Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/1999/se-990707.html
Volume 2, Number 20 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates eight resources on the recent destruction of Edwards Dam in Maine, the first case of an order to remove a hydroelectric dam against the owner's wishes in the interest of river restoration. [MD]
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Stratfor.com
http://www.stratfor.com/
Stratfor.com, "a private intelligence company engaged in open-source information monitoring," offers this free current-awareness and analysis service. Researchers, international relations analysts, and interested general users will find a rich assortment of news and commentary on political, social, military, and economic events and trends worldwide. The site contains several significant sections. The first is a set of three Intelligence Centers (Global, CIS/Eastern Europe, and Asia). Each contains breaking news, short special reports, and commentary. The next section, Hotspots, offers news and reviews for seven selected areas. The other two main features at the site are the Global Intelligence Update (GIU), a free weekly and quarterly summary of events "relevant to a particular business or region" (available online or in email), and quarterly and annual forecasts of economic and political events worldwide. [MD]
[Back to Contents]America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 1999 [.pdf, 114p.]
http://www.childstats.gov/ac1999/ac99.asp
The 1999 edition (last edition reviewed in the July 24, 1998 Scout Report of this annual compendia of statistical indicators on US children, produced by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics was placed online on July 8. This issue, which contains 23 indicators in four topics, shows overall improvement in children's well-being but also reports continuing and significant disparities, principally along economic lines. Information is presented in non-technical terms with heavy use of charts and tables. The full text of the report, including the appendices, is available for download in HTML or .pdf format. Users may also browse the report highlights, the official press release, and three "backgrounders" on specific issues. [MD]
[Back to Contents]FAS Attache Reports
http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/
Provided by the US Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), this daily updated database of attache reports on the agricultural situation and agricultural trade in other countries currently contains nearly 12,500 reports. Dating from 1995 to the present, the reports cover individual countries (almost 130), specific commodities and products, and trade policy. Users may search the database by commodity, country, subject, and AGR number. Searches may be further modified by date. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Poetry Archives
http://www.emule.com/poetry/
Provided by eMule.com and maintained by three University of Georgia students, this free "classical" poetry archive will find ready use in literature classrooms. Currently containing over 3,600 non-copyrighted poems by 137 poets, the archive is browseable by author name or searchable by keyword. Search results also display the first line of each poem returned. Users may wonder at the omission of certain poems and poets (left out perhaps because of copyright issues), but on the whole, the site offers plenty to please teachers, students, and poetry lovers. Additional features include a random poem option, a fairly active discussion board, and a FAQ. [MD]
[Back to Contents]New York Botanical Garden: Recently Added Online Resources
Catalog of North American Bryophytes
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/hcol/bryo/
Catalog of North American Gymnosperms
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/hcol/gymn/
Catalog of Costa Rican Fungi
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/hcol/cric/
Catalog of NewWorld Macrofungi
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/hcol/fung/
Ericaceae of Ecuador
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/hcol/eric/
The New York Botanical Garden is in the process of cataloging its numerous specimens and has recently placed online several searchable databases. Search options allow users to search for specific taxa, and typical returns provide brief information (some hyperlinked) including Name (scientific), Location, Collector, Description (brief), Habitat, Publication, Type Status, and Specimen Number (ID). Some databases may be browsed as well as searched, and all provide clear and concise information. [LXP]
[Back to Contents]emedicine Online Textbooks
http://www.emedicine.com/cgi-shl/foxweb.exe/onlinebooks@d:/em/ga
emedicine, an online medical textbook software development company, is in the process of making eight textbooks available free of charge as a proof of concept. Aimed primarily at medical professionals and students, the books cover Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Medicine and Surgery, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Facial Plastics, Pediatrics, and Plastic Surgery. Currently, only one of the textbooks, emedicine: Emergency Medicine, is complete. Navigation of the textbook is carried out via a sizable index of subjects and subtopics. After professional and contact information on that section's authors and editors, each entry includes an introduction, clinical information, links to differentials, workup procedures, treatment, medication, follow-up, a bibliography, test questions, and in some cases, illustrations or photos. An internal search engine is also provided. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Mill Hill Essays
http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/MillHill_Essays.html
Published annually by the UK National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), these essays are intended to promote public understanding of science. Written by NIMR staff members and guest authors, the essays "are designed to be accessible to anyone with an interest in science and the natural world." Four volumes (1995-98) are currently available in their entirety at the site. Sample essays include "The ethical conduct of scientific research," "Cloning," "Some things you wanted to know about memory but forgot to ask," and "Patenting Human Genes." Essays are presented in HTML format and are generally equivalent to several printed pages. [MD]
[Back to Contents]1998 Census Estimates of the Older Population, for States [.xls]
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/98pop/default.htm
Recently placed online by the US Administration on Aging (AOA), these tables detail the latest (as of July 1, 1998) Census estimates of the older population by state. Users may view population by five-year age groups, population by selected age groups, percent distribution by age group, and state rankings of selected age groups by numbers and percentages. The site also provides two US maps detailing the 65+ population by numbers and percentage, technical notes, and six .xls spreadsheets. [MD]
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The G-Files: Spiro Agnew [.pdf]
http://www.apbnews.com/media/gfiles/agnew/index.html
The latest in APB Online's G-Files Reports, a collection of declassified files from the FBI and other government agencies (discussed in the December 11, 1998 Scout Report), these never-before-published FBI files on Spiro Agnew "provide new insights on the events" that led to the Vice-President's resignation during a bribery scandal in 1973. In addition to reports alleging cash payoffs within the White House, the files also contain some details on Agnew's "involvement in graft during his years as a Maryland state official." The site offers an overview of Agnew's career, the scandal, and the aftermath, as well as .gif or .pdf images of 200 pages of files. In this case, the .gif images are strongly recommended due to downloading and legibility problems experienced with the .pdf version. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm43/4386/4386.htm
Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health on July 5th, this new public health White Paper announces the UK Government's plan to save 300,000 lives over the next ten years by cutting deaths from cancer, heart disease, accidents, and suicide. In addition to specific targets for each of these four areas, the paper also aims at the "social, economic and environmental factors tending towards poor health" and the health inequalities between the rich and poor. The full text of the paper, containing eleven chapters, two appendixes, an executive summary, a list of direct links to specific initiatives, and a foreword by Prime Minister Tony Blair, is available at the Stationery Office Website. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Mercury Theatre on the Air [RealPlayer]
http://www.unknown.nu/mercury/
Most famous for its War of the Worlds broadcast, this New York drama company, founded by Orson Welles and John Houseman, produced a number of highly acclaimed radio-adapted dramas in its brief tenure (July-December 1938). Created and maintained by Kim Scarborough, this site is a treasure trove for fans of radio drama, featuring all of the surviving Mercury Theatre programs in their entirety in both streaming and downloadable RealPlayer format. In addition to the War of the Worlds, highlights include Julius Caesar (set in Fascist Italy), The 39 Steps,Heart of Darkness, and The Pickwick Papers. In December 1938, Mercury Theatre was picked up by Campbell Soup and became Campbell Playhouse. The site includes five programs from Campbell Playhouse (with plans to add more gradually) as well as a seven-part radio series of Les Miserables that was written, produced, and directed by Orson Welles in 1937, and featured many of the Mercury players. A brief history of the Mercury and complete show lists round out the site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]BBC Wild
http://www.bbcwild.com/
Absolutely fabulous photos of the natural world can be found at BBC Wild. This commercial arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation Natural History Unit supports a picture library containing the work of many of the world's top wildlife photographers. The BBC Wild online collection includes some 10,000 images. The site is commercial, but users can enjoy browsing the collection by simply registering at the site. Costs for photos are based on a range of variables, and examples of costs are shown in an online chart. One highlight of the site is its excellent search functionality: after an initial key word search, if you click on a specific photo, you can then automatically find other photos like it by selecting from a list of keywords. Another plus is the "new technique of high quality imaging called 'FlashPix.' This format allows you to zoom in on high quality portions of an image without having the entire 28MB of data pumped down your internet connection." According to the site, FlashPix allows for faster downloads as well as the presentation of images using the highest caliber interface. [REB]
[Back to Contents]Encyclopedia Smithsonian: FAQs and Guide to Resources A - Z
http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/start.htm
This site, presented by the Smithsonian Institution, gives quick answers to frequently asked questions, available at any time of day or night. Not new but always being improved upon, Encyclopedia Smithsonian includes general information such as admission fees and hours, access to Smithsonian library catalogs, and exhibition calendars. It also provides subject access to the collections of the many Smithsonian museums, without requiring that users know which museum holds the answer to a query. For example, clicking on First Ladies brings one to the U.S. Political History section of the Encyclopedia, which, in addition to listing the collection of First Ladies' gowns at the National Museum of American History, also directs users to a long list of Presidential Historic sites located in all parts of the country, and resources at the National Portrait Gallery. Arranged alphabetically, Encyclopedia Smithsonian is a good starting point for K-12 students, tourists, and anyone looking for a simple approach to the varied riches of the Smithsonian. [DS]
[Back to Contents]Eurofocus [.pdf]
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg10/eurofocus/index_en.html
Subtitled "news items dealing with everyday events," this free, weekly bulletin from the European Commission is aimed at a general readership. Provided in .pdf format (averaging nine pages), the bulletin consists of a briefly annotated table of contents and four to eight short news stories on a variety of topics. The current Eurofocus contains pieces on regional and social economic aid, a new BSE (mad cow disease) test, a new directive on working time, and recent developments in European telecommunications law. For the general reader or classroom, this easily-digested weekly bulletin is a convenient source of EU news not covered by many online or print sources. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Tour de France
le Tour de France [.pdf]
http://www.letour.com/
Bicycling Magazine 1999 Tour de France Center
http://bicycling.com/tdf/
ESPN Tour de France Multimedia [RealPlayer]
http://espn.go.com/cycling/france99/multimedia.html
1999 marks the 86th Tour de France, the most prestigious bicycle race in the world. On July 3rd, 180 riders (20 teams of 9) began this year's 23 day, 20 stage (plus a prologue), 2,200+ mile race. The race includes eleven flat, three mountain, and four high mountain stages, as well as two time trials (each rider alone against the clock). The official Tour site is presented in four languages (French, English, German, and Spanish) and includes detailed information on both the riders and the stages (including DHTML-enhanced maps), as well as live updates during each stage. Bicycling Magazine's site also includes live coverage of the race, previews of the day ahead, and special coverage of the US Postal Team's effort this year. ESPN and ABC have teamed up to provide a multimedia section showing the last few minutes of each day's race in RealPlayer format. They also provide video of historic Tour de France moments dating back to 1989.
[PMS]
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RealSlideshow [Windows 95/98/NT]
http://proforma.real.com/rn/tools/slideshow/
Released last week by Real.com (last reviewed in the May 7, 1999 Scout Report), this free multimedia tool allows users to combine voice commentary and/or music with images to create slideshows for their Websites. Operation is quite straightforward, but drawbacks include audio file limitations (one voice track to one slide, one music file per slideshow) and difficulties running slideshows on sites without a RealMedia G2 server, though links are provided to several sites that will host slideshows for free. Users may download RealSlideshow for free after registration. Demos, a guided tour, and links to related resources are also provided. [MD]
[Back to Contents]netomat
http://www.netomat.net/
The netomat Web browser, created by Maciej Wisniewski, is a "browser only by convention." More of a collage-making tool, "netomat(TM) eschews the anachronistic page structure of today's web by not privileging layout and design. It atomizes text, images and audio loosening them from web sites and web pages." In other words, in response to user input, files (images, text, and sound) float across the screen, fragmented and recombined. netomat's most interesting feature is that it allows the user's browsing experience to be customized by a server-based "netomatic files," that contain instructions that change and enhance the behavior of the netomat browser. netomat comes with three such custom browsing interfaces, text, images, and text and images. The netomat browser isn't currently useful for Web browsing in the traditional sense, but it provides a novel and entertaining way to float through the Web. Netomat is freely available for Win95/98/NT and requires the also freely available Java 2 Runtime Environment version 1.2.2. [CL]
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Big Tobacco Loses First Verdict
"Companies lose first-ever class-action lawsuit" -- Miami Herald
http://www.herald.com/content/today/docs/081012.htm
"Collecting tobacco-suit damages may not be easy for smokers" -- Sun-Sentinel [RealPlayer]
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/daily/detail/0,1136,18000000000103892,00.html
Florida Tobacco -- NPR [RealPlayer]
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/19990707.atc.13.ram
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
http://ash.org/
CNN Special Report - Tobacco Under Attack
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1998/tobacco/
On Wednesday, the nation's major tobacco companies lost the first class-action lawsuit to reach a verdict when a Florida jury decided that the companies had conspired to hide the dangers of smoking. The decision, which allows for both compensatory and punitive damages, could give hundreds of thousands of smokers or their families in Florida the opportunity to make billions of dollars of claims on the tobacco companies. This decision marked the end of the year-long first phase of the trial. In the next phase, jurors will review the claims of nine representative class members and decide on damages. To qualify for an award, members must demonstrate that they suffer from health problems caused by smoking and that they were deceived by the tobacco industry. This would then be followed by tens of thousands of other trials to determine awards to other members of the class-action suit. Legal analysts are split on the possible outcomes of the trial. Some argue that a class action on the part of a disparate collection of smokers will not be upheld by the Appeals Courts. Others believe that it will be upheld and that, like the US asbestos manufacturers, the major tobacco companies will be forced into making global settlements for injury claims. The Miami Herald's coverage of the verdict includes a summary of the trial, a chronology, a list of defendants, and analysis. A recent piece in the Sun-Sentinel examines the roadblocks facing smokers and their survivors as the trial moves to the next phase. The site also provides several graphics on smoking, related links, and a RealPlayer video report on the verdict from a local TV station. National Public Radio's (NPR) All Things Considered also reported on the verdict, and the five-minute audio piece can be downloaded at the listed URL. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), an anti-smoking organization, offers a large collection of recent news stories on this and other tobacco litigation, as well as many other related resources. Finally, CNN's special on tobacco lawsuits includes links to the latest stories, background information, documents, and related sites. Additional information on tobacco regulation and lawsuits may be found in Signpost, the Scout Report's database. These include the Tobacco Control Archives, US Food And Drug Administration nicotine regulation documents, and the US Surgeon General's report, Tobacco Use Among US Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups. [MD]
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