The Scout Report - July 16, 1999

Scout Report for Social Sciences and Business & Economics
Scout Report for Social Sciences
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/socsci/1999/ss-990629.html
Scout Report for Business & Economics
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/bus-econ/1999/be-990701.html
The twentieth issues of the second volumes of the Scout Reports for Social Sciences and Business & Economics are available. The In the News section of the Social Sciences Report annotates nine resources on Senate debate over "The Patients Bill of Rights." The Business & Economics Report's In the News section offers seven resources on Internet stock options as they affect high-tech companies and their employees. [MD]
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Human Development Report (HDR) 1999 -- UN [.pdf, 262p.]
http://www.undp.org/hdro/report.html
Released on Monday July 12, the tenth edition of the United Nation Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Report has garnered considerable attention from the international press all week. The report ranks 174 countries on quality of life indicators such as life expectancy, wealth, and literacy, ranking Canada at the top and Sierra Leone at the bottom. The report pays particular attention to the opportunities and dangers of globalization. Although living conditions in almost all countries have improved over the last ten years, according to the report, economic inequalities have reached "grotesque" proportions, "with the richest fifth of humanity enjoying more than 85% of total gross domestic product and the poorest fifth only 1%." Users can download the full text and statistical tables of the report by chapter at the UNDP site. Additional resources include an Online Newsroom, which contains a press kit, author information, early reviews, and a feature on the HDR team. [MD]
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_Comparative Connections_- East Asian Bilateral Relations E-Journal [.pdf]
http://www.csis.org/pacfor/ccejournal.html
Published by Pacific Forum CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) (discussed in the October 20, 1998 Scout Report for Social Sciences), this new free online quarterly journal examines twelve key bilateral relationships in East Asia, including those involving the US. Written by a collection of Asian foreign policy experts, the articles focus primarily on recent political and security developments, with some discussion of economic issues. In addition, each essay features a chronology of significant events occurring between the states under analysis during that quarter. A regional overview, which "places bilateral relationships in a broader context of regional relations," is also provided. Users can select from abstracts and read the articles online or download the entire issue in .pdf format. Past issues will be archived, and users may also sign up for email notification of new issues. [MD]
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Economic Reconstruction and Development in South East Europe
http://www.seerecon.org/
Rebuilding Kosovo -- World Bank [.pdf]
http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/kosovo/
This new site from the World Bank and European Commission addresses the difficult task of rebuilding Kosovo and the neighboring countries affected by the crisis. While technically under construction, the site offers a number of resources useful to researchers, policy makers, and the interested public. These include several main documents, key speeches and statements, press releases, and brief overviews (with links to related documents) of the war's impact, reconstruction program, donor programs, and regional initiatives (the last two sections are not yet completed). Additional features include a clickable map with individual country information and a link to a new World Bank site, Rebuilding Kosovo. The latter contains country briefs and regional information, data books, tables, and press releases and backgrounders. [MD]
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HCUPnet
http://www.ahcpr.gov/data/hcup/hcupnet.htm
HCUPnet is an online statistical tool created as a part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), an initiative of the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). HCUPnet allows users to generate customized statistical reports in order to identify, analyze, and track national data on "hospital utilization, access, charges, quality and outcomes." Data in the customized reports are derived from the latest Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Explicit instructions for using this interactive online tool are available at the site. [AO]
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Two From Canada
Supreme Court of Canada [.rtf, WordPerfect 6.1]
http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/
The Role of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada
http://www.pch.gc.ca/wn-qdn/arts/english.html
Although related perhaps only by geography, both of these sites hold useful information for researchers and users in Canada. The first, the official site of the Canadian Supreme Court, contains an overview of the court, research information, press releases, weekly bulletins, services and information for the media and parties and counsel, and most importantly, the full text of judgments dating back to 1989. Frequently updated, the judgments are available in French and English and in four different formats. The second site is a recently released report on the role of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada in the next century. The report addresses topics such as collections/ acquisitions, access, preservation, and organizational structure. Recommendations in eight categories are included. The report may be viewed by chapter in HTML format. Both of these sites are also available in French.
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A Hypermedia Glossary of Genetic Terms
http://www.weihenstephan.de/~schlind/genglos.html
Created and maintained by Dr. Birgid Schlindwein of the Weihenstephan Information and Documentation Centre (IDW), this thoroughly hyperlinked glossary offers brief definitions for (currently) over 580 genetic terms. Users may browse the glossary alphabetically or search by keyword. Entries include a basic definition for the selected term as well as a list of related terms with their definitions. Despite a somewhat clunky layout (all definitions are placed in yellow boxes and every entry page is preceded by a lengthy disclaimer), this site will find ready use in advanced secondary and university biology courses. [MD]
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Disability and the Workplace: An Internet Primer
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/reference/GUIDES/DW_Primer/default.html
Catherwood Library, located at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, offers an extensive guide to Internet Resources dealing with several levels of physical and mental disability and the workplace. Detailed annotations of indexed sites cover topics including the Americans With Disabilities Act, government sites, worker's compensation, and job hunting. The Getting Started section lists resources for those with disabilities. [EM]
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Food Cost Review, 1950-1997 -- ERS [.pdf, 50p.]
http://www.econ.ag.gov/epubs/pdf/aer780/
Provided by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS), this new report measures farm-to-retail price spread data to determine how much and why food prices rise. Although subtitled 1950-1997, the report actually focuses primarily on data for 1997. Contents of the report include an overview of the 1997 food prices, price spreads for selected foods, food industry costs and productivity, and food spending in relation to income. The report contains 25 pages of tables and a special article, "Historical Changes in CPI [Consumer Price Index]-Food Weights." Users can download the report by chapter or in its entirety in .pdf format. [MD]
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Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide -- NTIA [.pdf, 108 p.]
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/
Released July 8, 1999, this third report in the Falling Through the Net series is the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) most comprehensive study yet of the technology gap in America. While the study finds that, by the end of 1998, over 40 percent of American households owned computers and one-quarter of all households had Internet access, the gap between information "haves" and "haves nots" has actually increased since the last survey. For instance, "Black and Hispanic households are approximately one-third as likely to have home Internet access as households of Asian/ Pacific Islander descent, and roughly two-fifths as likely as White households." The digital divide between those at the highest and lowest education and income levels has also increased. Users may read the full text of the report in HTML or .pdf format at the site, which also offers the previous two reports in the series. [MD]
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Mapping the National Parks -- LOC
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/nphtml/nphome.html
The 1562 Map of America by Diego Gutierrez
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gutierrz.html
Discovery and Exploration Maps Collection
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/dsxphome.html
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gnrlort.html
General Map Collections
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gnrlhome.html
These recent releases from the Library of Congress (LOC) American Memory Project (last reviewed in the April 30, 1999 Scout Report) highlight some of the gems from the Library's Geography and Map Division. The first offering consists of about 200 maps, dating from the seventeenth century to the present day, of the areas that eventually became four of America's finest National Parks: Acadia, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, and Yellowstone. Users may search the maps by keyword or browse by geographic location (via a clickable map or an alphabetical index), subject, creator, or title. Once a map is selected, five zoom levels are available to view details. Special presentations on the history of mapmaking for each of the four parks are also provided. The other two new LOC features are additions to existing collections. The first of these, the 1562 Map of America by Diego Gutierrez, has been placed on the Discovery and Exploration Maps Collection page. Truly one of the LOC's greatest treasures, this handsomely engraved 1562 map of the Americas comes complete with images of sea monsters, exotic wildlife, and an erupting volcano. A very nice essay by a senior LOC Bibliographer on the map and its origins is also provided. The final new resource is Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theater of the World), published in 1570 and "considered the first true atlas in the modern sense." Located in the special atlases presentation section on the General Map Collections page, the online Terrarum consists of 181 image pages. Users can view the atlas page-by-page or choose to view the maps only. A brief essay is also included. [MD]
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Adler Planetarium
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/
In January, the Adler Planetarium, a venerable Chicago Institution, debuted its new 60,000-square-foot Sky Pavilion, including the StarRider Theater. In conjunction, the Adler presents its Website, primarily an online guide to the museum that can be used to plan a visit, get the schedule for StarRider shows, and find out what's on display. Portions of the 1930s building will be under construction until October, so some users may opt to enjoy the Website rather than going to the Planetarium. Online features include the collections, descriptions with some images of the museum's holdings of rare books, works on paper, and scientific instruments, as well as past exhibitions. Select the our collection section and click on Awestruck, a 1997 show of astronomical art, to see 22 celestial charts, broadsides, and portraits of astronomers. The astronomy online section features a sky watchers' guide for backyard astronomers, weather watch for weather conditions on other planets, and a celestial weight calculator that will compute your weight on other planets and stars. There is also a searchable database of links to other astronomical sites. [DS]
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Savage Seas -- PBS [Realplayer, Quicktime, Flash]
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageseas/
This companion site to the new PBS series offers a collection of informative pieces and activities centered around the world's oceans. The site is divided into four principal sections, each of which features an article, brief sidebars, video clips, and in some cases, animations. The first, The Captain's Bridge, explores shipwrecks, stormy seas, and ocean rescues. The second, The Crow's Nest, dives into the power of waves. The Deep Sea section takes users to the nether regions of the ocean, while The Weather Factory touches on cyclones, ice and icebergs, and El Nino. Additional features at the site include Ask the Expert, Facts from the Sea, an annotated collection of related sites, and information about the series. [MD]
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The Bookhive
http://www.plcmc.lib.nc.us/bookhive/
Recently placed online by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), this "reader's club for kids" contains approximately 100 suggestions for summer reading at a variety of reading levels. Users may browse the collection by category (over 20) or use a multiple-option search engine. Each category can be further sorted by reading level. Reviews include number of pages, reading level, a one-paragraph review, and in some instances, notes for parents. [MD]
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Stories of the Dreaming [RealPlayer]
http://www.dreamtime.net.au/dreaming/index.htm
A collaborative effort between Australia's Cultural Network and the Australian Museum, this site showcases some fine examples of Indigenous Australian stories. Collected from all over Australia, the stories (currently 20) are offered in text, audio, and video formats, with brief introductions and a glossary of indigenous words. Short descriptions of the role of storytelling, custodianship, "Dreaming," and secret/ sacred stories are also provided. Users should note that RealPlayer G2 is required to view the video presentations, and that, at time of review, video playback quality was rather poor. The text and audio formats, however, were quite acceptable, making this site worthwhile for anyone interested in Indigenous Australian culture or storytelling in general. [MD]
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Henry's Gallery
http://www.henrysgallery.com/
This site showcases the work of Henry Diltz, the official photographer of the Woodstock and Monterey Pop Festivals and over 100 album covers. Although the site is designed as a commercial enterprise (many of the photos can be ordered at the site), users are free to browse this collection of over 100 photos, some with brief notes, of many of the leading Rock and Roll musicians of the 1960s and 70s. Some of the photos were taken during posed sessions or album cover shoots, but many are candids to be found nowhere else. Highlights include shots of Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, and Eric Clapton in Mama Cass's backyard; Jerry Garcia jamming at Crosby's house; and the Who at the Monterey Pop Festival with a hapless engineer trying to save his microphones from Pete Townshend's flailing guitar. Additional resources include a brief special feature on Henry's recollections of Woodstock (with photos). [MD]
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Searchpower.com
http://www.searchpower.com/
Billing itself "the world's largest search engine directory," this metasite provides links to over 1,700 different specialized search engines. The indexed search engines are organized in over 60 categories, and individual engine entries indicate date added and number of hits from the Searchpower site. Some also include brief annotations. While a few notable specialized search engines are not listed, the site does seem to be updated on an almost-daily basis. A What's New listing and internal keyword search engine round out Searchpower's services. [MD]
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Web Developer's Virtual Library
http://www.stars.com/
The Web Developer's Virtual Library (WDVL) is one of the largest, oldest, and most useful Web developer's resources in existence. While most virtual libraries provide only indexes of external information, the WDVL offers original articles and tutorials on various current Web development technologies and problems. The site is nicely organized, making it easy to quickly drill down to an interesting article, and one can lose track of time reading the informative articles and following pointers to useful Websites. An effective search engine also helps users to find information within the site. The WDVL's weekly email newsletter contains information about the latest articles, tutorials, and developer trends. All in all, the WDVL is an excellent resource for Web development and should be a bookmark on any developer's list. [CL]
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Title IX and Women's Sports
Gender Equity in Sports
http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/ge/
Gender-Equity Data -- Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/free/equity/equitysearch.htm
Title IX: 25 Years of Progress -- USDE
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/TitleIX/index.html
Women's Sports Foundation
http://www.lifetimetv.com/WoSport/
Just Sports for Women
http://www.justwomen.com/
CNN/SI -- Women's Sports
http://www.cnnsi.com/womens/
Last Sunday's Women's World Cup Final between China and the US and the unprecedented excitement surrounding it have been portrayed by many as a turning point in women's sports. While the performance of the US team may not have been as critical to the future possibility of a US professional women's soccer league as some claim, their win is certainly a major success story for Title IX. Passed in 1972, Title IX states that, "no person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid." While Title IX's application to athletics has gathered the most attention, it has also contributed to major increases in women's enrollment in undergraduate and graduate schools. The key element in regard to athletics is financial proportionality; school athletic aid must now be substantially proportionate to the ratio of male and female athletes. Disparities still remain, of course, especially in salaries for coaches of men's and women's sports, but the number of women participating in and the budgets for women's teams are significantly higher now than before Title IX and, by most accounts, will continue to grow. While almost all of the players on the US team have completed their undergraduate education, several will be returning to campuses this fall for graduate school or, in an example of Title IX turning full circle, as assistant coaches.

Users interested in this subject will want to begin with the University of Iowa's Gender Equity in Sports site, which offers a very helpful overview of Title IX, a history, Title IX resources, statistics and documents, and information on recent Title IX-related complaints and lawsuits. The Chronicle of Higher Education's Gender-Equity Data site features a searchable database which shows institutional rankings for percentage of athletes, scholarship dollars, recruiting budgets, coaches' salaries, and total program budgets. Published in June 1997, the US Department of Education's (USDE) report on Title IX provides a nice overview of the ruling and its effect on educational opportunity over the past 25 years. Hosted by Lifetime.com, the Women's Sports Foundation offers a nice collection of women's sports resources, many of which are to be found in the Topics and Issues section. Just Sports for Women, a relatively new site, features breaking news, features, and several discussion boards on a variety of women's sports. Finally, the CNN/SI Women's Sports site contains a well balanced selection of feature stories on recent developments in various women's sports. Additional information on women and athletics can be found in Signpost, the Scout Report's database. These include Go, girl!, ESPN.com, and for a British perspective, sosol: sociology of sport online. [MD]
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