The Scout Report - June 30, 2000

Scout Report for Social Sciences and Business & Economics
Scout Report for Social Sciences
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/socsci/2000/ss-000627.html
Scout Report for Business & Economics
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/bus-econ/2000/be-000629.html
The twentieth 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 ten resources on the recent Supreme Court ruling concerning Miranda warnings. The Business & Economics Report's In the News section offers seven resources on this week's decision by the US Congress to allow the export of goods such as food and medicine to formerly blacklisted countries including Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Iran. [MD]
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Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic -- UNAIDS [.pdf, Excel, PowerPoint]
http://www.unaids.org/epidemic_update/report/index.html
Released ahead of the thirteenth International AIDS Conference, which begins on July 9 in Durban, South Africa, UNAIDS's second comprehensive report is sobering reading indeed. For the first time, the impact of AIDS on young people has been calculated, and the report concludes that up to half of all fifteen-year-olds in the most severely affected African countries (primarily sub-Saharan) will eventually die from HIV/AIDS regardless of whether rates drop substantially in the near future. Worldwide, the report finds that some 34 million people are infected and that "Barring a miracle, most of these will die over the next decade or so." Speaking on NPR's All Things Considered on Tuesday, Paul Delay, Chief of the AIDS office at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) stated that life expectancy in the affected countries has been reduced by 20 to 30 years on average, setting development back 50 years or more. The massive infection rate, averaging 10 percent in sub-Saharan Africa, with 20 percent of inhabitants in South Africa and nearly 36 percent in Botswana living with the disease, has begun to devastate the economy and social services. There are, however, a few success stories. For instance, the infection rate has been almost halved in Uganda thanks to a strong prevention program, and progress has been made at a local level in India, Thailand, and Brazil. The full text of the 135-page report is available in .pdf format in its entirety or by chapter in English, Spanish, and French. Country-specific estimates and data are offered in Excel format, and a number of PowerPoint slides are also available. [MD]
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Goettingen Gutenberg Bible [Flash]
http://www.gutenbergdigital.de/
The Goettingen State and University Library has announced the final version of its digitized Gutenberg Bible. All 1,282 pages of the Bible, one of only four complete, illuminated copies on vellum, have been scanned and placed online in both German and English versions. Visitors can browse the text by Book via a pull-down menu and then select pages to view as double or single pages, the latter providing the largest image. Eighty-eight of the pages are illuminated and partly gilded and may be viewed separately. In addition to the Bible, the site also offers two digitized documents: "the Goettingen Model Book, a contemporary manuscript which provided the patterns for the decoration of the Goettingen Bible; and the famous Helmasperger's Notarial Instrument (6th November 1455), dealing with Gutenberg's invention, known as the 'Werk der Buecher' (work of books) and Gutenberg's business relations with Johannes Fust." Also included are brief features on Gutenberg's life and printing. The Goettingen State and University Library is to be thanked for making this rare and beautiful text freely available to the world. [MD]
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General Data Dissemination System -- International Monetary Fund
http://dsbb.imf.org/gddsindex.htm
The International Monetary Fund has created the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS), a system of metadata collection intended to "guide countries in the provision to the public of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic, financial, and socio-demographic data." This site offers information from and about the countries participating in the GDDS. The project's main goals include improving the creation of country information, as well as creating a standard for the dissemination of reliable, current, thorough, and accessible economic, socio-demographic, and financial information. The data on participating countries, which include Fiji, Albania, Uganda, and Kuwait, may be accessed through a menu system, by country and by topic. The site also contains a helpful guide to the General Data Dissemination System, as well as a What's New? section and a soon-to-be-added FAQ. [EM]
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State of the Cities, 2000 -- HUD [.pdf]
Abstract:
http://www.huduser.org/publications/polleg/tsoc2000.html
Full report [.pdf, 108 pages]:
http://www.huduser.org/publications/pdf/socrpt.pdf
Appendices [.pdf, 41 pages]:
http://www.huduser.org/publications/pdf/socapp.pdf
Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development released its annual report on the state of American cities. The report finds that while "the booming national economy and the growth of high-tech jobs have helped reverse decades of decline in America's cities," the "digital divide" continues to make itself felt as the number of high-tech jobs is growing 30 percent faster in the suburbs than urban areas. In addition, housing prices have risen at twice the rate of inflation, worsening an affordable housing shortage. See also the New Data section in this report for a review of the State of the Cities Data System, 2000. [DC]
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Bibliography: Small Cetaceans - Journal Of International Wildlife Law and Policy [.pdf]
http://www.jiwlp.com/cgi-bin/bibliog.cgi?category=@Small+Cetaceans&full=N
The first in a series from the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, this searchable bibliography "focuses on law, science and policy issues related to small cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and small whales)." At present, it includes over 2,350 citations of peer-reviewed and gray literature (including journal articles, newspaper articles, reports, and online materials). The bibliography may be searched by keyword or using Boolean logic. Users can also view the entire bibliography in HTML format or download it in .pdf. The bibliography will be updated every two months, with future additions "focused more on law and policy issues." The second bibliography, focusing on the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS), will be posted next month. [MD]
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Dirty Money: Tracking the PACs -- EWG
http://www.ewg.org/dirtymoney/
Though created with a clear political axe to grind, this new site from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) (last discussed in the December 17, 1999 Scout Report) is an excellent resource for those interested in tracking contributions made by PACs (Political Action Committees) that wish to influence environmental legislation. Launched on June 22 and based on data collected by the Federal Election Commission, the site allows users to find specific dollar amounts given by PACs and received by politicians for the 1996, 1998, and 2000 election cycles. The campaign contribution database can be searched by PAC or member of Congress. Users can also view state rankings, see dollar totals for the top ten recipients for each of the EWG's five categories of polluters, and browse by type of polluter. In addition, the site offers briefs on the "dirty PACS" and a listing of the "Top Dirty Money Takers" for 2000. [MD]
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Directory of Electronic Health Sciences Journals
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/shcnlib/dehsj/
Created and maintained by Adam Clark, a librarian at the Monash University Medical Centre (Australia), this site is designed to help librarians in the health sciences manage electronic journals in their libraries. Focusing on full-text, electronic versions of peer-reviewed print journals indexed in Medline, the database currently contains information on over 800 titles in clinical medicine, biomedical research, nursing, and allied health. The site is designed so that users can work their way through the alphabetical listing to determine if electronic versions of their journal titles exist. Listings for each journal include title, URL, full-text availability, price category, date full-text begins, whether or not it is indexed in Medline, related association, and publisher (with link to their site). The date that each entry was last updated is also listed. Listings of free journals and major full-text providers are also offered. While geared towards health science librarians, this site is useful for anyone interested in full-text online journals in medicine and health. [MD]
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Condition of America's Public School Facilities: 1999 [.pdf]
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2000032
The US Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has recently placed online this report, which "provides national data about the condition of public schools in 1999 based on a survey conducted by NCES using its Fast Response Survey System." In it, readers will find information on the condition of school facilities and estimated costs to repair them, school plans for repairs and renovations, the age of public school buildings, and overcrowding. The 114-page report may be downloaded in .pdf format at the NCES site. [MD]
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Five Recent Supreme Court Decisions [.pdf]
Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska, et al. v. Carhart
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-830.ZS.html
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-699.ZS.html
Dickerson v. United States
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-5525.ZS.html
California Democratic Party v. Jones
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-401.ZS.html
Apprendi v. New Jersey
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-478.ZS.html
This week, the high court released a number of momentous decisions, ruling on "partial birth abortions," the Boy Scouts's ban on gays, the Miranda warning, California's "Blanket" primary, and hate crime sentencing standards. In the Stenberg, Attorney General of Nebraska, et al. v. Carhart case, the court issued its most important abortion-related decision in years, striking down a Nebraska law that banned "partial-birth abortion" without an exception for the woman's health. The court ruled 5-4 that this failure to include an exception placed an "undue burden" on a woman's right to choose. In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, another 5-4 decision, the court decided that the Boy Scouts have a right to bar gay men from becoming scout leaders, reversing a New Jersey State Supreme Court ruling. The majority opinion stated that forcing the Boy Scouts to include gay scout leaders, and by extension gay scouts who might rise to the rank of scout leader, would violate the organization's First Amendment right of "expressive association." In Dickerson v. United States, the court ruled 7-2 to uphold the Miranda warning and strike down a previously little-known 1968 law that allowed "voluntary confessions" even if they were obtained before a suspect was read their rights. (For more on this decision see the In the News from this week's Scout Report for Social Sciences). In California Democratic Party v. Jones, another 7-2 decision, the court invalidated the "blanket" primary system in California, Washington, and Alaska as unconstitutional infringements on political parties's rights to select their own candidates. Finally, in Apprendi v. New Jersey, a more divided court (5-4) ruled that only a jury may impose additional punishment for the commission of a hate crime, striking down a New Jersey law that allowed judges to issue stiffer sentences in hate crime cases. As always, the full text of the syllabi and both opinions in all of these cases can be read in HTML or .pdf format at the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School Supreme Court Collection site. [MD]
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Dr. Seuss Went to War
http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/
Between 1941 and 1943, Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM (1940-1948), penning over 400 editorial cartoons that commented first on American neutrality and then involvement in the Second World War. The entire collection of these cartoons (original drawings and/or newspaper clippings) is held by the Mandeville Special Collections Library at the University of California, San Diego. While the 1999 book Dr. Seuss Went to War reproduced 200 of these cartoons, the remaining half have not been published or studied since their original appearance. This amazing collection has now been placed online and is browseable by year, month, and day. Subject term browsing will be available in the future. The cartoons are presented as large thumbnails which link to a full-sized image presented in an unfortunately cramped frame. The cartoons comment on a wide variety of topics, including war preparedness, domestic politics, and isolationism, with particular criticism for the US Congress and Americans not prepared to sacrifice for the war effort. Caricatures of the Axis nations, especially the Japanese, reflect contemporaneous stereotypes. Drawn in characteristic Seuss style, with many creatures familiar to fans of his best-known work, these cartoons are both an excellent look into wartime US domestic politics and public opinion and clever, visually interesting cartoons in their own right. As an added bonus, the site also features some even rarer cartoons that Geisel drew for other publications and for war bond drives. This is simply an excellent resource for students, researchers, and any fan of Horton, the Grinch, the Lorax, and Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose. [MD]
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Interim Report on the Airline Customer Service Commitment -- DOT
http://www.oig.dot.gov/audits/av2000102.htm
Released on June 27 by the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG), this report finds that, in the past six months since a new set of customer service initiatives went into effect, results have been decidedly mixed. While airlines have made better efforts in customer service, they still have some ground to travel in restoring consumer confidence. Among other things, the report recommends that airlines set uniform standards and be more specific in their promises to passengers. A final report is due in December. Users may download the full text of the 51-page report at the OIG's site. [MD]
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Beyond Face Value: Depictions of Slavery in Confederate Currency
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/cwc/BeyondFaceValue/index.htm
Hosted by the United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State University, this new exhibit explores "the relationship between art and politics in the Civil War era" with over 100 digital images of Confederate notes. The images, browseable by state or activity (field scenes, individuals with cotton, sugar plantations, etc.), are accompanied by an overview of the Civil War and brief essays on the Antebellum economy and paper money in the mid-nineteenth century. A bibliography and collection of related links are also provided. [MD]
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Publisher's Catalogues
http://www.lights.com/publisher/
Provided by Northern Lights Internet Solutions Ltd. (no connection to the search engine), this database of information on over 6,000 publishers may prove useful to a number of users, including, writers, librarians, and book collectors and sellers. Users may keyword search the database by publisher or city or browse by location, topic, or type of material. Entries for each publisher include a brief sentence or two from the publisher describing itself and a link to its homepage. While the database has a decided US-focus, there are numerous listings for publishers in other countries. [MD]
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Annual Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's Republic of China
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2000/china06222000.htm
Released on June 22, this report was published by the Secretary of Defense in response to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, which required a report "on the current and future military strategy of the People's Republic of China." Placed online in HTML format, the report addresses three main topics: China's grand strategy, security strategy, and military strategy; developments in China's military doctrine and force structure; and the security situation in the Taiwan Strait. [MD]
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Multimedia from Wagner to Virtual Reality
http://www.artmuseum.net/w2vr/contents.html
This new project from ArtMuseum.net (last discussed in the February 25, 2000 Scout Report) presents the "untold history of multimedia." Currently, two sections of the site are available, with a third (Essays) to be added in September. The Overture section introduces visitors to the primary themes, concepts, and relationships "within the arts and sciences that converge as multimedia." These are offered as six brief, illustrated features. The second section, Pioneers, includes an annotated timeline of artists, scientists, and others who have contributed to the evolution of multimedia. The Essay section, once added in September, will include primary documents from various pioneers in this field. While a bit smaller than many online exhibitions covered in the Scout Report, this site is well-crafted and illuminates the contributions of numerous figures previously little-known to the general public. [MD]
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"The Network is the User Experience: Microsoft's .NET Announcement"
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000625.html
The latest issue of Jakob Nielsen's well-respected Alertbox analyzes Microsoft's .NET announcement made last week, which he describes as a "brilliant strategic move against the Justice Department." "Browsers," Nielsen declares, "must die as independent applications" as the main user interactions will in the future be mediated by network services and not by their operating systems. The article discusses how this new nexus will work and its implications for the future of the Web and online business in clear and easy-to-follow language. While some have fretted over the potential of yet another Microsoft monopoly, Nielsen does not subscribe to this line of thought. "Microsoft may define the platform," he argues, "but they cannot supply more than a tiny fraction of the necessary services" that will be called for on the new nexus. The article includes several links to related resources. [MD]
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PC Expo 2000 -- ZDNet
http://www.zdnet.com/special/filters/pcexpo/?chkpt=pcexpotoc
PC Expo 2000: Future Technology Today -- CNET
http://www.cnet.com/techtrends/0-1544316-7-2167498.html?tag=st.cn.1.tlpg.1544316-7-2167498
PC Expo 2000 [RealPlayer]
http://192.215.73.55/
PC Expo 2000 ended yesterday, but readers can still get the lowdown on the newest gadgets and gizmos unveiled at the Jacob Javits Center this week. ZDNet's special coverage includes breaking and archived news, product previews and first impressions, commentary, and press releases. CNET offers pieces on new products, top trends of the coming year, and Best of Show awards. At the official site, users will find a list of exhibitors and speakers, and information on keynote programs. [MD]
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Major Cloning Advance
"Science of the Lambs" -- Nature [.pdf]
http://www.nature.com/nature/fow/
"PPL Therapeutics PLC Nature Paper on Gene Targeting"
http://www.ppl-therapeutics.com/html/cfml/index_fullstory.cfm?StoryID=19
Washington Post Cloning Report
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/science/cloning/index.html
"Cloning gets specific" -- BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_810000/810785.stm
"Clones could act as organ farms" -- Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/0006/30/national/national16.html
In a step that could pave the way to using animals as organ banks, scientists at the PPL Therapeutics in Edinburgh, Scotland, the same laboratory that helped produce Dolly the cloned sheep in 1996, have developed a method to selectively modify genes in sheep clones. Although transgenic modification of sheep is fairly well developed, before now, there has been no control over where the gene would turn up or how active it might be. This new method allows scientists to insert new genes or introduce changes into a specific part of sheep DNA and then create clones carrying the altered genes. The research was presented in yesterday's issue of Nature.

At the Nature site, readers will find the full text of the scientists's letter and a number of related articles, while the PPL site has posted the company's official press release. The Washington Post's cloning special includes new and archived stories, analysis, and related resources. Additional coverage is provided by the BBC and Sydney Morning Herald.[MD]
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