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| New This Week for August 16, 2007 |
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This Week This time we bring you the King of the Wild Frontier, Huey Long, shadow portraits, more on summer reading and mortgages, and other matters of artistic and social import. Bon appetit from librarians Jennifer, Maria, Charlotte, and Wendy. Tip of the Week Our RSS feed now tops 32,000 Bloglines subscribers. We continue to offer our email newsletter in two flavors (plain text and fancy color), but those of you interested in using feeds for LII and other newsy sources may want to read our RSS tutorial. |
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Arts and Humanities
Blogging for a Good Book
This blog provides a book review every weekday, from librarians at the Williamsburg Regional Library (Virginia). Browse past reviews by reviewer and by subjects and genres such as literary fiction, nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mysteries, young adult, and thrillers.
URL: http://bfgb.wordpress.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24105
Born on a Mountaintop? Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History
This lesson plan (for grades 3-5) uses the legend of Davy Crockett to teach students about the characters, events, and literary characteristics of tall tales. Includes suggested activities and links to online material about Crockett and tall tales. From EDSITEment, a joint project of the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations.
URL: http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=288
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24274
Morning Sun: A Film and Website About the Cultural Revolution
This website "reflect[s] on the origins and history of the [Chinese] Cultural Revolution (c.1964-1976)." Features the opportunity to "experience the sights and sounds of Chinese culture in the 1960s, through radio, TV, and movies," material about the Red guards, images of Mao buttons and other artifacts, and much more. In English and Chinese. A presentation of the Independent Television Service (ITVS) and the Center for Asian American Media (formerly NAATA).
URL: http://www.morningsun.org/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24270
Passport in Time (PIT): A Volunteer Program of the USDA Forest Service
Locate volunteer opportunities involving restoration of archaeological sites in our national forests and parks and places of historic interest and importance. "PIT volunteers work with professional FS archaeologists and historians on national forests throughout the U.S. on such diverse activities as archaeological survey and excavation, rock art restoration, survey, archival research, historic structure restoration, oral history gathering, and analysis and curation of artifacts." From the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS).
URL: http://www.passportintime.com
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24209
Rebecca's Pocket: Summer 2007 [Reading Lists]
Extensive compilation of links to summer reading lists, from universities, newspapers and magazines, blogs, libraries, organizations, and other sources. Some of the themes are popular fiction, business, cookbooks, religion, politics, and history. From the author of a book on creating and maintaining a blog.
URL: http://www.rebeccablood.net/archive/reading_lists/summer_2007/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24289
Remember the Alamo
Companion to a PBS American Experience documentary that "explores the life of the famed Tejano leader [José Antonio Navarro] and his efforts to protect the sovereignty of his homeland as it passed through the hands of multiple governments." Features a timeline, map, profiles of people and events (such as Texas annexation and statehood, Davy Crockett, and the Santa Fe Expedition), essays about the Navarro family and the Alamo, a teacher's guide, and more.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/alamo/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24275
Shades and Shadow-Pictures: The Materials and Techniques of American Portrait Silhouettes
Historic overview of the development of American portrait silhouettes (also known as "profiles," "shadow portraits," and "scissortypes"). Discusses the derivation of the term "silhouette" (from the surname of an eighteenth-century finance minister to Louis XV), how silhouettes are presented (such as in albums and mounted), types of paper used, tracing devices, and more. From the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Book and Paper Group.
URL: http://aic.stanford.edu/sg/bpg/annual/v18/bp18-07.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24284
The Tom and Nan Riley Collection of Roman Portrait Sculptures
This collection "dating to the period when Rome was at its greatest prosperity -- the first century B.C. to the third century A.D. -- is especially good at introducing students ... to the diversity of the Roman world [ranging from patricians to plebeians]." Features images, physical descriptions, and associated material about portrait sculptures depicting Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Hadrian, a Roman matron, a young man, and others. From the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.
URL: http://www.vroma.org/~riley/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24288
Business
Huey Long: Every Man a King
Brief background about Huey Long, Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and U.S. senator, and his contributions to the development of the Social Security system. Long's "Share Our Wealth" program "wanted the government to confiscate the wealth of the nation's rich ... [and] to guarantee every family in the nation an annual income." Also includes excerpts from Huey Long's autobiography, and the text of a U.S. Senate speech. From Social Security Online.
URL: http://www.ssa.gov/history/hlong1.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24268
Investopedia: 20 Investments
Brief discussions of the strengths, weaknesses, and uses of 20 investment options. Topics include annuity, common stock, corporate bond, life insurance, money market, mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds, mutual funds, real estate and property, treasuries, and zero-coupon securities. From Forbes.
URL: http://www.investopedia.com/university/20_investments/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24281
The Mortgage Market: What Happened?
This April 2007 article provides an overview of how, as "nationwide real-estate boom of recent years goes bust, economists and regulators are questioning the role that mortgage lenders played in helping to create an overheated housing environment." Includes discussions of risky loans and types of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), growth in subprime lending (loans to borrowers with poor credit), and unethical practices. From National Public Radio (NPR).
URL: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9855669
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24271
The Subprime Mortgage Market
May 2007 remarks by Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben S. Bernanke on " Why have delinquencies and initiations of foreclosure proceedings risen so sharply? How have subprime mortgage markets adjusted? How have Federal Reserve and other policymakers responded, and what additional actions might be considered? [And] how might the problems in the market for subprime mortgages affect housing markets and the economy more broadly?" From the Federal Reserve Board.
URL: http://www.federalreserve.gov/Boarddocs/speeches/2007/20070517/default...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24272
Government
Karl Rove: The Architect
Companion to a program that looks at the life and career of Karl Rove, chief political adviser to President George W. Bush; the full program can be viewed at this site. Features biographical information, a chronology, essays about the Republican Party and politics in the state of Texas, interviews with political figures, news articles, and lesson plans. A joint report of PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) Frontline and the Washington Post.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/5720
MPs Reveal Summer Holiday Reading
2007 survey of the summer reading choices of British MPs (Members of Parliament). Features samples of some of the book choices, which include biographies, classics, historical and political titles, Harry Potter, and more. From BBC News.
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6932841.stm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24287
Presidents of the United States: Selected Images From the Collections of the Library of Congress
Collection of images of U.S. presidents from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View images by president's name in alphabetical order or chronologically by presidential term. Also includes images of selected first ladies. Includes details about each image, such as creator and date, and information about obtaining and using the images. From the Library of Congress.
URL: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/057_intr.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23122
Home & Housing
Of Cottages and Castles: Homes of Our Presidents
This exhibit provides "a glimpse into the private homes and lives of each of our presidents." The exhibit is organized into groups of presidents who "rose up from poverty," were "born into privilege," and presidents from middle class backgrounds. Includes images of miniature models and artifacts from the physical exhibit. From the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.
URL: http://hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/cottages/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/22982
Law
The Enduring Meaning of Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco Within the Italian American Experience
This site features articles written in the 1990s and related material about these two Italian-born American anarchists, who were executed 1927 in Massachusetts for murder and theft. Includes an essay on the historical and legal setting relating to Sacco and Vanzetti's arrest and trial. From a Sacco and Vanzetti scholar.
URL: http://www.saccovanzettiexperience.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24261
Media
Center for Citizen Media
Website for an "initiative aimed at helping to enable and encourage grassroots media, especially citizen journalism." Features updates and analyses of current news, description of projects including "Principles of Citizen Journalism" (such as accuracy, fairness, and independence) and a law project, and a blog. The nonprofit center is affiliated with the Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Law School.
URL: http://citmedia.org/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24219
People
Crockett, David
Biography of David (Davy) Crockett (1786-1836), "frontiersman, congressman, and defender of the Alamo." Includes highlights from Crockett's life and career, and discussion of some of the events that led to his status as a folk hero. Includes a brief bibliography. From the Handbook of Texas, published by the Texas State Historical Association.
URL: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/fcr24.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24273
Huey Long: The Man, His Mission, and Legacy
Material about Huey Long, Louisiana's legendary governor and U.S. Senator who was assassinated in 1935 at the age of 42. Features an illustrated biography, background about his programs to modernize and reform Louisiana. Significant programs included public works, expansion of health care options, and the "Share Our Wealth" proposals, which featured public benefit programs such as old-age pensions. From a nonprofit organization founded to educate the public about Huey Long.
URL: http://www.hueylong.com/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24267
Regional: California
DQNews.com: News: CA Foreclosures
Recent news about mortgage foreclosure activity in California. Includes data by county for notices of default and recorded trustee deeds on houses and condos. Also includes links to material about California home sales, and data for selected other areas in the U.S. From DataQuick Information Systems.
URL: http://www.dqnews.com/RRFor0707.shtm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24290
Prison Town, USA
Companion website to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) P.O.V. documentary that "tells the story of Susanville, California, one small town that tries to resuscitate its economy by building a prison -- with unanticipated consequences." Includes video clips, updates on some of the people featured in the documentary, filmmaker interview, lesson plan, and annotated links to resources about U.S. prisons, the "three strikes" law, and prison reform.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/prisontown/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/23778
Regions of the World
Kon-Tiki Museum
Website for this Oslo, Norway, museum that "houses a range of boats and artefacts from [Norwegian explorer] Thor Heyerdahl's expeditions," including the original Kon-Tiki balsa wood raft used for his 1947 Pacific expedition. Provides summaries of the Kon-Tiki and other expeditions, research, a biography of Heyerdahl, a photo gallery, and related material. In English and Norwegian.
URL: http://www.kon-tiki.no/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24278
Society & Social Science
Women's Equality Day
Collection of links to material related to Women's Equality Day, celebrated each year on August 26 "to honor women's continuing efforts toward full equality. ... The 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote was certified as part of the U.S. Constitution on August 26, 1920." From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
URL: http://www.va.gov/dmeeo/calendar/wed.htm
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24265
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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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