The Scout Report

February 13, 1998

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.

An Acrobat .pdf version of this report is available for printing and distributing locally. For information on Adobe Acrobat Reader, visit the Adobe site.

Where Are They Now

Scout Reports for Social Sciences and Business & Economics, December 1997-January 1998 Scout Report Bimonthly Compilation
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/
Scout Report Bimonthly Compilation--December 1997-January 1998
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/bimonth/
The tenth issues of the Scout Reports for Social Sciences and Business & Economics, each of which annotate over twenty new and newly-discovered Internet resources, are available. The In the News section of the Social Science Report annotates nine resources related to the new Bloody Sunday Inquiry. The Business & Economics Report's In the News section annotates six resources related to the 1998 US budget surplus. The Scout Report Bimonthly Compilation for December 1997-January 1998 is also available. Individual compilations, arranged by subject, have been split into separate files for ease of use. Each complete compilation is also available. [JS]
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The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Literature and Artwork on Prayer, Ritual, and Meditation from the Religious Traditions of Tibet, India and Nepal--UVA Library [Javascript]
http://www.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/dead/
The Special Collections Department of the University of Virginia Library has recently launched this site, a companion to an exhibit running from November 7, 1997 to March 4, 1998. The UVA Library holds one of the world's largest collections of Tibetan literature; this site is designed to "demystify the sacred Tibetan texts on death and dying and to create an opportunity to share the wisdom of these ancient beliefs and practices." The text and artwork sections highlight the site; they contain six and three subsections respectively. Under texts there are explanations, and page samples of Sutras, Tantras, The Art of Dying, and Transitions to the Other World, among others. The still-developing artworks section contains explanations and/or examples of selected scroll paintings, statuary, and ceremonial art. The only drawback to this fascinating site is the confusing Javascript navigation interface, which requires users to click on the "Choose a Page" button and make a selection, even if there is only one selection. [JS]
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Two US Census Bureau Population Updates
National Population Estimates--1990-97
http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/uspop.html
Hispanic Population of the United States--Updates [.pdf]
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hispanic.html
The US Census Bureau has recently updated these two sites. National Population estimates have been updated through 1997 for age group, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Updated estimates for detailed population variables are also available. Data series can be monthly, quarterly, or annual. The Bureau also provides a US Hispanic population page that has recently updated relevant tables from the Current Population Surveys for 1995 and 1996. Tables on several variables, including ethnic origin, educational attainment, and origin by place of birth are available. Other relevant estimates and projections, statistical briefs, and information on the upcoming Census 2000 may also be obtained. Some of these documents are available in Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] format only. [JS]
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Black History Month--Gale Research [frames]
http://www.gale.com/library/resrcs/blkhstry/
Gale Research, publisher of many library reference resources, provides this site in celebration of Black History Month, as well as to increase awareness of the 22 related reference resources it supplies. The focal point of the site is the biography section, featuring thumbnail sketches of 60 prominent African-American men and women derived from the African American Almanac. A briefly annotated timeline highlights relevant events from 1619 to the present. Another section features content summaries of 35 works taken from The Schomburg Center Guide to Black Literature. Daily quizzes and selected educational activities from the Black History Month Resource Book round out the site. [JS]
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The State of the Nation's Cities: A Comprehensive Database on American Cities and Suburbs--Rutgers CUPR
http://www.policy.rutgers.edu/cupr/sonc.htm
Rutgers University's Center for Urban Policy Research, as part of a contractual agreement with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has recently released Version 2.2a of this well-known database, which provides information on over 3,000 variables, gathered from many sources, for 77 American cities and suburbs from Birmingham, Alabama to Cheyenne, Wyoming (city coverage can be quickly obtained from the INT_22a.txt file). Variables concern "employment and economic development, demographic measures, housing and land use, income and poverty, fiscal conditions, and a host of other health, social, and environmental indicators." The data is available in a variety of formats; a multi-faceted snapshot database, rather than a detailed time series one, describes this resource. [JS]
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Cyanosite: A Webserver for Cyanobacterial Research
http://www-cyanosite.bio.purdue.edu/
Provided by Mark A. Schneegurt, Environmental and Industrial Microbiology Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame, this site features research on blue-green algae. Central to the site is CyBib, a downloadable research bibliography that has recently been updated to Version 3.0. It contains a formatted bibliographic database of over 5,300 references in the recent scientific literature on the subject. The bibliography is available in three formats, including text only. In addition, the site contains an image gallery, taxonomic information, links to relevant genome databases, and a link to the semi-annual CyanoNews newsletter. Book and conference announcements are also available. [JS]
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UMBC AgentWeb
http://www.cs.umbc.edu/agents/
This site, sponsored and maintained by the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Laboratory for Advanced Information Technology (LAIT), focuses on intelligent agents, known alternatively as software agents, knowbots, infobots or intentional agents. The site is divided into several parts, some of which are annotated and some of which contain only links to resources. Annotated resources include a bibliography titled Introduction to Agents (under Introductory Material), a list of research projects involving agent technology, and abstracts of and links to articles on a variety of topics such as Agents and Security and Agents in Manufacturing. [MR]
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MLA Style--Citing Sources from the World Wide Web
http://www.mla.org/style/sources.htm
The Modern Language Association style handbook and manual are two of the most prominent sources for guidelines on academic writing. The MLA has recently posted a site which contains the only MLA-authorized guidelines for citing Internet resources. The guidelines include fourteen items to consider in a citation and several examples. Instructors will find this site very useful in guiding students using Internet resources in their research papers. [MD]
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Internet Projects for Algebra [Java, Javascript, Word]
http://www.bremenbraves.com/lessonpl/project2.html
The crown jewel of this site, provided by Tim O'Brien, Mathematics teacher at Bremen High School in Midlothian, Illinois, is Graphing Linear Equations, a complete three week unit covering the topic. The twelve lesson unit opens in a separate browser window. Lessons covered include ordered pairs, graphing equations, horizontal and vertical lines, slopes, equations of lines, scatter plots, and solving systems, among others. Understandable explanations and Java applets powerfully demonstrate concepts. The site also includes two quizzes, two unit tests, a glossary, crossword and word search puzzles, an online calculator, and "graph-it." The remainder of the larger site contains easily adaptable lesson plans that demonstrate the concepts of rational numbers, scientific notation, scatter plots, and basic statistics. Microsoft Word answer sheets are conveniently provided. [JS]
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1998 Economic Report of the President [.pdf, 408p., .wk4]
http://w3.access.gpo.gov/eop/
Archive of Older ERPs
gopher://gopher.umsl.edu:70/11/library/govdocs/erps/
Gopher to: gopher.umsl.edu
Select: The Library/Government Information/Economic Reports of the President
The US Government Printing Office has again made available the electronic version of the Economic Report of the President immediately after it was transmitted to the Congress. The report shows that the economy grew by 3.9 percent in 1997 with an inflation rate of only 1.7 percent. The unemployment rate of 4.9 percent in 1997 was the lowest in 24 years. The 112 statistical tables in the Economic Report of the President can be found in pages 274 to 408 of the report or separately as Lotus spreadsheet files. The site also contains full text of ERPs back to 1995, and spreadsheet tables back to 1997. Earlier ERPs (1992-1994) are still available at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Thomas Jefferson Library gopher server. [THN]
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Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997--USDOS
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/
The US State Department has released the 1997 version of country human rights practices reports for 194 countries around the world. The reports are issued to meet a statutory requirement of the Department, and cover countries that receive US foreign aid, as well as many countries that do not. The reports are produced by US embassies around the world, in collaboration with various State Department offices; they inform policy making and diplomatic decisions, among other activities. This major annual series of documents is watched closely by journalists, diplomats, and policy makers. Note that the gopher site contains an archive of reports back to 1993, and the FTP site an archive back to 1996 at this time. [JS]
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The Two Nations of Black America--PBS [RealPlayer]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/race/
This companion site to a recent Frontline examines the growing class gap within the African-American community. The site features a powerful essay by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the correspondent and writer for Frontline's report, RealPlayer audio and text from the Du Bois Institute's 1997 forum, economic and social statistics, and interviews with prominent African-American activists and scholars, including Eldridge Cleaver, Angela Davis, Cornel West, and Jesse Jackson. Additional resources include a summary of the debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, a movie of the Howard University 1968 Takeover, a discussion forum, and a collection of readings and links. A complete transcript of the show is forthcoming. [MD]
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From Frying Pan to Flying V: The Rise of the Electric Guitar--SI NMAH [.wav, .aiff]
http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/nmah/lemel/guitars/
The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History provides this new site, which celebrates the evolution of the electric guitar. Although new, the site is based on an exhibit at the NMAH that took place in 1996 and 1997. It contains sections on the invention process, the commercial success of the instrument, and the development of its design. The centerpiece of the site, however, is the annotated gallery of 40 guitars ranging from acoustic to electric to "innovative design." A section explaining how guitars work (with selected sound clips) completes the site. [JS]
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Oscar.com [frames]
http://www.oscar.com/
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
http://www.oscars.org/
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (discussed in the February 16, 1996 Scout Report) recently released its list of nominees for the 70th annual Academy Awards ceremony, to be held March 23, 1998. In conjunction with these announcements the Academy, in tandem with the ABC television network, has launched a site devoted to the awards. In addition to listing the nominees in every category, the site is highlighted by a searchable database of past winners and nominees in 34 categories (click on "Search the Database" under "Awards History" for full search capability), a timeline of award highlights, a best pictures poster gallery, a list of all eligible films, the latest news about the awards, and a developing interactive games and trivia section. [JS]
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Preview Travel Destination Guides [frames]
http://destinations.previewtravel.com/
At the heart of this site, provided by Preview Travel, are the destination guides to 87 cities around the world, with content provided by travel publisher Fodor's. Interested users can find information on cities from Acapulco to Zurich. While information provided is by no means exhaustive, each guide contains sections on attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and getting around, among others. Visitors can opt to build an interactive, personalized mini-guide to the city of their choice. Each destination contains a small photo gallery. [JS]
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EON Magazine [frames, VivoActive Player]
http://www.eonmagazine.com/
EON is a new electronic magazine provided by Centropolis Interactive and edited by Mark Altman. It concentrates on science fiction film, TV, and print media. The first issue features an interview with Titanic director James Cameron, along with articles on Barry Levinson's Sphere,Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the new TV series Prey, and Marc Andreyko's comic book, The Lost. Also included are movie reviews and commentaries. Selected articles of this decidedly irreverent browser-intensive publication are accompanied by VivoActive streaming video clips. [JS]
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The Memory Management Reference
http://www.harlequin.com/products/st/mm/
The Memory Management Reference, a publication of the Harlequin Group, is a useful compilation of memory management resources. The site offers a range of information including a handy, hyperlinked dictionary of terms, an introduction to memory management, a detailed bibliography which includes abstracts, FAQs, links to other resources, and more. It is both a good reference point for current garbage collection research, as well as a nice introduction to the subject for the novice. [CL]
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devSearch [frames]
http://www.devsearch.com/
Project Cool provides this meta-search engine that allows simultaneous searching of up to 23 web development-related sites. Customized searches in a limited number of sites are available from the following home page linked sections: HTML+, design, scripting, and zines. The megaSearch section can be used to search any or all sites covered. The search interface supports only multiple phrase searching; the providers of the site advise users to be discriminating in the sites they pick to search. Each search site is briefly described. [JS]
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ImageVice--Compresses Web Graphic File Size
http://www.boxtopsoft.com/
ImageVice is new proprietary color reduction technology that tackles the problem of bulky web graphics. Available for Macintosh and Windows 95/NT, it is provided by BoxTop Software, Inc. as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop 3.0 or greater. With ImageVice, file size can be lowered by up to seventy percent for GIF, PICT, BMP, and PNG files without sacrificing quality. A fully functional demo of ImageVice 1.1, a commercial product, is available at the BoxTop site. The download also includes quick start instructions. [TB]
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No Scout Reports were published February 10th or 17th, 1995. This feature will resume with the February 27, 1998 issue. [JS]
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Copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-1998. 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
Christopher Lukas
Thiam Hee Ng
Mike Roszkowski
Amy Tracy Wells
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The Scout Report - February 13, 1998

The Scout Report

February 13, 1998

New From Internet Scout

Research and Education

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Where Are They Now

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