MyUMUC | WebTycho

Information and Library Services

December 2010 Archives

White House Christmas Tree Time Lapse

|

Watch volunteers install and decorate the White House Christmas tree in 1 minute and 9 seconds (in time-lapse video, that is). Other informative, behind-the-scene glimpses of life at the White House are available at the White House YouTube channel.

Happy holidays from UMUC Information and Library Services!

Top 10 Words of 2010

|
Merriam-Webster has published its annual list of top 10 words. In these tough economic times, it's no surprise that austerity is the number 1 word of 2010. When the going gets austere, the austere get pragmatic (word number 2) and markedly less ebullient (number 8).

Merriam-Webster has other neat content: more top 10 lists, words games, etc. Visit our library's Guide to Dictionary and Encyclopedia Resources for yet more helpful links.

Evolving English, an interactive exhibition at the British Library, follows the history of the English language around the world and shows how English is still evolving today. You can take a quiz and add your voice to a worldwide map of spoken English

British Library's English language quiz

English map.jpg



The Ghent Altarpiece

|
Ghent.jpg
The Ghent Altarpiece, a 15th-century touchstone of Western art, is so detailed and true-to-life that experts claim it is possible to look at the singers' mouths in the altarpiece's angelic choir and tell what notes they are singing.

The altarpiece is undergoing a painstaking restoration process by an international panel of experts. UMUC  students, faculty, and staff can login to our library database Academic Search Complete and read a New Yorker article by art critic Peter Schjeldahl about the altarpiece, its history, and restoration. A short audio slideshow by Schjeldahl on the altarpiece is available at the New Yorker Web site.

Our library also offers Oxford Art Online, an extensive database of art history information and images.

Pearl Harbor and Naval History

|

                                           AttentiNavy.jpgon all history students!

 With the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor being on December 7th, the Navy Museums may be a good place to start research into different aspects of naval history or Pearl Harbor and the Second World War.

The United States military has great online educational resources that should not be overlooked!