New York TimesSelect available to all

On September 19, TimesSelect was ended and all content back to 1987 made available to the public. So this means that all the New York Times articles that I've noted as being restricted are now available to all. This is a 'very good thing', especially since some articles have slide shows of the art that is discussed.

I'm guessing that new users of the online version of the NY Times will still need an account (free) since, if you have an account, you can save articles, get customized emails about your favourite topics, etc.

My List on WorldCat

WorldCat has added a feature whereby a user can create lists of articles or books once they have been found in a WorldCat search.

So, I've created a list of items I've found having to with the topics I've used in this blog. For now, it's one big list, but I may change that if it gets too long. I've added notes about where to find the material if it's available online. As always, some is available only if you have a subscription. Or you can go to your local library and read the print copy, if they have it.

Day to Day in Iraq New York Times Blog

Access to this blog is available only to those people who have a subscription to TimesSelect at the New York Times. [Not any more - see post for September 22]

The Day to Day in Iraq blog ran for only four months in 2006. Some of the bloggers had their own blogs, all of which are still available. Two of the bloggers are publishing as of August 2007. The four are Iraqi Konfused Kid;   Zeyad (Healing Iraq);  Ayad Rahim (Live from Baghdad) who also has a radio show at WJCU in Cleveland;  and Hassan Kharrufa (An Average Iraqi)

Another blog which features video from Iraq is Alive in Baghdad. Their web page has an archive of the videos and you also subscribe through iTunes.

All of these blogs provide different points of view than are found in most news reports. Some of the material may be disturbing, but I think it is important to hear from the ordinary people of Iraq.

collective - the interactive culture magazine

Collective is an "interactive culture magazine" produced online by the BBC. It has sections on art, music, games, books, and "more culture". Articles appear in all of these sections and most have comments by members - indeed, the articles may be written by members. Members may also start and contribute to conversations, submit art for display, etc.

What I like about the site is that, in addition to the above added value, the section on art, for instance, has a long list of articles about artists, exhibits, reviews, and whatever. Some (most? all?) of the entries have links to even more websites about the artist.

One of the artists I saw listed was Banksy. I had heard of him, of course, but had never really seen much of his art. One of the links from the collective art review entry is to Banksy's own website, and his art is well-displayed there.

[Sadly, collective closed in the spring of 2008, although the content is still available as of May 30]

Zed - CBC Television

Evidently this television show was cancelled after the fourth season. The CBC, bless them, have left the website up. You can watch videos by clicking on a link and browsing through the selections. There is also music and still content. You can search for specific content or browse through episodes (the 'Real' and 'Candid' buttons).

[June 27/07 - The Zed site is supposed to be online. I received an email on June 25 that said it "will remain online for the foreseeable future", but the URL provided was incorrect and the link above isn't working. It may be just temporarily unavailable. In the meantime, CBC has a new program along similar lines, due to begin on July 29. There are already videos there to be seen and voted on. Check out Exposure until Zed reappears, which it seems to have done by July 4.]

What was great about the show is that most, if not all, of the content was viewer-created and submitted. I guess in a way Zed has been superceded by YouTube but this show, and the website, was an original CBC concept at the time.