Scout Report for Social Sciences and Business & Economics
Scout Report for Social Sciences
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/socsci/2000/ss-000808.html
Scout Report for Business & Economics
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/bus-econ/2000/be-000810.html
The twenty-third 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 seven resources on Vice-President Al Gore's selection of Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman as his running mate. The Business & Economics Report's In the News section offers eight resources on the federal lawsuit against five of the largest record companies and three major music retailers, accusing them of fixing the prices of compact discs. [MD]
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NESSTAR: Network Social Science Tools and Resources
http://www.nesstar.org/
The long awaited NESSTAR system, dubbed the "Social Science Dream Machine" by some (see the September 10, 1999 Scout Report), has moved from a beta version into operational mode. Currently, NESSTAR has three main components: 1. NESSTAR Explorer, a search engine for social science data and resources that allows users "to find data across organisational and national boundaries" and browse and download both data and metadata; 2. NESSTAR Publisher, a "collection of tools and resources that enables data publishers and distributors to disseminate data via the Internet;" and 3. an overview of the NESSTAR System Architecture, showing how NESSTAR builds on "state-of-the-art technology like Java, XML, CORBA, etc." Most researchers will be interested in the Explorer, which currently allows users to retrieve descriptions of data and, in many cases, the data and metadata from the Danish Data Archive, the Finnish Social Science Data Services, the Norweigan Social Science Data Services, and the UK Data Archive. Search options include simple, field, and advanced, and results contain information on location, description, and accessibility of the data. When data are available they display in HTML with a framed table of contents. A User Guide is available to help researchers navigate the Explorer. Already, NESSTAR is an excellent resource for instant access to a wide range of social science data, particularly on European topics, and plans are to add more major archives in the future. Caveat: The Macintosh version of NESSTAR Explorer requires a Java 2 virtual machine, but unfortunately, none are currently available for the Mac OS. [DC]
[Back to Contents]Reducing Tobacco Use: A Report of the Surgeon General [.pdf, 2000K]
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr_tobacco_use.htm
Released on August 9, this new 462-page report from US Surgeon General David Satcher argues that smoking rates could be cut in half within a decade if proven anti-smoking efforts are fully implemented. Among the measures advocated are school-based anti-smoking programs, aggressive anti-tobacco community and media campaigns, raising prices and taxes, and improving tobacco warning labels. The report was announced at a news conference held at the eleventh World Conference on Tobacco or Health, during which the Surgeon General also criticized the states for only spending about ten percent of the $246 billion they received in the tobacco industry settlement on anti-smoking campaigns. At the Surgeon General's site, users can read the press release, a summary, fact sheets, charts and graphs, and the full text of the report by chapter or in its entirety in .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Documents in Information Science (DOIS) [.pdf]
http://dois.mimas.ac.uk/
Jointly managed by a European volunteer team, this new, free database indexes close to 1,000 documents in the area of library and information science, all of them downloadable from the site. Users can browse the index by document type (article or conference paper) or conduct a keyword search. Within each category, the documents are organized by series (e.g., D-Lib Magazine,Journal of Electronic Publishing). Clicking on a series title brings up article lists and then detailed entries. The latter may include title, author name and contact information, month published, and an abstract. All link to the full text in either HTML or .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Corporate Library
http://www.thecorporatelibrary.com/
Launched in the summer of 1999 by two long-term partners in Lens Investment Management, this site "is intended to serve as a central repository for research, study and critical thinking about the nature of the modern global corporation, with a special focus on corporate governance and the relationship between company management, their boards and their shareowners." Along with current awareness articles from the staff of The Corporate Library (TCL) and outside sources including Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, CBSMarketWatch, and McKinsey and Co., the site also provides in-depth special reports on CEO Contracts and on Corporate Governance and Performance. The full text of Power and Accountability, the book written by The Corporate Library's founders Robert AG Monks and Nell Minow, is also available free of charge. In addition, users may search the entire TCL catalog, which includes 25 years's worth of articles emphasizing the best practices in a variety of areas including disclosure and governance and corporate standing. [EM]
[Back to Contents]Geography Network
http://www.geographynetwork.com/
The Geography Network bills itself as "a global network . . . [that] provides the infrastructure needed to facilitate the sharing of geographic information between data providers, service providers, and users around the world." With a roster of some two dozen participating members that includes both private firms and government agencies, the site allows access to a wide variety of geographic materials, including basic maps as well as more sophisticated map data intended for use with GIS software. A tool called the Geography Network Explorer allows users to browse the maps and data by publisher or content, or to search the collection by location, type of content, and/or data theme. Some of the maps are designed for dynamic viewing online, with zoom-in capabilities and other features, while other static map images are available for download. The site also offers a discussion forum and a map exchange service, as well as instructions for providers who wish to include their own geographic information in the network. Both serious users of GIS information and more casual map buffs are likely to find this site interesting and useful. [SW]
[Back to Contents]Introduction to Metadata: Pathways to Digital Information [.pdf]
http://www.getty.edu/gri/standard/intrometadata/
Announced this week by the Getty Standards Program, Version 2.0 of Introduction to Metadata: Pathways to Digital Information has been placed online in its entirety. This revised version includes updated essays and a new piece on metadata "crosswalks." The crosswalk of metadata standards from version 1.0 (including MARC, Dublin Core, CDWA, Object ID, and the CIMI schema) has been updated and four additional added. Also included are a glossary and list of hyperlinked acronyms. All sections of the book are available in both HTML and .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Exploding Dictionary
http://projects.ghostwheel.com/dictionary/
Technojargon
http://projects.ghostwheel.com/technojargon/
Created by Chris Knight as part of the "Ghostwheel Information Project," the basic idea behind the Exploding Dictionary "was to take a set of publicly available dictionaries, index them into a SQL database, and then cross-reference them to near death." The result is a tool that's probably useful and definitely fun. Users can browse the dictionary by alphabetical entry or search by keyword. Two sets of definitions are offered. The first is a collection of "clean" straightforward definitions listed by the source dictionary used. The second collection is a riot of hyperlinks, cross-referencing all of the individual words used to define the original word. Technojargon, a recent adjunct to the dictionary, contains a very large collection of technology words and phrases, and may be browsed alphabetically or keyword searched. Dictionary enthusiasts and word surfers should thoroughly enjoy this site. [MD]
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Battle of Britain -- RAF
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain (July 10 to October 31, 1940), the Royal Air Force (RAF) has constructed an excellent site for military history buffs. Here visitors will find the complete Fighter Command Operational Diaries, published in full for the first time and placed online day-by-day over the actual period of the battle. Users can log on each day and read that day's report from 1940, which includes weather, enemy action by day and night by geographic area, enemy and friendly losses, home security reports, and more. Past reports can be browsed via a calendar in the Daily Report's section. While this is an excellent resource, it is not all the site has to offer. Additional content includes overviews of all the major aircraft involved, a forthcoming backgrounder on the Battle of Britain as a whole, information on commanders and units and stations, and a modest photo gallery. Anyone interested in the history of World War Two and air combat should thoroughly enjoy this site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]60 Days to Launch: The Anatomy of an Internet Startup [QuickTime 4]
http://www.60daystolaunch.com/index.html
This new Website features a daily video diary of the birth of an Internet start-up company, mucho.com, a commercial Website designed to help small businesses use the Internet more effectively. While mucho.com went online in April, 60 Days to Launch went live in July, posting a daily episode counting down the 60 days to mucho.com's start-up. Visitors can view today's video entry as well as access all of the past entries. The segments are about one to two minutes long (four to five megabytes) and are well-edited to try to maximize the sense of "being there" within the short daily window the filmmakers have. Visitors get a peek at real Internet geeks brainstorming, conferencing, schmoozing, designing databases, sharing office gossip, and more. The filmmakers are much more interested in the look and feel of an Internet start-up than the "nuts and bolts." So this is no tutorial, but it's a fascinating bit of contemporary anthropology. Visitors will need to have QuickTime 4 downloaded and may have to wait up to three minutes for individual downloads. The segments come in three different resolutions, allowing users to choose the one most appropriate for their connection capabilities. [DC]
[Back to Contents]Elections 2000
http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/elec2000.html
Created and maintained by Grace York, coordinator of the very well-regarded University of Michigan Library Documents Center, this site is quite simply the most comprehensive election metasite ever visited by this reviewer. Quality, however, has not been sacrificed for size, as the vast majority of sites linked to are either official or well-established and reputable. Browseable via a set of topical quick links at the top of the page, sections include election process, campaign finances, presidential candidates, historical presidential elections, public opinion polls, news sources, lobby groups, and policy issues, among others. Please note that a few of the resources listed are only available to users at the University of Michigan or subscribing institutions. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The American Revolution and Its Era: Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750-1789 -- LOC [MrSID]
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/armhtml/armhome.html
The latest offering from the Library of Congress (LOC) American Memory project features over 2,000 maps and charts of North America and the West Indies from 1750 to 1789, many from famous mapmakers and major London map publishers. The collection can be searched by keyword or browsed by subject, creator, title, or geographic location. Entries include title, maker, some notes, and a small thumbnail image. Each image is available in several zoom levels and window sizes. Also included is an essay on "Mapping the American Revolution and Its Era." [MD]
[Back to Contents]NeoFlora
http://www.neoflora.com/
Launched on August 9, this new site bills itself as the world's largest plant database, indexing over 38,000 plants. Aimed at gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts rather than botanists, the site is easily searched by keyword or "sounds like." Advanced search options include multiple options under four categories: plant types, plant characteristics, plant ranges, and plant descriptions. Listings for individual plants are fairly comprehensive, including lists of plant requirements, characteristics, and care tips. A glossary section links to definitions for selected terms, and additional (rather small) photos are accessed by clicking on the plant image. Users are invited to submit photos or tips for any of the plants indexed. Other resources at the site include some plant care tips and information on common pests and diseases. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Architecture of the Getty Center
http://web.reed.edu/academic/departments/art/getty/
Created by Charles Rhyne, an emeritus art history Professor at Reed College, this site exploits the power of the Web to, in Professor Rhyne's words "make available many more large, high quality color images than can ever be afforded in print publication, whatever the subject." In fact, there are over 600 images of the Getty Center at the site, taken by Professor Rhyne during trips to the museum, 1997-2000. Rhyne believes in the use of pictures as evidence, and his aim is to provide comprehensive visual documentation of the Getty Center for study by students and faculty. All of the pictures are dated, and users can approach via two routes: an Image Survey, starting at the entrance and going through the museum, or by selecting images from categories that include locations on a map and thematic groupings. In addition to serving architectural study purposes, the site also presents a huge number of quality images that are a pleasure to behold. [DS]
[Back to Contents]Bookface
http://www.bookface.com/
A different twist on the online text niche, this new site describes itself as an "online book cafe," where visitors can select new and recent titles and leaf through the full text at their convenience. At time of review, the site offered a fair selection of novels, books, and short stories by established and popular authors. Organized by genre or keyword-searchable by title or author, the books are displayed in a special reader in one's browser that prevents copying. The texts may be navigated by page or chapter or keyword searched. Three text size options are also available. On the downside, actually reading significant parts of a book in a small window could prove quite tedious. Also, to access the texts, users must first complete a slightly invasive registration form. Still, for users unable or unwilling to trek to their local bookstore, the site is a helpful resource in making book purchase decisions. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Martha Stewart Recipe Search
http://www.marthastewart.com/channels/cooking/recipesearch/search.asp
In line with true Martha Stewart sensibilities, even the banner ads are tasteful at this new site, which features a database of over 1,000 recipes. The recipes, which seem to come from the doyen of home show hosts's television program rather than the magazine, are searchable by keyword with a host of modifiers/filters, such as course, main ingredient, season, holiday, vegetarian, cooking with children, and quick cooking (under an hour). Each recipe includes complete instructions and a high-quality photo of what the finished dish looks -- in Martha's kitchen at least. [MD]
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Netscape 6 Preview Release 2
http://www.netscape.com/browsers/6/index.html?cp=dowpod6
The second preview release of Netscape's next generation browser is now available for free download. New features include integration with Netscape WebMail, designer skins (called Themes) that allow users to customize the browser's look and feel, the ability to save all Web passwords in one encrypted file on the hard drive, and a Sidebar with potentially hundreds of tabs that allow users to pull information from various sources while keeping the main window free. More information and downloads are available at the Netscape site. As with all preview or beta releases, users should expect some crashes and/or bugs. [MD]
[Back to Contents]iCab 2.1 Preview
http://www.icab.de/
The latest version of this compact and speedy, but underused Mac-only Web browser (see the December 10, 1999 Scout Report) is now available for free download. Version 2.1 includes site-specific JavaScript filters and image filters and allows exchanging images using JavaScript, but full support for Java and Cascading Style Sheets are still not available. However, the FAQ and Read Me files are now offered in English. Additional nice features include flexible cookie filtering and support for many popular plug-ins. The preview version will expire at the end of February 2001. iCab is definitely worth a look and could give IE and Netscape a run for their money (at least among Mac users) in the long run. [MD]
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Rough and Tumble at Reform Party Convention
"Reform Party Splits in Two on Nominees and Platforms" -- New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/081100reform-party.html
"Reform party Convention is Split" -- Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7526-2000Aug10.html
"Reform split 'will not even slow us down,' Buchanan says" -- CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/10/reform.convention/index.html
"Heirs to Perot Fighting for Money, and Survival" -- Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/elect2000/pres/lat_assess000811.htm
"Reform Party showdown looms" -- BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_874000/874952.stm
Reform Party Convention 2000
http://www.reformparty.org/convention2000/
Reform Party of the USA
http://www.reformparty.org/
Buchanan Reform
http://www.buchananreform.com/
Hagelin 2000
http://www.hagelin.org/
"The Stakes Are Low" -- New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/library/opinion/collins/081100coll.html
"The Reform Party, R.I.P." -- Miami Herald
http://www.herald.com/content/today/opinion/editorials/digdocs/091359.htm
"Those dueling reformers" -- Boston Herald
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/edtc08102000.htm
To be sure, this convention has not been scripted. Simmering tensions within the Reform Party boiled over this week at the party's convention in Long Beach, California. Followers of party-founder Ross Perot, who initially invited Patrick Buchanan to join the party because of Buchanan's national name recognition, had grown increasingly frustrated with what many see as the hijacking of the party's state organizations by Buchanan and his allies. The party has traditionally avoided divisive social or moral issues such as abortion and gay rights, issues central to Buchanan's hard-right agenda. After months of maneuvering and party infighting, Buchanan arrived in Long Beach with the most delegates. Two days of confusion and conflict followed, after which the party split in two, with Perot followers setting up their own convention next door and nominating John Hagelin, a physicist and Transcendental Mediation advocate who previously ran twice for president on the Natural Law Party ticket. At stake is $12.6 million in federal matching funds. While both candidates will no doubt declare that they have the nomination, the disposal of the money will most likely be decided by federal election officials. The Perot-Hagelin wing has already filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission contending that Buchanan's forces rigged the nomination process. Whichever candidate is awarded the funds, his strategy will almost certainly be to spend the bulk of the money in September, hoping to secure a spot in upcoming the presidential debates.
Readers will find a spectrum of analysis and commentary on the proceedings at the New York Times (free registration required), Washington Post, CNN, Los Angeles Times, and the BBC. Detailed information on the convention (as it was originally planned) is available from the official site, while the Reform Party's main site contains the party's platform, constitution, and mission statement, among other materials, though again, all were posted before the split. More recent news from the viewpoints of the two combatants can be found at the candidates's official sites. Finally, editorials on the convention and the Reform Party have been posted by the New York Times,Miami Herald, and Boston herald.[MD]
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