Includes Video about Van Gogh. (Art is Fun!)

This article contains a video about Van Gogh--discusses what may have caused him to move from creating dark paintings to painting more vibrantly-colored works.

Linguistics Blogger, John Wells

Here's a great blog site for people who love linguistics:  Sadly, he's not posting any longer, but his archives are great.  (You really have to love linguistics to love this site!)

Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells

Red Moon at Sharpsburg

Author: Rosemary Wells (1943 - )

Copyright: 2006

ISBN:  978-0-670-03638-7

Dewey Decimal Number: Fic WEL

Reading Range:  ATOS Book Level = 4.7;

                              Interest Level = Middle Grades, Plus

                              AR Points = 8.0

Book Connection:  Story of the Civil War with sympathy for all parties

This well-researched historical fiction tells of protagonist/narrator India Moody’s struggles through the Civil War.  When the war begins, India is twelve years old living in the South’s rich Shenandoah Valley and has been blessed with the comfort of a loving family, loving friends, and a loving community.  We share her loves, fears, dangers, and pains as she grows from her naïve, protected world to carry the burdens of friends and family in the horrors of this especially-bloody war.  Uniquely, neither side of the horrific Civil War is painted as villain or hero.  Mostly, we learn that war is monstrous. 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Alexi, Sherman (1966 - ) 
Illustrator: Forney, Ellen (1968- ) 
Copyright: 2007

ISBN:  978-0-316-01368-0 

Dewey Decimal Number: Fic ELI

Reading Range:  ATOS Book Level = 4.0;

                              Interest Level = Upper Grades;

                              AR Points = 6.0

Book Connection:  Of high interest for readers who are of

                                  “other” culture living in “white culture”

This is a semi-autobiographical story about growing up on an American Indian Reservation while trying to fit into the “white world.”  Told in first person, Junior shares interesting bits of his life as he discovers that life on “the Rez” offers no future, and he works to become more than an alcoholic.  This story is told with the humor of a teenager, and the many characters are shared in a playful manner.  Overall, a very difficult situation is shared in a palatable—in fact, delightful—way; and we come away full of admiration and appreciation for those who have this unique cultural struggle.

Boosting SILAS MARNER

Silas Marner:  The Weaver of Raveloe –by George Eliot

Author: Eliot, George [Evans, Mary Anne] (1819-1880) 

This is your Librarian, Mrs. Meier's, favorite book of all time; so it's especially exciting to have found this beautifully-illustrated copy on the Gutenberg Project (free downloadable eBooks!)!  Everyone can enjoy this amazing copy at no cost!

This jewel of a book is an old classic, but--in spite of its perfectly-placed setting of Old England--it transcends time.  It is a story of class-disparity, of loss, and of resurrection.

An young weaver, Silas Marner, is betrayed by his best friend and his tight, religious community. Having lost his betrothed and his high standing, Silas moves out of the city and into a quaint old country community in the England of the 17th Century.  

Silas comes to love only gold and his solitude until a little girl brings him hope and love.  Can he survive if he loses her, too?

How radians work

How radians work 

Pi?  Did someone say, "Pi"???

HOW do you decide if a website is right for your needs?  Here's a chart which might help you figure that out:

Find the Right Site for Your Research Become a Discerning Reader Beverly Meier LIB740; Thomas Nixon
There are numerous aspects to consider when you are selecting sources for your research.Some aspects are simple and obvious; others are complex and require great thought. This chart is thorough and includes both types.  Learn to become The Discerning Reader!
Points & Purposes	Authority	Accuracy	Objectivity	Currency	Coverage
WHO	Does the page include an author’s biography and his/her email address? Is the author a valid authority on the subject covered by the piece? What are the author’s credentials? Has the author conducted or participated in any studies—pertinent to the piece, or not? Does the author have a website? What else has the author written? What kind of fame does the author possess? Who publishes the website? Who does the author quote, and is the cited person an authority? Through which search engine was the piece accessed? Have the author or the piece earned any scholarly awards or reviews?	What known authorities agree/disagree with the information of the piece? Do other works of the author conflict with the piece? Does the information in the piece agree with that shared in the works of other authorities on the same subject?	What can the author gain through the article? Does the author have a determinable prejudice or financial interest in the subject? Does the author represent any known group? Does the website publisher have anything to gain by presenting the article/piece? Who sponsored the piece? Does the piece’s information represent any group? Which? Who does the author cite, and does the cited person have any pertinent bias? Was the author of the piece an active participant in any event or study mentioned in the piece?	Is the author of the piece still living? Are other members who are involved in any events/activities in the piece still living?	Can the piece be discovered through more than one search engine/which? At what position on the search engine’s web page was the piece located (i.e., was the article the first item offered, the fifth, on the second page, etc.)? Is the work cited by others? If yes, by whom is the piece cited and for what purpose? Who/what does the piece cite? Are there advertisements on the webpage?  If yes, what products are advertised, and where are the advertisements located in relation to the piece and other advertisements? Do you need a password/membership to access the piece?
	Authority	Accuracy	Objectivity	Currency	Coverage
WHAT	Are accompanying graphics easy to read and comprehend? Do all graphics have a clear purpose? Does the piece include a bibliography? Is the author effective? Are there clerical errors in the piece?	Is information from cited works presented accurately? Is information from other works presented in the same format as in the cited material (ex., from chart to chart or from chart to paragraph)? Can you locate cited works in order to check for accuracy? Is the piece’s information complete? Is it possible to check any quotes presented to determine if they are utilized out of context? Does the piece include information that you know is incorrect?	Does the pieces title match the work? Have all sides of the subject been presented? Are statistics/data presented in a fair, clear manner? Is the thesis presented in a clear manner? Is more than one side the piece’s issue presented? Does the piece make sense? Is the verbiage of the piece intended to produce an emotional response?  Does the author use over-generalizations or simplifications? Does the piece utilize easy-to-follow logic? Does the piece suit your purpose/answer your questions? Is the piece written to suit the researcher’s abilities? Did the piece lead you to other sources?	What is the date of the development of the article? What is the date of the most recent edition?  What is the date of the piece’s presentation on the webpage? Is the article current? Is the information current? Do any Internet links work?	Is the piece visually well-presented? Is the website well-presented and easy to follow? Is the piece linked to other sites?  If it is, to what other sites is the piece linked?
	Authority	Accuracy	Objectivity	Currency	Coverage
WHERE	Was the piece produced in a country in which the author might have unique and greater access to knowledge of the subject?  At what type of domain is the piece located (i.e., .com, .org, .gov, .edu, .us, from other nations)?	Was the piece produced in a country with specific, known agendas/biases? Is the website publisher located in a country with a specific, known agenda?	Was the piece produced in a country with constraints placed upon publications? Is the website publisher located in a country with constraints placed upon publications?		Was the piece produced in a country with specific, known agendas and constraints? Due to country of origin, is the website publisher presenting information at possible personal risk? Does the piece suit the website? Is the website well-maintained?
	Authority	Accuracy	Objectivity	Currency	Coverage
WHEN	How recent in time to events covered in the work was the piece written?	Does the author have particular knowledge of the subject due to involvement in events covered in the piece? Is presented material time-sensitive?	Was the author involved in events covered in the piece?	Was the piece written during the events of the period discussed?	Is the piece a first edition, or a revised edition?  If the piece has been revised, what changes were made since the original publication?  If the piece has been revised, why did the revision occur?
	Authority	Accuracy	Objectivity	Currency	Coverage
WHY			What is the stated purpose of the piece?   Does the piece remain true to its stated purpose? What might be any other apparent purpose of the piece?	Why was the piece written at the time it was written?	What purpose might the website have for presenting the piece? What purpose might the website have for presenting the piece at the time it was presented?
	Authority	Accuracy	Objectivity	Currency	Coverage
HOW	Are the author’s credentials presented, or must you seek them out? Is the piece peer-reviewed?	What research is acknowledged by the author of the piece?	What type of piece is being presented (ex., opinion, news, etc.)?  On what “page” of the website is the piece presented (ex., on an editorial page, a comic page, etc.)? Where on the webpage is the piece located?		On what kind of website is the piece presented (ex., news, satire, etc.)? Is the piece advertised at other locations on the website—or elsewhere on the Internet? Is reader feedback associated with the piece? What surrounds the piece? What advertisements are located near the piece? Is the piece also published in print? Are any downloads required to access the piece?