Scout Report for Social Sciences & Humanities and Business & Economics
Scout Report for Social Sciences & Humanities
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/socsci/2001/ss-010109.html
Scout Report for Business & Economics
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/bus-econ/2001/be-010111.html
The ninth issues of the fourth volumes of the Scout Reports for Social Sciences & Humanities and Business & Economics are available. The In the News section of the Social Sciences & Humanities Report annotates seven resources on the failure of President Clinton's final effort to secure a peace agreement in the Mideast. The Business & Economics Report's In the News section offers eight resources on the recently announced buyout of Trans World Airlines (TWA) by American Airlines. [MD]
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First Census 2000 Results -- Resident Population and Apportionment Counts
http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html
On December 28, the US Census Bureau released its preliminary results for the 2000 Census. According to the Bureau, "the nation's resident population on Census Day, April 1, 2000 was 281,421,906, a 13.2 percent rise over the 248,709,873 counted in the 1990 census" -- an increase that exceeded the Bureau's projections. Visitors to the site can examine tables and maps showing population data for states, congressional districts, and US overseas population as well as state population rankings and percentage change since the 1990 Census. The site also provides a press release summarizing the data and background information on congressional apportionment -- the constitutional cause of the census -- as well as a link to educational materials for studying the census in schools (see the January 11, 2000 Scout Report for the Social Sciences). [DC]
[Back to Contents]Quality Counts 2001: A Better Balance
http://www.edweek.org/sreports/qc01/
Produced in collaboration with the Pew Charitable Trusts, Education Week's fifth annual 50-state report card on public education finds that "states need to strike a better balance among academic standards, testing and the tools students and schools need to succeed." At the site, users will find the full text of this detailed report, including an executive summary, an examination of issues and trends in standards and testing, standards-related policy tables, a review of the states, state report cards, and state policy updates. Numerous charts and tables are used throughout the text. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Beyond Agriculture: New Policies for Rural America [.pdf]
http://www.kc.frb.org/BS&S/PUBLICAT/PDF/beyond/beyondmain.htm
This online book contains the collected papers from the first conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's Center for the Study of Rural America. The conference explored new economic policies that would help rural America enter the digital economy. The papers, which must be downloaded separately, fall into three main categories: Rural America at a Crossroad; Seizing New Opportunities in Rural America; and New Directions for Rural Policy. The book also contains a keynote address by Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, the comments of several noted economists, and the transcripts of the closing discussion. [EM]
[Back to Contents]Functional Genomics
http://www.sciencegenomics.org/
This new site from Science magazine is designed as an entry point for scientists, researchers, and general users interested in genomics. Features include links to recent news, new and classic scholarly papers organized by topic, annotated links, biotech business resources, and Science's genome special issues. This well-designed and easy-to-use resource has potential for a wide range of users interested in genomics and biotechnology. [MD]
[Back to Contents]JNUL Kettubot Database
http://jnul.huji.ac.il/dl/ketubbot/
Jewish National and University Library
http://jnul.huji.ac.il/
"For over 2000 years Jewish law has required that every husband present his wife, at the time of their marriage, with a marriage contract or ketubbah, guaranteeing the wife's financial rights in case of the husband's death or divorce." These Kettubot are a rich source for studying Jewish history, customs, and art, as many were decorated according to the locality and period and reflected local customs. In addition, each was a legal document with exact dates and place names, allowing historians to identify them precisely in time and place. The Jewish National and University Library (JNUL) has the largest collection of Kettubot in the world, with over 1,200 items. They have now created an online database of these documents, allowing scholars and others worldwide to access images and bibliographic information. Visitors may browse the collection by country or search by keyword. Images of the Kettubot are available in three resolutions, and bibliographic records include title, place, country, year, material, and size. The names of the parties to the contract and witnesses are also listed, but they appear to be in Hebrew, and users will need the appropriate language capability in their browsers. Information about the JNUL and an online catalog are available at the main site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Power of the Internet for Learning: Final Report of Web-Based Education Commission [.pdf]
http://www.ed.gov/offices/AC/WBEC/FinalReport/
Published on December 19 and recently placed online by the US Department of Education, the final report of the Web-Based Education Commission (WBEC) constitutes the "most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of education and the Internet." Chaired by Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, the WEBC urged the new administration and Congress to fully embrace e-learning, address gaps in Internet access, and revise certain regulations that they believe impede innovation. Users can read the full text of the 169-page report in its entirety or in five parts in .pdf format. [MD]
[Back to Contents]British Library Newspaper Library Catalogue
http://www.bl.uk/collections/newspaper/newscat.html
The British Library Newspaper Library in Colindale has recently placed its catalog of over 50,000 newspaper and periodical title holdings online. Researchers planning a trip to Colindale can now look up titles and dates held in advance. Reservations for materials can even be made by telephone or email. The catalog is searchable by keyword and sorted by title, date, or place. Entries include place, main title, numbers, dates, shelfmark, dates held on microfilm, and other notes. The British Library Newspaper Library's holdings include "all UK national daily and Sunday newspapers from 1801 to the present; most UK and Irish provincial newspapers, some from the early 18th century onwards; [and] selected newspapers from around the world in western and Slavonic languages dating from the 17th century onwards." [MD]
[Back to Contents]Digital Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/research/lunar_orbiter/index.html
The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) has created a digital version of the Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon, published in 1971 and considered "the definitive reference manual to the global photographic coverage of the Moon." The site includes all 675 plates contained in the original work, digitally enhanced to increase photo quality. Visitors can view images by feature name, listed alphabetically or by descending latitude and longitude, or they can search by feature name, photo number, or coordinate range. Returns include a large thumbnail image, photo number, feature name, latitude and longitude, size, sun angle, spacecraft altitude, and medium photo center latitude and longitude. Students and general users may wish to consult the even easier to use Consolidated Lunar Atlas, which allows browsing by a long list of plates, thumbnails, or even better, an interactive image map. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Public Bodies 2000 [.pdf]
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/caboff/pb00/pb00.htm
Released on January 4 by the UK Stationery Office, this report is an excellent reference resource on the UK "quango" sector in 1999-2000. The "quango" sector is the collection of over 1,000 non-departmental public bodies (NDPB), which play a role in national government but are not a government department or part of one. Examples include the Commission for Racial Equality, the Commission for Health Improvement, and the National Army Museum. The report details the size, budget, and membership of NDPBs, as well as their terms of reference and contact information. The public bodies are listed under their parent departments. Information is also provided for NDPBs in the devolved administrations (Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland) under a separate section. [MD]
[Back to Contents]H-Communal-Societies
http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~commsoc/
This new H-Net mailing list is concerned with intentional communities, both the study of communities and participation and membership in them. By intentional communities the moderators mean "any social arrangement of three or more unrelated adults who voluntarily choose some form of cooperation usually involving a common living space and a shared economic system." The moderators anticipate both a wide range of participants and dialogues related to communal societies. Subscription information and discussion logs are available at the list's homepage on H-Net. [MD]
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Report of the No Gun Ri Review [.pdf]
http://www.army.mil/nogunri/
Released on January 11, this report is the result of a 15-month investigation by the Department of the Army into reports that Korean refugees were killed by US soldiers in the vicinity of No Gun Ri in late July 1950. In the 300-page report, the Army admits for the first time that "an unknown number of Korean civilians were killed or injured" by US forces, but maintains that it was not a "deliberate act." In other words, no direct orders to shoot refugees were issued. This conclusion has been challenged by some journalists, South Korean survivors, their family members, and several US veterans who were present at No Gun Ri. Users may download the full text of the report in .pdf format by chapter at the US Army site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Real Thirteen Days: The Hidden History of the Cuban Missile Crisis [RealPlayer]
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/
The incomparable National Security Archive (NSA) has recently crafted this site in response to the new movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis. At the site, users can read the full text of declassified documents, see the U-2 spyplane photos, and listen to recordings of the actual White House security briefings. Also provided are a chronology of events and three recent essays by historians. Like all of the NSA's efforts, this site is a great resource for both classroom use and personal interest. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Two on the US Criminal Justice System
Prison Diaries -- NPR [RealPlayer, QuickTime]
http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/prisondiaries/
360degrees: Perspectives on the US Criminal Justice System [Flash, QuickTime]
http://www.360degrees.org/
This collaborative effort between National Public Radio (NPR) and Picture Projects offers an intimate portrait of the US criminal justice system, involving inmates, legal and law enforcement professionals, victims, and families. The first site is the homepage for a new series from the producer of the acclaimed Teenage Diaries radio series. The Prison Diaries series is based on audio journals kept by five inmates, four correctional officers, and a judge. The series has just begun to air, so at present audio files are available for only two programs. Background information, some images, and QTVR panoramas are available for two unaired episodes. Users will find more detailed information and numerous additional resources at the online documentary, 360degrees. The site features the same two stories currently available at the NPR site, but also offers a number of photos, additional audio commentary, transcripts, and background information. Other resources include a timeline, quizzes, a forum, classroom ideas, a reading list, a glossary, links to radio projects, and information about organizations working on criminal justice issues. Please note that many features of the site are under construction, but it promises to become one of the most thoughtful and valuable examinations of these topics available online. [MD]
[Back to Contents]DOD USS Cole Commission Report
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/cole20010109.html
Released on January 9, the final report on the October 12 bombing of the USS Cole focuses on the additional steps needed to combat terrorism, including more timely transfers of intelligence reports and better coordination among government agencies. The report does not assign blame for the attack, and a separate, internal Navy report has recommended against sanctioning the Cole's captain or crew. Outgoing Defense Secretary William Cohen, however, has asked a senior adviser to review the findings to see if they raise questions about accountability among military commanders. An executive summary and the unclassified findings and recommendations summary have been placed online at the Department of Defense DefenseLINK site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Fast Facts: Almanacs/ Factbooks/ Statistical Reports & Related Reference Tools
http://gwu.edu/~gprice/handbook.htm
The inestimable Gary D. Price, librarian at George Washington University, has put together yet another excellent reference resource. This one is essentially an electronic almanac or collection of links to sites with "fast facts" for a large collection of topics. These are listed alphabetically by subject, from agriculture to zoology. The entry under aviation, for example, includes links to the Airline Handbook, Business Aviation Factbook, General Aviation Statistical Databook, General Aviation Statistical Databook, and several others. Entries for US cities or states generally include the official data or fact book. There are too many other resources to list, so users should take a look for themselves and then give the site pride of place in their reference bookmarks. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition - Update [RealPlayer]
http://www.MerckHomeEdition.com/
Merck & Co., Inc. has released a new interactive version of the online home edition of their celebrated medical reference text (reviewed in the March 17, 2000 Scout Report). Selecting the new version launches a window with 24 topic sections listed in a table of contents in the upper-left frame. Selecting a section produces a list of chapters. Chapter topics are listed in the lower-left frame, and interactive elements are indicated with icons. These include photos, videos, animations, illustrations, audio, tables, and sidebars. The Manual is keyword searchable and also allows users to bookmark pages and display a history. The site claims that the current version is for Windows users only, but we were able to access information with a Mac, though not without a few difficulties. A Mac version is promised for the future, and those unwilling to suffer through a few glitches can still access the original text version. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Database of Houses
http://www.dicamillocompanion.com/Houses_database.html
The DiCammilo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses
http://www.dicamillocompanion.com/
Provided by the DiCammilo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses, this database represents an effort to list every country house built in Britain or Ireland, standing or demolished. At present, the database indexes over 6,000 houses and may be searched by house name, country, district, historic county, architect name, start and completion date, whether or not it is open to the public, and by films or television shows filmed at the house, among others. Basic returns include location, architects, dates, open to the public, and letter buttons which link to more detailed information, though these are incomplete for many entries. Some entries also include one or more thumbnail images. The main site offers a collection of related links and information for users planning a trip to any of the houses or the UK and Ireland in general. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Familyrecords.gov.uk
http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/
Launched in December, this new portal guides users to the primary UK family history sites and resources on the Web. These are organized in two columns, by archive and by topic. The former include the Public Record Office, the National Archives of Scotland, the India Office, the National Library of Wales, and the Family Records Office. Clicking on each brings up a short description and a link to the site. The topical links include census, wills, migration, military records, adoption, parish registers, and births, deaths, and marriages. Each of these also returns a brief description and links to several resources. This easy-to-use and clean site is an excellent starting point for anyone researching their family origins in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Nation Directory
http://www.thenation.com/directory/
This new resource from the well-known progressive magazine is a searchable directory of past articles and annotated links to "people, organizations, non-profits, agencies, books and other resources relating to the worlds of politics, economics and culture." The directory is divided into thirteen categories, each of which is broken down further by topic. Categories include Books, Arts, & Entertainment; Media; Peace, Disarmament & Military; Gender & Sexuality; and Foreign Affairs, among others. The directory is keyword searchable, but the engine appears to only index categories rather than individual entries, so browsing will get you the same results. Please note that some of the past Nation articles indexed are not available online. [MD]
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SearchTurtle.com
http://www.searchturtle.com/
This new meta-search engine helps users browse through search results more quickly by placing a navigation toolbar at the top of their browser. After conducting a search and selecting one of the results, users can view the previous or next result by clicking the appropriate buttons rather than returning to the original results page. Users can also open the previous or next page or search results at the touch of a button. A number of specialized searches by country and content (.mp3, video, news, audio, images) are also available. The site does not list which search engines it uses for general queries, but users may select specific engines under each of the specialized searches. An adult content filter and Boolean support are also provided. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Macworld Expo Keynote
Keynote Video [QuickTime]
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/mwsf01/
Macworld Expo Hot News
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/articles/2001/01/mwsf/
iDVD
http://www.apple.com/idvd/
iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
During Tuesday's Macworld Expo keynote address, and in typical Steve Jobs form, Apple's CEO made several announcements of interest to the Macintosh community. Jobs announced that Mac OS X (currently available as a public beta, see the September 15, 2000 Scout Report) will be released on March 24. Jobs demonstrated some of the changes that have been made to Mac OS X as a result of feedback from beta users. These enhancements included options to make the Mac OS X Desktop behave more like the traditional Mac OS 9 Finder, the return of the Apple menu to its rightful place at the far left side of the menu bar, and the ability to browse an entire folder hierarchy from the dock.
Jobs introduced two new programs, iDVD and iTunes, to complement Apple's existing iMovie software. iDVD allows users to easily create DVDs that are playable in consumer DVD players from QuickTime movies, such as those created with iMovie. Creating, or burning, a DVD requires a drive with this capability; Jobs announced that Apple will ship such a drive, called the SuperDrive (not to be confused with Imation's SuperDisk high capacity floppy drive) in the top end configuration of its Power Mac G4 line. iTunes is Apple's foray into the world of MP3 music. iTunes allows users to "rip" their CDs and create MP3 files. These files are browseable and searchable from the iTunes software. The software also allows users to create custom playlists and burn CDs from these playlists, a process which used to require a few separate pieces of software. iTunes appears to be an Apple-modified version of the popular SoundJam MP audio player, and is available as a free download from Apple.
Several other impressive hardware and software announcements were made during the keynote and the expo itself. These include speed-bumped Power Mac G4s, an amazing brand new Powerbook subnotebook which sports a G4 processor, and a peek at a Mac OS X version of Alias|Wavefront's Maya 3D animation and visual effects software. For complete details, watch the video of the keynote or visit Apple's Hot News page. Note: At this time, the video is being streamed in a continuous loop; if you choose to watch it, you'll probably be jumping in mid-keynote. [PC]
[Back to Contents]BeeHoo
http://www.beehoo.com/
It doesn't get too much more specialized than this. BeeHoo is a Yahoo-esque directory of resources for, you guessed it, beekeepers and bee enthusiasts. The site is not searchable but may be browsed by category and subtopic. These include bees, bee management, hives products, and health, among others. Sites are listed with a brief description, including languages used at the site. BeeHoo has a nice international scope, indexing numerous non-anglophone (mostly European) sites. BeeHoo itself is provided in both English and French. Users may sign up for a free newsletter and submit sites to be included in the directory. [MD]]
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AOL Time Warner Clears Final Hurdle
"AOL and Time Warner unite" -- BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1112000/1112358.stm
"A Done Deal" -- TheStandard.com
http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,20784,00.html
AOL/Time Warner Merger -- Online NewsHour
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/aol_time_index.html
"F.C.C. Approves AOL-Time Warner Deal, With Conditions" -- New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/12/technology/12AOL.html
"AOL Time Warner merger could net consumers more and less" -- CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/computing/01/11/aol.tw.merger/index.html
"AOL, Time Warner and you" -- CBS Marketwatch
http://cbs.marketwatch.com/archive/20000110/news/current/consumer.htx
AOL Time Warner Merger Editorial Cartoons
http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/aol/
AOL Time Warner Press Release
http://www.aoltimewarner.com/mergerrelease.html
America Online (AOL) and Time Warner received conditional approval from the Federal Communications Commission last night, clearing the way for the creation of the world's largest media company and the third-largest merger in history. As a condition for the merger's approval, the FCC added some restrictions to those already stipulated by other oversight panels. The FCC beefed up requirements that the new company share its cable pipeline with competing Internet service providers, required that future broadband versions of AOL's instant messaging service work with competitors, and forced a complete severance of all links with AT&T's cable service. Reaction by consumer groups has been mixed. Some have cautiously welcomed the cable line sharing requirements as an opportunity to increase consumer choice. Others have expressed continued concern over the sheer size and market power of a company that will now control both content and conduit.
The BBC's report on the merger offers a useful mix of news, analysis, background information, and profiles. TheStandard.com features several pieces on the subject, including background, archived articles, analysis, and a look at the future of the new megacompany. The NewsHour from PBS has updated their site on the merger to report on the latest developments. The site also includes previous reports, interviews, and other resources. Additional reports are available from the New York Times and CNN. CBS Marketwatch offers a nice collection of questions and answers about the merger and how it might affect consumers. Readers can consult Daryl Cagle's Cartoonists Index for reactions from editorial cartoonists and the AOL Time Warner site for the official press release. [MD]
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