NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology
The seventh issue of the first volume of the MET Report is available. Its Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about wireless communications.
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July 1942: United We Stand [Flash]
http://americanhistory.si.edu/1942/index.html
Offered by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, this Web site is an attractive presentation of the early 1940's via magazine covers and commentary about them. In the wake of September 11, having seen the phrase "God Bless America" posted on signs ranging from church fronts and bumper stickers to restaurants windows and gas stations, readers should relate to the use of the 1942 slogan "United We Stand," adopted by over five hundred magazines as a response to the United States' declaration of war during World War II. In HTML with a skippable Flash intro, the Web site elegantly explains and illustrates the campaign championed by the American press. Scholars, as well as amateur historians and the most casual researchers, should find the site not only worthwhile but also enjoyable. For users less interested in browsing the presentation, the site provides a substantial search page for the 300+ magazine covers in the collection. [TS]
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Annotated Bibliography of Government Documents Related to the Threat of Terrorism and the Attacks of September 11, 2001 [.pdf]
http://www.odl.state.ok.us/usinfo/terrorism/911.htm
This impressive bibliography has been compiled by Kevin D. Motes (US Government Information Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries). It focuses on the US federal documents on terrorism and most specifically on attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. All documents are described with concise annotations and available through the Federal Depository system. Many, if not most, of these publications are available via the Web. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title within each of the seven sections (Aftermath, Congressional and Presidential Actions, Global Terrorism, International Politics, National Security, US Foreign Relations, and Weapons of Mass Destruction). Although available in a very limited print version with a steep price (300 hundred copies with each costing $502.39!!!), this reviewer will be certain to bookmark this reference tool. One might hope for a comprehensive index perhaps in a future edition, but that is a relatively modest quibble. Anyone even moderately interested in the US response to terrorism will definitely find enough to keep himself/herself busy for a long, long time. [DJS]
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The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth [.pdf]
http://www.heritage.org/library/backgrounder/bg1533.html
As sexually transmitted diseases continue to rise among America's youth, the Heritage Foundation's report on "The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth" should give readers serious food for thought. While many question the efficacy and advisability behind abstinence counseling, the report calls into question programs that either discount or gloss over abstinence as a viable choice among the nation's teen population. Backed by major studies, among them one authored by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the report argues that traditional, secular sex education, which emphasizes the importance of prophylactic methods of contraception, does little more than shuttle America's kids toward their first sexual experiences, while doing little to prevent the brunt of unwanted pregnancies or stem the rising tide of sexually transmitted disease in the target population. Signaling the gravity of the underlying issues, ones with lifelong and even life-threatening implications, the report calls attention to ten regional programs recognized for their efforts in promoting teen sexual abstinence. As further evidence in support of their cause, the report also points renewed favor it has gained at the Executive, federal, and state levels. [WH]
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United States Pacific Command: Asia-Pacific Economic Update 2002
http://www.pacom.mil/publications/apeu02/apeu2002.htm
An great resource and one of the most extensive studies of the impact of the Asian crash of 2000 available anywhere online or in print. Produced by the United States Pacific Command's Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, the report offers a country-by-country economic analysis of the entire Pacific region. Not always for the faint of heart, the report tells it like it is, detailing the often devastating impact of the financial crises that were unleashed on the region throughout the 1990s to present. Presented as individual reports and several broader regional analyses, the study is essential reading for anyone hoping to grasp the big picture of the global economy, because the Pacific region comprises the single largest sector of production and export today. It is compelling reading and offers a wealth of information on a region of vital interest to all Americans. [WH]
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Kentuckiana Digital Library
http://www.kyvl.org/kentuckiana/digilibcoll/digilibcoll.shtml
A new offering from the Kentucky Virtual Library, Kentuckiana Digital Library (KDL) is "a digital library of primary sources and access aids selected by Kentucky archivists representing 15 Kentucky colleges, universities, libraries and historical society repositories." For those scholars and researchers interested in Kentucky's past, KDL gives ample materials at which to look: photographs, collections of papers, oral histories, and more. Once a collection is selected, the interface, though at first in frames, is relatively user-friendly. Another great feature, especially for researchers already familiar with Kentucky historical resources, is the Finding Aids section, which provides an easy-to-navigate list of guides that takes users into various collections, sorted by collection-owning college or organization. [TS]
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Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry
http://www.rhodes.aegean.gr/maa_journal/
The first issue is available of this new interdisciplinary journal published by the University of the Aegean, Department of Mediterranean Studies, Rhodes, Greece. In both English and Greek languages, the journal intends to offer peer-reviewed, current scholarly examinations of the Mediterranean region's past while disseminating information on "innovations, discoveries, applications, and meetings." The possible areas for editorial inclusion are ethnoarchaelogy; completed excavation reports; palaeolithic, classical, hellenistic, roman, protochristian, byzantine, etruscan periods, and megalithic cultures in Mediterranean region; early arab cultures; mythology; biblical archaeology; and natural sciences applied to archaeology. Judging from the first issue and the table of contents for issue 2, there is plenty for the interested scholar. [DJS]
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Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism
http://www.marquette.edu/maqom/
New as of April 2002 and a work-in-progress, the site is the labor of love of students and scholars working in Marquette University's Department of Theology under the direction of Professor Alexander Golitzin. While many might be inclined to believe that the site is for adepts only, nothing is further from the truth, as nearly every theme addressed presents a broad field of links to studies on their primary subject. Broken into specific themes or topics, the site covers a vast array of subjects from multiple traditions and lands. And for those who need a little help with the background, the site also provides a prodigious webliography of further online resources of biblical and exegetic studies, including links to the incredible Orion Dead Seas Scrolls site and the Hagiography Database. [WH]
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No Child Left Behind
http://www.nclb.gov/
Signed into law on January 8, 2002, the No Child Left Behind Bill will significantly impact the terms and conditions of primary and secondary education in America, especially where it comes to how federal monies earmarked for education are allocated. Representing a key plank of President Bush's electoral platform, the law and the programs it puts in place will help ensure that successful teaching methods are brought to bear in America's classrooms. Essentially, the No Child Left Behind site, provided by the US Department of Education, details the new program and its primary objectives, first among them putting in place a quantifiable system of checks and balances in the form of outcome-based student assessment. Serving as the foundation for an emphasis on excellence, it is hoped that such a plan will empower those within the system at every level and reward programs that are getting the job done, while identifying those that don't. [WH]
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Mary Louise Reynolds Collection
http://www.artic.edu/reynolds/
Mary Louise Reynolds (1891-1950) led a fascinating life at the center of the Surrealist circle of artists, numbering as her friends Max Ernst, Man Ray, Paul luard, Andr Breton, Jean Cocteau, and Salvador Dal. Reynolds and Surrealist Marcel Duchamp were partners in a long term relationship thought by their friends to be far happier than most marriages. She was a book artist and served in the French resistance during World War II. The materials in the Mary Louise Reynolds Archive and her collection of rare books and bindings at the Art Institute of Chicago have inspired at least two books and several exhibitions, as well as this Web site. The site features four essays reprinted from the Art Institute's Museum Studies journal, illustrated with digital images of Surrealist works, and available in both HTML and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. There is also an online finding aid to the collection, and it is possible to search the Ryerson and Burnham Library's catalog for Reynolds collection items. One portion of the site (View Works of Art) brings together all the digitized works of art: Reynolds' book bindings, Surrealist documents, prints, and a few photographs. [DS]
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The Washington File for Middle East and North Africa
http://lists.state.gov/SCRIPTS/WA-USIAINFO.EXE?SUBED1=wf-mideast&A=1
A new email list from the US Department of State's Office of International Information Programs, the Washington File for Middle East and North Africa offers email reports about US policies in the Middle East and North Africa. Mostly transcripts, excerpts, and text statements, the materials provided should give interested users primary source knowledge of US State Department positions, unfiltered by newspapers or other media. Each report has a summary list of all enclosed topics, making browsing much quicker and easier, especially considering the amount of information that some reports provide. Two examples of issues covered by the report are: "Transcript: Rumsfeld Sees Progress Toward Afghan National Army" and "Text: U.S. Sees No Credible Evidence of Ukraine Arms Transfers to Iraq." Interested readers should note that, while never unnecessary, a lot of information is provided, meaning that it could take some time to sort through all material in each report. [TS]
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The Middle East Research Institute
http://www.memri.org/
With continuing tension in the Middle East, the Middle East Research Institute (MEMRI) offers increasingly relevant information for users interested in constructing a balanced perspective about the region's conflicts. Headquartered in Washington DC, MEMRI's primary research project is to translate Middle Eastern media sources into numerous languages, currently including English, German, and Spanish -- especially as it pertains to US policies. Soon, MEMRI will be adding translations in Turkish, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, and French. Users can access reports online or via email reports, which are available for subscription just off the home page. [TS]
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Museum of Online Museums
http://www.coudal.com/archives/museum.html
If you have a minute to spare, pay a visit to Coudal.Com's Museum of Online Museums (MoOM), which features shows and exhibits ranging from the classic and staid to the incredibly exotic. Broken into three separate categories, the site serves as a portal to some very distinctive collections, such as those of the Art Institute of Chicago and France's Musee d'Orsay. In its permanent collection, the MoOM site affords viewers the opportunity to consider "art" in ways they might never have considered, as in the exhibit of "Fading Billboards" and "Roadside and Outsider Art," just to name a few. Elevating to the level of art, objects probably never considered thus, the third showcase or portal leads the way to such attractions as "The Museum of Airsickness Bags," "Manhole Covers Arranged by County," and, a real find for Lego enthusiasts young and old, the "Lego Instructions" site. Linking and leading the way to much more worth considering, the Museum of Online Museums is sure to keep you engaged and in search of more. [WH]
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Science and Engineering Indicators 2002: National Science Board [.pdf]
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/seind02/start.htm
Science and Engineering Indicators is a biennial report of the National Science Board on the trends and capabilities of technical fields within the United States. The document is made to help government and corporate policy makers consider the best directions to take for their respective organization, but it also offers valuable insights into the country's growth. It is a very comprehensive analysis (over 400 pages long), and can be downloaded as a single file or viewed online in several sections. Secondary and higher education, industry, and research and development are all considered in local and international contexts. The quantitative information presented in this report gives an excellent overview of the constantly changing scientific, engineering, and technology industries in the US. This site is also reviewed in the May 10, 2002 NSDL Math, Engineering, and Technology Report. [CL]
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The Internet Broadway Database
http://www.ibdb.com/
Created by the League of American Theatres and Producers' Research Department, The Internet Broadway Database provides an array of information about past and current Broadway shows. The database is a result of ongoing collection development by the League, based primarily on theatre programs (generally from a show's opening night). Other information is harvested from media reports, interviews, and the League's archives. The goal of the site is to "serve as a comprehensive history of Broadway for the benefit of League members, press, theatre professionals and enthusiasts." The site features a list of shows currently on Broadway, as well as a comprehensive advanced search page that allows users to dig up information on past productions. [REB]
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Ads.com [Real Player, Windows Media Player]
http://www.ads.com/ads/index.jsp
A site devoted to offering streaming video commercials, ads.com offers online access to a large assortment of television advertisements. Through an attractive interface, users can search for commericials either by brand name or by television show episode. So, for those watching their favorite television program and want to see a commercial that aired during it, ads.com should be the perfect way to access the commercial. Currently, access by TV program is limited to a few shows on ABC and FOX, but the site offers an extensive list of brand/product names to browse. Also of interest is the Inside Ads link, which takes users to a page that gives in-depth commentary on select commercials; an archive of previous comments is also available. Two versions of each commercial are available: low bandwidth and broadband. Media studies researchers, as well as teachers who use media analysis in their lesson plans, should appreciate the easy access to commercials that ads.com provides. And of course, for those who appreciate popular culture, ads.com be great for viewing the latest "you've gotta see that one" commercial. [TS]
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Google Answers
https://answers.google.com/answers/main
Have you ever wished that you had a research staff ready to find you a quick answer at a moment's notice? Google offers a service, now in beta release, called Google Answers. After registering with Google, users can ask paid researchers questions. Examples already submitted include: "Who is the Director of Human Resources for Perdue Farms, Inc. in Salisbury, Maryland?" and "What is the equation to convert millibars to inches of Mercury, please?" In order to get a question answered, though, users must pay a price that they deem sufficient (between $4 and $50), with 75 percent going to the researcher and 25 percent going to Google. Conversely, for those users who like to research, Google also provides online facilities for researchers to get paid answering questions. So essentially, Google is operating as a broker between the questioner and researcher, taking commissions in return for providing an information service much like eBay offers for items and collectibles. Some users may find the notion of paying for information on the Internet annoying, but for those who have a simple question for which they just can't find the answer, Google Answers may be a good place to start. [TS]
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Finale Notepad 2002
http://www.codamusic.com/coda/np.asp
Finale Notepad 2002 is a nifty musical notation tool offered for free download by Coda Music Technology. Available for both Windows and Macintosh, the software enables sheet music creation on the computer via user-friendly interfaces, intuitive wizards, and simple icons. For musicians that need a simple software package to write and compose music, Finale Notepad 2002 will probably function adequately. A great feature that should aid the composition process is a playback feature that reads and plays musical notation, sounding much like a traditional, no frills MIDI player. Users with low bandwidth should be wary of the bulky file size, though; the Macintosh version was roughly 7 MB. [TS]
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Implant Chips
First Humans to Receive ID Chips
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-050902chipped.story
Family Gets Computer Chips Implanted for Medical Information
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/3237944.htm
US accepts 'Big Brother' chip implant
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1911000/1911911.stm
I, Chip?
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DailyNews/chipimplant020225.html
VeriChip Corporation
http://www.adsx.com/prodservpart/verichip.html
VeriChip Receives Favorable FDA Guidance
http://www.adsx.com/news/2002/040402.html
Digital Angel Takes Flight
http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/15059.html
Digital Angel Corporation
http://www.digitalangel.net/
A group of eight people, including all members of one Florida family, had an implant chip, roughly the size of a grain of rice, injected under their skin on Friday, May 10. Manufactured by Applied Digital Solutions (ADS), the chips store a special identification number that enables the retrieval of personal and medical information. In the event of a medical emergency, a special handheld scanner activates the dormant digital implant, which provides identification data with which medical personnel can query ADS's database, the location of the patient's medical records. Alzheimer's patients seem to be the most promising market for this technology, even though other people, like the Florida family, hope to benefit from it as well. Another product that ADS offers is called Digital Angel, a wearable global positioning system (GPS) device that, among other things, can track in real time the wearer's physical movements. In the future, ADS is planning to release a product that will utilize both of these technologies: an implanted GPS-enabled chip. Unlike VeriChip, though, the GPS-enabled implant would require Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, meaning the US market won't see its introduction until after FDA testing. Many organizations, ranging from privacy advocates to religious groups, have already denounced VeriChip and its eventually successors, associated them with "Big Brother" and the biblical "Mark of the Beast."
To read about the eight people that received their implants, look at the first and second sites, articles from the Los Angeles Times and Miami Herald respectively. For a non-US perspective, view the news story posted by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC). The fourth site, an extensive analysis of the subject from ABC News, should give readers a broader understanding of implanted chips and their potential uses. Two sites from ADS are next -- VeriChip's product pages and the press release that details a FDA's decision regarding VeriChip in April, 2002. Finally, the last two sites give more information on Digital Angel and a sample of GPS technology already in use. [TS]
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