The Scout Report

November 7, 1997

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Science Department, University of Wisconsin

A Project of the InterNIC

The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators, the InterNIC's primary audience. However, everyone is welcome to subscribe to one of the mailing lists (plain text or HTML). Subscription instructions are included at the end of each report.

Scout Reports for Social Sciences and Business & Economics, Addition to the Scout Toolkit
Scout Report for Social Sciences
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/socsci/
Scout Report for Business & Economics
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/bus-econ/
End User's Corner--November 1997
http://scout.wisc.edu/scout/toolkit/enduser/archive/1997/euc-9711
The fourth Scout Reports for the Social Sciences and Business & Economics are available. Each annotates more than 20 new and newly discovered Internet resources. The In the News sections annotate nine resources on Sino American relations/human rights issues in China, and six resources on the stock market crash: looking back to 1987, respectively. The November End User's Corner, A Scout Report Signpost Look at One Aspect of Metadata - Resource Type, examines an aspect of data used to describe data, a topic relevant to the Scout Report Signpost's Library of Congress Classification of Scout Report annotations. [JS]
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Dermatology Online Atlas--DermIS
http://www.dermis.net/bilddb/index_e.htm
This site, a highlight of the Dermatology Internet Service (DermIS), provided by the Dermatology Department of the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nurnberg (Germany) School of Medicine, is a compendium of hundreds of browsable and searchable photographs of skin conditions from Abrikossoff's Tumor to Zoster Varicellosus. Image groups may be accompanied by synonyms for the condition, Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) terms, and a definition. Each image includes an assessment of its quality for teaching, and may be accompanied by brief descriptive information. The quality, number and breadth of images, though sometimes difficult for a general audience to stomach, is what makes the Atlas an excellent teaching tool. Note that the site is available in English and German, and that a knowledge of dermatological disease terminology is assumed. [JS]
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Politics Research Group Working Papers--John F. Kennedy School of Government
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/prg/
The Politics Research Group of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University has created this site, which currently contains thirteen working papers from faculty seminars and research workshops. Abstracts and full-text versions are both available. Some titles include: "Little Theatre: Committees in Congress," "Are Lawyers Liars? The Argument of Redescription," "Securing Subsidiarity: Legitimacy and the Allocation of Governing Authority," and "Managing Technology Policy at the White House." [MD]
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TeacherServe--NHC
http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/tserve.htm
TeacherServe is a new "interactive curriculum enrichment service" for high school English and History teachers provided by the National Humanities Center. The purpose of the site is to allow teachers to deepen their course content by providing scholarship online that has been specifically tailored to classroom use. TeacherServe will consist of a series of "instructional guides on important topics in the humanities on the secondary level. Each guide will provide commentary along with instructional tools," as well as relevant links. The first guide, Divining America: Religion and the National Culture, is designed to assist history teachers with the difficult challenge of explaining the role of religion in US history. Well-balanced and aptly written, this first guide is a very good sign of things to come from TeacherServe. [MD]
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Thermodex: An Index of Selected Thermodynamic Data Handbooks--University of Texas
http://thermodex.lib.utexas.edu/
The Mallet Chemistry Library at the University of Texas provides this recently updated site, a no-nonsense search interface to bibliographic information about 129 "printed handbooks and compilations of thermodynamic and thermophysical data for chemical compounds." Users simply enter the properties and compounds they are interested in and a list of sources that are relevant to the query is returned. Each source contains brief bibliographic information, along with an abstract. The number of indexing terms and the ease of searching make this site stand out. Note that large compilations (Bielstein, etc.), online databases, and standard handbooks are not indexed by the database. [JS]
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Comparative Religion--A Directory of Internet Resources for the Academic Study of Religion
http://www.academicinfo.net/religindex.html
This metasite, created by Mike Madin of the University of Washington, is a well-organized and useful collection of resources for religious studies. Links are organized into six sections: General Directories and Pages, Women and Religion, Art and Religion, Eastern Religions, Western Religions, and Religion in the Americas. Subsections include Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Native American Religions. Through this metapage users can locate a variety of resources: bibliographies, documents, texts, reference tools, directories, and online publications. [MD]
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GlobaLearn--World Expeditions for Kids
http://www.globalearn.org/
GlobaLearn offers a unique opportunity for K-12 students and teachers to explore particular parts of the world. A non-profit, educational organization, GlobaLearn has pioneered a way for students to explore other cultures. The primary focus of the site is the Expedition, devoted to one area of the world (Brazil at present) that a number of adult explorers from GlobaLearn visit. The highlight of the Expedition is meeting the Hosts. Users select a city on the travel route map and a biographical sketch of a child (the Host) from that city appears, along with photographs of family members, school, and home. The daily life of the Host is described. Students and teachers can visit the GlobaLearn Classroom for activity ideas and to participate in web discussions about the featured expedition. Previous expeditions to the Black Sea Nations, Asia, and South America are archived and available at the site. [JR]
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Coasts In Crisis--USGS
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circular/c1075/
This United States Geological Survey publication (Circular 1075) is the first of a planned group of monographs in a series called "Public Issues in Earth Science." It discusses the dangers posed to coasts and coastal communities by "development, recreation, and waste disposal," among other activities. It describes the ever changing nature of coastlines, and both the natural and human causes of coastal change. Four case studies are very briefly described. While not an exhaustive treatment of its subject, this is an effective introduction that may encourage further study. A small bibliography is provided. [JS]
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Internet Legal Practice Newsletter
http://www.collegehill.com/ilp-news/
This monthly newsletter, provided by College Hill Internet Consultants, concentrates on "all topics relating to the Internet and the practice of law." Recent articles have spotlighted PICS (Platform for Internet Content Selection), privacy and free speech rights in cyberspace, and recent relevant court decisions. Two new departments have just been added: "From the Law Schools," by Bernard Hibbits, provider of the Jurist: Law Professors on the Web site (discussed in the April 11, 1997 issue of the Scout Report), and EthicsBeat, by Peter Krakaur of LegalEthics.com. New departments on research and new media law are forthcoming. Users can obtain the newsletter at the site or via email subscription. [JS]
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Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery [RealPlayer, VDO Live Player]
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/
This companion site to Ken Burns' new film, which aired on November 4 and 5, 1997, is highlighted by the Archive: a timeline of the trip; a collection of related links; an extensive bibliography; and over 800 minutes of unedited, full-length RealPlayer interviews with seven experts featured in the film (transcripts also available). Into the Unknown contains an interactive story written by PBS Online that allows users to take command of the expedition and lead it to glory or disaster. There is also biographical and historical information (Inside the Corps), a section on the Native American tribes that the expedition met with, a VDO Live interview with the director of the film, and educational resources designed around the topic. This is a prime example of a successful PBS companion site effort. [MD]
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SEDAR [Word, WordPerfect, .pdf]
http://www.sedar.com/
The SEDAR (System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval) site contains the electronic filing that Canadian companies are required to submit to the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Annual reports, financial statements, press releases, prospectuses and take-over bid materials from public companies can be obtained at this site. Most of the documents are in WordPerfect, Word, or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Visitors can browse the list of companies, search for a particular company, or look at the new filings. In addition to public companies, the SEDAR site also contains electronic filings from mutual funds companies. This site is available in both English and French. [THN]
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BBC News Online [RealPlayer]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
BBC News has entered the Internet news arena in impressive fashion. Their site contains an abundance of news pieces, organized into several sections: Front Page, UK, World, Business, Science/Technology, and Sports. The stories are generally well-written and well-supported graphically with photos and links to relevant sites. Multimedia features include continuously updated RealPlayer broadcasts from BBC Radio Five and daily broadcasts of the BBC Nine O'Clock News at 21.00 GMT. In addition, the site contains Dispatches from correspondents around the world, information on numerous BBC radio and television programs (including a link to BBC World Service online), and Talking Point, an online forum for discussing selected news items. A Cantonese version of the site, requiring special software, is also available. [MD]
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JAMA Migraine Information Center
http://www.ama-assn.org/special/migraine/
This American Medical Association site, part of the Journal of the American Medical Association suite of information centers, strives to be a clearinghouse for migraine headache information. With a mixture of scholarly and general information, it is of use to the practitioner and patient alike. The Newsline section carries stories from Reuters Health Information Services, as well as information on relevant conferences and background briefings that explain in layman's terms such concepts as the cause of migraine head pain, genetic factors, and the role of seratonin. The Library contains articles of a more clinical nature. The Education and Support Center offers succinct patient material designed to help the unfortunate victims of these headaches understand their condition. The Treatment Center is a more clinical section that aids in the diagnosis and management of the condition. There is also a small annotated links section. [JS]
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AsiaBizTech
http://www.NikkeiBP.AsiaBizTech.com/
AsiaBizTech is a source for technology and business news from Japan and Asia developed by Nikkei Business Publications. It covers the latest news and research breakthroughs in the communications, electronics and computer industries in Japan and other Asian countries. An online directory for technology and business contacts throughout Asia in banking, communications, transport equipment and wholesale is available at the site. [THN]
[Note: Site title has changed since the original Scout Report review. Site formerly referred to in the Scout Report as "Japan BizTech."] [Back to Contents]

Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights 1860s-1960s--LOC
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/jrhtml/
When Edgar Renteria lined a soft single past Charles Nagy, between Tony Fernandez and Omar Vizquel, and in front of Marquis Grissom, to give the Florida Marlins their first World Series Championship recently, keen observers could easily see just how multi-national the National Pastime had become; these developments can be traced directly back to Jackie Robinson. The Library of Congress has introduced a new site to its growing American Memory collection, which contains, at its heart, an illustrated 100 year timeline: Baseball, the Color Line, and Jackie Robinson, 1860s-1960s. Accompanied by over 30 images from the Library's collection, the timeline narrative discusses the drawing of the color line, the Negro Leagues, the breaking of the color line, and Robinson himself, both as a player and as a civil rights activist. The highlight of the site at this time is a full text game program (each page is a separate image) from a Kansas City Monarchs vs. Indianapolis Clowns contest in 1954 (under the 1900-1930 section of the timeline). A selected bibliography is also provided and an archive of early baseball pictures (1860s to 1920s) is forthcoming. [JS]
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BabyCenter
http://www.babycenter.com/
BabyCenter, provided by BabyCenter, Inc., aims to be a clearinghouse of information for expectant or new parents. Users can consult the Baby Monitor (digests of late breaking news), an interactive baby namer, an Ask the Experts section, and several relevant calculators (including an immunization scheduler, a due date calculator, and a budgeting for baby estimator). The site also contains various short articles in six major areas including pregnancy, family life, and working parents. [JS]
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Internet Tutorials--University at Albany Libraries
http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/
Laura Cohen, a network librarian at the University at Albany, maintains this effective collection of beginners' tutorials for Internet users. Under the five major categories of Basic Internet, Research Guides, Search Engines, Netscape, and Software Training, there are a total of nineteen tutorials at present. They contain easily understandable advice on how to use and search the Internet. Some central elements include an excellent discussion of Boolean Searching (Venn diagrams included); a useful, concise discussion of evaluation of Internet information; and four informative tutorials on search engines and subject directories. [JS]
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Email Effects--An Email Add-on For Creating Text Based Drawings
http://www.sigsoftware.com/emaileffects/
This site caters to those in search of an easier way to create tables, flow charts, maps, chemical structure diagrams, and the like. Email Effects can also add fun pictures to the signatures at the bottom of email messages for Macintosh owners who use Qualcomm's Eudora or Claris Emailer. This $10 shareware offers an easy-to-use interface with a drawing-like toolbar to create or convert the items mentioned above into ASCII based text. To convert an item, just copy and paste it into the Email Effects window. The text can be saved and/or added to an email message with the click of a button. Email Effects is written by Gideon Greenspan and provided by Sig Software. The download comes with text clip art. [TB]
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Web Page Design for Designers
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/pixelp/wpdesign/
Less graphical entrance:
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/pixelp/wpdesign/wpdintro.shtml
Web Page Design for Designers is an excellent resource written and designed by Joe Gillespie and sponsored by Pixel Productions. It offers web site design information and advice to those who are already familiar with HTML. This site's main focus is on how to obtain an optimal design that is sensitive to both multiple platforms and screen sizes. Issues discussed include web page size, fonts, graphics and color palettes, and navigation. Users can download tools such as a web page ruler, color palettes, and more. Web Page Design for Designers also contains a well-rounded listing of other resources. [TB]
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Volume 1, Number 28: The Scout Report for November 4, 1994
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/archive/11-4-94.html
ARTSEDGE
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/
Medical Matrix
http://www.medmatrix.org/index.asp
AT&T Toll-Free Internet Directory
http://www.anywho.com/tf.html
The November 4, 1994 issue annotated what turned out to be three long-lived and very useful sites. ARTSEDGE, provided by the Kennedy Center was, and still is a great K-12 art meta-resource. In addition to an excellent set of links, it is highlighted by a curriculum studio that deals with curriculum frameworks and standards, lesson plans, and a showcase of curriculum projects that incorporate the arts. Medical Matrix, provided by the Healthtel Corp., now contains over 3,500 briefly annotated and ranked resources in seven major medical subject categories. It has recently added a meta-search page that allows users to search any of eleven external resources. AT&T's Toll Free Directory was and still is the best place to look up toll free numbers of businesses in hundreds of categories, which can be browsed in the category index. At present, it contains more than 150,000 businesses with toll free numbers. [JS]
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Copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-1997. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the Scout Report provided the copyright notice and this paragraph is preserved on all copies. The InterNIC provides information about the Internet to the US research and education community under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation: NCR-9218742. The Government has certain rights in this material.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the National Science Foundation, AT&T, or Network Solutions, Inc.

The Scout Report (ISSN 1092-3861) is published weekly by Internet Scout

Susan Calcari
Jack Solock
Jeannine Ramsey
Teri Boomsma
Michael de Nie
David Flaspohler
Aimee D. Glassel
Kathryn Harris
Matthew Livesey
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Thiam Hee Ng
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The Scout Report - November 7, 1997

The Scout Report

November 7, 1997

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