Scout Report for Science & Engineering_
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/2001/se-010425.html
Volume 4, Number 17 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates eleven resources on flooding along the Mississippi River.
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Russia's Nuclear and Missile Complex: The Human Factor in Proliferation [.pdf]
http://www.ceip.org/files/Publications/NPPDemoStudy.asp
Published by the Non-Proliferation Project of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, this 126-page study "provides the first detailed statistical glimpse inside the Russian nuclear and missile complexes." The report is the product of detailed studies performed in five Russian nuclear cities and three Russian missile enterprises by Russian social scientist Valentin Tikhonov. The result is "the most complete picture yet available of the living and working conditions of Russia's weapons experts." Among many other things, the report finds that working conditions and living standards for Russia's nuclear and missile experts have declined sharply in post-Communist Russia, with more than 62 percent of employees earning less than $50 per month. As conditions continue to worsen, it becomes all the more likely that some of these hard-pressed individuals might sell their expertise to aspiring nuclear nations. The full text of the report may be downloaded by section in .pdf format at the site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]INVADERS Database
http://invader.dbs.umt.edu/
Based at the University of Montana and directed by Dr. Peter Rice, the INVADERS Database is "a comprehensive database of exotic plant names and weed distribution records for five states in the northwestern United States." Designed for use by land management and weed regulatory agencies, INVADERS uses a query interface (plant name or location) to sort and display information. Data are updated regularly so as to increase the chance of detecting and halting the rapid spread of alien weeds. Highlights of the site include the noxious weed listings for all US states and six Canadian provinces, historic distribution records against which to compare current plant distributions, and summary statistics such as the number of invasive species detected per state or a summary of the 120 year invasion, among others. The INVADERS database will prove both interesting and useful to managers and academics, alike. [LXP]
[Back to Contents]Future e-access to the primary literature -- Nature
http://www.nature.com/nature/debates/e-access/
This new online debate hosted by Nature explores "the most crucial and talked-about aspect of scientific publishing -- the impact of the web on the publication of original research." At the center of this debate will be the "The Public Library of Science" (PLS) initiative, an attempt to force publishers to place archived reports of original research into centralized, freely available, and unrestricted databases. At present, the site offers an introductory piece by two Nature editors and responses from librarians, not-for-profit publishers, for-profit publishers, and technology developers (including Tim Berners-Lee and James Hendler). Additional articles will be posted in the coming weeks, along with a selection of comments from the forum. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Iranian Oral History Project (IOHP) [.pdf]
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~mideast/iohp/
Provided by the Harvard University Center for Middle Eastern Studies, this site offers a selection of transcripts from the project's collection of interviews with 134 people "who either played major roles in important political events and decisions [in Iran] from the 1920s to the 1970s or witnessed these events from close range." At the site, visitors will find detailed information about the project, a list of interview subjects, a list of publications, information on accessing the full collection at libraries around the world, and the collection of online excerpts. At present, there are transcripts from interviews with sixteen individuals, two of which can only be viewed in Persian. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Academic Institutional Profiles
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/profiles/toc.htm
Produced annually by the National Science Foundation's Division of Science Resources Studies (SRS), the Academic Institutional Profiles are based on three surveys: the National Science Foundation (NSF) Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges (academic R&D expenditures survey); the NSF-NIH Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (graduate student survey); and the NSF Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges and Nonprofit Institutions (Federal support survey). Data profiles of individual institutions and rankings for each category are easily accessed via an alphabetical listing or a keyword/ FICE code search engine. [MD]
[Back to Contents]International Energy Outlook 2001 [.pdf]
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/index.html
Announced last week by the Energy Information Administration, the statistical agency of the US Department of Energy, this report details international energy projections through 2020. The report forecasts that worldwide energy consumption will grow 59 percent between 1999 and 2020, much of that in the developing world. From the main page, which offers highlights from the report, users may access forecasts for specific energy sources (natural gas, coal, electricity, etc.) and a link to download the report by chapter in .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Hinds' Precedents of the House of Representatives of the United States [.pdf]
http://www.gpo.gov/congress/house/precedents/hinds/hinds.html
On April 19, GPO Access placed online the full text of Hinds' Precedents of the House of Representatives of the United States. Originally published by the GPO in 1907, Hinds' Precedents is useful as both an historical document and for its insights into parliamentary procedure and precedents in the House. The full text may be browsed by volume and chapter and viewed in text or .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]National Archive of Geological Photographs
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/photoarchive/home.html
Provided by the British Geological Survey, this site contains a database of some 6,400 digitized images drawn from the National Archive of Geological Photographs (NAGP). The archive may be searched by keyword, advanced search, or browsed via themed galleries (Montserrat Volcanic Eruption, Beltmoss Quarry - working stone, Aerial photographs in and around Edinburgh, etc.). Unfortunately, the images are only available in one, rather small, size. They are accompanied by information on location, photographer, geologist, year taken, and descriptions of varying length. Additional information on the British Geological Survey may be accessed from the main page. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Campaign Atlases -- USMA
http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/dhistorymaps/MapsHome.htm
Provided by the History Department of the United States Military Academy (West Point), this site offers an extensive collection (over 400) of color maps originally produced for a course entitled History of the Military Art. The atlases cover international and civil conflicts from American colonial campaigns to Somalia in 1992-93. The maps are browsed by war/ conflict and are presented as large thumbnails which link to a full-sized image. Please note that these may take a while to load even with faster connections. In all, an excellent and well-organized resource for those interested in military history and cartography. [MD]
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Airport Capacity Benchmark Report 2001 [.pdf, MS Word, Excel]
http://www.faa.gov/events/benchmarks/
Released on Wednesday by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), this report provides the first capacity benchmarks for 31 of the nation's busiest airports. Capacity benchmarks are defined as "the maximum number of flights an airport can routinely handle in an hour." The report finds, among other things, that at a number of airports so many flights are scheduled that it is simply not possible for all of them to take off and land on time. The worst offender in 2000 was New York LaGuardia, with 15.6 percent of takeoffs or landings delayed, more than twice as many as the second-ranked airport, Chicago O'Hare. Predictably, opinion is divided on the root of the problem, with the airlines blaming an antiquated air traffic control system and too few runways and critics blaming the airlines for over-scheduling at peak travel times. The full text of the 195-page report may be downloaded in .pdf or Word format at the FAA site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Your Genes, Your Health [Flash, QuickTime]
http://vector.cshl.org/ygyh/index.html
This new feature from the DNA Learning Center (reviewed in the April 12, 2000 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) is a multimedia guide to human genetic disorders. The guide will feature animations, videos, and text to explain genetic disorders to a general audience. The first disorder examined is Fragile X Syndrome, the most common inherited cause of mental impairment. Users begin the guide by clicking on the Fragile X box at the bottom of their screen. The guide explains what Fragile X Syndrome is, how it is inherited, how it is diagnosed and treated, and what it is like to have it, using Flash animations, audio, and QuickTime video clips. A glossary and links to related information elsewhere on the DNA Learning Center site are also provided. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Crimes of War
http://www.crimesofwar.org
Hosted by American University, this project is a collaborative effort of journalists, lawyers, and scholars "that seeks to raise awareness of the laws of war." Resources at the site include an online magazine, featured essays, analysis, a discussion forum, information on future seminars, and related resources. The essays are concise, cover a range of international topics, and link to related items on the site. This unique project is well worth a visit. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Shoot Down in Peru: The Secret US Debate Over Intelligence Sharing in Peru and Colombia [.pdf]
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB44/
Once again, the inestimable National Security Archive (NSA) has created a timely and useful electronic briefing book with declassified documents that shed light on recent events. In this case, the event is the accidental shoot down of a civilian aircraft carrying missionaries in Peru on April 20. The site offers the full text of thirteen declassified documents from 1994 which shed light on internal debate within the Clinton administration over the decision to share aerial tracking intelligence with Peru and Colombia. The documents are preceded by an excellent concise introduction, and for each, a one-paragraph summary is provided. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Canberra House: Modern Residential Architecture in the Australian Capital Territory
http://www.canberrahouse.com.au/
This site contains profiles and images (although far fewer than this reviewer would like) of significant, Modern houses in Canberra, Australia from the 1930s to the 1980s. The house profiles are arranged by decade with accompanying architect biographies, architectural style essays, and maps. The Canberra house provides a nice snapshot of modern Australian architecture with many of Australia's leading architects represented. The site would be greatly improved with the addition of floor plans or more images, but it should be interesting overall for anyone interested in the history Architecture especially Modernism. [DJS]
[Back to Contents]International Shark Attack File
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAF.htm
Just as you may have guessed, this site gives the lowdown on shark attacks. Administered by the American Elasmobranch Society and the Florida Museum of Natural History, the International Shark Attack File is a compilation of all known shark attacks. Besides general information for the curious, a wealth of science-useful information and interesting summaries are offered here. The site provides geographic summaries of attacks, statistical trends of shark attacks since 1900, annual worldwide shark attack summaries (including the newly released 2000 summary), and much more. Those seeking to contribute to the food chain via death-by-sharks can even browse statistics revealing locations with the highest shark attack activity over the past decade. [LXP]
[Back to Contents]Two on Jaguars
Jaguar: Lord of the Mayan Jungle [Flash]
http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/jaguar/index.html
Jaguars: Phantoms of the Night [Flash]
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0105/feature2/media.html
Anyone interested in the third largest of the big cats and habitat preservation in South and Central America should enjoy these two sites. The first is the latest virtual trip from OneWorld Journeys.com (last reviewed in the August 18, 2000 Scout Report). The site features reports and images from a January 2001 expedition to find and radio collar a jaguar in the Yucatan Peninsula, an exploration of the mythological and ecological role of the jaguar, and a discussion on jungle ecology. These sections include numerous photos and Flash features. The second site is a eight-and-a-half-minute Flash presentation that is an online companion to a nice piece in this month's National Geographic. The article and the images in the Flash presentation are the product of a two-year expedition by photographer Steve Winter, who provides audio commentary at the site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]US Civil War Generals
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/generals.html
Created using a number of print sources, this index by Kerry Webb is a fine resource for military historians and Civil War buffs. The index lists generals for each army alphabetically. Information provided includes date of birth and death, pre-war profession, war service, post-war career, and notes. Some entries also include suggestions for further reading and links to related sites. The main page of the site offers print references, a few links, and notes on the index entries. This site is a classic example of a "labor of love" resource that should prove useful and interesting to like-minded users. [MD]
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Adobe Acrobat Reader 5
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
The latest version of this must-have plug-in offers a number of new features. These include the ability to save copies of files downloaded in browsers, drag-and-drop toolbar icons, dynamic thumbnail generation, support for Adobe Illustrator 9.0 graphics that contain transparency, and support for screen readers (Windows only). In addition, Asian font packs are also available, enabling users to view .pdf files that contain Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fonts on non-native systems using Acrobat Reader 5.0. Users may download the Reader for free at the above URL. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Go!Zilla Free v3.93 [Windows 95/98/NT/2000]
http://www.gozilla.com
Go!Zilla is a popular download manager with a number of handy features. These include the ability to stop downloads and then resume them at any time and the option to queue multiple files and then download them in succession so as not to freeze up your bandwidth. Go!Zilla will also begin downloading automatically at specified times and even turn off your computer once the job is done. An additional feature, the Link Leecher, allows you to grab all links on a page or a site while you browse. Go!Zilla Free may be downloaded for no cost. [MA]
[Back to Contents]Weathertalk.net
http://www.weathertalk.net/
Weather junkies rejoice! Weathertalk.net bills itself as the "Internet's #1 Weather Search engine," and it's difficult to dispute this claim. The site features a keyword search engine and a directory that indexes over 1,200 weather-related sites. Many sites include a brief description, and all note the date they were added and number of hits. Also included are listings of newest and coolest added resources, a forum and newsletter, and even a "Fantasy Forecast" contest. [MD]
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Price Caps for California Energy
"Plan on California Energy Has No Shortage of Critics" -- New York Times (free registration required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/27/national/27POWE.html
"Regulators move to prevent gouging: Power suppliers must bill under U.S. benchmark" -- SF Gate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/04/26/MN214431.DTL
"Limited Price Controls OKd on Power Suppliers" -- LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/reports/power/lat_ferc010426.htm
Senator Barbara Boxer Statement on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order
http://www.senate.gov/~boxer/newsroom/20010426_energy.html
Commissioner Breathitt Speech to American Gas Association [.pdf]
http://www.ferc.fed.us/intro/oea/breath4-5.pdf
Commissioner Massey Speech to National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners [.pdf]
http://www.ferc.fed.us/intro/oea/MASS2-27.pdf
Williams Supports Short-Term Regional Price Controls to Help Address
California Power Crisis
http://www.williams.com/news/newsreleases/rel723.html
The California Energy Commission
http://www.energy.ca.gov/
FERC
http://www.ferc.fed.us/
The California Electricity Situation -- Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/california/california.html
Hearing on West Coat Gas Prices [RealPlayer]
http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/hdrive/e042501_gas.rm
On April 25, federal regulators ordered limited capping of energy prices in California, which has been under a critical energy shortage for months. This decision comes after a divisive battle between supporters of energy price caps in aid of consumers and those who fear caps will harm the free market. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted to cap electricity prices whenever supplies fall within 7.5 percent of demand, effective May 1.
The New York Times, SF Gate, and LA Times report on the FERC decision and discuss the controversy over capping energy prices. Readers wishing to hear statements directly from regulators and industries involved in the crisis should check out the interviews and speeches from Federal Energy Commissioners Breathitt and Massey and Senator Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) response to the FERC decision. Also, Williams Corp., who provides a portion of California's power from natural gas, has released a statement in support of regional price controls. The FERC's Website provides a wealth of resources including press releases, daily notices, text from speeches, legal dockets, and others. Also informative are the Websites of the California Energy Commission and the US Department of Energy, which provides a special Website on the California energy crisis with energy market statistics, US government publications, status reports, and more. People with three hours to spare can view Wednesday's hearing in its entirety at C-Span.org. [HCS]
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