Thursday, November 13, 2003

Flash-db.com Dynamic Flash database with PHP, ASP, CFM remoting and web services community
If you haven't seen it, a pretty amazing Flash resource site. Ihave to admit, I've been so caught up in other stuff, I haven't seen it myself - or if I did, it was in another incarnation of the site.

Also lists a number of web services.
www.xmethods.net
This cool toystore of Web Services has quite a few public services listed. You can try them out via the client provided.

Not sure that there are any applicable to telling history, but some may show up, or it may inspire you. If you really want to play, look at ESRI's map services.

The Google service has a number of implementations you might find educational. Of those, Floogle is a tutorial/exhibit on using webservices in flash.
Bridge on the River Kwai | PBS SECRETS OF THE DEAD
Yes, the bridge from the classic movie. The real tale, however, is far more grim than the screenplay of the plucky Brits.

An aweful 16,000 of the 60,000 western prisoners who worked the rail died. Yet even that shocking death count shorts the story of merciless brutality.

The Japanese managers drove eighty thousand Asians--men, women, and children, enough to fill Yankee stadium to capacity--to their deaths.

The website does no justice to this monstrous act. Maybe you can.

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Expectations Alter Outcomes
A great article by Sharon Begley in the Nov. 7 Wall Street Journal discusses the affect of teachers' expectations upon students learning. In a typical experiment, elementary school teachers are told that a certain did well on a test that predicts intellectual "blooming". After a few months, the test seems proved right: all the labeled bloomers have done much better than the other students.

Except that there is no such test. The labeled students were picked from every ability level (as measured on standard intelligence tests).

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

American Valor
PBS lets you look in the faces and hear the words of Medal of Honor recipients. By following the links, find out where you can hear and meet many of them in person.

Sunday, November 09, 2003

Taking the Long View: Panoramic Photographs 1851-1991 from the Library of Congress
Cousin Dan suggests this visual treasure chest.
Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution
I've yet to read this book on the future impact of all the wireless technologies. [Amazon.com review] Apparently there are lots of "social network" books I've yet to discover.

History is a pretty powerful social network; it ties us together with not only our contemporaries in the moment; it binds us to those who learned the lessons the hard way.

The word "mob" (play that it is) reminds us that telling history is critical work.

Thursday, November 06, 2003

We Just Forge ahead--And Believe
In Parade Magazine (11/4/03) a story of Roy Sunada and his sucess at transforming John Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. In this school where 70% are Hispanic or African-American and where low-income is the norm, 33% of students are enrolled in - and succeeding at - Advanced Placement classes. It started with AP History, and they use a lot of historical figures to inspire kids.

Parade posts stories online one week after publication. Also there: links to three 2003 College Board Ispiration Award winning schools.

Sunday, November 02, 2003

Great Victorian Achievments | BBC
Animation of - well, achievements in the Victorian era.