Scout Report for Social Sciences and Business & Economics
Scout Report for Social Sciences
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/socsci/2000/ss-000307.html
Scout Report for Business & Economics
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/bus-econ/2000/be-000309.html
The twelfth issues of the third volumes of the Scout Reports for Social Sciences and Business & Economics are available. The In the News section of the Social Sciences Report annotates eight resources on relief efforts in the wake of the flooding in Mozambique. The Business & Economics Report's In the News section offers seven resources on the recent tumble taken by the Dow Jones industrials average. [MD]
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HighWire Press Announces Free Access to over 130,000 Articles
Free Online Full-text Articles
http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/freeart.dtl
Press Release
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/pr/00/000301highwire.html
HighWire Press
http://highwire.stanford.edu/
In yet another major step forward in the provision of free scholarship online, Stanford University's HighWire Press (last reviewed in the February 16, 2000 Scout Report) has announced that publishers of the science, technology, and medicine journals it hosts now provide free online access to the full text of more than 137,000 articles. This makes HighWire "the second-largest free full-text science archive in the world - and the largest in the life sciences - with three entirely free journals, 51 journals offering free back issues and 32 offering free trial access." Please note that the availability of back issues and length of the free trial period vary widely by journal. Users can consult the site for a list of participating journals, the back issues they offer, and the ending date of the free trial period. Click on the journal's name to access the articles. As an additional service to users who subscribe (as individuals or through their institution), some journals offer "toll-free linking" of articles, which allows users to access the full text of related articles from other journals whether or not they subscribe to those journals. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture [QuickTime, RealPlayer]
http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/
This site from the Institute for Advanced Technologies in the Humanities at the University of Virginia contains a plethora of materials concerning Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and the nation's response to it. The site features a complete electronic edition of the first published version of the novel along with the various prefaces Stowe wrote for different editions as well as audio versions of most of the Christian hymns presented in the text. Users can also examine and compare different published editions of the text using 3-D applications as well as view selected manuscript pages and sheets from the novel's original newspaper serialization side-by-side. The site's unique value, though, lies in the documents it presents that elucidate the novel's historical and cultural context. Included here are anti-slavery and Christian abolitionist texts, materials on Sentimental Culture in the nineteenth century, newspaper reviews of the text, articles and notices, and both African-American and Pro-Slavery responses to it. The subsequent media history of the novel's adaptations in songs, children's books, plays, and films is also represented here. As if that isn't enough, the site offers "an interactive timeline, virtual exhibits to accompany the primary material, and lesson plans for teachers and student projects." The entire site -- including the individual text of Uncle Tom's Cabin -- can be easily searched or browsed. [DC]
[Back to Contents]New Proposal for National Organic Standards -- USDA [.pdf, 507p.]
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/
On March 7, US Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced a new proposal for uniform and consistent national standards for organic food. This proposal would establish a clear national organic standard that reflects concerns expressed in the more than 250,000 comments received after the initial organic proposal made in December 1997. Briefly, the new standards would ban the use of genetic engineering, sewage sludge, and irradiation in food marked organic, and set minimum content levels for products labeled as organic. Users can read the full text of the proposal by chapter or in its entirety and view a host of related items at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) Website. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Marxists Internet Archive
http://www.marxists.org/
Touted as the "most complete database of Marxism hitherto made," The Marxists Internet Archive is an extensive collection of Marxist material, compiled and distributed completely by volunteers. The materials are organized into focused collections which are found in the site's four main sections: Writers Archive, Non-English Archive, History Archive, and Reference Archive, an ever-expanding collection of secondary material. The most developed compilation is the Writers' Archive, which contains large collections of writing and information about Marxists including Trotski, Lenin, Draper, DeLeon, and of course, Marx, as well as smaller collections on Cannon, Guevara, and Morris, among others. This site is an invaluable resource for both novices and experts interested in Marxism. [EM]
[Back to Contents]LLSDC Legislative Source Book [.pdf]
http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/
The Law Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C. recently announced that they have placed online a series of unique informational documents and links of interest to law librarians and government researchers. Compiled by LLSDC's Legislative Research Special Interest Section, much of the material was previously available in print, but is gathered together online for the first time. Titles include Establishing Persistent Links to Thomas and GPO Access Documents, GPO Congressional Publication Releases (weekly listings), Internet and Online Sources of Legislative and Regulatory Information, Quick Links to House and Senate Committee Documents and Hearings, and the Union List of Legislative Documents, 1994, 3rd. edition. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Jordan Report 2000: Accelerated Development of Vaccines [.pdf, 173p.]
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/jordan/
On March 2, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released its latest report on the state of vaccine research and development. This edition of the Jordan Report "highlights the triumphs of vaccinology during the 20th century and the ways in which new technologies promise better vaccines against both old and new disease-causing organisms." Prepared by 24 scientists from NIAID with contributions from outside researchers, the 173-page report offers a comprehensive overview of vaccine development against nearly 60 diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Users can read the full text of the report (in .pdf format), the press release, and a White House statement on a new vaccine initiative. The site also offers links to a number of related NIAID publications, fact sheets, and sites. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Center Research Site [.pdf]
http://research.cse.ucla.edu/
This site provides links to reports and publications from the twelve National Research and Development Centers of the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement. The twelve Centers are located at various universities across the US, and each focuses on a different aspect of the field of education, including early childhood development and learning, cultural and linguistic diversity, second language learning, post-secondary improvement, adult learning, and education policy. Some of the individual reports are available in HTML format, but most are provided solely as .pdf files. Because the sites represented are located at twelve different institutions, some inconsistencies exist with regard to page layout and the organization of the information presented. This is a minor concern, however, considering the overall breadth and scope of this resource. [SW]
[Back to Contents]The Student Guide 2000-01 [.pdf, 32p.]
http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide/2000-1/index.html
The US Department of Education has placed online the 2000-2001 edition of its comprehensive Student Guide for Financial Aid. The three major aid programs of the Department, Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans, account for a full 70 percent of all student financial aid disbursed in the US. Available in both HTML and .pdf formats, this guide is a useful resource for information about these programs and how to apply for them. Users can also browse for a select topic using a pull-down menu in the top right-hand side of the page. A short list of important phone numbers and Websites is provided. [MD]
[Back to Contents]H-Catholic
http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~catholic/
Launched on March 2, this new moderated H-Net discussion group is dedicated to the discussion and study of the history and culture of Catholicism. It is intended for scholars and students "whose primary academic foci are the history and/or cultures of the Catholic church and communities defined by a Catholic religious identity." As with other H-Net groups, H-Catholic is intended as an international and interdisciplinary forum for scholarly discussion. Users will find discussion logs and subscription information at the site. [MD]
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Diary of Adolf Eichmann (in German) -- Nizkor Project [.zip, .rtf, MS Word]
http://www.nizkor.org/ftp.cgi/t/people/e/eichmann.adolf/memoire
Adolf Eichmann
http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/people/e/eichmann-adolf/
David Irving
http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/people/i/irving-david/ "
The Holocaust on Trial" -- Atlantic Monthly
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/02/002guttenplan.htm
Released last week by the Israeli State Archives, the memoirs of Adolf Eichmann offer a chilling, though self-serving, account of the workings of the Nazi's "Final Solution." Although most scholars dismiss the diary as an attempt by Eichmann to defend or exonerate himself while on trial for his central role in the Holocaust, the manuscript was still sealed in the Israeli archives for 39 years. It was made public at the request of Deborah Lipstadt, a professor at Emory University, who, along with her publisher, Penguin Books, is being sued for libel by David Irving, a British historian whom Lipstadt characterized as a "dangerous spokesman" for Holocaust denial. Under Britain's libel laws, the burden of proof is on the defendant, which means that Lipstadt must discredit Irving's position by demonstrating that he has willfully ignored or distorted the facts. Due to the complicated nature of the trial, it has been heard without a jury, and closing arguments are scheduled for March 13. The Nizkor Project, one of the largest online repositories of primary documents related to the Holocaust, is dedicated to combatting Holocaust denial and has made available the full text of the diary, False Gods, (in German only) in .txt, .rtf, and MS Word formats. Users can also learn more about Eichmann and David Irving at Nizkor's special sections on each. The latter includes numerous related documents and links to press updates from the libel trial. Finally, users are strongly encouraged to read D.D. Guttenplan's outstanding article on the trial, which appeared in the February 2000 issue of Atlantic Monthly. The full text is available online in four parts. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999 [Excel]
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/99hrp_index.html
The US State Department released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices to the US Congress on February 25. Composed from evidence and data gathered by embassy staff, government officials, military sources, human-rights monitors, journalists, and others, the reports are designed to serve as a tool for shaping policy, conducting diplomacy, and determining international resource allocations. Reports are offered for nearly every country, grouped by region. Each report contains a brief overview of the country's political and economic systems and a detailed review of its record on respecting "internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Appendixes include a list of International Human Rights Conventions, the 54th UNHRC (UN Commission on Human Rights) Voting Record, and the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
[MD]
[Back to Contents]Board of Inquiry into the Rampart Area Corruption Incident -- LAPD [.pdf, 362p.]
http://www.lapdonline.org/pdf_files/pc/boi_pub.pdf
Executive Summary [.pdf, 27p.]
http://www.lapdonline.org/pdf_files/pc/exec_summary.pdf
On March 1, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) commanders released the full text and executive summary of an internal, four-month Board of Inquiry investigation. The investigation centered on a host of alleged corrupt and criminal activities by the Rampart Area neighborhood's anti-gang unit. Among its findings were lax departmental supervision, tight-knit and almost gang-like behavior among the unit's members, and the improper assignment of new recruits to risky and sensitive positions, such as the anti-gang unit at Rampart. The report suggests 108 changes in department policies and procedures. Despite resistance from the LAPD, the city's civilian Police Commission announced on Tuesday that it would launch its own review of the force's disciplinary system and its ethics and culture. Users can read the full text of the report and executive summary in .pdf format at the LAPD's Website. [MD]
[Back to Contents]"Reforming the European Commission" [.pdf, MS Word, .zip]
http://europa.eu.int/comm/reform/index_en.htm
On March 1, the European Commission, the executive body that initiates and implements EU legislation, adopted a White Paper that sets out a specific Action Plan for reform and modernization of the Commission. These reforms were drawn up in the wake of scandal and the resignation en masse of the Commission one year ago. The Action Plan includes a timetable specifying target dates for each of the changes, which should be completed by the second half of 2002. At the site, users can read the full text of the White Paper in .pdf format, related press releases and speeches, and brief summaries of the proposed changes in five key areas: Ethics, Human Resources, Financial Management, Priorities and Resources, and A Culture based on service. The site will soon be available in eleven languages. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology
http://www.harcourt.com/dictionary/
Academic Press along with Harcourt Inc. has made available the Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology. The site is designed as a free scientific resource for educators, librarians, students, business professionals, scientists, and researchers. Users can perform a keyword search or browse scientific topics such as Engineering Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine, Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Social Sciences. From these broad topics, users can select from over 130 specific fields, bringing up lists of terms for that specialization. Entries include a short description of terms, and some illustrations and .wav recordings of pronunciation. [JEB]
[Back to Contents]Women's History Month -- The History Channel
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/womenhist/
In honor of Women's History Month, the History Channel offers this concise but interesting site, featuring brief biographies of 31 notable women, one each day. In addition to the essays, which trace each woman's early life and accomplishments, a suggested reading list is provided in many cases. While any such list is arbitrary, interested but busy users will enjoy these quick daily doses of women's history. Those who don't want to wait can also view the entire collection of profiles at once. In addition, the site contains a feature on Women's Suffrage, a list of related programming on the History Channel, and a link to the Biography.com search engine. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Buildings, Bridges, and Tunnels [Flash, IPIX]
http://www.discovery.com/stories/technology/buildings/buildings.html
This recently completed feature from Discovery Online explores three different types of 20th-century engineering marvels: skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels. The first section includes an interactive skyscraper timeline; some facts about the world's tallest buildings, Malaysia's Petronas Towers; a look into the future of tall buildings; and a link to Discovery's earthquake simulator, which allows users to try to build an earthquake-proof skyscraper. The second section offers a detailed look at Japan's Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest and tallest; tours and photos of some of the grandest bridges (IPIX plug-in required); and an article on bridges of the future. The last section of the site focuses on tunnels with a look at Japan's Seikan Tunnel, the largest in the world; a discussion of some future tunnel technologies; a photo gallery of some of the world's subways; and an online quiz. Accessible without being simplistic, this site is a nice diversion for engineering-minded users of all ages. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Real Beer Page
http://www.realbeer.com/
This amazing site, coming in at over 75,000 pages, is the ultimate online resource for beer lovers and homebrewers. Among its many offerings are breaking beer news, spotlight features, an events calendar, a searchable brewery and pub with over 3,500 entries, a searchable library with original publications and a host of links to related online offerings (a trial search for "porter" returned 1,100 hits!), a BREWMall with retail items, and a collection of classified beer and brewing links. Other features include contests, games, and polls. Whatever their depth of interest or knowledge, Beer enthusiasts of all stripes will quickly lose themselves in this site. [MD]
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BookMarksPlus
http://www.bookmarksplus.com/
Yet another in a fairly recent wave of free online bookmark managers, BookMarksPlus offers complete portability, allowing registered users to access their bookmarks from anywhere in the world. Unlike some of its peers, BookMarksPlus permits users to create and store an unlimited number of folders and bookmarks. Another value-added service is an optional weekly status check which informs readers if any of their links have died. Users can also choose to make some or all of their bookmarks publicly accessible, creating an open directory of sorts. Bookmarks are added by manually typing them in, setting up a single click option in the user's personal toolbar, or importing the existing bookmarks from their Netscape or Internet Explorer browsers. While moving and arranging bookmarks within the folders is a bit cumbersome with BookMarksPlus compared to browsers, this is still a very useful free service for users who travel or switch machines often. Users should also note that, while optional, the site does ask for personal interest information which it uses to display targeted advertisements. [MD]
[Back to Contents]ActivePerl - Perl for Microsoft Windows
http://www.activestate.com/ActivePerl/
Perl, the Practical Extraction and Reporting Language, has long been a critical tool for building dynamic Websites and automating various Internet-related tasks. Unfortunately its use has largely been limited to those working on Unix-based systems (where Perl originated) or serious hackers willing to go through the contortions necessary to run Unix-based software under MS Windows. With the release of ActivePerl, this is no longer true. ActivePerl is a free version of Perl created to install and run easily under Microsoft Windows 95, 98, and NT, and interface well with most Windows NT Web servers. ActivePerl can be used to write CGI scripts for interactive Websites or system administration scripts that automate routine tasks. The Perl language is particularly well suited for scripts that analyze server or system logs and generate email or HTML reports to present the information in human-readable form. Many add-on Perl modules are available at the CPAN archive for interfacing with a very wide variety of software packages, languages, and protocols, including DCOM, XML, X11, TCL/Tk, and SQL, and performing a wide array of common software tasks. ActiveState also maintains an archive of Perl modules packaged specifically for use with ActivePerl. [EA]
[Back to Contents]Abyan Super Gateway
http://www.abyan.com
At first glance, this site appears to be simply a large metasite, with links to horizontal and vertical portals, search engines, news and email groups, news sources, and online communities, among other resources. However, using the site's "Active WebCell" technology, users can relatively quickly and easily create personalized portals by combining or copying existing page components or adding their own content. They can then keep these portals private, or share them with a select group or the entire Abyan community. Public beta versions of Abyan in Japanese and Chinese are promised in the coming weeks. [MD]
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AMD and Intel Reach Gigahertz Mark
"Everybody's Going Gigahertz" -- PC Magazine
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/trends/0,7607,2457906,00.html
Intel, AMD tied in race for fastest chip -- CNET
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-201-1566651-0.html?tag=st.ne.1006.thed.1006-201-1566651
"With 2 Chips, the Gigahertz Decade Begins" -- New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/03/circuits/articles/09pete.html
"Faster Computers" -- All Things Considered [RealPlayer]
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20000309.atc.10.ram
How Microprocessors Work [Shockwave]
http://www.intel.com/education/mpuworks/
AMD Hot News
http://www.amd.com/news/virtualpress/hot_news.html
Intel Introduces Pentium III Processor At 1.0 Gigahertz
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/sp030800.htm
On Monday, months ahead of schedule and six years after Intel broke the 100 megahertz mark with great fanfare, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced the release of the first one-gigahertz personal computer microprocessor. Although it had not planned to do so until the second half of this year, Intel responded to the challenge by releasing its own one-gigahertz Pentium III processor. These new chips offer roughly twice as much (or more) processing power as those currently in the average home computer. While users may not notice the difference when performing ordinary tasks, those working in graphics or other processor-intensive applications will certainly find the new chips a marked improvement. A few computer makers, including Gateway and Compaq, are already offering pcs with the new chip, and they expect to begin shipping them by the end of the month. Most users, though, will feel the effect of these new releases in the form of lower prices on older chips, even those just introduced a few months ago. With no real physical limitation to processor speed and Moore's Law that processing power doubles every eighteen months, we can only expect the continued introduction of faster and more powerful high-end processors and a corresponding price drop for older models. AMD, in fact, has already revealed a prototype of a new 1.1-GHz chip code.
Users can begin exploring this new leap in personal computer technology with PC Magazine's article, which offers a nice overview, links to related stories, and reader comments. CNET's special report includes a number of new and archived articles, while the New York Times (free registration required) also gives a nice concise overview. Yesterday's All Things Considered from National Public Radio (NPR) featured a report on these new chips, which users can hear in RealPlayer format. For those who want to learn more about microprocessors, Intel's online exhibit is based on an installation at the Intel Museum that explores how the chips are made, how they work, and their history. Finally, users can view official press releases from both companies. [MD]
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