The Scout Report

January 23, 1998

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Science Department, University of Wisconsin

A Project of the InterNIC

The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators, the InterNIC's primary audience. However, everyone is welcome to subscribe to one of the mailing lists (plain text or HTML). Subscription instructions are included at the end of each report.

An Acrobat .pdf version of this report is available for printing and distributing locally. For information on Adobe Acrobat Reader, visit the Adobe site.

Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/sci-engr/
The ninth issue of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. It annotates over twenty new and newly discovered Internet resources in the physical & life sciences and engineering. The In the News Section annotates six resources concerning recently published findings about telomerase, a gene which affects the mechanism of human cell replication and has important implications for both the aging process and cancer. [JS]
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The 4th Tetrology: Exploring Plato's Middle Dialogues
http://plato.evansville.edu/
This work-in-progress, provided by a team headed by Anthony F. Beavers, professor of Philosophy and Religion at Evansville University, is a teaching, research, and scholarly communication resource featuring the great Greek philosopher. The full text of four of Plato's "middle dialogues": The Republic;The Phaedrus;The Symposium; and The Phaedo highlight this site. Although the texts offer many hyperlinks to other occurrences of people and places in each of these works, the real power of the site is the reference page number textual cross references to alternative full texts at the Perseus Project (discussed in the October 17, 1997 Scout Report). Both English and Greek versions at Perseus are available; they pop up in a new browser window for ease of comparison. Word Searching is available via Perseus, Argos (discussed in the November 1, 1996 Scout Report), and Hippias (discussed in the September 26, 1997 Scout Report) for cross referenced text items. In addition, a restricted scholars commentary system (Asynchronous/Dialogical Commentary) is planned; to qualify, interested users need to contact Professor Beavers. [JS]
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National Environmental Publications Information--EPA
http://www.epa.gov/cincl/
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created this site as a one-stop-shop for over 6,000 EPA documents. Users can search or browse documents by number or title, National Publications Catalog, or Technical Information Packages. The EPA has also provided the user with an index of terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms. [KH]
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HotList of K-12 Internet School Sites Update
http://www.gsn.org/hotlist/index.html
Gleason Sackman, moderator of Internet Scout Project's Net-Happenings service, has found a host for his massive Hotlist of K-12 Internet School Sites resource (discussed in the September 2, 1994 Scout Report) which was offline for approximately six months. The Global SchoolNet Foundation (discussed in the June 9, 1995 Scout Report) is now hosting the site. HotList currently contains links to nearly 1,100 elementary schools, over 500 middle schools, over 1,100 high schools, and over 800 school districts in the US, arranged by state. In addition, there are links to teacher certification sites in 38 states and K-12 job opportunity information in 28 states. Submissions are encouraged, and users can elect to be informed of updates via an interactive form at the site. [JS]
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Two From OECD
OECD Observer [.pdf]
http://www.oecd.org/publications/observer/index.htm
OECD Policy Brief
http://www.oecd.org/publications/Pol_brief/
These two publications are provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The first, published bimonthly and available in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format only, covers various international economic and social issues. Recent issues have highlighted electronic commerce, globalization, and regulation. Each issue features an article that discusses the economy of an individual country. The Observer is available in English and French. The second publication, a recent addition to OECD's publications, contains information that highlights different aspects of the Organization's work. Issue 1 discusses electronic commerce, and Issue 2 the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). Explanations of the issue and OECD's involvement with it are provided in the form of brief answers to a series of questions. [JS]
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Outline of the Library of Congress Classification--CPSO
http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html
Originally developed for the classification of materials held in the US Library of Congress, today the LCC is used to classify and arrange materials from academic libraries to virtual collections of Internet resources, such as the Scout Report Signpost. The LCC is maintained by the Cataloging Policy and Support Office of the Library of Congress. The 21 broad classes of LCC listed on the main page are further broken down by subclass for browsing. While not as easy to read as the tables in the "Unofficial Guide" to the Library of Congress Classification System (discussed in the September 13, 1996 Scout Report), the CPSO outline is the authoritative source for the LC Classification; it contains the latest additions and changes to the classification scheme. [AG]
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Virtual Physics Laboratory [Java]
http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/~hwang/
US Mirror
http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/ntnujava/
This repository of Java applets, created to demonstrate principles of physics, is provided by physicist Fu-Kwun Hwang of the National Taiwan Normal University. 40 applets are available at this time in the fields of mechanics, dynamics, waves, thermodynamics, electromagnetic field and optics. Although the applets are accompanied by sparse explanatory information, the Virtual Physics Laboratory still would be an excellent supplement to a basic physics class. Note that connection speed to the Taiwanese site is fairly slow and that ten international mirror sites are provided. [JS]
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Castro Speech Database--LANIC
http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/cb/cuba/castro.html
The Latin American Network Information Center at the University of Texas provides access to a searchable and browsable database of speeches by Cuban Leader Fidel Castro. It contains "full text of English translations of speeches, interviews, and press conferences by Castro, based upon the records of the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS), a US government agency responsible for monitoring broadcast and print media in countries throughout the world." Users should note that the search interface, while allowing searching on any of nine types of documents, as well as keyword and date, lacks user guidance. Documents are organized by date. While this is not a repository of all of Castro's speeches, the amount of material at the site makes it valuable to researchers. [JS]
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Colorado State University Online Writing Center Reference Materials [frames]
http://writing.colostate.edu/reference.htm
Provided by the Center for Research on Writing and Communication Technologies at CSU, this site contains concise, bite-sized chunks of information on seven topics related to critical writing. Included are writing processes, critical reading, document types, and sources, among others. Each topic opens into a three-paned frame; topics are found in the second pane and brief explanations in the third. While not a comprehensive resource on any particular subject related to writing, the information about many subjects, along with the excellent overall organization of content, are this site's strengths. [JS]
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Agency Records Disposition Online Resource--NARA
http://ardor.nara.gov/
ARDOR, provided by the US National Archives and Records Administration, is a searchable and browsable database that "makes selected Federal agency records management schedules and manuals available online." At present, information is available for 39 executive and legislative branch agencies. Information may take the form of record disposition plans and schedules, and file maintenance and disposition manuals, among others. Note that ARDOR does not cover all federal agencies, or all records for agencies that are included. According to NARA, "ARDOR is strictly a reference tool and does not serve as a definitive source for records disposition matters." [JS]
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International Nuclear Safety Program Map Updates--INSP DOE
http://insp.pnl.gov:2080/?library/maps/maps
International Nuclear Safety Program
http://insp.pnl.gov:2080/
The International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP) has updated their map collection in the areas of Soviet designed reactors distributed throughout Eastern Europe and of Ukrainian nuclear power reactors. Information about each reactor is available by clicking on the maps. In addition to the maps, the digital library contains photos, graphics, presentations, and an online database of INSP related reports and information. The site also provides information about Soviet designed reactors and initiatives being undertaken by the US Department of Energy to improve conditions at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. INSP is part of the US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology. [KH]
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Complete Home Medical Guide--CUCPS
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/texts/guide/
The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons provides the Third Revised Edition of this resource, originally published in 1985. The book is divided into 34 chapters in six major sections: using the health care system; wellness; symptoms; first aid; treatment and prevention; and proper use of medications. Chapters include understandable explanations of the topic, and selective descriptions of diseases or abnormalities. Each chapter is written by a specialist in the field. CHMC is an excellent, searchable general reference source for both health care providers and consumers. [JS]
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Blindness Resource Center--NYISE
http://www.nyise.org/blind.htm
The New York Institute for Special Education provides this information clearinghouse. Information in fourteen areas from universal access to low vision resources to research and university disability programs is available. Text and large-print formats are offered for all pages. One of the highlights of the site is its History of Reading Codes for the Blind, a home-grown NYISE resource. Here, interested users can find information about Valentin Hauy and Louis Braille, as well as British and American Modified Braille alphabets, and links to other braille resources. [JS]
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HCFA - The Medicare and Medicaid Agency
http://www.hcfa.gov/
The US Health Care Financing Administration provides this site, a clearinghouse of information resources on Medicare and Medicaid. Included are consumer and technical publications, national legislative information, statistical overviews, and a state directory of basic contact information, among other features. [JS]
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bobdylan.com [RealAudio]
http://www.bobdylan.com/
bobdylan.com is sponsored by Columbia Records, Dylan's record label. The site is a must for Dylan fans; it contains a browsable listing of the artist's songs and albums. Most songs are accompanied by lyrics, and all of the songs are available in RealAudio format. Lyrics are searchable. The site also contains a selection of live performances, and a section called "old songs," highlighted by a two hour RealAudio broadcast of an interview with Greil Marcus, author of Invisible Republic: Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes, by Jon Carroll for the KFPA (Berkeley, California) radio program "Dead to the World." [JS]
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18th Winter Olympics--Nagano, Japan
XVIII Olympic Winter Games, Nagano 1998
http://www.olympic.org/flat/retrospective/index.html
US Olympic PBS Cyberschool [Javascript]
http://www.ibm.pbscyberschool.org/
CBS TV Winter Olympics Site
http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/nagano98/
CNNSI
http://www.cnnsi.com/olympics/events/1998/nagano/
PointCast Winter Olympic Coverage
http://www.pointcast.com/events/wintergames_home.html
The 18th Winter Olympic Games will be held at Nagano, Japan from February 7 to February 22, 1998, and these five sites will help interested Internauts enhance their enjoyment of the proceedings. The first site is the official site of the Games. Provided by the Nagano Olympic Organizing Committee and International Business Machines (IBM), it contains useful information about tickets, venues and schedules. It also offers good descriptions, including explanations of the technical details of each sport. Visitors to Nagano will find information about the city and the surrounding areas. There is also a kid's section that provides a child-friendly description of each event, and a collection of pictures and stories from children around from the world. US Olympic PBS Cyberschool is provided by the PBS & CBS TV networks, IBM, and the US Olympic Committee. This site demonstrates that the Olympics can be a vehicle for K-12 education; students are encouraged to create their own web sites to use skiing, skating, and snowboarding to learn mathematical and scientific principles. Note that web pages created at this site must be created with an interactive IBM tool after registration and the site requires Javascript. CBS TV is the American network broadcasting the games and its site is highlighted by feature stories about each sport, a schedule of events, rules, and brief individual profiles. CNNSI (discussed in the July 18, 1997 Scout Report) provides feature stories, all time and year-by-year medal counts, brief event explanations, "who to watch," and a special Sports Illustrated feature on the history of the Winter Olympics. Finally, the PointCast Network (discussed in the February 16, 1996 Scout Report), is providing a special Winter Olympics channel for those that want their news pushed to them. [THN,JS]
[Note: Resource(s)/URL(s) mentioned above may no longer be current/available.]
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Netscape Announces Free Availability of Communicator Browser
http://home.netscape.com/free.html
Press Release
http://home.netscape.com/newsref/pr/newsrelease558.html
Netscape has announced the free availability of its browser. In addition, Netscape "plans to make the source code for the next generation of its highly popular Netscape Communicator client software available for free licensing on the Internet. The company plans to post the source code beginning with the first Netscape Communicator 5.0 developer release, expected by the end of the first quarter of 1998." More information on this development, including those who are most affected by it, is available from the download page. [JS]
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An LDAP Roadmap & FAQ: A Tutorial Aid to Navigating Various LDAP and X.500 Resources on the Internet
http://www.kingsmountain.com/ldapRoadmap.shtml
This site, sponsored by Stanford University's Computing and Communications Group, is maintained by Jeff Hodges, Project Manager of Stanford's Enterprise Directory Services Project. It is an annotated metasite designed as a tutorial and aid to navigating resources on the Internet relating to the directory services protocols LDAP (the Lightweight Directory Services Protocol) and X.500. The site houses a number of resources relating to LDAP version 3, which was recently advanced to proposed Internet standard status. The roadmap is organized into sections such as introductory articles and presentations on directory service, information on advanced topics such as schema and directory organization, a bibliography of directory services, standards and requests for comments (RFC), and pointers to available implementations. [MR]
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Menu Maker Update--Create Menus Without Any Knowledge of JavaScript
http://builder.cnet.com/Programming/Kahn/123097/index.html
Menu Maker is an online tool provided by CNET's BUILDER.COM, (discussed in the June 13, 1997 Scout Report) and created by Charity Kahn. This great time-saver creates JavaScript code for simple web page drop down menus. After three simple steps, the JavaScript code magically appears: specify the number of menus; enter the menu title and number of items on menu; then add item names and URLs and choose where the item's web page will open up. This site also discusses recent updates and provides a link, Cool Tool, to the tool. [TB]
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Volume 1, Number 38, January 20, 1995
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/archive/1-20-95.html
Council on East Asian Libraries
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~felsing/ceal/welcome.html
The Committee on East Asian Libraries was announced in the January 20 issue. Its purpose was and is to act as a forum for East Asian subject librarians to cooperatively develop information resources. The site is highlighted by connections to East Asian subject libraries, selected other international libraries, East Asian and other publishers, connections to CEAL member libraries, and seven meta-pages of pointers to country related information, as well as a pointer to the East Asia WWW Virtual Library. [JS]
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Copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-1998. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the Scout Report provided the copyright notice and this paragraph is preserved on all copies. The InterNIC provides information about the Internet to the US research and education community under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation: NCR-9218742. The Government has certain rights in this material.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the National Science Foundation, AT&T, or Network Solutions, Inc.

The Scout Report (ISSN 1092-3861) is published weekly by Internet Scout

Susan Calcari
Jack Solock
Jeannine Ramsey
Teri Boomsma
Michael de Nie
David Flaspohler
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The Scout Report - January 23, 1998

The Scout Report

January 23, 1998

New From Internet Scout

Research and Education

General Interest

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