Strawberries!

For those of us who are already looking ahead to warmer days, perhaps a visit to the website devoted to that fruit I always associate with early summer -- the strawberry -- would warm your heart.

The strawberry growers in California have a website dedicated to this popular fruit: CSC -- The California Strawberry Commission.

Just think......it won't be that long before we'll see those baskets of strawberries in the store or at the market. Can summer be that far away???

Oh Yeah, There Are Blog Catalogs

There are so many blogs out there now that sites have popped up to catalog all those weblogs out there.

One is found with the obvious name: BlogCatalog.

Blogs are listed by category and can be searched for. Also, for those of you who have a blog of your own, you can request to have your blog added to the catalog.

Google Directory Search also offers a tool that can help you find blogs in various listed categories. Some sample categories include: Personal, Collaboration, News, Regional, Science and Culture, Using Weblogs in Education, and Webrings. Click here to check out this Google resource.

Who knows whether weblogs are a sort of tech fad that will fade? In the meantime, these two tools will help you find a blog that matches your interest.

Browser Alternatives

Check out this article from the Circuits pages of the New York Times for tips on options for browsers, how to customize, and otherwise make better use of this specialized (but very important) program.

AFAIK, WYSIWYG, B4, TLC, TTYL, E2EG, B3

Okay, so what do all the above have in common? They are acronyms!

So what does one do if one can't figure out or remember what the acronym stands for? Two top alternatives would be to check either

Acronym Finder

or
The Canonical Abbreviation/Acronym Finder
or
Acronyma

One of these will help you out, including abbreviations used these days in the world of Instant Messaging and cell phone text messaging.

The Beauty Of The Heavens

I can remember a number of blissful spring and summer afternoons when I was (much) younger. I would notice the fluffy clouds set against the brilliant blue clear sky. I'd lie down on our green grass in the backyard and stare up at those beautiful constantly evolving clouds.

Taking a visit to The Cloud Appreciation Society site has brought back many of those memories. Check it out!

Blogging About Incredible Blogs

I've been pointed to this site -- called Blogging About Incredible Blogs -- as a web presence that does a great job of pointing one toward good blogs and other online resources.

Blogging About Incredible Blogs is the work (actually it's a blog itself using a Blogger.com site!) of Ken Leebow of Atlanta, Georgia.

You might give it a visit.

A Car Before Its Time -- And One That's Disappeared...Almost

According to family legend, one of my grandfathers plunked down a bit of cash to get in line for a heralded new car back in the late 40's -- the Tucker.

I don't remember the details of how the business failed but fail it did. Many, like my grandfather who had been sold on getting this "advanced" new automobile, lost whatever money they put as down payments. I can still remember my grandfather talking about the fact that, believe it or not, the Tucker had headlights (actually only one) that turned as the car did. That seemed so amazing to me as a little kid!

Only 51 of the "Car of the Future" touted by Preston Thomas Tucker were ever built. Those still extant are reputed to be worth between $250,000 to $500,000.

A site exists that is dedicated to the notion of keeping the history of the Tucker alive. If you'd like to take a look at automobile (and American cultural) history -- particularly of the mid-20th century -- visit Tucker Automobile Pages, "Keeping the Legend Online".

Presidential Inaugurations

As you might expect, the Library of Congress has an excellent set of online exhibits covering this history of presidential inaugurations. Click here to go there.

Those Amazing Explorers -- Lewis & Clark

I cannot really claim to have much detailed knowledge about the Lewis and Clark expedition. However, just the rough outlines of the trips they took from the mid-west to the far west of the United States is enough to, well, "blow my mind."

The Lewis and Clark Project, sponsored by the University of Montana and NASA, is a rich resource to study and re-live the incredible accomplishment of the teams of people who made those treks.

Though fairly lengthy, I quote here the mission of the project:

The National Lewis and Clark Education Project engages educators in a dynamic understanding of The Lewis and Clark expedition (1803-1806) and the nature of the trail's historical and modern landscapes. To achieve these objectives, The Education Project utilizes advanced education technologies, integrates interdisciplinary curricula into the classroom, supports scholarly dialogue and develops multimedia geographical data accessible through the Internet.

Utilizing our 30 station mobile computing lab, conference facilities at The University of Montana, a robust, interactive web presence, and remote teacher workshop capabilities, The Education Project reaches out to a wide educational audience and supports Lewis and Clark education programs across the country.

The Education Project explores landscape change and develops a variety of tools that assist educators in determining the cultural and ecological interactions inherent in this change. Comparing contemporary and historical interpretations of the trail provides a framework for the integration of remote sensing imagery, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. Collectively, these new classroom technologies support interdisciplinary curricula and contextual documentation.

The Education Project aggregates geographical, historical, and ecological information, advanced technologies, and field-based interpretation. As a national resource for educators interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition, The Education Project pursues cooperative alliances with multiple Lewis and Clark programs across the country and facilities the important exchange of ideas and classroom resources across boundaries.

The National Lewis and Clark Education Project invites other organizations, institutions and peoples involved in preparations for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial (2003-2006) to participate in this Lewis and Clark education cooperative. Working closely with private and public sector pioneers in technology and educational content, The Education Project serves a national constituency and seeks to enhance the spirit of collaboration shared by all parties participating in the commemoration of the "Corps of Discovery".

Clearly, this is a site devoted to keeping the history of this exploration alive and not forgotten. It also uses technology to give greater power and meaning to the information left to us by those who went before us.

A Field-Day For The MIce Among Us!

Just check out Fankhauser's Cheese Page! Put together by Professor David Fankhauser, Professor Biology and Chemistry, University of Cincinnati Clermont College, this site has information and pictures of all your favorite cheeses along with answers to your many questions about cheese (not to mention bacteria!).

And, if you've ever wanted to make your own cheese, the good professor has the recipe(s) for you!

Using Digital Technology To Help Tell Stories

There is a site devoted to....

developing large-scale projects for community, educational and business institutions using the methods and principles built around their Digital Storytelling Workshop. They also offer workshops for organizations and individuals, and provide a clearinghouse of information about resources on storytelling and new media

Based on the belief that we all have stories to tell, the Center For Digital Storytelling holds workshops training people on how to both tell their stories and listen to the stories other have to tell.

Seems like an extremely important activity in these days of harried, sped-up lives.

The Artist Rembrandt van Rijn -- National Gallery of Art Exhibit

A site that provides a wonderful opportunity to view twenty-two paintings by this master painter -- including being able to zoom in and out for a close look......even at brush strokes -- go to the National Gallery of Art's exhibit, Rembrandt's Late Religious Portraits.

The site introduction says:

The masterful work of Rembrandt van Rijn encompasses a wide variety of subject matter, and his paintings have been the focus of much critical inquiry during the past three centuries. His religious portraits painted in the late 1650s and early 1660s are the focus of this current exhibit offered by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Bringing together 22 of these portraits in one place, the exhibit contains half-length images of the Virgin, Christ, and unidentified saints and monks. The exhibit is nicely complemented by this fine online interactive feature which allows visitors to view (in exquisite detail) these provocative and highly emotional works of art. The built-in viewing device allows visitors the ability to focus in on the hand of the apostle Bartholomew and the expressive face of Rembrandt's rendering of Christ. The site is rounded out with a biographical essay on Rembrandt and a listing of other events related to the exhibit sponsored by the National Gallery of Art.

This site is not only highly recommended for its artistic content but also the effectiveness of its presentation using a great design and Flash animation.

Let's Not Forget Those Cowgirls!

Yes, there is a site dedicated to keeping alive the history and contributions of cowgirls to our land. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the Cowgirl Hall of Fame whose mission is:

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trail blazing efforts.

Since it was established in 1975, the Museum has become an invaluable educational resource nationally known for its exhibits, research library, rare photography collection, and the honorees in its Hall of Fame.

Yippeee!

Project Gutenberg

Another development spurred by the Internet is the increasing availability of eBooks. One of the oldest sites on the Internet making eBooks available is Project Gutenberg.

Their introduction says:

Project Gutenberg is the oldest producer of free electronic books (eBooks or etexts) on the Internet. Our collection of more than 13.000 eBooks was produced by hundreds of volunteers. Most of the Project Gutenberg eBooks are older literary works that are in the public domain in the United States. All may be freely downloaded and read, and redistributed for non-commercial use (for complete details, see the license page).

They do indeed have many books to choose from. Check it out!

Gorgeous Flora From My Own State

Washington State combines the green (some would say "damp") climate of the western half of the state (the rain courtesy of the moisture of the Pacific Ocean on the west and the barrier or the Cascade Mountains on the east) with the relatively arid eastern half of the state.

One outgrowth (so to speak) of this variety of climate is a wealth of beautiful flowers and plants.

The Burke Museum on the University of Washington campus has a wonderful photographic collections of the many indigenous plants in our state. Take a look.

Visit the WTU Image Collection: Plants of Washington.

Powerful Photography

Kodak has put together a collection of photographs by Charles Moore, a photojournalist for Life magazine almost 50 years ago. The site is called Powerful Days in Black and White

Largely in black and white, this is a powerful and important collection with many photos from the struggle against segregation in the late 50's and early 60's.

Pie In The Sky?

No question about it, the breadth of information out there on the 'net is extraordinarily varied (and sometimes plain bizarre!).

Not that bizarre maybe -- although I very rarely take a plane anywhere -- is the fact that there is a website devoted to, well, airline food.

In case you're curious about what passes as a meal on the commercial airlines in the early 2000's, go to Airline Meals.Net.

P.S. Oh, yes, they do have some pictures of airline meal service going back to the 50's. If you're wondering if things have changed, check out the Vintage Meal Pics and Ads From The Past.

Martin Luther King

As we approach the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King and the national celebration of his life, we are once again reminded of his sacrifices and many accomplishments.

A site from PBS called "Citizen King" is wonderful and gives particular focus to the last five years of Dr. King's life.

Great Performances Indeed

Make a visit to PBS's site for their on-going series, Great Performances. Over the years we have had the pleasure of being able to view a wealth of performances courtesy of this program on PBS.

Included here at the season's broadcast schedule in the realms of Musical Theatre, Opera on Film, Classical Music, Regional Performances, and more.

What a valuable cultural resource!

The View From The Satellite

The site, Our Earth As Art, presents beautiful photographs taken by the Landstat 7 satellite from all the continents.

Here is the introductory information:

The Earth as Art on-line gallery premiered in July 2002 and has been hugely popular. We are so glad that the beautiful satellite imagery of our planet has made such a huge impact.

The original Earth as Art images were from the Landsat 7 satellite, and were created by the USGS EROS Data Center to introduce the general public to the Landsat Program, which is administered jointly by USGS and NASA. Various combinations of the eight Landsat 7 spectral bands were selected to create the vivid RGB composites featured on this site.

In 2003, a second set of Earth as Art images was put together - this time using images from both Landsat 7 and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard the Terra Satellite. We have incorporated these images into our on-line gallery and hope you will enjoy them as much as the first set!

And the images are public domain!

The Diversity Of Our Earth's Critters

If you have any interest in biology or are just curious about the myriad of diversity in the "animal kingdom," take a visit at Animal Diversity Web.

To quote the summary by Internet Scout:

Online since 1995, the Animal Diversity Web is an online database of animal natural history, distribution, and classification sponsored by a very capable team of scholars at the University of Michigan. From the homepage, visitors can look through thousands of individual species accounts. Each account may include such features as extended descriptions, pictures of each species, and in some cases, recordings of sounds and short movies. One particularly nice feature of the site is that it effectively facilitates inquiry-driven learning through its innovative search tool. One very fun element of the site is the virtual museum which includes a number of representative photographs of various animal species, and several hundred virtual reality movies of skulls. This feature and the many other useful elements of the site provide a very thorough and well-thought out educational resource for students with a penchant for a host of disciplines ranging from biology to zoology.

Give it a gander!