Galileo first observed the heavens through a telescope, we continue to seek answers to age-old questions about the universe. And while the technology has evolved over the centuries, the inquiry remains essentially the same: What's out there, where did it come from, and what does it mean? At the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), we're working hard to study and explain the once-unimaginable celestial phenomena now made visible using Hubble's cutting-edge technology. In the course of this exploration we will continue to share with you the grace and beauty of the universe, because the discoveries belong to all of us." (Subject(s): )
- Images of Russia and Caucasus Region 1929-1933
- "This digital collection presents over 700 images of Russia and the Caucasus region, particularly of rural areas in Georgia and Dagestan. The photographs, taken by William O. Field in the late 1920s and early 1930s, are housed at the American Geographical Society Library. The photographic collection is supplemented by Field's diaries and travel notes, and a selection of maps of the Caucasus region. William O. Field (1904 – 1994), geographer, pioneer glaciologist, and a member of the American Geographical Society visited the Soviet Union three times between 1929 and 1933.... In addition to visiting Georgia, Field also traveled to Moscow and other Russian cities taking photographs of historical buildings and May 1st celebrations. In 1933 he visited remote areas of Dagestan taking pictures of hillside villages and the Dagestani people." The photographs from this exhibition are housed in the campus library at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. (Subject(s): )
- Jefferson's Monticello: The Vegetable Garden
- "The vegetable garden evolved over many years, beginning in 1770 when crops were first cultivated along the contours of the slope. Terracing was introduced in 1806, and by 1812, gardening activity was at its peak. The 1,000-foot-long terrace, or garden plateau, was literally hewed from the side of the mountain with slave labor, and it was supported by a massive stone wall that stood over twelve feet in its highest section. One contemporary visitor remarked on the dramatic "sea view" across the rolling Piedmont countryside." Thus begins this online description of the historic vegetable garden at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. You can take a virtual tour of the grounds and gardens and the house via the Monticello Explorer. (Subject(s): Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 & Monticello (Va.))
- Julia Morgan — An Online Exhibition
- "Many myths surround Julia Morgan's career, but one of the most persistent is the legend that she destroyed the records of her nearly fifty-year practice when she retired in 1951. In fact, Morgan carefully preserved thousands of architectural plans, drawings, sketchbooks, photographs, correspondence, project files, and other personal and professional papers, which were given to California Polytechnic State University by her heirs in 1980. Generous donors have made several other significant gifts of Morgan materials to the Kennedy Library, including plans and sketches for residential and business commissions, and the research files of the late architectural historian, Sara Holmes Boutelle, who wrote the first book-length biography of the architect." These papers are held at the Robert E. Kennedy Library on the campus of California Polytechnic State University. (Subject(s): Morgan, Julia)
 Make 'Em Laugh: the Funny Business of America | PBS
- "Did you hear the one about PBS airing a comedy series? It’s no joke, but it is funny. In January 2009, PBS will present the series MAKE ’EM LAUGH: The Funny Business of America, a six-hour comedy epic showcasing the most hilarious men, women, and moments in American entertainment and why they made us laugh. Hosted by America’s favorite funnyman, Billy Crystal, the documentary explores the currents of American comedy throughout a century of social and political change, illuminating how comedy has tackled and poked fun at our political system, race relations, gender issues, and the prevailing American standards and taboos in everyday life." And, the joke is that this is the companion Website for that program complete with video feeds for some of the episodes and information about the comedians and their humor. (Subject(s): Comedians & Humor)
- Mark Twain: Our Original Superstar
- Written by Roy Blount, Jr. (Thursday, Jul. 03, 2008) for Time Magazine, this article explains how much of the humor (and literature) that we enjoy today originated with one popular, cantankerous writer of the 19th century, Mark Twain: "Whether Twain was talking about racism at home, the foreign misadventures of the Western powers or the excesses of the era of greed he initially flourished in after the Civil War, his target was always human folly and hypocrisy, which turn out to be perennial topics for further study." Read this article by Roy Blount (himself a pretty humorous fellow) that will force you to feel that Twain was the wittiest man ever in America. (Subject(s): Twain, Mark, 1835-1910)
- Monstrous Craws & Character Flaws (Library of Congress - Swann Foundation)
- This is a companion Website for "An exhibition in the Swann Gallery of Caricature and Cartoon at the Library of Congress, February 25 - July 6, 1998." "For centuries great graphic artists have created enduring images that demonstrate the power of art as a vehicle for social and political commentary. Caricatures and cartoons are among the most lasting and effective of these images. These drawings, often depicting principal events and figures of the day, become in the hands of a master at once topical and timeless, unique and universal." "All objects in this exhibition, unless otherwise noted, are preserved in the Prints and Photographs Division. This exhibition was prepared with support from the Caroline and Erwin Swann Memorial Fund for Caricature and Cartoon." (Subject(s): Cartoons and Comics--History)
 New Europe - The European News Source
- This Website provides visitors with "The latest European and international news with special sections on energy news, European union news, economic news, European commission news, European parliament news, business news, transantic relations news, comment and analyses from New Europe News: The European News Source neurope.eu." (Subject(s): Europe--News)
- A Nursery of Patriotism: the University at War, 1861-1945
- "The Civil War took a particularly harsh toll on the University of North Carolina. Student enrollment dropped from an 1859 pre-war high of 456 to just sixty students as the war ended in 1865... The idea of the university as a "nursery of patriotism" had a certain appeal to us. After all, the university had been founded by patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War. We wondered how the students and faculty were impacted by war... The Nursery of Patriotism exhibit focuses on the Civil War, World War I, and World War II and is organized according to the major topics that emerged as we completed research. Previous work on the Documenting the American South collection "The First Century of the First State University" had already given us a strong background on the Civil War and Reconstruction era of the university's history. Researching World War I and World War II turned out to be full of surprises. There was a wealth of information about the university's involvement in both wars in the administrative records in University Archives, private papers in the Southern Historical Collection, and published material in the North Carolina Collection. As is always the case when doing research for an exhibit, we reached a point where we simply had to conclude our research and move on with the business of selection. We hope you will enjoy the result." (Subject(s): University of North Carolina--History)
- SleepGuide - Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the People
- "So many people get a CPAP [Continuous positive airway pressure] delivered to them, become frustrated and then give up. Others never even come to the realization that they have a common, chronic sleep disorder called Sleep Apnea -- they think it's their lot in life to be tired, irritable, miserable, depressed. One thing that is certain though is that the outlook does not have to be so grim. Many people have successfully treated their Sleep Apnea through CPAP or other means and have turned around their lives. This forum was started by individuals who have sleep apnea, who want to provide for what's in our best interests, without regard for what's in the interests of sleep labs, manufacturers, insurance companies, equipment providers and others." Other information on the issue can be found at the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) (Subject(s): Sleep & Sleep Disorders)
- The State of Birds 2009
- "Birds are a priceless part of America’s heritage. They are beautiful, they are economically important—and they reflect the health of our environment. This State of the Birds report reveals troubling declines of bird populations during the past 40 years—a warning signal of the failing health of our ecosystems. At the same time, we see heartening evidence that strategic land management and conservation action can reverse declines of birds. This report calls attention to the collective efforts needed to protect nature’s resources for the benefit of people and wildlife." (Subject(s): Birds & Environment)
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese - Rivals in Renaissance Venice
- Companion Website for continuing exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: "In the sixteenth century, Venice was one of the largest and richest cities in Europe. A steady demand for paintings from both local and international clients fostered a climate of exceptional competition and innovation. “Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice” is the first major exhibition dedicated to the artistic rivalry of the three greatest Venetian painters of the sixteenth century. Although forty years separate the birth of Titian from that of Veronese, the careers of the three painters overlapped for almost four decades. The eloquent record of their artistic dialogue is most apparent when the powerful canvases each produced are considered side-by-side. Juxtapositions of two, three, and sometimes four paintings demonstrate how much these three artists were influenced by one another and how they used their paintings as critiques. Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese together created a body of work that defined a “Venetian style” through loose technique, rich coloring, and often pastoral or sensual subject matter. These elements inspired countless later artists, promoting a Venetian current in painting up to the twentieth century." (Subject(s): Painters--Italy, Painting, Italian--Italy--Venice, Titian, ca. 1488-1576, Tintoretto, 1518-1594 & Veronese, 1528-1588)
 Internet Archive | Universal Newsreels
- "In the pre-TV era, people saw the news every week in their neighborhood movie theaters. Newsreels were shown before every feature film and in dedicated newsreel theaters located in large cities. Universal Newsreel, produced from 1929 to 1967, was released twice a week. Each issue contained six or seven short stories, usually one to two minutes in length, covering world events, politics, sports, fashion, and whatever else might entertain the movie audience. These newsreels offer a fascinating and unique view of an era when motion pictures defined our culture and were a primary source of visual news reporting. Universal City Studios gifted Universal Newsreel to the American people, put the newsreels into the public domain, and gave film materials to the National Archives in 1976. Surviving materials from the entire collection are available at the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland." (Subject(s): Universal Pictures--News)
- Women's History Month (Library of Congress)
- "March is Women's History Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society.... In 2009, the National Women's History Project honors women who have taken the lead in the environmental or “green” movement. Rachel Carson, the founder of the contemporary environmental movement, serves as the iconic model of the theme, which recognizes scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders, or others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save the planet." (Subject(s): )
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