The Scout Report -- Volume 12, Number 50

http://www.africom.museum/

For years, many museology experts knew about the vast cultural resources held within museums throughout Africa, but getting specific information about each one was difficult. In 2000, the International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM) was created, and since then, the organization's outreach has included the creation of this website which provides information for both museum professionals and the general public. First-time visitors will want to look over the "Heritage News" area which will give them a sense of the scope of AFRICOM's primary activities. From there, visitors can also view past issues of AFRICOM's newsletter and view a list of helpful external links. Finally, both the itinerant traveler and the seasoned museum scholar will appreciate the "Museums in Africa" section, which provides ample material on the various museums located throughout the continent. [KMG]

http://www.sociology.org/

Billed as "the worlds first and longest running electronic journal of sociology", the Electronic Journal of Sociology has been in existence in 1994. The Journal's home is at Athabasca University, and persons with an interest in submitting materials for potential inclusion in a future edition of the Journal will want to take a look at their guidelines straight away. Members of the general public may want to browse around in the archives, which contain articles titled "Children and Young Peoples Status in Iran: Profiles and Challenge" and "Disembodiment and Cyberspace". The site is rounded out by a section where visitors can read new announcements from the editors and also offer feedback. [KMG]

http://www.exploratorium.edu/poles/index.html

While many have asked the question, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" fewer have asked, "How do you get to the South Pole?" One way might be to complete a doctorate in ecology, but for those with a computer and a connection to the Internet, this fine site from the Exploratorium in San Francisco will do quite nicely. Designed to celebrate the start of the International Polar Year, this site includes a number of very informative webcasts that highlight the work of scientists at both the North and South Poles. On the homepage users will find a section that contains presentations on climate change, and another that focuses on the work of scientists who are currently constructing the largest telescope ever utilized in a polar region. In addition, users will also enjoy clicking on the sections that address different themes, such as "sense of place", "ice diving", and of course, "penguins". [KMG]

http://www.historyofsupremecourt.org/

While some citizens may find the United States Supreme Court to be a distant institution, nothing could be farther from the truth. During its annual sessions, the Court addresses a myriad of issues of immediate and enduring importance, including eminent domain, freedom of expression, the death penalty, and so on. With funding from New York Life, this very thorough website was created to complement a major television series on the history of the Supreme Court that will soon appear on PBS. The site's materials were written by educators from across the country, and they present the institution's history thematically, thereby making it easier to use in the classroom. Within each one of the site's sections, users will find essays and teaching materials on gender equality, social rights, personal liberties, and equal access to schools. The site also includes a very nice interactive timeline of landmark cases handed down since 1792. Finally, the site also includes a searchable encyclopedia of terms and court cases of note. [KMG]

http://www.theworkfoundation.com/Assets/PDFs/KE_Europe.pdf

For regional development specialists and those concerned with local economies, the world of the so-called knowledge economy is tremendously important. Specifically, the knowledge economy is meant to be those segments of the economy that include financial and business services, health care, and education. In Europe, the subject is debated a great deal, and this latest 23-page report by The Work Foundation will no doubt add to that ongoing debate. In their report examining the knowledge economy in Europe (and its recent growth) they note that while the Continent continues to experience some growth in this sector of the economy, future growth may be hindered by a lack of significant investment in its knowledge base. The report also includes an extended definition of this notion of a knowledge economy for those who remain puzzled. [KMG]

http://www.openbudgetindex.org/

Around the world different governments provide different levels of information about their national budgets, and for some parties, this is a real area of concern. For those interested in this timely subject, the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities has created the Open Budget Index. Released in October 2006, this index rates countries on how open their budget books are to their citizens. As the site notes, this information can help a variety of groups "identify meaningful budget reforms needed in specific countries to combat corruption and strengthen basic services to improve peoples lives." A great way to start on the site is by looking through country profiles from Uganda, Mexico, and India that will let concerned parties know specifically how budget transparency improves people's lives. After that, visitors can scroll down through a complete list of country summaries and questionnaires from Albania to Zambia. Visitors should also be aware that many of the materials on the site are available in a number of languages, including Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish. [KMG]

http://www.colorado.edu/GeolSci/Resources/

The study of geology at the University of Colorado has a long and distinguished history, and in recent years they have also become increasingly interested in providing online teaching resources in the field. Educators will be glad to learn about this site's existence, as they can scroll through a list of interactive demonstrations that can be utilized in the classroom. Specifically, these demonstrations include a shaded interactive topographical map of the western United States, a magnetic field of the Earth, and several animated maps of various National Park sites. The site comes to a compelling conclusion with the inclusion of the geology department's slide library, which can be used without a password or registration. [KMG]

http://www-micro.msb.le.ac.uk/109/index.html

For those persons training to enter a vocational program in any number of fields, getting caught up with disciplines such as microbiology can present certain challenges. These parties will be most delighted to learn about the introductory microbiology tutorials on this website. Created by Leicester University, the tutorials include visually-stimulating (and well-formatted) reviews of prokaryote diversity, virology, and microbiology laboratory procedures. After looking over these materials, visitors can move along to the "Online Tutorials" area. Here they will find links to demonstrations of pathogens in action, virus replication, and malaria. The site is rounded out by the "LabWork" section, which includes a number of demonstration experiments that students (or instructors) can use in the laboratory. [KMG]

http://www.stopchildpoverty.org/

A number of international organizations are committed to helping end child poverty, and one of the best known of their number is the Global Volunteer Network. Through their advocacy work and the Stop Child Poverty campaign, they are dedicated to the proposition that child poverty can be completed eradicated. Through sections titled "Learn It", "Live It", and "Pass it On", visitors to this site will learn about the "big picture" of child poverty and how they can become directly involved in any number of volunteer projects. The "Pass It On" area is quite fine in this regard, as visitors can look over a message board where they can discuss the campaign, and then use a zip-code search engine to find volunteer opportunities in their area. [KMG]

http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/

Certainly there are many individuals who start journaling at age 12, but how many of them continue doing so until age 78? John Quincy Adams did just that, and the talented folks at the Massachusetts Historical Society have digitized images from his 51-volume diary and placed them online. The "Getting Started" section is, well, a good place to get started, as visitors will learn about the scope of this online collection, and how they can utilize these unique materials. While the site doesn't offer searchable transcriptions of the diary pages, a detailed timeline does give users information that will help them search for items of interest, such as Adams' recollections of the Treaty of Ghent or his time as minister to the Netherlands. Of course, the "Selected Pages" section affords users the opportunity to look at entries on the Monroe Doctrine, Napoleon, and his beloved mother, Abigail Adams. [KMG]

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Americans_in_Paris/index.asp

Several decades before Ernest Hemingway came to Paris to spend some quality time with Gertrude Stein near the Jardin de Luxembourg; there were a multitude of other American artists inspired by the City of Lights. Paris was, without a doubt, the art capital of the 19th century, and as Henry James remarked in 1887 "when to-day we look for 'American art' we find it mainly in Paris." Staff members at The Metropolitan Museum of Art feel the same way, and they have organized this lovely online exhibit to complement a fine in situ exhibit on the visual arts produced by artists such as Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, and John Singer Sargent during their time there. Visitors can make their way through all eight galleries, and they can also use a zoom feature to pick up on various levels of detail within each work. [KMG]

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/

Despite the abundance of foodstuffs in the United States, many individuals and families go hungry on a regular basis. There are a number of public and private organizations working to address this problem, and the USDAs Food & Nutrition Service is just such an organization. Their website allows persons working in this area to learn about their various nutrition assistance programs through their online newsroom, their specific program areas, and their "Spotlights" features. For a brief introduction to their current initiatives and work, interested parties should browse on over to the newsroom, where they can learn about recent grant awards, state food stamp participation rates, and disaster assistance. After that, visitors may wish to look at the multimedia materials within the "Eat Smart. Play Hard" feature designed for young people. Here they can learn about the food pyramid and how to eat balanced meals everyday. [KMG]

http://international.loc.gov/intldl/apochtml/apochome.html

As part of its developing Global Gateway (a group of various digital materials of international interest) the Library of Congress presents this collection of 355 Arabic calligraphy sheets, ranging from the 9th to the 19th centuries, that includes many examples of calligraphic art: illuminated panels, albums, and poems, as well as Qur'anic calligraphic fragments. Even those who cannot understand the text of these manuscripts will appreciate their beauty when displayed on a computer screen. Visitors are invited to browse the collection by calligrapher, title or subject. In addition, several in-depth essays are provided that are especially helpful to those unfamiliar with this body of work. For example, "Calligraphers of the Persian Tradition" describes the work of a handful of prominent calligraphers, while the Noteworthy Items essay highlights particularly important or unique items in the collection. [DS]

http://www.theworld.org/

Any effort to provide high-quality news coverage of events around the world must include a crack team of international correspondents drawn from some of the world's most prominent news organizations. Fortunately, Public Radio International's well-regarded program, The World, draws on correspondents from the BBC and other respected news agencies. On their well-organized site, visitors can listen to each program in its entirety, or move through a number of online-only special reports, which include features on Afghanistan and ethnic conflicts in Africa. The World's site also offers three different podcasts and RSS feeds. Another fine feature of the site is the section where reporters for their program offer journals from their recent investigative excursions to Israel, Mexico, China, and Northern Ireland. Overall, the site is a fine way to stay up to date with current events of importance from Ghana to Goa. [KMG]

http://www2.ups.edu/community/tofu/home.htm

For the past seven years, Professor John Woodward and his colleagues at the University of Puget Sound have been creating materials for this unique site. Designed as a way to bring together resources to assist mathematics teachers at a variety of skill levels, the site is divided into four primary sections. The first stop for first-time users should definitely be the "Math Concepts" area. Here, educators can learn about how to introduce spreadsheets and data tables into the curriculum. Additionally, there are subsections within this area that provide detail-oriented plans on how to integrate prime numbers, functions, and fractions into lesson plans. Perhaps the true gem on this site is the section that discusses how math teachers can use journaling to get students thinking in different and creative ways about understanding various aspects of mathematics. [KMG]

http://www.econofix.com/

George G. Scott, Jr. has been an auto mechanic for over thirty years, and he has also found time in his busy schedule to create this website dedicated to providing both the average person and future auto mechanics with information about car and truck repair. While the site does contain some banner advertisements, there is plenty of fine free material here as well. Visitors can begin their journey by looking into areas titled "How Your Car Works". After that, they can look over an alphabetical list that includes sage advice on everything from alternators to water pump repair. The site is rounded out by a fun collection of sounds of cars in "trouble", including a bad motor mount of 1994 Saturn and the valve train tapping of a 1993 Isuzu Rodeo. [KMG]

http://www.theapplegeek.com/iru/

As the calendar year winds down, many Scout Report readers may find themselves with more and more tasks to complete. Time is, of course, of the essence, and a gentle reminder while performing tasks while online can be most helpful. iRemindU 2.0.02 allows users to create alerts with this tiny popup timer. Additionally, users can also use the application to remind them of important tasks when they log on. This version is compatible with all computers running Mac OS X 10.2 and newer. [KMG]

http://www.winamp.com/

Winamp has functioned as a well-tuned media player for years, and this most recently released version contains some notable new features. These new features include the ability to search for live concert footage and other forms of streaming media, coupled with some rather delightful visualizations. Finally, this version of Winamp also syncs up with a number of portable audio devices, including various iPod models. This version is compatible with computers running Windows 98, 2000, and XP. [KMG]

Bangladeshi Economist Claims Nobel Peace Prize [Real Player]
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6605060

Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony 2006 [Windows Media Player]
http://nobelprize.org/award_ceremonies/ceremony_oslo/video/2006/index.html

Grameen [pdf, Windows Media Player
http://www.grameen-info.org/

The Microcredit Summit Campaign [pdf]
http://www.microcreditsummit.org/

Web-Based Microfinancing
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10section4.t-6.html?ex=1323406800&en=72e9b0bb93393330&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Kiva.org: Loans that change lives
http://kiva.org/

This Sunday, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize was formally awarded in equal parts to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below." In his remarks, Yunus commented "Grameen has given me an unshakeable faith in the creativity of human beings. This has led me to believe that human beings are not born to suffer the misery of hunger and poverty." Over the past thirty years, Yunus and his colleagues at the Bank have championed the cause of microcredit lending. The idea behind microcredit lending is relatively simple, and it has seen its greatest application in the developing world. Essentially, it involves making small loans to people so that they can engage in any number of self-employment projects, such as selling foodstuffs or engaging in the small-scale production of goods. When the Bank was founded thirty years ago, there were many who maintained that the Bank was lending to people who would never be able to repay their small loans, much less generate a profit. While some skeptics maintain that microcredit lending may encourage national governments to focus less on providing a social service safety net, others remain adamant about the benefits of these programs. [KMG]

The first link will take users to a NPR report on Yunus and the Nobel speech he gave this past Sunday. For those whose interests are piqued by the first link, the second link leads to Nobelprize.org, where they can watch a video of the entire award ceremony. The third link leads to the homepage of the Grameen Bank. Here visitors can learn about their lending practices and philosophy and they can also find a selection of writings by Yunus. The forth link leads to the homepage of the Microcredit Summit Campaign, which is based in Washington, DC. Moving along, the fifth link leads to a news article from Sunday's New York Times on how various groups are using the power of the web to bring microfinancing to more and more people. Finally, the last link leads to Kiva.org, which is a website where people can assist persons seeking a microcredit loan in making their businesses a reality. [KMG]