Crime and Justice Data Online -- BJS
http://149.101.22.40/dataonline/
Researchers looking for law enforcement or crime statistics will welcome this new database from the US Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics. Visitors first choose from crime trends, homicide trends, or law enforcement management and administrative statistics. Information is available from state or local agencies, and users can choose the style of table they wish to see, such as single state or single variable trends. The tables are easy to read and can be downloaded freely as .csv (comma separated value) files. [JAB]
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Subject Index to Literature on Electronic Sources of Information
http://library.usask.ca/~dworacze/SUBJIN_A.HTM
Electronic Sources of Information: A Bibliography
http://library.usask.ca/~dworacze/BIBLIO.HTM
Updated last week, Marian Dworaczek's Subject Index to Literature on Electronic Sources of Information and the accompanying Electronic Sources of Information: A Bibliography will be a boon to anyone studying issues related to information technology or electronic publishing. Dworaczek has been publishing the index since 1997, and this latest version contains over 1,400 citations as well as an introduction that explains how to use the site. The bibliography and index reference both online and print sources, including books, articles, monographs, and chapters. Librarians in particular will want to bookmark this site. [TK]
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Report on Forum 2000: Fluid Properties for New Technologies -- Connecting Virtual Design with Physical Reality [.pdf]
http://Forum2000.Boulder.NIST.Gov/F2kSP.pdf
In June 2000, the Fourteenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties was held to review the progress of thermophysics over the last 100 years and to look forward to the next century of research and development in thermophysics. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a special publication online covering the event and including overviews of topical issues from professionals in the field and several brief, invited essays on issues raised in the forum by panelists, audience participants, and other experts in thermophysics. The topics addressed in the 113-page .pdf document include molecular modeling, nuclear waste cleanup, power plants, process and chemical manufacturing, data evaluation, simulations and sensitivity analysis, among others. [HCS]
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WTO History Project [.pdf, Excel]
http://depts.washington.edu/wtohist/index.htm
A joint project of the University of Washington's (UW's) Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and the University Library, the WTO History Project focuses on the history-making protests of late 1999 in Seattle during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meetings. A particularly groovy and educational highlight of this Website is the database of fliers, posters, notes, letters, etc. that the Manuscripts, Special Collections and University Archives Division of the UW Libraries makes Internet-accessible using CONTENTdm, a multimedia database developed at the UW. "CONTENTdm allows users to create customized searches of the collection and for high-quality digital reproductions to be viewed online, enabling some research to be conducted without visiting the collection." Visitors to the WTO History Project Website will also find a timeline of events prior to and during the 1999 protests in Seattle, including locations and sponsors, and a chart of organizations (with contact information) that were vocal in their opposition to the WTO, along with a list of registered WTO meeting attendees (MS Excel). In addition, this site features a page of interview transcripts with words from more than 80 organizers of and participants in the Seattle protests (.pdf). Organizations represented here include the Industrial Workers of the World, People for Fair Trade, the AFL-CIO, and the Sierra Club, to name just a few. This is a fantastic resource for students looking for primary texts dealing with labor and globalization issues or anyone wanting to learn more about the groups and individuals involved in the WTO protests. This site is still being developed, so check back often. [HCS]
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National Academies Committee on Food Chemicals Codex, Fifth Edition
http://www.iom.edu/iom/iomhome.nsf/Pages/Codex+Fifth+Edition
The National Academies Committee on Food Chemicals has tentatively approved a series of monographs, general procedures, and solutions for its Fifth Edition Codex (projected publication date: Autumn 2003). At this Website, readers can access the manuscripts and find out where to send comments. The two proposed new monographs are on Ferrous Glycinate and Transglutaminase. Monographs under revision are those on Balsam Peru Oil, Basil Oil, European Type, Butane, Calcium Ascorbate, Gibberellic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium Gibberellate, and Soy Protein Concentrate. Most of the texts (.pdf) include a diagram of molecular structure, common uses, identification, and assay preparation instructions for the compound discussed. Other documents available here are proposed new and general analytical procedures for Transglutaminase and proposed revisions of the Fluoride Limits Guideline and the Microbiological Attributes Policy. These online resources might be valuable to college and graduate level students or researchers in medicine, food science, nutrition, and related fields. [HCS]
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Two from NCES [.pdf, MS PowerPoint]
Dropout Rates in the United States: 2000
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2002114
The Nation's Report Card: Science 2000_
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/science/results/index.asp
These two reports were just released from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The first presents data on dropout rates from 1972 to 2000 and finds that the progress made in the 1970s and 1980s in reducing dropout rates was not duplicated in the 1990s, when rates remained relatively stable. The report also correlates dropout rates with other variables, such as income, ethnicity, and region. Users can download the 95-page report as a .pdf file or browse it online. The second site, The Nation's Report Card: Science 2000, gives the results of a survey by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showing, "on average, what students know and can do" in science. NAEP reports that fourth-graders' and eighth-graders' scores were largely unchanged since 1996, but that twelfth-graders' scores declined three points. The site offers links to various data: national results, state results, subgroup results, and much more. [TK]
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Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 2000, Detailed Statistical Tables [Excel, .pdf]
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf02305/start.htm
The National Science Foundation has released the 2000 report of science and engineering doctorate awards (last reviewed in the January 9, 1998 Scout Report ). This site offers ten tables that can be downloaded as .pdf or Excel files. Each table contains varying information such as doctorates awarded by field of study and year of doctorate, or non-US citizens awarded doctorates in the sciences and in engineering by country of citizenship, visa type, and year of doctorate. Five of the tables include data going back to 1991, and five have 2000 data only. [JAB]
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Action for World Development (AWD)
http://www.awd.org.au/
Action for World Development (AWD) is an Australian nonprofit that was started by the Australian Council of Churches and the Catholic Bishops of Australia in the 1970s with the mission to promote social and environmental justice. Resources here are grouped into categories -- Racism & Aboriginal Justice, Permaculture & Development, Agriculture & Food Group, Fair Trade, and more -- and while much of the material on the site is devoted to explaining AWD's various projects and promoting their products, some of the material should interest researchers and educators. In particular, the Links section has annotated pointers to a wealth of related resources; the Hypotheticals section provides good food for classroom thought; and there are articles interspersed throughout the site. [TK]
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Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South
http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/vangogh/slide_intro.html
This Website is a companion to the Art Institute of Chicago's current exhibition of work by Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh. The focus of this show is the paintings produced during a time when the artists shared a studio in Arles, October-December 1888. During this period, the artists lived, ate, and worked together. They tested their individual theories of artmaking by painting a number of identical motifs. The Art Institute's Website reproduces many of these images and matches them with excerpts of letters written by Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh between 1887 and 1889. The painters' candid "remarks about their own canvases offer unique perspectives on the Arles period." This Website also contains many brief essays on themes and historic background, a chronology, and related maps (purportedly coming soon). Overall the site is a nice introduction into a tumultuous artistic friendship (At the end of December, Van Gogh threatened Gauguin with a knife causing Gauguin to flee. Yikes!) and a deeper look at the work of these Post-Impressionism giants. Note: Some users may have to adjust their screen resolution to read the tiny font. [DJS]
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Whitehousekids.gov
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/index.html
A fantastic site for young readers and their mentors, White House Kids offers an appealing variety of information both interesting and practical. Geared toward elementary and middle-school age students, the site is sure to attract with its bright primary colors and kid-friendly images, especially the red carpet treatment offered the photogenic White House pets. Particularly endearing is the walking tour of the White House led by Spotty, the President and First Lady's English Springer Spaniel. Not all fun and games, however, Whitehousekids contains a wealth of teachable moments, with numerous links to historical and biographical points of interest, complete with quizzes and self-correcting answer keys. Perhaps most important, the site stresses reading as its central theme. Thus, each featured figure, pets and humans alike, offers one or more favorite book references. Clever and well designed, Whitehousekids makes child's play out of introducing its audiences to a strong cast of characters, past and present. [WH]
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"Defending Civilization: How Our Universities Are Failing America and What Can Be Done About It" [.pdf]
http://www.goacta.org/Reports/defciv.pdf
Though short, this report from The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), a nonprofit co-founded by Lynne Cheney and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, has been getting quite a bit of media attention. The report is a scathing condemnation of universities for being "the weak link in America's response to the [September 11th] attack," a label earned in part because faculty "invoked tolerance and diversity as antidotes to evil" and did not discuss the "difference between good and evil." The report charges academia with disseminating the message to "blame America first." ACTA states, "This is not an argument for limiting free speech on college campuses. Indeed, the robust exchange of ideas is essential to a free society. But it is equally important -- and never more so than in these unsettling times -- to insist that colleges and universities transmit our history and heritage to the next generation." The report concludes with an appendix of named and numbered professors and organizations who are part of the "weak link." Anyone interested in debates over the function of universities or the composition of curricula will want to read this. [TK]
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Two on Canadian History
Canada in the Making [MS Word]
http://www.canadiana.org/citm/english.html
Exploration of the Fur Trade and Hudson Bay's Company
http://www.canadiana.org/hbc/
These two new sites from Early Canadiana Online (see the March 19, 2000 Scout Report) offer a look at the history of Canada geared toward school-aged children. The first is designed to give high school students, undergraduates, and life-long learners a deeper understanding of Canada's history through a look at important acts and treaties. The site presents the text of the documents themselves, introductions to the documents, maps, essays, biographies of historical figures, a brief quiz, and lesson plans (in Word format) for teachers. The second site is aimed at users aged nine and older and focuses on the fur trade of Canada as related to the exploration of the country and the development of its oldest company, Hudson Bay's Company. The site is divided into four main sections -- History, Personalities, Story, and Timeline -- each of which has a wealth of information. At the top of the page, users will find buttons to take them to the related primary documents, a teacher's guide, maps and images, and more. Both sites are available in English and French. [TK]
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Bioterror -- NOVA [Flash, QuickTime, RealPlayer]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bioterror/
This companion Website to the Nova show "Bioterror" that broadcast last week is divided into several sections such as History of Biowarfare, Agents of Bioterror, and Global Guide to Bioweapons. The Flash features studded throughout may help to hold younger visitors' attention (in particular, high school-aged users). The Global Guide section, for example, has a clickable map explaining the status of different countries' bioweapons programs, and the Making Vaccines section takes users through the process of creating different vaccines with a step-by-step Flash exercise. The site also offers interviews with several bioweapons experts, the full text of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, and a useful list of resources for further information. There is a teacher's section on the site as well, but when we visited, the content had not yet been added here. [TK]
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kaisernetwork.org: special coverage
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/specialcoverage/9_11.cfm
This special site from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation brings users information about health policy in the context of the events following September 11. In particular, the site offers annotated links to Federal Government Resources, Publications and Reports, Organizations and Research Institutions, Public Opinion, State Resources, Kaiser Daily Health Policy Reports on Bioterrorism and the September 11 Aftermath, and Archived Webcasts on the September 11 Aftermath. This is a great stop for researchers or members of the general public interested in the impact of current events on public health issues. [TK]
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Two for Travelers
Cities Guide -- The Economist
http://www.economist.com/cities/
Time Out: The Worlds Living Guide
http://www.timeout.com/
Whether you're traveling for work or pleasure or just getting in a little virtual vacation time, both of these sites deliver. New from The Economist, their Cities Guide offers practical information ranging from accommodations to insider tips on getting around various US and world cities. A very nice touch are areas like the City Briefing section (top news stories, history pieces, and other tidbits) and the Being There area (subtopics include how to kill an hour and gifts to take home). City Guide also contains sections on cultural events, shopping, history, facts, and much more. Covering twice as many cities, Time Out's site complements its well put together print publications. Highlighting cultural events as well as practical considerations such as where to stay, what to eat, and where to buy tickets, the site is well written, easy to navigate, and a pleasure to view. In addition to information focused on a general audience, Time Out offers a section specifically for kids and one for gay and lesbian travelers [REB].
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www.invisible-web.net [.pdf]
http://www.invisible-web.net/
This directory, the companion site to a new book, The Invisible Web: Uncovering Information Sources Search Engines Can't See, is brought to us from Chris Sherman (last mentioned in the April 28, 2000 scout Report) and Gary Price (last mentioned in the October 26, 2001 Scout Report), two of the Web's best known infonauts. In addition to the Invisible Web Directory, a useful annotated directory of sources for "invisible" resources on the Web, the site features the text from the book's chapter on business and investing resources as well as .pdf versions of the introduction and table of contents. [TK]
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Semantic Interpretation for Speech Recognition
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-semantic-interpretation-20011116/
The first working draft of the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Semantic Interpretation for Speech Recognition is now available. The document "defines the process of Semantic Interpretation for Speech Recognition and the syntax and semantics of semantic interpretation tags that can be added to speech recognition grammars." The document is a draft, open for suggestions from W3C members and other interested users. [TK]
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