http://www.orca-live.com/

A great combination of art and science, the Orca Live Web site provides live Webcam viewing of Orca whales off Hanson Island, in the Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and British Columbia. Founded by Dr. Paul Spong, the Orca Lab on Hanson Island and underwater video cameras and microphones at Cracroft Point, monitor the whales' voices and movements 24 hours a day, covering an approximately 20 km. (12.5 mi) area around Hanson Island. If there is not too much happening on the live camera, the site offers archived video highlights from 2000 and 2002. To orient yourself, the Visit Hanson Island section allows you to zoom in and find the location of Hanson Island on Earth (an html version for those with slower connection is also provided). Also at the site, subscribe to a newsletter announcing the best times for live viewing, chat with other orca watchers, or simply open a window for peaceful underwater viewing, accompanied by the sounds of water, birds, and whales. [DS]

http://www.pbs.org/amex/newyork

Maligned by some when they were completed in the early 1970s, the World Trade Center towers are now part of the collective American consciousness after the events of September 11, 2001. This Web site is an effective and authoritative companion to the eighth episode of filmmaker Ric Burns documentary, "New York: A Documentary Film." Produced by WGBH, and with major funding from the Sloan Foundation, the film examines the events that gave birth to the World Trade Center, continuing with a discussion of its rather controversial construction, and concluding with the buildings' destruction in early September 2001. The Web site includes basic information about the television program itself, including a complete transcript, suggestions for further reading, and some excellent primary source readings. The special features section should not be missed, as it contains an online forum where visitors can ask questions of various experts regarding the Trade Center, watch interview outtakes from the film (featuring such notables as Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, and Mike Wallace), and view an 18-minute film titled "Building the World Trade Center," which was produced by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1983. The site is rounded out by a timeline and a number of maps of Lower Manhattan over the past 300 years. [KMG]

http://www.aacu-edu.org/

Founded in 1915 by college presidents, the Association of American Colleges and Universities is "the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality and public standing of undergraduate liberal education." The Association currently has over 850 accredited member institutions, which include research universities, masters institutions, and traditional liberal arts colleges. The Association sponsors a multitude of conferences and a number of timely publications, and there is a great deal of material about both to be found on their site. Visitors that may be unfamiliar with the nature of the Association may do well to first examine the About AAC&U section of the site to learn more about its mission, strategic plan, partnerships, and board of directors. The Publications section is also quite valuable, as visitors can read selected articles from two major quarterly publications published by the Association, "Liberal Education" and "Peer Review." Visitors will also want to take a look at the Association's major initiatives, which include Liberal Arts Colleges and Global Learning, Journey Towards Democracy, and Integrative Learning: Opportunities to Connect. [KMG]

http://www.awarefoundation.org/aware/

The mission of the Adolescent Wellness and Reproductive Education Foundation (AWARE) is "dedicated to educating and empowering adolescents to make responsible decisions regarding their wellness, sexuality and reproductive health." Additionally, the AWARE Foundation also is concerned with reaching out to parents as well, in order to keep them informed about various issues affecting teen health and sexuality. The site features an area where parents and young people can ask questions, which will be answered by a team of health care specialists. In addition, visitors can take part in live chat sessions about teen health, or simply read through transcripts of previous live chat sessions. The site also provides a Fast Facts list that details some brief, but important, facts about teen sexuality and reproductive health. Finally, the site also contains a number of emergency health resources, including Web sites and phone numbers of organizations that deal with eating disorders, sexual abuse, and mental health. [KMG]

http://americanart.si.edu/tours/index.html

While the Smithsonian American Art Museum has over 15,000 pieces of art in its entire collection, 13 of these works have been selected by the museum's director, Elizabeth Broun, as her personal favorites, and placed online in this collection. Some of the works featured here include Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler by John Singer Sargent, Storm King on the Hudson by Samuel Colman, and Achelous and Hercules by Thomas Hart Benton. Each work of art features a brief piece of text by Ms. Broun about the important of each work, along with a video clip that features Ms. Brown sharing her impressions on each piece. Overall, this exhibit provides a great deal of insight into thirteen artworks within the American Art Museum's holdings, and allows users to learn about the legacy and history of each work. [KMG]

The Real Mingus Web
http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/flash.htm
Charles Mingus-Verve Records [QuickTime, RealOnePlayer]
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx?aid=2669

The late Charles Mingus was one of the jazz world's most accomplished bassists and composers, and his music lives on after his death through the concerted efforts of his wife, Sue Mingus, and the Charles Mingus Big Band. This first Web site will take users to a site devoted to Mingus that includes a brief biography, information about the Mingus Big Band, a gallery of images, and brief writings by Mingus himself. The writings section may be the most compelling, as it contains brief explanations of his song titles and his Grammy-nominated liner notes for his 1971 album, Let My Children Hear Music. The second site is provided by the Verve music group company, and allows visitors to listen to songs from a number of his albums, including Pre-Bird, Mingus Plays Piano, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, and the legendary Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus. [KMG]