The Scout Report - October 27, 2000

Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/2000/se-001011.html
Volume 4, Number 5 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates ten resources on a recent unexplained mass mortality among sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. [MD]
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The UCLA Internet Report: "Surveying the Digital Future" [.pdf]
http://www.ccp.ucla.edu/pages/internet-report.aspinternet-report.asp
Released on October 25 by the UCLA Center for Communication Policy, this new report challenges the conventional wisdom that the Net creates social isolation. The 53-page report is the product of "the first comprehensive study ever conducted of the sweeping changes produced by the Internet," created to "explore how computers, information technology and their users are shaping and changing society." In contrast to what some journalists and politicians have claimed, the vast majority of respondents to the study claimed that online activities such as email, chat rooms, and surfing have made a positive impact, if a modest one, on their ability to make friends and communicate with their family. The report itself offers lots of interesting information for anyone who uses or studies the Net. This includes the top ten Internet activities, who uses the internet, views about the Internet, email use, children and the Internet, online shopping, work and the Internet, and online contact and friendships. This is a very important study, and, as far as publications of this type go, not a bad read. [MD]
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The BSE Inquiry: The Report
http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/report/contents.htm
The BSE Inquiry
http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/
In-Depth: BSE and CJD - BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/in_depth/uk/2000/bse_and_cjd/
Released on October 26, this long-awaited report from the UK government on BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) and CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) is based on oral and written evidence from over 600 witnesses including scientists, farmers, private industry, senior civil servants, local authorities, former ministers and families of victims of variant CJD. Among its most important findings are that government ministers repeatedly misled the public about the dangers of mad cow disease. It also cites poor communication between government departments and bureaucratic delays in responding to scientific warnings. As the party leading the government at the time, the Conservatives, are currently in opposition, the political fallout of the report may develop over time, though a number of leading Tories have alread issued public apologies for their role in the crisis. Users can read the full text of the report and learn more about the commission at the BSE Inquiry site. The BBC News special report offers background, analysis, audio and video selections, and related resources. [MD]
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EIRData
http://www.pgil-eirdata.org
This new resource from the Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL) is a useful tool for students and scholars of Irish Studies. Contents of the site include two datasets, a detailed biblgiography, the library catalogue, and electronic texts. The Author Dataset contains biographical and bibliographical information about Irish writers of all periods. Some entries also include citations of criticism and reference works. The Journal Dataset offers basic information on a fairly wide selection of periodicals published in and about Ireland. Both datasets are browsable by alphabetic entry and keyword searchable. The bibliography is composed of three sections: select listings of books published in 1996-98, tables of contents from literary and critical journals, and a full publication record of works published from 1990 to 1999. The library catalogue contains alphabetical listings of acquisitions to 1995, while the digital library provides access to the full text of a modest selection of Irish literary classics. A collection of related links and a PGIL Gazette round out the site. Please note that portions of the site are still under construction and that free registration is required to access the site. [MD]
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Final Report of COPA Commission [.pdf]
http://www.copacommission.org/report/
Presented to Congress on October 20, this report contains findings and recommendations from the Commission on Online Child Protection (COPA). Formed in 1998, COPA was charged with studying methods to protect minors from harmful material on the Internet. Rather than recommending mandatory filtering and blocking software, the report favors "aggressive efforts toward public education, consumer empowerment, increased resources for enforcement of existing laws, and greater use of existing technologies." The full text of the report is available in HTMl and .pdf format at the COPA Commission site. [MD]
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Regard Relaunch
http://www.regard.ac.uk/
Regard, an important database on UK-based social science research (originally reviewed in the March 10, 1998 Scout Report for Social Sciences) has recently been redesigned and relaunched. At the site users can search or browse research projects funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Search options include basic/keyword, person, ESRC reference number, advanced, and latest research. Users can also browse lists of ESRC research centres and ESRC programmes, with links to the respective Websites. Typical database entries include award type and record number, title, award department and discipline, start and end date, and award amount. Some also include an abstract. Registered users can save all their searches in a given month as well as store particular records in an In-Tray and have them emailed to themselves. [MD]
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Rotenone Stewardship Program
http://www.fisheries.org/rotenone/
This Website tackles an important, albeit controversial, tool in fisheries research and management: the use of rotenone, a commonly used chemical piscicide that effectively eradicates all fish in a treated body of water. While piscicide use raises eyebrows from the animal rights community (and others), alternatives are not so obvious. Given the once widespread practice of introducing exotic fish into lakes and streams across the globe (to improve fishing), the first step in restoring these manipulated systems often requires the complete removal of exotic fish, if any approximation of a natural balance is to be recovered. This Website tackles some of the issues associated with the use of rotenone and offers a manual on rotenone use in fisheries management, abstracts from a symposium on the pros and cons of rotenone, a list of experts (and contact information), a discussion forum, and a collection of related links. Provided by the American Fisheries Society, the Website comes from a fisheries perspective but attempts to include other views, as well. [LXP]
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OPE Campus Security Statistics
http://www.ope.ed.gov/security/Search.asp
Provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) of the US Department of Education, this searchable database allows users to browse records of reported criminal offenses at over 6000 colleges and universities. The database contains records for 1997-99 and may be browsed by region, state, city, type of institution, instructional program, and number of students. Users can also simply type in the name of a specific institution. Initial entries include basic contact information and links to statistics for criminal offenses, hate offenses, and arrests. Each entry page also links to the relevant page at the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS COOL (College Opportunities On-Line) website (reviewed in the March 31, 2000 Scout Report), a tool for comparison shopping between different collges and universities. [MD]
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Voter Turnout from 1945 to 1998
http://www.idea.int/voter_turnout/index.html
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
http://www.idea.int/
Based on the International IDEA database of postwar elections, which covers 171 independent states, 1,129 parliamentary elections and 360 presidential elections, this site is a useful resource for anyone studying voting trends internationally or in specific countries or regions. The site includes an overview (Global Survey) of postwar trends and specific data for each nation covered. This data is accessed via interactive maps or via country listings for parliamentary and presidential elections. Data includes year, total vote, registration, turnout percentages, and population size. The date at which each country's data was last updated varies. The main IEA site offers a number of publications and other resources related to the promotion of democracy. [MD]
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Echo
http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/echo/splashflash.html
Produced by the Musicology Department at the University of California at Los Angeles, this online peer-reviewed journal features articles, reviews, and interviews concerning musics and musical experiences. Visually appealing and nicely designed, the journal covers both classical and popular music. The frequency of the journal is not stated, but to date there have been two issues. The most recent includes articles on corporate music, West Side Story and the Hispanic, book and music reviews, and an interview with jazz drummer Billy Higgins. [MD]
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Privacy and Human Rights 2000
http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/
Recently released by Privacy International and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), this report "reviews current issues in privacy and the privacy laws and practices in over 50 countries around the world." Privacy issues addressed include data protection, telephone tapping, genetic databases, and freedom of information laws. Provided in HTML format, the report offers an overview of the state of privacy worldwide and threats to privacy, as well as brief reports for over 50 nations. [MD]
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Prague Watchdog
http://www.watchdog.cz
Based in Prague and funded by mainly American sources, this site offers timely reports on the northern Caucasus region (Chechnya), "focusing on three specific areas: human rights, humanitarian aid conditions and media access and coverage." Created to help pressure Western and Russian policymakers to work harder towards achieving peace and security in the region, the site is a good resource for anyone interested in the conflict. The main page fatures the latest updates, mostly short articles, interviews, and brief news stories. Visitors can also browse current and archived articles by topical section: Human Rights, Relief Aid, Media, Destruction, Politics, and Conflict Info. While the site is unlikely to receive any thanks from the Russian authorities, it is a useful resource for students, scholars, or anyone interested in events occuring in a region that has slipped beneath the world media radar. [MD]
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LitSite, the Literary Community of Alaska
http://litsite.alaska.edu/uaa/
Created by the Creative Writing Department at the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Alaska Literary Consortium, LitSite is an online literary magazine that promotes literacy and reading by showcasing Alaskan writers of all ages and skills, offering opportunities for sharing personal reading and writing experiences, and presenting stories from Alaskan oral traditions. In the Family Gatherings section of the site, for example, there is the story of Patty Ryall, who "wants her kids to be smart", so she reads 10 books a day to them. In addition to Family Gatherings, there are three other main sections of the site: Alaska Traditions, Alaska Reads and Alaska Writes. These can be accessed from a set button bars on the left. Each main section is further divided; Alaska Traditions consists of Stories to Live By, narratives and storytelling of the peoples of Alaska, and Life Stories, memories of what life was like in the not-too-distant past when Alaska was the last American frontier. To ease navigation through this material, there is a handy Contents section that lays out the site as a table, and lists all the stories in each part. The site also includes workbooks to help teachers develop exercises in reading and writing, and information on bookstores and literacy programs in libraries throughout Alaska. [DS]
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Guinness World Records [Flash, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player]
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Need to know the size of the biggest disco ball? The most chiles eaten within three minutes? The world's wettest place? Look no further than the Guinness World Records site, produced by the longtime chronicler of all that is remarkable and strange. Visitors can browse world records by category via a pull-down menu or search by keyword. The homepage also features top stories (selected records with additional background information) and the Daily WOW, a Flash animated story about a particular world record. Please note that the pages are a little slow, even with a fast connection, and that we had to refresh some pages mutliple times to get them to display due to a busy server. [MD]
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A Simple Book Repair Manual [Quicktime]
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~preserve/repair/repairindex.htm
Created by the Dartmouth College Library Preservation Services, this handy and straightforward site should appeal to book lovers and collectors. The site is basically an electronic version of the print publication, supplemented by illustrative photos and a Quicktime movie. The manual discusses guiding principles to book repair, tools, practical guidelines, as well as guiding users through nine common repairs. These include torn pages, hinge repair, hinge tightening, corner repair, and spine repair, among others. A glossary and bibliography are also included. [MD]
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Astronomy.com
http://www.astronomy.com/
The publishers of Astronomy magazine (originally reviewed in the August 8, 1997 Scout Reporthttp://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sr/1997/.html#10) recently announced the release of their updated and expanded Website. The site has the look and feel of a commercial site (and a few ads), but all content is free. Designed for Astronomy hobbyists, the site contains the latest space news, feature articles, a nice beginners section, tips and tools for parents and teachers, a photo gallery, and star charts. Users can also participate in discussion forums, search for astronomy organizations, and subscribe to a free bulletin service. Please note that registration is required for access to some parts of the site. [MD]
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Bethlehem Digital History Project [.pdf]
http://bdhp.moravian.edu/
Created by the Bethlehem Area Public Libary and the Reeves Library, Moravian College and Theological Seminary, this site offers a number of different primary source materials that illuminate key elements of the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania community from its founding in 1741 through 1844. These materials are organized thematically, under topics such as art, community records, education, land, music, and personal papers, among others. The site is still very much under construction, and none of the sections have been completed. However, there is just enough content available to make a visit worthwhile for anyone interested in the city or Moravian culture. This includes numerous brief memoirs (digitized original and transcription), several maps, a Bethlehem diary and ledgers, and the complete text of a 1799 travel account of the region. More content is promised for December. [MD]
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Netscape Communicator 4.76
http://home.netscape.com/computing/download/
Netscape has released the latest version of its browser/Internet software suite. This newest release does not feature any major changes, but does include updated versions of Beatnik, Flash Player, RealPlayer, and AOL Instant Messenger 4.0, as well as a security fix. Users with very recent versions of Netscape may well want to pass on the update, but those with older copies should consider an upgrade. Downloads are available from the Netscape site. [MD]
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Napster for Mac
http://www.napster.com/mac/download/
Napster has bought Backhole Media, makers of the popular Napster client program, Macster, and released an "official" version. The new Napster for Mac has a few changes, namely compatibility with OS X (but not supported), search history, and the search and results windows are now combined. Otherwise the software runs pretty much the same as the latest version of Macster. Full support for OS X and additional language support are planned for the near future. Anyone with an older version of Macster or those curious to see what the Napster fuss is all about can download a copy at the Napster site. [MD]
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Violence in the Ivory Coast
"Clashes Erupt in Ivory Coast Amid Calls for New Vote; Leader Urges Unity" -- Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/20001027/t000102677.html
"Dictator Gone, Ivory Coast Splits Into Ethnic and Political Violence" -- New York Times (registration required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/27/world/27IVOR.html

"Ivory Coast opposition leader stands aside as new government formed" -- CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/10/27/ivory.coast.02/index.html

Military Ruler Flees Ivory Coast -- npr.org [Real Audio]
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/meupdate/20001025.meupdate.01.rmm

"Q & A: Ivory Coast in Turmoil" -- BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_989000/989948.stm

Search the World: Cote d'Ivoire -- Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/worldref/country/cotedivo.htm

A Look at the Ivory Coast -- Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17952-2000Oct26.html

Cote d'Ivoire - News Plus -- AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/cotedivoire/

The breeze of Belgrade is sweeping through the African continent -- The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/argument/Leading_articles/2000-10/leadera261000.shtml

After Sunday's presidential election in the Ivory Coast (or Cote d'Ivoire), violence broke out when two candidates, the Ivory Coast's military ruler, General Robert Guei, and Laurent Gbagbo, Guei's main opponent, both declared that they had won the election. Thousands of Gbagbo supporters protested in the streets of the country's capitol, Abidjan and were met by military authorities, who responded with live ammunition, teargas, and batons. In the following three days, at least 60 people were killed. The conflict has also threatened relations between the Ivory Coast's ethnic groups. Guei's supporters mainly live in the country's northern, Muslim region, while Gbagdo represents the Christians living in the western and southern regions. Both mosques and churches have been looted and set on fire. On Thursday the official vote was released by the national electoral commission: Gbagbo received 59 percent of the vote, and Guei, 32 percent. Later that day, Gbagdo was swore in as president, as Guei went into hiding. The violence in Abidjan seems to have settled. Today, Gbagdo named Affi N'Guessan as the Ivory Coast's new prime minister. Previously, N.Guessan was the Minister of Industry and Tourism in Guei's government. The new president has also vowed to keep Guei's timetable to return the Ivory Coast to democracy.

The Los Angeles Times,New York Times, and CNN offer recent coverage of the crisis in Ivory Coast. With reports from Abidjan, NPR gives basic facts about the election and its aftermath. The BBC's concise questions and answers about the crisis in the Ivory Coast gives the main details, history, and key players in the conflict as well as linking to analysis, related Websites, and online discussions. Along with giving basic information about the Ivory Coast, the Washington Post gives a list of recent articles about the country in both its own pages, as well as stories from the Associated Press. The second resource from the Washington Post, "A Look at the Ivory Coast_," gives maps and at-a-glance statistics and facts about the country. AllAfrica.com offers daily news concerting the Ivory Coast. This editorial from The Independent compares the uprise in Africa to that of the former Yugoslavia. [EM]
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Susan Calcari Rachael Bower Travis Koplow Michael de Nie David Charbonneau Aimee D. Glassel Emily Missner Laura X. Payne Debra Shapiro Scott Watkins Ed Almasy Hilary C. Sanders Andy Yaco-Mink Manoj Ananthapadmanabhan Pat Coulthard

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