This site features a growing library of narrated photo essays taken by some of the Air Force's top photojournalists. Perspectives incorporates audio to bring the viewer into the subject matter. The photojournalist narrates the presented images, providing a first-person perspective. Currently there are three perspectives with a fourth soon to be featured. Plans are to have at least one new one every month. The features are well-done, taking the viewer on a 'you-are-there' journey into the life of our air force service men and women. Do spend a few minutes getting a 'perspective' on what really goes on in our military, from field training to delivering a premature baby, all 'missions' performed with perseverance, dedication and skill. What a service these folks are performing for the American people!
A surprising amount of material from this favorite review source is available for free here, including the current issue's Top 10 lists, Readalikes, Spanish Books for Youth, reference book updates, the Booklist blog ("Likely Stories"), and more. A free 30-day trial subscription allows you to search and sample the archived features and reviews.
"The notion of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World can be traced back to the fifth century B.C. These creations rivaled many created by nature in their size, majesty, and beauty. Six of the seven wonders no longer stand, having been destroyed by natural disaster or by humans." However, with the help of modern technology, Nova's companion web site to its educational programs describe these wonders. The sections include 'Mapping the Treasures,' an interview with the Director of the French Center for Alexandrian Studies on the Riches of Alexandria, Unforgettable Moments that contains videos of some of the 'more stunning finds in the harbor of Alexandria' and a fun section, "Seven Wonders: Get Clued In,' a quiz that will help you determine if you indeed can recognize the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Just imagine what wonders our civilization will leave behind for researchers to discover some thousand or so years from now!
Welcome to Moneyopoli$, 'where money rules.' "Are you ready to help an alien in distress?" Meet the friendly alien Xerbie who 'has traveled to Moneyopolis to learn how to manage his money. But as luck would have it, his spaceship broke.' Now all you astronauts in grades six through eight have the opportunity to 'show off your math and money skills. Every section you complete will earn Xerbie another part to fix his spaceship and help him get home.' Of course you don't have to be a financial expert to play; the site has all of the information available to educate you in the particulars of money management. The site is compliments of Ernst & Young LLP in their endeavor to 'provide helpful resources to assist educators in teaching basic skills.' But, kids, don't be turned off by the intent; it's a fun site that will start you down the path to financial savvy and insure that you have fun all the while. What could be better than helping an alien 'phone home' and arrive back on his own planet!
Over 350 manipulable data files allow you to download, map, or chart such information as religious congregations' membership, national profiles, surveys of such things as religious behaviors, congregational life, etc. Check out the resources for educators and for researchers.
Today's feature presents the world of taxis and their drivers in a different light, literally, made possible by GPS technology. Brought to you by Exploratorium, Yellow Cab and Stamen Design, "Cabspotting traces San Francisco's taxi cabs as they travel throughout the Bay Area. The patterns traced by each cab create a living and always-changing map of city life. This map hints at economic, social, and cultural trends that are otherwise invisible." There is a 'Cab Tracker' that 'averages the last four hours of cab routes into a ghostly image and then draws the routes of ten in-progress cab rides over it.' The Time Lapse section of the project 'reveals time-varying patterns such as rush hour, traffic jams, holidays and unusual events.' The 'Featured Projects' area has unusual projects, the creation of visiting artists and others from the 'Cabspotting' community. You'll never look at a taxi cab in the same light after visiting this site. Who knows, you might even become an actual Cabspotter yourself; the webmaster invites anyone interested to present his/her project outline!
Summer is here, that time when many people are planning vacations. You'll want to check out what recreational opportunities are available on federal lands, United States federal lands, that is. This site is actually a portal for six federal agencies, representing a 'one-stop initiative' for planning your vacation. You'll find recreation data, state tourism sites, reservation and pass information, preservation highlights, recreation trails, scenic byways and those all important maps, individual by park but also an entire United States map with the state sites, a must for those of us who are geographically challenged. A Weather Service forecast is available for most destinations. What more could you need to plan the perfect vacation!
What does it mean when labels certify foods and other products as "humane," "free-farmed," "residue-free," "fair trade certified," produced sustainably, etc.? Consumers Union tells you who is doing the certifying, what standards they use, and whether they test a company's compliance. Searchable by label or label category, by certifying agency, and by product. Includes a glossary.
The National Wildlife Federation's mission is 'to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.' Ranger Rick is the Federation's special raccoon who presents stories, games and other fun activities to children, all designed to educate them on the wildlife. Children can access selected articles from the subscription magazine, play games, check out nature photos and get help in taking some of their own, find fun activities in the 'Make and Do' section as well as find out how to create their own 'Nature Journal.' Here are all the tools to help youngsters enjoy the great outdoors and develop a respect for our wildlife. It's completely safe for them to navigate on their own so take this opportunity to introduce them to nature with Ranger Rick as their guide!
"information about smoke alarms, residential fire sprinklers, escape planning, consumer product recalls, fire safety tips, and what to do after a fire."
Like Youtube, Ourmedia allows users to post and store their print or media creations; but unlike Youtube under its new rules, "Ourmedia claims no intellectual property rights over the material you provide to our service." It also contains a Learning Center to teach techniques for video, audio, digital photography, and writing for the web. Explore other people's works as well.
Is the Dow Jones Industrial Average a term that you think can be conquered by only economists and those wizards of the financial world? Not so, by any means! Did you know that this index began in 1895 with 12 companies, only one of which is still in existence today? Now Dow Jones has its own Interactive Learning Center with an historical timeline and explanations of the technical advances implemented through the years. Of course the all important trivia associated with the evolution of the Dow is fun for everyone. You can even discover how much you would be worth had your parents invested $1000 on the date of your birth had they followed the Dow. Spend a few minutes educating yourself on the particulars of the stock market, particulars that a century ago were understood by only the elite few, mostly stockbrokers who would leave at 3 P.M when trading ended and still have plenty of time to visit the club. 'Today's fast-paced financial world of split-second technology and round-the-clock marketplaces' has opened the doors to the general public; here Dow Jones seeks to remove some of the mystique associated with this gauge of the United States economy!
"Welcome to NatureServe Explorer, an authoritative source for information on more than 65,000 plants, animals, and ecosystems of the United States and Canada. Explorer includes particularly in-depth coverage for rare and endangered species." The mission of this non-profit conservation organization is to provide 'the scientific information and tools needed to help guide effective conservation action'. Visitors can search the comprehensive database by species or ecological systems and communities, giving easy access to 'scientific and common names, conservation status, distribution maps, life histories, conservation needs, and more.' The 'Highlights' give additional species data, images and ecological data. There is also a link the animals of Latin America. This site gives broad coverage to all of North America. Make it your first stop for conservation questions relating to this continent!
Welcome to the world's largest marine sanctuary, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The living coral reef colonies found here 'are a spectacular underwater landscape covering thousands of square miles and composing the majority of coral reefs in the United States. These reefs are some of the healthiest and most undisturbed coral reefs on the planet.' Within this ecosystem there are 'more than 7,000 species, including marine mammals, fishes, sea turtles, birds, and invertebrates.' Here's your opportunity to visit this sanctuary and learn more about the marine life found here, many rare, threatened, or endangered, some that are 'endemic, found nowhere else on Earth..' You'll have access to natural history information, video clips, still images, all relating to this marine sanctuary. You can even swim with the sharks and rays with the video clips posted, a considerably less strenuous task than an actual dive would be!
A step by step guide, starting with the Home Remodeling Checklist. It includes house plans and room design ideas and gallery, calculators for estimating costs, advice on financing and budgeting your projects, info on finding and working with a contractor, planning guides, consumer protection information, and more.
Answers to the question recently posed on Science Blogs: "Are there any children's books that are dear to you, either as a child or a parent, and especially ones that perhaps strike a chord with those from a science sensibility?"
"Machu Picchu is nearly invisible from below, tucked away on a small hilltop between two Andean peaks, at 7,000 feet above sea level. The fact that it lay hidden to all but a few peasants for hundreds of years adds to its mystery and intrigue. Never discovered by the Spanish or mentioned in their chronicles, Machu Picchu is the most popular, yet least well-known of the Inca monuments - the pre-Colonial cultures of Peru left no written records." Now, thanks to modern technology, you can visit the temples, fields, terraces and baths of this magical locale via cyber travel. The 360 degree panoramas will allow you to walk through the monument, 'arguably the most impressive and spectacular accomplishment of the Inca Empire.' Take a few minutes and 'fly' to Peru for your own private tour of Machu Picchu!
John Lienhard is a professor at the University of Houston where, as he states, “We're interested in the way inventive minds work.” He has put his own ingenuity to work by hosting a radio show on the “Engines of Our Ingenuity” and has posted the transcripts as well as the audio of the shows on his web site. You can search the episodes by keyword or topic; because Professor Lienhard has been broadcasting since 1988, these topics are many and varied. Naturally, each episode has additional links to other related Web resources. As you browse through this site you’ll be surprised and amazed (or maybe you won’t) how man has shaped and keeps shaping the destiny of the world with his ingenuity.
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