The Scout Report - June 23, 2000

Scout Report for Science & Engineering_
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/2000/se-000621.html
Volume 3, Number 20 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates ten resources on recent moves to ban off-road vehicles from the national parks. [MD]
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The Quarterly Review Project
http://www.dreamwater.com/edu/earlyqr/
Created by Jonathan Cutmore, this site is an excellent resource for students and scholars of early nineteenth-century British literature and history. The site chronicles the early years of the Quarterly Review, one of the two most influential British journals in the first half of the nineteenth century (along with the Edinburgh Review). The brightest gem of the site is probably the index of all 61 issues of the journal for 1809-24, which includes notes, contents, and very importantly as most articles were unattributed, identification of contributors. Also at the site are an essay on the founding and early years of the journal, transcripts of 40 letters from the editor William Gifford, and a bibliographical encyclopedia that covers the journal's authors, significant supporters, and authors reviewed. Another terrific resource at the site, as readership is an open question for any periodical in this era, is a subscription list from 1810, which is incorporated into the bibliographical encyclopedia. [MD]
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World Health Report 2000 Health Systems: Improving Performance -- WHO [.pdf, Excel]
http://www.who.int/whr/
Published on June 21, this year's annual report from the World Health Organization (WHO) represents the first ever analysis of the world's health systems. "Using five performance indicators to measure health systems in 191 member states, it finds that France provides the best overall health care followed among major countries by Italy, Spain, Oman, Austria and Japan." The US, though it spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country on health, ranks 37. The five indicators used to measure health system performance are overall level of population health, health disparities within the population, overall level of health system responsiveness, distribution of responsiveness within the population, and the distribution of the health system's financial burden within the population. Users can read the full text of the report by chapter in .pdf format, as well as basic indicators, statistical annexes, and the official press release. [MD]
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New York Journal of Mathematics [.pdf, .ps]
http://nyjm.albany.edu:8000/nyjm.html
The New York Journal of Mathematics (NYJM), based at the State University of New York, Albany, is the first electronic general journal of mathematics. This online journal is refereed by mathematicians at top North American universities and provides high quality articles (1994-present) covering topics in matrix and linear algebra, geometry, and other general math. Users can read the articles in a variety of formats (.pdf, .ps, .txt, .gif), and view the NYJM with full graphics or through the "no frills" option, ideal for readers with older browsers. A search engine, links to mirror sites and to authors (when available), and submission instructions are also available. [HCS]
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Language-Learning.net
http://www.language-learning.net
International WHERE+HOW, longtime publisher of Guides to Language Centres, has launched an online successor, providing free access to "the most comprehensive language schools directory online." The heart of the site is the Language Course Finder, a database of over 6,000 schools in 80 countries teaching 70 languages. Users begin browsing the database by selecting a language from a pull-down menu, then selecting a country where they wish to learn it. Users can then select from a number of variables, such as location (urban, rural, seaside), type of language courses, other activities, special services, and additional programs, to narrow their search. Alternatively, visitors can type in a city or institute where they wish to study. In both cases, the database returns contact information, including a URL when available, and a link to a more detailed listing. When reviewing the site using Netscape, we discovered to our annoyance that all attempts to backtrack to change our query produced a "Data Missing" error, forcing us to start again from the beginning, but this was not the case when using IE. In addition to the database, the main site offers a variety of language learning resources and may be viewed in an impressive number of languages. [MD]
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Plant Image Gallery
http://www.plant-pictures.com/
Created and maintained by Thomas Schoepke of the Institute of Pharmacy at Greifswald University, this site may prove useful to both botanists and biology students. Behind the straightforward interface is a database of some 2,000 high-quality images of plants, mainly from Europe, Costa Rica, Japan, and the Galapagos Islands. Users can browse the images by four geographic galleries or by plant family. Entries include the Latin name, whether the plant is native or cultivated, and photo location. [MD]
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NSC Crossroads [.pdf]
http://www.crossroads.nsc.org/
National Safety Council
http://www.nsc.org/
This search engine and news network from the National Safety Council (NSC) was created to provide safety, health, and environmental (SHE) professionals with information, tools, and contact information. Site highlights include a dedicated SHE search engine and collections of articles, expert commentary, and related online resources organized in ten categories. Featured articles are also listed on the front page, along with a link to the online edition of the 1999 edition of the NSC's Injury Facts. Though certainly directed at a specialized audience, this site provides a nice cross-section of authoritative SHE information and resources. Additional safety resources, including many aimed at the general public, can be found at the NSC main site. [MD]
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OFDA Reports Index
http://www.info.usaid.gov/hum_response/ofda/situation.html
Recently announced by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), this site offers fast and easy access to recent fact sheets and updates from the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). These are accessed via pull-down menus organized by country and emergency. For example, there are separate entries for floods and Cyclone Hudah for Southern Africa. The bulletins are presented in HTML format. The most recent reports and other related publications and resources are listed in a column on the left-hand side of the browser window. Users seeking information on past disasters can locate reports via the Archive link at the bottom of the page. [MD]
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Amnesty International: 2000 Annual Report [.pdf]
http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/ar2000web.nsf/
Amnesty International (AI), one of the world's foremost human rights organizations, recently released its 2000 Annual Report. As always, the report "documents human rights issues of concern to AI worldwide" during the previous year as well as reporting on "the activities AI has undertaken during the year to promote human rights and to campaign against specific human rights abuses." The report begins with a Foreword by AI Secretary General Pierre Sane and an extensive Introduction, both of which are also available in .pdf format. The bulk of the report is a collection of entries for individual countries, grouped by region, which evaluates the human rights situation in the country or territory and AI's specific concerns there. Also included are five regional summaries and a section describing AI and its work. [MD]
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Findlaw Forms [.pdf]
http://forms.findlaw.com/
Findlaw (last discussed in the June 9, 2000 Scout Report) has recently launched an extremely useful free site that offers almost 8,000 state and federal court forms in .pdf format. The forms, logically enough, are grouped into federal and state sections, the first divided by circuits, the second by state (not all states were available at time of review). Users who do not know their circuit court number can select it from a map. Available forms vary by circuit or state, but most include Bankruptcy, Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate Courts. Others also offer forms for Small Claims, Worker's Compensation, Juvenile, and other Courts. Related resources and a legal dictionary are also provided. An excellent resource, although users should certainly read the Notice posted at the bottom of the page regarding "local rules" before filing any forms. [MD]
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The Alternative Museum
http://www.alternativemuseum.org/
Founded in 1975, the Alternative Museum existed in analog form for 25 years, occupying space in New York City, presenting four to six major exhibitions per year. While I was unable to find a definitive statement to this effect at the site, it appears that the Museum has decided to move all current exhibitions to the Web, to expand its reach to millions more art patrons while still remaining true to its original mission: "providing a professional showcase for artists." At the moment, there are five current exhibitions at the site, including Tools as Art: The Hechinger Collection, presenting 25 works that use tools as either subject matter, for example Bernice Abbot's photograph "Spinning Wrench," or as medium, for example, Mark Blumenstein's "Saw Bird." Other current exhibitions are Tourists on the Moon, by Yoshio Itagaki, a collection of photographs that resemble 19th-century, hand-colored tourist photographs, but that are given a 20th-century slant; I-Section: Do-It-Yourself Human Dissection, a Website by Friederike Paetzold; Between the Real and the Unreal, photographs by Simen Johan; and GenoChoice: Create Your Own Genetically Healthy Child Online! by Virgil Wong. Also available is an archive of selected past exhibitions and art depot, the online museum shop. [DS]
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Bubble Chamber
http://bc.tensegrity.net/
This worthwhile news site was created and edited by Jim Flanagan as an alternative to the mainstream technology news sites, which seem to focus more on technology business news than anything else. As Flanagan puts it, "I'm a technologist, not an investor, and so I'm much more interested in the Web of Ideas." To that end, his site posts brief summaries and links to the full text of articles (separate browser window) on new and interesting technological developments, many of which are overlooked by other science news services. The target audience of the featured pieces varies, with some rather technical selections and others aimed at a more general readership. Each article also offers a link to its own discussion group thread to promote a dialogue. At the time of review, few readers had taken advantage of the discussion threads, but they have considerable potential if enough readers begin to participate on a regular basis. Also included at the site are some selected "Handy Links" and links to the 50 most popular stories featured at the site. [MD]
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SearcheBooks.com
http://www.searchebooks.com/
MaxBot.com, creator of SearchEdu, SearchGov, and SearchMil (see the January 28, 2000 Scout Report), also offers SearcheBooks, a search engine that indexes the full text of "thousands" of online books. Like its siblings, SearcheBooks offers a simple keyword search interface and caches the versions of pages that its robots find. Unlike them, however, SearcheBooks returns two URLs for each hit, one for the provider's page, and one for the full text of the book. While the search engine can be used to find particular references within the books indexed, it is probably best used to search for the books themselves, for personal or pedagogical use, via author, title, or subject. [MD]
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Dot-com Failures
http://www.dotcomfailures.com/
Ryan Nitz's cynical technology news Website provides a deathwatch for Internet companies. Featured Failures, Dot-com Failure's collection of current news and information, charts the demise of dot-coms, including bankruptcy, sinking sales, layoffs, and closures. Each news article is linked from a reputable source, and includes a forum where users may post relevant rumors and comments. Visitors to Dot-com Failures are encouraged to participate in the Failure Poll and to make predictions about the next dot-com failure. The Lackey Calculator "should be used if you work more then 40 hours per week or if you took a salary cut to work at a startup" and will determine whether employees are lackeys. A helpful directory of technology recruiters is also included for unfortunate dreamers working for failing Internet start-ups. [EM]
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Maintaining the Royal Palaces [.pdf]
http://www.nao.gov.uk/publications/nao_reports/9900563.pdf
Executive Summary
http://www.nao.gov.uk/publications/nao_reports/9900563es.pdf
Curious about how much it costs to keep the Royals's digs looking Regal? A cool 7.2 million pounds ($10.9 million) annually, according to this report from the UK National Audit Office. After examining maintenance programs at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Windsor Castle, the Royal Mews, and Windsor Home Park, the Audit Office found "good value for money had been achieved." Not the least, one suspects, because of the massive revenues associated with these tourist destinations. The full text of the 34-page report, along with an executive summary, are available at the above URLS. [MD]
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StarOffice 5.2
http://www.sun.com/products/staroffice/5.2/index.html
On June 20, Sun Microsystems released version 5.2 of the popular (and free) StarOffice suite, which it acquired last August. As noted in the April 16, 1999 Scout Report), StarOffice is a collection of productivity software modeled on Microsoft's office suite -- with a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation program, a graphics program, a calendar, an email client, a newsgroup reader, and more -- all easily used by anyone familiar with Microsoft products. In addition, StarOffice users can view and edit documents and spreadsheets created in any Microsoft Office version, though the reverse can be problematic. StarOffice is compatible with Windows 2000, NT, 98, and 95; Linux; and Solaris, though it is a rather hefty download at 79 to 105MB. Alternatively, users can order StarOffice on CD with printed documentation for $39.95. Information on the software and download instructions are provided at the Sun site. [MD]
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Excite Precision Search
http://www.excite.com/search/
Hot on the heels of AltaVista's Raging Search (see the May 5, 2000 Scout Report) comes another returned and (somewhat) slimmed-down search engine that focuses on relevant results. Like Raging Search, Excite's new Precision Search uses Google-style link analysis technology ("Deep Analysis") to help identify the most useful sites. Test queries produced consistently relevant results among the top few returns, though an indication of the number of total returns would be helpful, with two banner ads and (in some but not all cases) a Quick Results box on the left that could be quite handy for consumer-related searching. For instance, a search for "Plymouth" yielded links to research and comparisons, blue book values, financing, and service and repair information in the Quick Results box. I was also pleased to see that clicking on one of the other search categories (category, news, photo, audio/video) instantly produces returns for the original query, though the photo databases available seem somewhat limited compared to, say, AltaVista. While users searching for "official" sites will still do best at Google, those who also search for additional resources such as news, photos, and audio/video content may wish to give Excite Precision a run-through. [MD]
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HTML Creator 2.0 [Mac OS 8.5+]
http://homepage.mac.com/aramk/htmlcreator.html
HTML Creator is a tool for speeding the creation of Webpages. Unlike WYSIWYG editors, HTML Creator is centered around a simple text editor. The numerous built-in assistants take much of the dirty work out of creating HTML by hand. There are more than 35 assistants which perform tasks ranging from creating a document to inserting a hyperlink to adding a form. Although the Website suggests beginners can use the program to learn HTML, the assistants may present too many options and require too much knowledge of HTML jargon for a beginner. HTML Creator is better suited for the user who has written HTML by hand before and is looking for a way to speed the process. HTML creator is shareware. A 30-day trial is available at the Website; registration costs $10. [PC]
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Agreement Reached on Fiji Hostages
Fiji Coup -- Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/specials/intl/fiji/index.html
"Deal struck in Fiji crisis" -- BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_802000/802705.stm
Fiji Times
http://209.15.72.151/news/fijitimes/2006/index.shtml
Fiji Village News
http://www.fijivillage.com/news/2006/art.htm
Fijilive
http://fijilive.net/news/
"$1.3m loss for tourism" -- Fiji Business News
http://businessnews.com.fj/content.php3?ar=news/0600/21b.htm&st=news&nav=navne&hl=$1.3m%20loss%20for%20tourism
Pacific Islands Report
http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/pireport/text.htm
Fiji Government Online
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/core/home.html
CIA World factbook - Fiji
http://www.cia.gov/publications/factbook/fj.html
Images of the Coup -- New Zealand Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=139687
Fiji's military rulers and the group of gunmen holding 31 members of the former government hostage have apparently reached a deal that will end the five-week political crisis and free the hostages "within days." The crisis began when a group led by George Speight raided the parliament building on May 19, demanding more power for indigenous Fijians. Most of the demands made by Speight -- that the 1997 multiracial constitution be thrown out and that Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Fiji's first prime minister of Indian descent, be fired -- have already been met. In the 36 days since the storming of parliament, Fiji's economy has entered a steep downward spiral. On May 29, the military declared martial law and assumed control of the government. On June 6, Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth, and Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have threatened economic sanctions if Fiji is not restored to democracy. Meanwhile, Australian trade unions have refused to handle cargo to and from Fiji, freezing much of the country's exports. The garment, sugar, and tourism industries have all reported large losses and layoffs. The military regime has announced that the details of the deal will be made known tomorrow, and the hostages will then be released. Previous announcements regarding their release, however, have come to nothing. Once the immediate crisis is solved, the military has said they will continue to run the country for another three months and would then create an interim government to make preparations for new elections within two years.

For detailed coverage and analysis, readers can begin with the special feature from the Sydney Morning Herald, which includes numerous current stories, profiles, photos, and a host of archived articles. The BBC offers the latest news, background information, profiles, archived stories, and photos from the standoff. A number of related stories can be found at the Fiji Times, Fiji Village, and Fijilive sites, while Fiji Business News offers an analysis of the impact on tourism. More stories and analysis are posted at the Pacific Islands Report site. Background information is available from the official Fiji Government site and the CIA's World factbook. Finally, the New Zealand Herald offers a chronicle of the hostage crisis in photos. [MD]
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