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Databases Archives

October 27, 2007

Value Line now available from home

Did you know that you can get the latest information on stocks right from home? Value Line, a popular online database for investors, is now available remotely through the Milwaukee Public Library's Website. All City of Milwaukee residents with valid library cards can use this great resource.

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To access this database from your home computer:

Go to the Milwaukee Public Library's home page.
Select "Research Resources," then "All Library Databases".
Scroll through the alphabetical list until you reach Value Line.
Click on the Value Line link.
Enter your library card number and PIN, and you're in!

Having trouble? Check out some database troubleshooting tips.

January 14, 2008

Shipshape Launches @ MPL

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Project Shipshape is the newest destination for Great Lakes ship information. Supported by grants from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program as well as local funding, the Shipshape database is the result of a collaboration between the Milwaukee Public Library and the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.

Shipshape contains information on over 10,000 vessels that have sailed the Great Lakes. It is a great source of information on the ships themselves, as well as names of builders, owners, and captains. Additionally, complete files on each vessel, including articles from books and magazines, nautical charts, photographs and vessel flags are available in the Central Library’s Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Room.

February 1, 2008

New Database: World Book Kids

World Book Kids is the latest addition to the database collection at MPL. It is the online version of the popular encyclopedia that is designed especially for children. World Book Kids features simple navigation, easy-to-read content, and bright colors and graphics. Divided into broad topical categories, thousands of articles are enhanced by colorful illustrations, photographs, diagrams, and interactive maps. Four categories of fun activities (Think It!, Be It!, Make It!, and Teach It!) provide great ideas for parents and teachers. You can log on to World Book Kids in any City of Milwaukee library, as well as from your home computer using your library card.

March 17, 2008

House History registration now open

If you've ever wondered about the history behind your home, you may want to attend the Milwaukee Public Library's House History program. This extremely popular program will be running again Saturday, April 19, from 9:30 a.m.-11:25 a.m.

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( The T.A. Chapman Residence used to be at 1038 N. Cass St.)

This program is an introduction to the Central Library's resources that are extremely useful for determining the history of a house or property. Resources that will be explored are the Milwaukee city directories, the fire insurance atlases, the tax rolls, and much more.

The program is especially helpful for residents of the City of Milwaukee, as the resources focus on the city. Residents of Milwaukee area suburbs will find less information than those in the city.

Advance registration is required. To register, call the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Department at (414) 286-3061.

April 8, 2008

19th Century Newspapers

Whether you're writing a history paper, or trying to do some genealogy work, the database 19th Century Newspapers may be just the tool you need. This database covers millions of articles from all over the United States for the 19th century.

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This is an especially valuable source for Wisconsin and Milwaukee information. The database has articles from many different Wisconsin and Milwaukee newspapers including not only the Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Sentinel, but also the Northwestern Recorder, the Wisconsin Temperance Journal, Yenowine's Illustrated News, and many more.

The database allows for searches to be narrowed down by newspaper, by date, or by states.

This powerful search tool can be accessed from home by City of Milwaukee library cardholders.

April 24, 2008

New Webcasts For BadgerLink Databases

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Did you know that you have access to the BadgerLink Databases through the library? The Wisconsin State Department of Instruction provides access to several high quality databases through libraries and schools. One place you can find Badgerlink is from the category of Library Databases found in the Research Resources Page on the MPL home page.
Now there are webcasts available on how to use BadgerLink Resources for Kids, Ethnic Information Resources in BadgerLink, Humanities Resources in BadgerLink and Newspaper Resources in BadgerLink. Listen and view these webcasts for a good introduction to learning using these databases. Take your research to the next level and don't forget to call, visit or e-mail the library for more information and search tips.

View the BadgerLink Webcasts

June 9, 2008

How to find phone numbers like the librarians at Ready Reference

There are many phone directories available on the Internet. A couple of sources that the librarians at Ready Reference find particularly helpful are Whitepages.com and ReferenceUSA.

Not only does Whitepages.com have a powerful search feature for finding individuals, but I find its most valuable aspect is its Reverse Lookup feature. If you are interested in finding out someone's information based on a phone number, this is a great tool. What makes this particularly valuable is the feature that will tell you if the number you have entered is unlisted, or a cell phone.

While Whitepages.com is great for finding residential information, MPL subscribes to a great database for looking up preliminary business information.

ReferenceUSA is a database that allows you to look up both residential and business information. It is especially helpful for business information. You can sign on to it from MPL's website under Research Resources, and then by clincking on Featured Databases. You do need to have a current library card to access ReferenceUSA remotely, and it's also available within all City of Milwaukee libraries.

June 13, 2008

OverDrive for Digital Audiobooks, Music, and Video

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Did you know that with your Milwaukee Public Library card you can download audiobooks, music titles, and videos? You can do it all through OverDrive media service. OverDrive lets you browse thousands of titles, check out the ones you want, then download them to your computer or transfer them to your portable listening device. At the end of the loan period, titles will expire and be automatically 'returned' to the OverDrive library. To get started you will need a valid library card, access to the Internet, and free software for the computer and/or device on which you wish to use the material. For more information and to download the free software, go to the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium's OverDrive Digital Download Center.

June 26, 2008

New database subscription

The Milwaukee Public Library is pleased to offer a subscription to an old favorite in a new guise. The Encyclopaedia Britannica is now available online through MPL's website. With many features including English and Spanish dictionaries, a world atlas, the year in review, color photos and charts, full citation information, and much more, this powerful reference tool is now available at your fingertips.

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It is available both in City of Milwaukee libraries and remotely to City of Milwaukee residents. As always, with our database subscriptions that can be accessed from home, you can sign into it with a valid library card from your home computer.

To access the encyclopedia on MPL's Web site, go to the "Research Resources" link, and then select "All Library Databases". From there, just scroll down to Encyclopaedia Britannica Online to open it up.

July 1, 2009

New Databases @ Your Library!

New Databases @ Your Library
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Need authoritative information? Try a database! The Milwaukee Public Library has a wide assortment of new databases (Database List)twenty in all, starting today because the State of Wisconsin has contracted with database vendor EBSCO as part of the new version of BadgerLink . Some of these great new databases include the Auto Repair Reference Center , suggestions for readers from NoveList , and, perfect for this holiday weekend, the History Reference Center. If you want to look over the complete list of new databases, go to the Library Databases category and look for the yellow NEW sunburst.


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July 23, 2009

Wanted : Dead or Alive

Patrons often call the reference desk to find out if a celebrity is alive or deceased. People also regularly search for obituaries and death notices for friends and loved ones. There are several databases which can help tremendously when searching for this type of information. The Dead People Server is a good choice for birthdates, death dates, and cause of death of famous people. Find A Grave allows users to search 21 million grave records and to find information on more than 250,000 cemeteries. In addition, The Who's Alive and Who's Dead site helps you keep track of who's living and who's deceased. Celebrities are grouped by TV show, film, band and sport.

America's Obituaries & Death Notices contains over 180 U.S. newspapers, most of which date back to the late 1990's and includes everything from front page news articles to paid death announcements. This is a paid database and can be accessed remotely by City of Milwaukee residents. Residents of surrounding communities are welcome to visit and Milwaukee Public Libraries in person to search this database.

For additional databases and links on the subject of People, check out the People Category from the Recommended Links section of the Milwaukee Public Library home page.

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October 8, 2009

October is National Information Literacy Awareness Month

Information Overload!.jpgPresident Obama has proclaimed October as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. In our time of twenty-four hour television news and Internet content, the skills necessary to find and evaluate authoritative information is more critical than ever before. The MPL home page is a good place to start for finding credible information. So if you find yourself overwhelmed by information overload, contact your local Milwaukee Public Library for tips on how to separate the facts from the fiction.

December 22, 2009

OverDrive News

The OverDrive collection will include a new format: the OverDrive eBook collection.

OverDrive eBooks can be downloaded and viewed on mobile devices such as the Sony Reader, Barnes & Noble 'nook' and the iPhone/iPod Touch. The initial collection of OverDrive eBooks contains over 200 titles.


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To get started you will need a valid library card, access to the Internet, and free software for the computer and/or device on which you wish to use the material. For more information and to download the free software, go to the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium's OverDrive Digital Download Center.

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December 28, 2009

Mango Languages Database Debuts

Would you like to learn Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, or English as a second language for Spanish speakers? Thanks to your local public library, now you can. Mango Languages database will debut in all Milwaukee County Federated libraries (including all city of Milwaukee public libraries) on January 1, 2010.
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Mango Languages offers online language instruction with a conversational focus on several languages and English-language learning in native languages. Users can save their progress and return later by submitting an email address and password. You'll be able to access the database remotely.

On January 1, 2010, click on the MPL website's Recommended Links to access Mango Languages.


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February 10, 2010

Alex Haley and Roots

Alex Haley Coast Guard.pngOn February 10, 1992, American author Alex Haley died at the age of 70. Haley was best known for Roots: The Saga of an American Family, which, combining fact and fiction, described the history of his family beginning in mid-18th century Africa. Haley's fame grew after an eight-part dramatization of the book appeared on television in 1977. That same year, he received the Spingarn Medal, awarded annually by the NAACP for the highest achievement by an American of African descent. If you're inspired to research your own family tree, the Milwaukee Public Library has many books, as well as websites highlighted under Genealogy at the MPL home page's Recommended Links.

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February 5, 2010

WISCareers Database

WISCareers.jpgLooking for a new job? Wanting to change careers? About to finish school and wondering what to do next?

The WISCareers database is here to help you. It is a fun and easy tool that lets you explore your career development options.

Through WISCareers you can investigate more than 700 occupations and 4,000 schools of interest by taking on-line assessments and inventories. Information on careers includes job requirements, education path, salaries, outlook, and more.

You can also find financial aid, scholarship, and budgeting information, or research potential employers or apprenticeships throughout Wisconsin and the U.S.

This database also features a Resume Maker and a Cover Letter Writer that can help all job seekers.

Access WISCareers by going to MPL's Web site, select Research Resources, then All Library Databases. You can also access WISCareers from home with your City of Milwaukee library card.

March 26, 2010

CountyCat Online Catalog to be Unavailable on March 30th

On March 30th the server which provides access to CountyCat, the online catalog, will be replaced. In order to facilitate this server migration, all CountyCat functions, including searches, requests, and authentication for downloading via Overdrive, will be unavailable for the entire day.
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MPL libraries will still be open normal hours on Tuesday, March 30th. You are welcome to visit and check out materials in person (you will need your library card). Internet services will also be available as usual.

There will be some negative service impacts including:
No new library card registration.
Remote access to databases requiring authentication will not available. However, databases indicating Badgerlink funding will be remotely available. Unfortunately, other paid databases will not be available.

As always, library staff will be available to help in any way they can.


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May 11, 2010

New Loan Periods for OverDrive Digital Media

media player.jpgAttention OverDrive users! You now have the option to choose the lending period for your digital media checkouts.

When you log in to your account, you will be able to set your own default lending period on a format-by-format basis. However, if you do not set any lending period, the default for all formats will continue to be 7 days.

Here are the new lending period options:

For Adobe EPUB eBooks, Adobe PDF eBooks, OverDrive WMA Audiobooks, OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks:
7 days or 14 days

For OverDrive WMA Music, OverDrive WMV Video:
3 days, 5 days, 7 days, or 14 days


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July 12, 2010

EWWW! Mosquitoes!

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As the summer heat slogs on and the population of Milwaukee moves outside, those pesky critters known as mosquitoes appear to make our lives miserable. These insects from the Culicidae family are not only annoying, but are also disease vectors. Fortunately, you can learn more about mosquitoes and how to control them through the Badgerlink databases with a valid library card! Simply plug in your search terms in the "Search Databases" box at the top of the screen. Not only will results appear in the center of the screen, but you can limit your search to different databases by clicking on the links on the left hand side of the screen. You can find scientific articles about mosquitoes, or look for hints on how to control them. There are even links to databases to help your children learn about mosquitoes. Of course, if you would rather avoid mosquitoes all together and hang out in the comfort of air conditioning with a good book, check out Andrew Spielman's Mosquito: a natural history of our most persistent and deadly foe.


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July 8, 2010

Online Edition of Foundations in Wisconsin

Milwaukee Public Library has just purchased the online version of the well-known directory, Foundations in Wisconsin. Published annually by Marquette University's Raynor Library, it is the only directory of its kind which covers every active grant making foundation in the state of Wisconsin.

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The foundation profiles include contact information, total assets, grants paid, and areas of interest. The online version cannot be used remotely. Results may be printed or saved.

The online database Foundations in Wisconsin is linked on our webpage under the categories of "Grant Resources" and "Library Databases."


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September 16, 2010

What does MCFLS mean?

Have you ever gone to Milwaukee Public Library's catalog, CountyCat, and noticed at the top that it says Milwaukee County Federated Library System? If so, you may have wondered what this system is and how it differs from the Milwaukee Public Library. Milwaukee County Federated Library System logoThe whole idea behind library systems is that through working together and sharing services and materials all of the libraries that are part of the system can better serve their users. For example, if you are a resident of Milwaukee you have access to materials and services of 27 libraries, rather than just the 13 Milwaukee libraries. This is because the public libraries in Milwaukee and the other public libraries in Milwaukee County are part of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System (also known as MCFLS).

If you use library databases you also may have noticed that some of them are available only in the library while others offer remote access. Being part of MCFLS helps lower the cost of these databases, but the Milwaukee Public Library and the other Milwaukee County public libraries still have to pay for their own databases. This means when you try to use the library's databases you are limited to what your municipality has purchased access to. Take a look at Free Subscription Databases by Residence to find out the available resources paid for by your library.

For more information, check out the MCFLS Website, MPL Facts, Figures, and Policies and Library History.


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October 26, 2010

Digital Sanborn Atlases Now Available!

MPL has great news for researchers, genealogists, house historians, and developers! You can now access Wisconsin Sanborn fire insurance atlases online.

The Sanborn Map Company was the primary publisher of American fire insurance maps for nearly 100 years. Fire insurance maps detail buildings and their construction materials and were used to assess potential risk from fire and other hazards. But today these maps are a great source of historical and genealogical data.

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This ProQuest database contains Sanborn maps for more than 250 communities in Wisconsin. You can access this database from home with your City of Milwaukee library card, and the maps can be printed. This online collection for Milwaukee County is a great supplement to the print collection of Sanborn atlases in Central Library!

If you are unfamiliar with using the maps, be sure to check out the Help file and Frequently Asked Questions pages to get started.

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December 3, 2010

Newspaper Archives

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Did you know that Access NewspaperARCHIVE of Badgerlink recently updated their website? Besides being the largest online newspaper archive, NewspaperARCHIVE is easier to use with new search tabs and one click access to newspaper articles detailing historic events. The tabs at the top of the screen include the capability to browse and "Ask a librarian" as well as search. The search capability is also expanded with the ability to conduct a name search. You can access a variety of news articles covering famous historic events as they happened by clicking the links on the front page. Coverage includes all of the United States and some select countries.


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January 11, 2011

Mango Languages Now Offers Over 20 Languages!

Interested in learning Farsi? How about Tamil or Tagalog? Learning another language is easier than ever with Mango Languages, a database providing online language instruction with a conversational focus.

City of Milwaukee library cardholders now have accesss to the following languages through Mango's Language Learning Center: Arabic(Levantine), Mandarin Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dari, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Latin American Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
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Mango's Language Learning Center also features several English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, including ESL for Egyptian Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin American Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese and more.

Creating a new account with Mango Languages is required to access the additional content. City of Milwaukee library cardholders can create their account here. Or by clicking on the "All Library Databases" portion of the Milwaukee Public Library's website.


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March 28, 2011

MPL has a new database to sample!

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Milwaukee residents can enjoy a six month trial of the database Access Video powered by Films on Demand. This database provides streaming for educational videos on various topics. Teachers, do it your selfers, and those of you who are just plain curious can enjoy content on the topics of Home & Family, Health & Wellness, Career Planning & Resources, Trades & Technical Skills, Science, Math & Technology, Social Sciences, History, Language, Speech & Literature, Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Economics, Archival Films & Newsreels, Crime & Law. To find the link to this database, you can click on the categories of Education, Library Databases, Library Databases for Remote Use and Movies Radio & TV. Make sure you try it soon because the trial expires September 16th, 2011.


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July 8, 2011

Mango Languages USB Drives

mango.jpgMangousb_stick2.JPGIf you are a fan of Milwaukee Public Library's Mango Laguages database, or if you are looking for a fun and portable way to learn a foreign language, the library now offers Mango Languages in a convenient USB drive. The USB drives are available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. This interactive language instruction program uses Mango's Intuitive Language Construction and native speakers to teach vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and cultural nuances to first time language students. The USB drives are available for a three week loan period. Check the catalog for availability

Also, don't forget the Mango database, with 29 languages!



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April 2, 2012

1940 Census Goes Live Today

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The National Archives released 1940 Census records today. A name index does not yet exist, but Ancestry.com and FamilySearch plan to index the census. Visit the National Archives Start Your 1940 Census Research page for helpful search tips.

The U.S. Census is organized by enumeration district (ED), an area that can be canvassed by one enumerator (census taker). Enumeration district maps show their boundaries. If you have 1940 addresses for your family members, you can search for the census enumeration districts they lived at that time at Steve Morse's useful 1940 Census ED Finder.

If you only have names of people you are trying to find in the 1940 Census, city directories and telephone books for Milwaukee and some suburban directories from that era are available in the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Room, (414) 286-3061, at the Central Library.

A Humanities librarian offers a brief introduction to library genealogy resources. This free Researching Your Family Tree class meets at 2:30 p.m., every third Monday of the month in the Central Library Krikelas Room, 2nd Floor. The next program will be on April 16th, 2012.

Submitted by Van Lingle Mungo



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April 22, 2012

Learn More About Managing Your Investments!

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Today marks the start of Money Smart Week, a public awareness initiative aimed at building financial knowledge for all ages. Throughout the week Milwaukee Public Library will offer programs and resources to encourage healthy personal financial practices.

Managing Your Investments: Making Value Line and Morningstar Work for You

Smart investing starts now! Learn how you can use stock and mutual fund research tools Value Line and Morningstar to help manage your investments and inform future investment decisions. This program will be held at three Milwaukee Public Library locations. No registration is required.

Monday, April 23rd, 6-7 p.m.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.

Tuesday, April 24th, 6-7 p.m.
Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. Meeting Room 1

Wednesday, April 25th, 6-7 p.m.
East Library, 1910 E. North Ave, Meeting Room

Value Line and Morningstar are subscription databases available inside all City of Milwaukee libraries and remotely to City of Milwaukee library card holders.



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April 27, 2012

Goof-Proof Personal Finance From LearningExpress

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Wouldn't it be nice to have your own personal financial planner to show you how to spend your money, where to find savings, and maybe even find a way to create a nest egg? Goof-Proof Personal Finance can teach you how to take control of your financial future without the expense of a financial planner. Goof-Proof Personal Finance is free through Milwaukee Public Library's LearningExpress database. Learn how to take control of your financial future with 44 manageable and easy-to-understand lessons. Some of the topic covered in the lessons include:

* Monitoring spending habits and getting organized for saving
* Managing bills and gaining control of large debts
* Securing home equity loans and mortgages, plus refinancing strategies
* Investing for the future and understanding retirement plans
* Budgeting, saving, and spending wisely on a wedding
* Financing a college tuition and learning about education savings plans

The LearningExpress Library database is available for use through City of Milwaukee libraries and and by remote access to City of Milwaukee library cardholders.



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May 22, 2012

It's Rhubarb Season!

N_Astrup-Rabarbra.jpgAre you craving rhubarb? MPL's Historic Recipe File contains 17 recipes using this love it or hate it crop. If you're looking to use up your harvest or don't know what to do with rhubarb from your neighbor or CSA, try some new (old!) recipes. You might want to try rhubarb tea or bread or cake or cobbler or torte or cheesecake or flameri.
Bebop-A-Reebop Rhubarb!


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About Databases

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Now @ MPL... in the Databases category. They are listed from oldest to newest.

Contests is the previous category.

Displays is the next category.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.