El Dorado County Library's What's New on the Internet for the Week of April 6th, 2009

What's Hot on the Internet This Week
Week of April 6th, 2009
The arrow indicates a highly recommended site and the check points to a site with local information.

100 Ways To Conserve | Water – Use It Wisely

This Website provides consumers with some easy and commonsense methods of saving water during the hot summer months and, if fact, year-round. So, get ready to save, for as the title suggests, this site provides "Over 100 water saving tips that educate you on simple ways to save water." These include household tips and water-saving schemes for your yard and gardens. Other tips on water conservation can be found at this site from Earth Easy: 25 Ways to Conserve Water at Home. (Subject(s): Conservation & Water)

April Fools' Day Facts: Behind the Laughs: Written by Graeme Stemp-Morlock for National Geographic News (March 28, 2008). Well the joke (or the foolishness) is that we're late getting this site up on the list! "For the eager prankster, nothing beats April Fools' Day, a light-hearted tradition that's several hundred years old. "A lot of people think [April Fools' Day] is just obnoxious, and just wish it would stop," said Alex Boese, curator of the Museum of Hoaxes in San Diego, California." However, "The origins of April Fools' Day are shrouded in mystery, experts say." As such, read the article and see how April Fools Day got started and how it has changed over the years. (Subject(s): April Fools Day--History)
British Museum - Arabic Script: Mightier than the Sword: "The phrase 'the pen is mightier than the sword' expresses a universal recognition of the power of the written word. A defining feature of Islamic civilisation has been its widespread use of writing. Writing has a profound significance because Arabic was both the language of God's revelation to the Prophet Muhammad in the early seventh century AD and the script in which the Qur'an, the holy book of Muslims, was written down." And this site, produced by The British Museum, traces the history of the script. (Subject(s): Writing--History)
BookFinder: "BookFinder.com is a one-stop ecommerce search engine that searches over 150 million books for sale—new, used, rare, out-of-print, and textbooks. We save you time and money by searching every major catalog online, and letting you know which booksellers are offering the best prices and selection. When you find a book you like, you can buy it directly from the original seller; we never charge a markup. The BookFinder.com website is part of the BookFinder.com/JustBooks network, produced by a team of high-tech librarians and programmers based in Berkeley, California, and Düsseldorf, Germany. We are heavy readers, and buy several dozen books every year using our own search engine." (Subject(s): Books & Searching--Meta Search Engines)
Breathing Earth: CO2 Emissions, Birth Rate & Death Rate Simulation: "Welcome to Breathing Earth. This real-time simulation displays the CO2 emissions of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates. Please remember that this real time simulation is just that: a simulation. Although the CO2 emission, birth rate and death rate data used in Breathing Earth comes from reputable sources, data that measures things on such a massive scale can never be 100% accurate. Please note however that the CO2 emission levels shown here are much more likely to be too low than they are to be too high." -- David Bleja. (Subject(s): Global Warming)
California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES): "The California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES) is a program of the California Resources Agency established to facilitate access to a variety of electronic data describing California's rich and diverse environments. The goal of CERES is to improve environmental analysis and planning by integrating natural and cultural resource information from multiple contributors and by making it available and useful to a wide variety of users. CERES collects and integrates data and information and distributes it via the World Wide Web, tapping into important information sources and contributing to advances in the science of data management and metadata cataloging by encouraging cooperation among governmental, educational, and private groups." (Subject(s): CERES)
California Labor History: "Welcome to the California Labor History Map website, which enables users to explore, by location, date, or text search, over 1200 key events in the state’s labor history that have affected the lives of working people. Detailed short essays describe the larger historical context surrounding many of these events... An exhibit in the California State Capitol featured the printed California Labor History Map with photographs and posters illustrating 11 important labor history events involving state government." (Subject(s): Labor--California--History)
California State Historical Landmarks in El Dorado County: "County California State Historical Landmarks in El Dorado County Properties of historical importance in California are currently designated as significant resources in three state registration programs: State Historical Landmarks, Points of Historical Interest, and the California Register of Historic Places. Below is a list of the State Historical Landmarks for El Dorado County. This data is provided by the Office of Historic Preservation - California Department of Parks and Recreation and is also available in the California Historical Landmarks Book." (Subject(s): El Dorado County (Calif.)--History)
Casanova Research Page: This Web database and information page bills itself as "A resource and meeting place for the general public and for scholars interested in the life and works of the Venetian adventurer and autobiographer Giacomo Casanova." An Italian by birth, Casanova traveled throughout Europe during his long life which ended in 1798 in Dux, in what is now the Czech Republic. This site provides details of his adventurous life and a list of his many books. (Subject(s): Casanova, Giacomo, 1725-1798)
DanteWorlds: "Welcome to Danteworlds, an integrated multimedia journey--combining artistic images, textual commentary, and audio recordings--through the three realms of the afterlife (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise) presented in Dante's Divine Comedy. The site is structured around a visual representation of Dante's worlds: it shows who and what appear where. Click on regions within each realm (circles of Hell, terraces of Purgatory, spheres of Paradise) to open new pages featuring people and creatures whom the character Dante meets during his journey. Click on individual figures in the regions to view larger images in pop-up windows. Available for each region are explanatory notes, a gallery of artistic images, recordings of significant Italian verses, and study questions--all aimed at enriching the experience of reading Dante's poetic vision of a voyage literally out of this world. Danteworlds is conceived as a complement to--not replacement of--the experience of reading and discussing Dante's Divine Comedy." (Subject(s): Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321)
Darkness Visible: a Resource for Studying Milton's Paradise Lost: "This website was conceived with that first reading and the journey it started in view. There are a lot of very good Milton resources available on the web, but many of these sites are aimed at a scholarly readership which has already undergone years of academic training. darkness visible was put together specifically for those attempting their first or second reading of Paradise Lost, whether at sixth form, at university or in private study. Our aim has been to discuss this challenging epic with an accessibility that will enable those new to Milton to familiarize themselves with the poet, his work and his themes, but without patronizing the reader or shying away from more difficult ideas. There is a variety of resources on offer for the teacher or student of Paradise Lost to explore: a plot summary, character descriptions, essays with suggestions for further reading, a biography of the poet, and a gallery of illustrations including some interactive images. Darkness visible was composed by members of Christ's College, Cambridge, where Milton studied from 1625 to 1632. It was commissioned as part of the college's year-long celebration of the poet's 400th birthday... " -- Katharine Fletcher (January 2008). (Subject(s): Milton, John. Paradise Lost)
The "Fargo Flood" Homepage: This site has been created by North Dakota University to provide up-to-date information on the rising waters in the Red River around and through Fargo, North Dakota. As of April 3rd, 2009 the River had fallen to levels beneath its crest and the flood danger has slightly diminished. But you can continue to follow the news about the potential disaster right here. (Subject(s): Fargo (North Dakota)--News)
Forbidden Library: Banned and Challenged Books: "The books listed on my site were all challenged on some grounds by groups who wished to impose restrictions on them. Some were removed from reading lists, some were removed from school or public libraries, some were burned in bonfires. I do not claim that all of the books in my list are for the same age group, nor do I believe they are all equally suitable for academic reading lists. I merely report documented challenges to books, and in some cases poke fun at the rationale used by those who object to the works mentioned." -- Janet Yanosko Elkins. (Subject(s): Books & Censorship)
Generations Online in 2009: This report has been prepared by Sydney Jones, Research Assistant and Susannah Fox, Associate Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project (January 28, 2009): "Contrary to the image of Generation Y as the "Net Generation," internet users in their twenties do not dominate every aspect of online life. Generation X is the most likely group to bank, shop and look for health information online. Boomers are just as likely as Generation Y to make travel reservations online. And even Silent Generation internet users are competitive when it comes to email (although teens might point out that this is proof that email is for old people)." Thus begins an article on who and which age group most uses the Internet. (Subject(s): Internet--Statistics)

How Swiss Bank Accounts Work

This page is part of the How Stuff Works Website. It was written by Lee Ann Obringer: "James Bond enters a Swiss bank in Spain and is frisked before he can meet with the banker. In the "Da Vinci Code," a triangular-shaped key activates a robotic arm that pulls a safety deposit box from the wall in a Swiss bank in Paris to ultimately reveal the secret to Christianity. The funny thing is neither of these scenes would actually happen in a real Swiss bank. There is no such robotic system and, while Swiss banks do have security, they don't search their clients before letting them access accounts. Most of us have formed ideas about what Swiss bank accounts are and how they work based on scenes like these that we've seen in the movies, read in books, or maybe even heard in the news. In other words, most of us have a distorted or mostly unrealistic view of what it really means to have the prestigious Swiss bank account. Let's dig deeper into Swiss Bank Accounts and see how they started, who can have an account and unlock the mystery." (Subject(s): Banks--Switzerland)

HybridCars: Auto Alternatives for the 21st Century: "HybridCars.com is the Internet’s premier website dedicated to hybrid gas-electric vehicles and the full range of consumer information and tools about cars, energy, and the environment. Car reviews, interactive tools, news, and user forums are designed to help car shoppers make informed purchase decisions. Content from HybridCars.com is syndicated to Yahoo!Autos, Autotrader.com, Automart.com, BusinessWeek Online, and numerous newspaper, television, and radio station websites. HybridCars.com works closely with R. L. Polk to produce its Hybrid Market Dashboard, and with academic institutions and industry analysts to conduct research related to the emerging market for hybrid, alternative fuel, and electric cars." (Subject(s): Automobiles, Hybrid)
IRS: Frequently Asked Tax Questions and Answers: As the Income tax filing deadline is about a week away, I thought you might need to query the IRS and their Website. Here's a set of a few of the more common tax and filing questions and answers so that you don't have to try to call the Agency at this late date and get placed on hold. Additionally, the IRS has now partnered with Free File Alliance LLC to allow those whose adjusted income is under $50,000 to file online for free. Use this site Free File Home to learn about and then if you qualify to access the service. (Subject(s): Internal Revenue Service & Taxes)
Jerusalem History: "Jerusalem is a religious center sacred to all three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Religious pilgrims from all nations continue to congregate in the Holy City and millions of people flow through the gates of Jerusalem each year. References to the city of Jerusalem appear throughout the entire Scriptures." This story is presented by the Holyland Network. Wikipedia also traces the history of the city in this article entitled Jerusalem. (Subject(s): Jerusalem--History)
The Official Website of Mark Twain: "On Nov. 30, 1835, the small town of Florida, Mo. witnessed the birth of its most famous son. Samuel Langhorne Clemens was welcomed into the world as the sixth child of John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens. Little did John and Jane know, their son Samuel would one day be known as Mark Twain - America's most famous literary icon." This "official" site for Mr. Clemens "includes a biography, a writings section, photographs, quotes, fast facts, downloads, a web store and more." Now Twain was a famous for his wit as he was for his stories, so visit this site to sample a whole series of Twain Quotes. (Subject(s): Twain, Mark, 1835-1910)
Medpedia: "The Medpedia Project is a long-term, worldwide project to evolve a new model for sharing and advancing knowledge about health, medicine and the body among medical professionals and the general public. This model is founded on providing a free online technology platform that is collaborative, interdisciplinary and transparent. Read more about the model. Users of the platform include physicians, consumers, medical and scientific journals, medical schools, research institutes, medical associations, hospitals, for-profit and non-profit organizations, expert patients, policy makers, students, non-professionals taking care of loved ones, individual medical professionals, scientists, etc." (Subject(s): Medicine)
Movies.com: "Get movie night right with Movies.com. Find movie reviews, play trailers and more for movies in theaters and on DVD. Search movie showtimes and buy tickets for theaters near you." Yow! It must be Friday night and time to hit the multiplex! This site is now part of Fandango. (Subject(s): Motion Pictures)
Eukanuba Puppy Guide: This owner's guide to raising your puppy has been placed online by the pet food supplier Eukanuba: "Owning a puppy is one of life’s biggest joys – and a big responsibility. The Eukanuba Puppy Guide will help you navigate through that all-important first year of life. From handling the first night at home to house training, this is your all-inclusive resource to help your good puppy become a great dog. Reference this guide often and you, too, can be a great owner. Your new puppy will thank you with years of love and devotion." (Subject(s): Dogs)
RecipeBridge | Find Any Recipe: "RecipeBridge.com makes it easy to find any recipe on the Internet. Search hundreds of cooking websites, blogs, and magazines with RecipeBridge." You can use this site to find 1,288,141 (as or 4/3/09) different recipes. You can search by ingredient, recipe or meal. (Subject(s): Recipes)
Rothschild Haggadah: This Website presents the digitized version of the "Rothschild Haggadah." "The so-called “Rothschild Haggadah” or “Murphy Haggadah” has a fascinating history. Until 1939 it was in the possession of the Rothschild family, but during World War II it was looted by the Nazis and disappeared. After the war, the Haggadah was acquired by a distinguished Yale alumnus, Dr. Fred Towsley Murphy who bequeathed it to the Yale University Library in 1948. In 1980 it was identified as a Rothschild manuscript and returned to its former owners who donated it to the Jewish National and University Library (now the National Library of Israel) where it is now preserved. The manuscript was missing three leaves, probably detached before it was acquired by the Rothschilds. Recently two of the missing illuminated leaves were offered for sale and were purchased for the Library through the generosity of two anonymous donors. This digitized version of the manuscript includes the two recently acquired leaves." NOTE: "These images are presented in DjVu format. In order to view the images you must have installed on your computer the DjVu viewer. To download the free viewer plug-in click here: DjVu Viewer Plug-in." (Subject(s): Haggadah)
BBC - Science & Nature: This Website has been presented by the BBC to demonstrate "The best of BBC Science and Nature, from TV and radio, to the web and beyond. Take a tour from the smallest atoms, to the largest whales and the most ferocious dinosaurs. Travel from the bottom of the ocean to the furthest stars." (Subject(s): Nature & Science)
State of Alaska Homepage: This year is the 50th anniversary of both Alaska and Hawaii becoming part of the United States. This is the official homepage for our most northern State, the largest and least densely populated in the Union. You can even participate in or at least find out about their half-century Anniversary by going to this special page The Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission. (Subject(s): Alaska)
SwissBanking - Opening a Bank Account: Ok, so you finally have a bit of money and want it to be totally safe. Well, of course, you need a private Swiss bank account! So, how do you go about it? Well, here are the country's banking rules and particulars. "In principle, any adult person can open an account at a bank in Switzerland. However, banks reserve the right to reject customers. For example, a bank might refuse to offer banking services to a so-called "politically-exposed person" who the bank believes would pose too great a reputational risk if he or she were to become a client. A bank might also refuse to start a banking relationship if it has doubts about the origins of the potential client's funds because Swiss banks are forbidden by law to accept money which they know or must assume stem from crime." But persevere, they'll still take your dough. (Subject(s): Banks--Switzerland)
THOMAS: In the Spirit of Thomas Jefferson, Legislative Information From the Library of Congress: "The Library of Congress THOMAS site is the source for federal legislative information. THOMAS provides several options for finding bills, resolutions, and legislative histories from 1973 to the present. Legislative information can be searched across multiple Congresses. THOMAS is also the source for presidential nominations, treaties, committee reports, legislative resources for researchers and teachers. THOMAS draws on the resources of the Library of Congress to provide users with valuable and historical information related to the legislative process." (Subject(s): United States. Congress)

10 Literary One-Hit Wonders

This short article was published by the Times Online on March 17th, 2009: "Luke Leitch looks at those authors for whom one novel proved quite enough." While most of the works listed here have had lasting fame, some of the authors on the list may surprise you; others, like John Kennedy Toole, probably will not. A companion article by Mr. Leitch is his take on 10 Spectacular Second Novels, thus squaring the circle. Whilst I was looking for an article on "the filthiest 3rd" or the "craven 9th" novel, Mr. Leitch has thus additionally printed only this short tome 10 Cursed Second Novels, thus rounding the triangle. (Subject(s): Books & Writers)


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