Word on the Stacks

 This week’s Wrap-up is reference to environmental policies and decisions affecting the desert Southwest, It is also a brief history of the government action and actors.    In 1906, the Congress of the United States passed The Antiquities Act which authorized the President of the United States to set aside lands intended for:  With that authority, President Bill Clinton, in 1996 designated the Grand Staircase-Escalante area of Utah as a National Monument.  For the First time in history, the Bureau of Land Management assumed administrative control of a National Monument.  In 2016, President Obama designated Bears Ears a National Monument .  Also, for the first time, the proclamation came at the request of Native tribes in the area. Today, five tribal entities share in its management. In 2017 though, President Trump reduced protected areas by 85% and 50% of Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase Escalante respectively.  Litigation followed as...

  It is an understatement to suggest that other nations often view the United States differently than we do ourselves.   This fact is particularly true today as there is no international consensus relative to many international issues.   Although many of you may not agree with those other points of view, as students and citizens of the world, our time might be well-spent becoming familiar with how others understand the issues of the day.   The World Press Review Online is not only a digest of world press clippings, it is a portal to international information resources, and it is a featured website. Its homepage features “In the Spotlight,” a collection of excerpted articles and analysis of news stories from around the world.   You may also select the link “World Headlines” to access a regularly updated headline service or links under the menu heading, “Features.”    Of those links, “ Think-Tanks/NGO’s ” may be particularly helpful to those looking f...

  Weekly Web Wrap-up This week’s entry is the Center for Inquiry , which may raise some eyebrows. Richard Dawkins, best known for his atheistic views, is its founder.    Although some may find his non-religionist beliefs discomforting, his purpose is not to proselytize but to advocate for the separation of theistic thinking from public policy and science.    In addition, the Center actively supports those individuals who may be subject to scorn because of similar beliefs. The Center is program-driven . Some program examples follow: Through the auspices of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) , the Center publishes materials for middle school teachers who teach evolution science in their classrooms.    The Young Skeptics program promotes Inquiry-based learning and critical thinking.   One activity supporting these objectives is the Cranky Uncle app. One other program may be of benefit to many. Quackwatch markets itself as a ...

  Counter Balance is a database having Science as the focus.   It is also about connections.   The creators, of Counterbalance (2023) describe their work as “a non-profit educational organization working to promote the public understanding of science, and how the sciences relate to wider society.  It is our hope that individuals, and society as a whole will benefit from a struggle toward integrated and counterbalanced responses to complex questions.”   Many of the complex questions carry theological themes and matters of faith.   Its intended audience includes both the general population and undergraduates.   Hypertext links found on the Website exceed 300,000, and it includes over 200 hours of streaming media.   Its essayists and contributors are experts and academics from a variety of fields such as in the life and physical sciences, philosophy, law and theology.   Unlike most databases, Counter Balance is organized along several differen...

  It was an overcast and dusty d ay on the campus mesa of UNM-Gallup.   The few students who had intrepidly braved the flight of tumbleweeds rolling across the parking lot were busy guessing what facts and concepts they may need to recall for their final exams.   Others sought refuge in the sheltering corners of adobe-style buildings where the orbs of Russian sage pile high or pass overhead. Although the wise and sage college librarian was equally quiet, his mind busied itself with thoughts of new LibGuides, student research, keywords subject headings and controlled vocabulary.   And then … Actually, this might be my submission to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest , named after a 19th century Victorian author who first penned the words “it was a dark and stormy night.” Here, “WWW means Wretched Writers Welcome.”   The website documenting the contest is this week’s Wrap-up.   Visitors to the site can read the winning submissions from this year’s contest, ...

  Last week The Strong National Museum of Play of Rochester, New York made the news when it announced the 2022 ‘inductees’ to its National Toy Hall of Fame . The honorees included the Top , Lite-Brite and from Mattel, Masters of the Universe Action Team .   A virtual visit to the Hall of Fame triggered many vivid memories of my childhood.   This tells me that the importance of play cannot be overstated. Some of the memories include the fresh smell of new Play-Doh , Scrabble with extended family after a holiday meal, stepping on Tinkertoys spread across the floor, marveling at View-Master 3D images and racing marbles down Lionel Train rails. I also collected Matchbox Cars (The ones made by Lesney). Find your memories here . In addition to the Hall of Fame, check out the academic the open-access journal, American Journal of Play , museum Exhibits , the International Center for the History of Electronic Games and the blogs of the museum staff . Rekindle so...

  A complete and accessible archive of LIFE Magazine is this week’s Wrap-up.   Although LIFE is probably familiar to most of us over fifty, publication actually began its run in 1883 as a humor magazine .   The version which is best known, featured the “Life” title   in a red rectangular field off-centered at the top of the cover page. Its run went to press in 1936.   During the following years, weekly circulation peaked at 13.5 million copies. Life (weekly), as I knew it ended publication in the year 1972.    From 1972 through 1978 it appeared as special editions after which until 2000, issues became monthly. Life magazine is Known primarily for photojournalism, it documented American life and history from Pearl Harbor to Woodstock and in ads such as Camel Cigarettes Smoked by More Doctors to RCA Victor Color TV .   The BBC, in a print essay describes Life   as the Photos that defined the U.S.   Of some 200,000 pages of photo...