Tax Time 2002
http://lii.org/taxes
A product of the Librarians' Index to the Internet, Tax Time 2002 is a searchable, briefly annotated directory of tax-related Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of the library and general public. The resources include Web sites related to income tax preparation, taxation, sales tax, tax-related finance sites, tax forms, select publications, the IRS, and state taxation agencies. More importantly (because we need it during tax season), the site also provides a guide to a few Web sites that provide humorous cartoons, stories, and one-liners to help lighten the oftentimes burdensome load the tax season tends to bring. [MG]
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OAlster
http://oaister.umdl.umich.edu/
A description of the University of Michigan's Digital Library Production Service's OAIster Project, this resource offers a detailed introduction of the project and its primary objectives. Standing for Open Archives Initiative, OAIster is an ongoing, collective effort on the part of librarians and other information service professionals to increase access to Web-based resources not currently retrievable by existing search engines. While of critical interest to information professionals, the project has broad-ranging implications for anyone surfing the Internet, as current search strategies and the protocols they employ rely on limited, predetermined sets of data not always supplied by Internet resource providers to describe the information they make available. Accordingly, many resources just can't be found by popular search engines, making the resources, essentially, invisible to all but their creators and their immediate community. The OAIster Project is meant to resolve this problem, making more of the Web available to everyone as soon as possible. [WH]
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Mark Twain: A Film Directed by Ken Burns
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/
Mark Twain, a film co-produced by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, aired on PBS January 14th and 15th of 2002. Presently, PBS is offering the general public the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Florentine Films and learn about the making of the movie. Internet users can meet the co-producers and find out what they have say about Twain, as well as follow the steps of the filmmaking process. In addition, users have the opportunity to view a scrapbook that offers some of Twain's writings and collected artifacts. The site also contains classroom activities, selected writings, a chronology of Twain's life, and links to other related sites. Aspiring film producers, history and literature teachers, and Mark Twain enthusiasts may find this site quite valuable. [MG]
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Anglo-Australian Observatory of Astronomical Images
http://www.aao.gov.au/images.html/
David Malin, Adjunct Professor of Scientific Photography at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), has created this "gateway to a unique collection of wide-field astronomical photographs." These awe-striking photographs were mostly taken with the telescopes of the Anglo-Australian Observatory and include photos of galaxies, emission and reflection nebulae, supernovae, star clusters, messier objects, and more. Underneath each picture is a brief description, along with links to other related images. Users may scan the images by object type, by telescope type, or by the portfolio pages of thumbnail pictures (a slightly slower process). [MG]
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CampusTours: Virtual College Tours
http://www.CampusTours.com/
CampusTours works with over eight hundred colleges and universities throughout the United States to promote, enhance, and build virtual college tours for prospective students and parents. These online tours provide students with an opportunity to learn about a college prior to a campus visit and the chance to view and perhaps become interested in institutions of which they had previously not been aware. The site also provides campus maps (if available) and a link to the institution's official Web site. Users may search by state or school name. CampusTours has become a valuable piece of the college recruitment effort and essentially provides the modern-day equivalent of a printed college guidebook. [MG]
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Molecular Expressions: The Silicon Zoo
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/creatures/index.html
Although most of us will never examine a computer chip under a microscope, computer engineers are showing their creative side by hiding silicon artwork in a chip's layout. The Silicon Zoo has a collection of highly-magnified images that showcase the designer's talent, and each image is accompanied by an interesting, and often humorous, explanation. The silicon doodles have many different themes, ranging from cartoon characters to King Arthur's sword. Two Java tutorials are also on the Web site: the first describes how engineers create their "creatures," while the second explains how computer chips are searched to find them. There are many interesting sections of The Silicon Zoo, so be sure to explore! This site is also reviewed in the March 15, 2002 NSDL Math, Engineering, and Technology Report. [CL]
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The Napoleonic Guide
http://www.napoleonguide.com/
The Napoleonic Guide offers a one-stop reference site for Napoleon and French history enthusiasts. Focusing on French history between 1796 to 1815, the site offers information on the era's major powers, armies, soldiers, battles, the Naval War, the War of 1812, and much more. In addition, users can expect to find personal information on Napoleon's career, opponents, marshals, and family. Also provided are digital images; key maps; and a list of relevant movies, books, and music. [MG]
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