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| New This Week for August 28, 2008 |
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This Week Rakishness, reasons to write and sentence diagramming so you know what you're really saying, back-to-school stuff, food irradiation, expert witnesses, painted wildlife, and more pencils than you can shake a stick at. Bon appetit from librarians Charlotte, Jennifer, Wendy, and Maria. Tip of the Week We also added a couple neat environmental websites and thought this would be a good week to plug our garbage, recycling, and reuse section. |
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Arts and Humanities
Birds of the Brumidi Corridors: "To Make Beautiful the Capitol"
This exhibit features sample images from "Constantino Brumidi (1805-1880) [who] included designs for more than 350 individual birds of at least 100 species in the Senate corridors that today bear his name. This finely rendered aviary is part of a sophisticated decorative scheme inspired by early 15th-century Renaissance frescoes in the Vatican Palace." Find images of game birds, land birds, birds of prey, wetland birds, and more. From the United States Senate.
URL: http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/birds/introduction.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/22940
Getting the Picture: Illustrated Letters in the Archives of American Art
This presentation of artists' illustrated letters encompasses "exuberant thank you notes, winsome love letters, lively reports of current events, graphic instructions and other personalized communiqués from the early nineteenth century through the 1980s." Browse by artist (such as Marcel Duchamp, Winslow Homer, or Man Ray) or date (1890-1989). Letters are from the collection of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.
URL: http://www.aaa.si.edu/guides/curators%2Dpicture/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/22976
Oudry's Painted Menagerie
The website for this past exhibition features images of the work of Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686–1755), who was "one of the finest painters of animals in European Art. ... [It] features his vibrant animal portraits as well as decorative arts inspired by the craze for exotic animals in 18th-century Europe." Also provides an exhibition overview, "menagerie switch" game and blog entries. From the Getty Museum, Los Angeles. (Some features may not work in all browsers.)
URL: http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/oudry/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23934
Sentence Diagrams
Learn about one way of learning English grammar: sentence diagramming. Includes examples of the basics of sentence diagramming, and diagrams of sentences by contemporary journalists and from the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address, and first pages of literature. Includes information for purchasing books on the subject. By an educator and author.
URL: http://www.geocities.com/gene_moutoux/diagrams.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26408
Why Write?
"These pages will allow you to explore how writing can incorporate sight, sound, touch and gesture. You will also see the ways in which cultural, social, historical and personal circumstances influence the way we write and the scripts we create." Features illustrated essays on why we write (including alternatives to writing), how writing works (creating scripts and tools and materials), and ways of writing; an alphabet gallery; and alphabet activities. From the British Library.
URL: http://www.bl.uk/learning/artimages/why/whywrite.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26414
Business
Brand Name Pencils
"This site has been designed to visually introduce to you the incredibly diverse world of brand name pencils. ... [Y]ou will be amazed at the sheer number of pencil brands once produced in the USA and abroad." Browse images of pencils by over 100 brands, or by pencil types (such as copying, long ferrule, over sized ferrule, and WWII-era). From an enthusiast.
URL: http://www.brandnamepencils.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25440
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Back to School
Collection of statistics relating to education and employment. Provides data about unemployment rate and weekly earnings for different levels of education, a list of careers with above average wages and high projected growth, graphs of school enrollment by sex, and information about teacher wages. Includes links to related material. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Division of Information Services.
URL: http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2007/back_to_school/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26734
The Keys to Hiring a Reputable Locksmith
This consumer alert provides tips for finding a locksmith, particularly in emergency situations when you are locked out of your car or home. Some of the tips include verifying that a locksmith is local, asking for the legal name of a business, getting an estimate, asking for identification, and getting an itemized invoice. From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
URL: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt032.shtm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26643
Government
The Candidates in Print
Summary of sections of books by 2008 presidential candidates. Cover books such as Joe Biden's autobiography "Promises to Keep," (discussing Catholicism and core beliefs, and losing a wife and child), John McCain's autobiography "Worth Fighting For" (describing his move from soldier to politician and his maverick reputation), and Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" (outlining his childhood and stance on issues). Includes links to related material. From Time magazine.
URL: http://www.time.com/time/2007/candidates_books/biden/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26778
Facts for Features Special Edition: 2008 Presidential Nominating Conventions
Collection of "social, economic, demographic and business data for the two host cities [of the 2008 presidential nominating conventions], or their surrounding counties." Includes statistics for the Denver, Colorado (site of the Democratic National Convention, beginning August 25) and St. Paul, Minnesota (site of the Republican National Convention, starting September 1). From the United States Census Bureau.
URL: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_fe...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26777
Health
Working Out: Raking Leaves
Safety tips for raking leaves, which "is considered moderate physical activity, similar to a brisk walk. ... It helps build upper-body strength, as well as core strength, or strength in your back and stomach." Covers posture and back safety, tips for leaf bagging, and other advice for leaf raking. From the AARP.
URL: http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/work_out/a2004-10-27-rakingleaves.h...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26773
Home & Housing
myGreenElectronics
This website features a ZIP code look-up for electronics recycling facilities and listings of electronics (such as computers, home theater, and televisions) that are energy efficient, made of recycled materials, or have other green properties. Includes reuse and recycling tips related to electronics. From the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade organization promoting consumer technology.
URL: http://www.mygreenelectronics.org/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26724
RoofRay
This website allows users to model roof solar arrays and determine monthly solar energy potential and perform a financial analysis of the system. The "Shedding Light" features nearby sample solar arrays entered in the system. A blog contains updates about features of the site, which was launched in August 2008.
URL: http://www.roofray.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26725
Law
Expert Witnesses: Researching Factual Experts to Use in Litigation
Research guide on expert witnesses, who are used by lawyers to "help demonstrate and provide foundation for the factual bases for their clients' claims or defenses." Includes books, websites, and commercial databases. From the Marian Gould Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington.
URL: http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/experts.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26723
Law Tips Archive: Expert Witnesses
Small collection of annotated links to websites for locating expert witnesses, focusing mostly on experts for the U.S. legal system. From the Wirtz Labor Law Library, U.S. Department of Labor.
URL: http://www.dol.gov/oasam/library/law/lawtips/witness.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26721
People
Black Europeans
Series of features on black Europeans, including Alexander Pushkin, Alexandre Dumas, George Polgreen Bridgetower, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and John Archer. Individual sections include essays, images, and sound samples. Also provides and introduction about black Europeans, noting that in recent years there has been "a new drive to explore and understand the hidden or ignored contribution of people of African descent to the mainstream of European culture and society." From the British Library.
URL: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/blackeuro/homepage.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26675
Recreation
Times Archive: Olympic Closing Ceremonies: How They Used to Do Them
This listing revisits "some of the high points and the hubris" of past Olympic Games closing ceremonies, covering from Berlin, 1936, through Los Angeles, 1984. Some of the highlights include pleasant endings, protest and controversy, an air bombing scare, and even a streaker. From the archive of the British newspaper The Times.
URL: http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/archive/tol_archive/article459114...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26776
Regional: California
California Three Rs Project: Rights, Responsibility and Respect
Site for a "program for finding common ground on issues related to religious liberty and the First Amendment in public schools." The three Rs addressed are First Amendment rights, responsibilities to protect and defend the rights, and respect. Includes a bulletin, events listing, and links to resources for educators. Sponsored by the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association and the First Amendment Center, Vanderbilt University.
URL: http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/3rs/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26410
Park(ing) Day
Conceived by a San Francisco-based art collective, "Park(ing) Day is a one-day, global event centered in San Francisco where artists, activists, and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform parking spots into 'Park(ing)' spaces: temporary public parks." Features a map of Park(ing) Day locales in San Francisco for 2007, photos of the parks, and links to press coverage. Park(ing) Day 2008 is scheduled for September 19.
URL: http://www.parkingday.org/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25883
Regions of the World
City of Venice: The Historical Regatta
Background about the annual Venice, Italy, regatta in early September. The "rowing race [on the waters of the Grand Canal] is the most specifically Venetian of local competitive events and has always exerted considerable appeal for both Venetians and visitors." Covers history, details about the current regatta, specific competitions, the boats, and winners of past regattas. From the City of Venice.
URL: http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26730
Science
Center for Food Safety: Irradiation
This policy document expresses concerns with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation "to weaken labeling of irradiated foods." Provides an overview of food irradiation, and addresses concerns with irradiation destroying the vitamin content of foods and with food irradiation as a solution to foodborne illness outbreaks. From the Center for Food Safety, "a non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy membership organization."
URL: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/food_irrad.cfm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26749
Irradiation of Food and Packaging Materials
Background, consumer information, and updates about U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of "the use of irradiation in the treatment of food and food packaging." Includes an August 2008 fact sheet about irradiation of iceberg lettuce and spinach, a food safety and irradiation FAQ, Federal Register documents, guidance and regulations, industry materials, and more. From the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
URL: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/opairrad.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26747
Science in Islam
"This exhibition brings together a number of objects of Islamic origin that provide insight into some of the achievements of Islamic science." Scientific areas addressed include astronomy (celestial globe and astrolabe), trade and travel (compass and qibla indicator, used for finding the direction of Mecca), and mathematics and geometry (algebra and quadrant). From the Museum of History of Science, Oxford, England.
URL: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/scienceislam/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24756
Society & Social Science
Back to School
These links "provide resources for students, parents, and educators in preparation for returning to school in the fall." Includes links to sites on how to calculate a grade point average (GPA), school and library locations, financial assistance, school bus safety, immunization schedules for children and adolescents, and more. From USA.gov, the U.S. government's official web portal.
URL: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Back_to_School.shtml
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26698
Back to School Countdown
"Whether your child will be heading off to kindergarten or college, ... [this site is] offering a prep course on all things back to school." Includes articles on topics such as what teachers wish parents knew, streamlining your morning routine, and creative lunches. From iVillage.
URL: http://parenting.ivillage.com/gs/gslearning/0,,d9x8nlkx,00.html?dst=rs...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26736
Candidates Have Gotten Small Poll Bounce After Naming V.P.
This August 2008 article describes how "a review of Gallup Poll data finds that, since 1996, presidential candidates have received a slight bump in support in the polls after naming their vice presidential running mates." Features data for each election year and discussion of implications (such as that "any impact of the announcement proves to be short-lived"). From Gallup.
URL: http://www.gallup.com/poll/109381/Candidates-Gotten-Small-Poll-Bounce-...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26752
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Thanks for reading LII New This Week!
Jennifer English, Liaison to Califa Library Group
Wendy Hyman, Senior Editor
Maria Brandt, Associate Editor
Charlotte Bagby, Senior Weeder
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| Funding and Support Primary financial support for LII (Librarians' Internet Index) from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. LII is also supported by the IPL Consortium, and hosted by The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology. Other sources include California Digital Library. |