NSDL Scout Reports for the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences
The eighteenth issues of the first volumes of the Life Sciences Report and Physical Sciences Report are available. The Topic in Depth section of Life Sciences Report annotates sites on sharks. The Physical Sciences Report's Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about fog.
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World Development Report 2003 [.pdf]
http://econ.worldbank.org/wdr/wdr2003/text-17926/
Last month, the World Bank released this report (last mentioned in the March 8, 2002 Scout Report), which "examines the relationship among competing policy objectives-reducing poverty, maintaining growth, improving social cohesion, and protecting the environment-over a 50-year horizon." The report is divided into nine chapters, which deal with topics ranging from "Global Problems and Local Concerns" to "Getting the Best from Cities." While the casual reader may not have time to read the entire report, there is a 30-page overview that provides a description of the basic themes contained within the full report. At its essence, the report argues that "development is sustainable if the rules of the game are transparent and the game is inclusive." This important document will be especially relevant to those with an interest in sustainable development from an inclusive and global perspective. [KMG]
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Office of University Partnerships
http://www.oup.org/
The Office of University Partnerships, founded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1994, is designed "to encourage and expand the efforts of higher education that are striving to make a difference in their communities through funding opportunities." Their online presence includes a number of helpful documents for persons interested in these relationships, including a recently updated guide to foundations likely to fund research related to topics dealing with colleges and communities. Also helpful is a database of research and publications conducted by OUP and its grantees, along with archived OUP newsletters. Rounding out the site is a section devoted to upcoming events sponsored by the OUP and participating institutions, in addition to documents for persons interested in applying for funding. [KMG]
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Department of Education Annual Plan 2002-2003 [.pdf]
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/annualreport2001/annualplan2003.pdf
Building on President Bush's earlier "No Child Left Behind" educational prospectus for the United States, this 148-page report explicates the Department of Education's 6-point plan for the upcoming years. The six points discussed in detail throughout the body of the report include improving student achievement, creating a culture of achievement, and enhancing the quality of access to postsecondary and adult education, among others. Throughout the report, specific nationwide objectives are discussed in detail, along with timelines detailing when these objectives might ideally be reached. The last fifty pages of the report are devoted to appendices dealing with opportunities to collaborate with different federal agencies and the equally thorny question of data quality. [KMG]
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HistoryLink
http://www.historylink.org
The brainchild of Walt Crowley, HistoryLink is an online, highly engaging, encyclopedia of essays, visual material, and maps relating the history of Seattle and King County. With oversight from a number of local and professional historians, the site contains over 3000 short essays on many different aspects of local history. Along with providing several search engines for navigating the material on the site, an interactive map of Seattle allows users to browse around the city for different historical information on different neighborhoods and communities. Other sections on the site include Magic Lantern slide shows dealing with subjects like the history of the Seattle Public Library and Seattle University and an evolving section containing transcriptions of oral histories. All in all, a fascinating way to get acquainted with Seattle history. [KMG]
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The Eleventh Biennial Report of Great Lakes Water Quality [.pdf]
http://www.ijc.org/comm/11br/english/report/index.html
The Eleventh Biennial Report of Great Lakes Water Quality has been released by the International Joint Commission (IJC). The IJC is an independent and objective advisor between the governments of the US and Canada that specifically focuses on boundary or transboundary water issues. The report includes the current state of the Great Lakes; policy issues; and information about nutrients, toxic substances, nuclear issues, and much more. This site is also reviewed in the September 20, 2002 NSDL Physical Science Report. [JAB]
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North Africa Research Group GeoNet
http://www.northafrica.de/
The North Africa Research Group GeoNet represents the combined efforts of different academics, primarily geologists, concerned with providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and information about geological research and exploration in North Africa. The home page of the site contains links to news stories in North Africa, along with links to recent studies of various geological phenomena and processes in the region, such as Tunisian black shale formations. Other helpful features on the site include a message board, discussions of recent and ongoing geological projects in the region, and an address database for contacting persons who have research interests in the area. Closing out the site is an interactive online database featuring recent research reports, journal articles, and books based on research conducted in North Africa. Appropriately, the site is also available in Arabic and French. [KMG]
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Biology in Motion [Flash]
http://www.BiologyInMotion.com/
Produced by Dr. Leif Saul, a biology teacher and Web site/ game developer, Biology in Motion has two new interactive education activities. Organize-It introduces an alternative way to test biological understanding by organizing concepts hierarchically. This exercise intends to "remedy some of the shortcomings of the traditional multiple-choice quiz." Users can choose self-tests from a variety of biology topics. Evolution Lab allows users to investigate how natural selection works by watching an animated simulation. Both activities are interesting and effective learning tools. While the Flash features may seem geared toward kids, the content and language are really meant for older students. Helpful tips for using this Web site's activities in the classroom are provided. This site is worth a visit even for those not searching for teaching material. This site is also reviewed in the September 20, 2002 NSDL Life Sciences Report. [RS]
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The National Park Service Southeast Archeological Center
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/seac.htm
The Southeast Archeological Center is a division of the National Park Service specializing in archeological research within the southeastern United States and the Virgin Islands. Information on the site includes recent and past reports on the diverse fieldwork conducted by the Center, including some of their most well-known work around Native American settlements and Civil War battlefield sites. Importantly, there are sections of the site devoted to educational outreach efforts to inform students about the nature of the Center's work and to provide them with introductory material on the practice and method of archaeology. Some of the more recent highlights include an outline of prehistory and history in the region and an updated report on the field work of the Center at the Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee. [KMG]
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City Lore
http://www.citylore.org/
Based in New York, the City Lore organization is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting the cultural heritage of the city through a variety of programs and events. Two online exhibits dealing with the Puerto Rican Day parade and the making of lace highlight some of their more recent work. A resources link on the site leads to several helpful articles that highlight the study of urban culture and folklore, along with a list of related links. One of the best parts of the site is an area dealing with New York Favorites, which is essentially a list of places and sights that local New Yorkers have submitted to the site. Finally, the site contains City Lore's online People's Hall of Fame, which recognizes the life-long contributions of persons who have dedicated themselves to the maintenance and practice of a number of folkways and traditions. [KMG]
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The Mark Twain House
http://www.marktwainhouse.org/
While the mention of Mark Twain may make one think of drifting along the Mississippi, the noted American author and curmudgeon wrote most of his famous works while living in this home in Hartford, Connecticut. Visitors to the site can take a virtual tour of the house, which is also notable for having one of the few remaining Tiffany-designed interiors. The site also has several activities for young people and a sample lesson plan designed for elementary school teachers. Additional sections provide information on relevant events at the house and membership information for those wishing to support the ongoing work done for and at the Mark Twain house. [KMG]
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American Folklore
http://www.americanfolklore.net/
Maintained by Sandra E. Schlosser, a freelance author, this site contains numerous tales of American folklore. Casting a broad net, the sections are organized around different themes, such as Famous Characters, Historical Folklore, and Regional Folktales. Along with these areas, there is also a complete alphabetical list of all the different tales on the site. One of its best parts is a section on Tall Tales, which relate different stories about ghosts, holidays, and various places that have arisen out of the American folklore tradition. The site is a good way to get reacquainted with the folklore tradition in America, while serving as a solid introduction to the subject for young people. [KMG]
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Will Durant Foundation
http://www.willdurant.com/home.html
While Will Durant is most well-known for his massive 11 volume Story of Civilization, the Will Durant Foundation Web site tells visitors about some of his other projects and life achievements, along with those of his wife, Ariel Durant. The site begins with a short essay offering a brief synopsis of Durant's life, including his relationship with his wife and the publishing icons Dick Simon and Max Schuster. The site contains articles written by Will Durant on a variety of subjects ranging from ancient Greece to the nature of civilization. For those interested in asking questions about Durant and his work, there is also an open and moderated discussion forum, along with a place for interested visitors to purchase any number of volumes authored by Mr. Durant and his wife. [KMG]
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St. Paul's Cathedral
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/rindex.htm
Perhaps one of the finest neo-Classical cathedrals in the world, the current St. Paul's cathedral is an example of the outstanding architecture of Christopher Wren, and a testimony to his dogged persistence and passion for his life's work. In keeping with the attention to detail that is indicative of Mr. Wren's work, the St. Paul's Web site has detailed information on visiting the cathedral, the various musical performances that it hosts, and an interactive timeline detailing the history of St. Paul's that extends back to the year 604. Along with this information, the site also tells visitors about upcoming events at the cathedral, along with an extensive online gift shop that offers a diverse set of St. Paul's related material for purchase. [KMG]
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San Francisco Cable Car Museum
http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/
Celebrated in American film, song, and popular legend, the San Francisco cable car gets its full due on this well honed site devoted to the history and operation of this cherished form of transportation. Beginning with a virtual tour of the Cable Car Museum, the site contains a full roster of current San Francisco cable cars and a detailed explanation of how a cable car works. Probably the strongest aspect of the site is the sheer amount of visual material available here, including over 150 photos that relate the history of the cable car system and continue on to the present day. Recent additions to the site include a collection of historic cable car transfers and information about a new book on cable cars in San Francisco. [KMG]
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The British Museum: World of Money
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/worldofmoney/
This online exhibit from the British Museum offers a brief look into the world of money, with sections dealing with the history of money, the production of money, and money in a societal context. Each section offers an interactive section where visitors can click on different forms of money and explore the nuances behind their meaning, production, and uses. One of the best examples of this interactive feature is a silver penny from the 10th century featuring King Edgar of England. Visitors seeking a beginning primer to learning about the history of money throughout civilization will find this site quite useful. [KMG]
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Easy Thumbnails
http://www.fookes.com/ezthumbs/index.html
Easy Thumbnails is a utility that will help users create accurate thumbnail images and scaled down copies from a wide range of picture formats. The program's interface system allows users to select images individually, by group, or in an entire folder. A built-in viewer allows users to perform a variety of image manipulations, including rotation and adjusting the contrast, brightness, and sharpness of the images. Additionally, thumbnails can be saved to a Web page using a HTML template that can be customized to create a variety of layouts. This program is for use with Windows 9x, 2000, NT4, Me, and XP operating systems. [KMG]
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Stuffit Expander 7.0
http://www.stuffit.com/expander/macindex.html
Released this Thursday, this new edition of the popular Mac decompression utility contains several new features. The most notable of these features is the ability to automatically transfer files to Palm upon synchronization. As with previous versions of Stuffit Expander, dozens of file formats are supported, including .zip, .hqx, .sit. and .sea, among others. Finally, Stuffit Expander also scans compressed or encoded files or viruses, along with automatically checking for updated versions of the application. This program is for use with Mac OS 8.1 and higher, including Mac OS X. [KMG]
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Professional and College Sports Still Grappling with Security Issues
2 Fans at Comiskey Attack Coach
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-nws-sox2.html
Violent Fans Have Tainted Games Before
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/4111896.htm
It Just Gets Uglier
http://www.suntimes.com/output/mariotti/cst-spt-jay20.html
Official Site of the Chicago White Sox
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cws/homepage/cws_homepage.jsp
Wisconsin Will Allow Mountaineer to Fire Away
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/wvu/20020905wvugun.asp
Wisconsin Diversifies: The Saga of the Mountaineer
http://www.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopel090502.asp
The question of security in major sports venues has been the subject of much contention, and even more so after 9/11. On September 19, 2002, at a Chicago White Sox baseball game in Comiskey Park, two fans jumped out of their seats and onto the field to attack Kansas City Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa. While the coach only suffered a minor cut and bruises, a pocket-knife belonging to one of the attackers was found on the scene. College sports have not remained immune to this problem, as several weeks prior to this incident, controversy ensued as the University of Wisconsin refused to allow the University of West Virginia's mascot (the Mountaineer) to bring his musket into Camp Randall Stadium. The University of Wisconsin later allowed the musket to be discharged in the stadium, but not before numerous commentators began to weigh in on the debate.
The first link leads to a Chicago Sun-Times article on the attack during the baseball game, including several photographs of the accused attackers. The second site is a news article from the Kansas City Star offering a brief historical perspective on recent violent attacks with different sports venues. The third link is to a sports editorial by Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times discussing the implications of the attack. The fourth site leads to the official Chicago White Sox page that also has some additional coverage of the events. Lastly, the fifth link is to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece on the Mountaineer controversy, while the sixth link offers a commentary by Dave Kopel of the National Review on the imbroglio over allowing the musket into Camp Randall. [KMG]
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