New Web Sites

This page lists newly-announced sites available on the Internet which may be of interest to people on the Baylor campus. Sites from the current week (Monday - Sunday) are displayed first. The sites added most recently to the "Current Week" are added at the beginning of the list. "Week 2" - "Week 4" represent successively older weeks. When a new "current week" begins, the oldest week will be removed from this page. In this way, the most current 4 weeks listing new sites will be available on this page. In addition, we will keep a 6 months archive of these pages, cumulated at the end of each month.

Many of these sites come from Net-Happenings, NewJour, Scout Report, Web4Lib, and Yahoo!'s Picks of the Week, which you can browse to find additional sites that aren't listed on this page.

If you have a site that you think should be added to this page, send the URL and a brief description of the site to Carol Schuetz.

Table of Contents

Current Week

• Orion
  Since its inception in 1982, the Orion magazine has had a primary concern with reconnecting human culture with the natural world and "engaging the heart and mind". During the past few decades, Orion has published the work of a number of new voices, along with such established writers as Barry Lopez and David Quammen. First-time visitors to the site will enjoy perusing the online archive, which contains selected articles and other writings from the magazine.

• North American Mammals
  This particular site contains a searchable database of the approximately 400 living mammals of North America. Much of the material on the site is based on The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals by Don E. Wilson and Sue Ruff. New visitors will definitely want to begin by perusing the "About the Site" area as it provides some basic information about how to best utilize the ways to search the database. In brief, the database may be searched by species, geographic location, conservation status, and family tree. For each mammal, visitors can view several renderings and photographs and also read a short scientific and narrative description. A particularly novel feature is that for many of the mammals visitors can listen to a sound clip of each in its natural habitat.

• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
  Started in 1986, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) "promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy." Designed for the general public and for experts in the field, the Institute's website contains information on its own research initiatives and on the broader subject of agricultural policy, both in the United States and abroad.

• The Journal of Philosophy, Science & Law
  The Journal of Philosophy, Science & Law is a publication that is dedicated to examining such questions, and has done so since its inception in 2001. Edited by Dr. Jason Borenstein, the peer-reviewed journal has published pieces on gene patents, the role of medical experts in the courtroom, and the notion of truth in the law. Visitors to the site can peruse the archives of the journal, and also sign up to receive updates about the journal from time to time.

• Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis
  Located at the University of Southern California, the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis performs research on a host of topics that are germane to the world of postsecondary education. Some of the Center's projects include work on financial aid and access for students of color, successful college outreach programs, and the retention of doctoral students of color. On its website visitors will find information on events sponsored by the Center and a number of recently released publications that will be of interest to persons working in the field and educational policy analysts.

• Quick Tips to Packing a Safe Lunch
  This site provides visitors very important imformation offered by the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Here visitors can learn about the lost art (and science) of packing a safe lunch for young and old alike.

• Farmtocollege.org
  Farmtocollege.org site offers interesting and compelling information about this movement along with some helpful online resources about starting and maintaining such farm-to-college programs.

Return to Table of Contents

Week 2

• C-SPAN: American Political Archive
  This site contains a wide variety of unique audio programs culled from materials at the National Archives, presidential libraries, the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress and other sources. One place to start is by listening to any one of the oral histories recorded by different members of Congress who served in World War II or Vietnam, such as former Senator Max Cleland or Representative Sam Johnson. Of course, visitors will want to peruse the archived programs, which include those on Indira Gandhi, Medal of Honor recipients, and stories from the Iraq War.

• Teachers Without Borders
  As the Teachers Without Borders website states, "For us, education is a collaborative effort lasting a lifetime; our learning model is designed to connect global 'best practices' to those-at the local level--who can build their capacity and, in so doing, change their communities." On the site visitors can learn about their different teaching centers in such places as India, Jordan, Pakistan, South Africa, and a number of other countries. As might be expected, the site also provides a number of lesson plan resources culled from a host of different places, such as the BBC and a number of materials created by the Teachers Without Borders organization.

• Vertical Farm
  This compelling website provides a worthy alternative to other forms of agriculture: the vertical farm. The site offers a great deal of information about these vertical farms, a detailed essay on the importance of such farms, a number of potential designs, and a discussion forum. Finally, there are a number of plans that indicate how this type of farm might be effectively created and sustained.

• UCLA LeRoy Neiman Center for the Study of American Society and Culture
  In 1998, Neiman and his wife, Janet, donated funds to created the UCLA LeRoy Neiman Center, which conducts "interdisciplinary research on emerging social and cultural trends in contemporary American society". This is a rather broad universe of topics, and the Center's website does it justice by presenting a nice set of resources about their work and some fine online features. Visitors to the site can peruse some of these features which include interactive maps by the noted photographer Camilo Vergara of the different "Skid Row" areas in Los Angeles and the New York subway system, from the inside out. Of course, there is also ample material on the Center's ongoing research projects.

• RTE Radio 1
  In keeping with the broad landscape of honorable and respected public radio broadcasting, RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) serves Ireland as its public broadcast network. Visitors can peruse a number of thematic sections dedicated to programming that includes shows that investigate religion, contemporary music, and special programs.

• Botany Photo of the Day
  Inspired by NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, the gardeners and plant enthusiasts at the University of British Columbia's Botanical Centre have grown their very own photo blog. Categories include mosses, conifers, and the always-popular flowering plants. If you're the type who thinks fungus is don't-touch-that gross, dare to view these beauties. The garden syndicates its content through RSS, so plant a feed and see a new picture blossom each day.

• Frogs: A Chorus of Colors
  Frogs are great for freaking out squeamish siblings. And, yes, they can come through for desperate princesses. But as we learn from this sticky site, the jumpy amphibians are more than just childhood partners-in-crime and fairy tale heroes. Frogs were the first land animals with vocal chords, and their sounds can vary as much as their hues. Their colorful skin also serves as a natural drugstore covered with toxins that may be used to treat cancer and heart ailments. Jump in and see it's not easy being green -- or red -- or blue.

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• Global Voices Online
  Many public interest media organizations are concerned about listening to the voices and opinions of those around the world, particularly in the developing world. One such group is the nonprofit global citizens' media project, Global Voices Online, which is sponsored by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at the Harvard Law School. On the project's well-designed homepage, visitors can access compelling blogs from dozens of countries around the world and view profiles of persons working in a variety of important fields related to these emerging technologies. Another very important aspect of the site is the area dedicated to Podcasts from around the globe.

• The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II : A Collection of Primary Sources
  In timely fashion, the National Security Archive has released another of one of its well-devised electronic briefing books for consideration by the general public. This particular book is edited by William Burr and contains 77 declassified US government documents on the atomic bomb and the end of the war in the Pacific theater of operations. As with previous electronic briefing books, each document is complemented by a brief statement of its importance and general relevance to this overall theme. Additionally, there are notes that contain detailed bibliographic information of external sources used to expand on the details for each document.

• Mercora
  The continued growth of online radio stations that offer streaming audio was interrupted by a number of lawsuits filed by a number of corporations in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Fortunately, some legal options are now available, including Mercora, which is an Internet software system that includes a universal Internet radio tuner linked to many different channels and users. After downloading the Mercora client application, users will be able to search for music that interests them online. This version of Mercora is only compatible with Windows 2000 and later.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center
  This site is offered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Writing Center and contains material on how best to cite references and avoiding common grammar and punctuation mistakes. A host of materials are provided that will allow students to become better writers in their various courses during their time in the world of higher education and beyond.

• Institute for Justice
  Founded in 1991, the Institute for Justice is concerned with protecting civil liberties around the United States. The Institute's homepage provides a good place to start exploring the content offered within their site, as visitors can peruse its in-house publications, such as the newsletter, Liberty & Law, and a report on eminent domain titled, "Public Power, Private Gain." Of course, visitors can also learn about the Institute's ongoing and completed cases and they may also learn about job opportunities with the Institute and its programs for undergraduates and law students.

• The International Collection of Tongue Twisters
  The "world's largest collection of tongue twisters" features close to 2,000 entries. Forget about "She sells seashells" -- try saying this ten times fast: "Wie weet waar Willie Wouter woon? Willie Wouter woon waar die weste winde waai!" That's Afrikaans for "Who knows where Willie Wouter lives. Willie Wouter lives where the west winds blow!" You'll also find teasers in Kazakh, Frisian, Estonian, Zulu, Hausa, Ibanag, and Araminian.

• Gullible.info
  Purchasing a home can be hazardous to your marriage. If you're left-handed, you're three times more likely to be late than your right-handed friends. And you're more likely to die in September than any other month. Or so say the folks at Gullible.info. Every day they uncover some of the most unusual, inane, and startling facts that have slipped below the radar of the mainstream media. Some of it may come in handy during your next fight-to-the-death trivia competition.

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Week 4

• Feeding America: The Historic American Cookbook Project
  The world of good cooking is one that many persons find relaxing, both in the act of creating great dishes and also enjoying them with family and friends. This online collection from the Michigan State University Libraries and the Michigan State University Museum pays homage to that tradition by presenting some of the most important and influential cookbooks from the late 18th to the early 20th century. Visitors can peruse the cookbooks in alphabetical order, or they may look at them chronologically or by theme, such as children's cookery or military cooking.

• The Newberry Library
  Located on Chicago's Near North Side, the Newberry Library is a privately endowed research library that is open to the public, and concentrates on history and the humanities. Visitors to the site will enjoy reading about different programs the library offers and they may also want to peruse the online catalog before visiting the Newberry to do research. Users can also view a list (and some photos) of new acquisitions, such as the Civil War diary of Union soldier Andrew McKay and a bound Swiss volume on calligraphy from 1551.

• The Metropolitan Opera
  The website is a mirror onto the world of the Met's numerous opera productions, its history, and the overall portrait of this delightful melding of words, emotions, and song. Visitors will want to start by perusing the "Discover Opera" section of the site, where they can read plot synopses of Met productions and also look through a entertaining interactive exhibit that covers the Met's history from 1883 to 2004. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the site is the Met Opera Database, which give users access to information on every single performance at the Met since 1883, complete with statistics, photos, and set designs.

• MSN Virtual Earth
  Geographers, urban planners, and those with a penchant for the spatial always enjoy knowing as much as they can about a given locale, and they especially enjoy knowing about spatial relationships in a given locale. For those aforementioned persons, MSN's Virtual Earth website will be one that is quite worthy of numerous visits. Drawing on detailed aerial photographs of the United States, visitors can look at photographs of their home, their business, or a local sports stadium. Visitors can also type in city names, and zoom in on various features at their leisure. A real treat is offered by the tabs feature, which allows visitors to look for local businesses, such as book stores and pharmacies in any given locale.

• WildFinder
  The WildFinder database allows users to find out where various species live around the world. The information in the database is based on the Fund's 825 terrestrial ecoregions and currently includes information for four large taxa, or groups of species: birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. The appeal of such a database is rather broad, and extends to groups such as teachers, conservationists, and the general public. Visitors can begin by searching by country, US ZIP code, or city. They can also use the various interactive tools (such as the pan or zoom features) to take a closer look at any given area. Users of the site's database can also search by species name.

• iSerenity
  Enter iSerenity, with over 30 sound and image environments ready to take you away to a relaxing world of your choosing. For the tranquility of nature, dive into the roaring ocean or a bubbling brook. If only the Zen of man-made objects can calm you, try a fan, clothes dryer, or typewriter (remember those?). Even the birds and bugs get their opportunity to pacify you.

• The New Yorker
  All the magazine's traditional sections are represented, from the short takes in "The Talk of the Town" to the longer fiction and non-fiction pieces with just enoug online content to keep things interesting. Best of all, connoisseurs of sly wit can now add "Shouts and Murmurs" to their weekly humor menu. (And, yes, they have cartoons, too.)