NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology
The twelfth issue of the first volume of the MET Report is available. Its Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about copy protection.
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Two from Homeland Security
National Strategy For Homeland Security [.pdf]
http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/book/index.html
Department of Homeland Security
http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/
Presented by the White House Web site, the National Strategy For Homeland Security (NSHS) is the first US document of its kind with the purpose of mobilizing and organizing "our Nation to secure the U.S. homeland from terrorist attacks." Accessible in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, the document provides a framework that outlines the contributions that all Americans -- federal government departments and agencies, state and local governments, private companies and organizations, and individual Americans -- can make to better secure this country's homeland. The report is divided into sections, some of which include Threat and Vulnerability, Organizing for a Secure Homeland, Critical Mission Areas, Foundations, and Cost of Homeland Security. The second site, also a product of the White House Web site, is the Department of Homeland Security's home page. Here, you will find information such as an analysis of the Homeland Security Act, Presidential speeches and background information on homeland security, the department's organizational structure, administration and homeland security actions since September 11th, and other key components regarding the department's role and responsibilities. [MG]
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Filling Holes in Complex Surfaces Using Volumetric Diffusion
http://graphics.stanford.edu/papers/holefill-3dpvt02/
Presented at the First International Symposium on 3D Data Processing, Visualization, and Transmission held in Padua, Italy, June 19-21, 2002, this 11-page paper by James Davis, Stephen R. Marschner, Matt Garr, and Marc Levoy presents an algorithm that can fill holes in 3D models using volumetric diffusion. Using a 3D model of a section of hair from a photograph of the Michelangelo's David, the authors illustrate how certain holes are too "geometrically and topologically complex to fill using triangulation algorithms." As a result, they have come up with a solution that entails a "signed distance function," and a diffusion process that extends this function through the volume until its zero set bridges with existing holes. For science enthusiasts interested in filling holes in 3D models, the authors assert that the "algorithm is simple to implement, is guaranteed to produce manifold non-interpenetrating surfaces, and is efficient to run on large data sets." [MG]
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Sources on US Naval History
http://www.history.navy.mil/sources/index.htm
Hoping to facilitate more new research in its extensive holdings on American naval history, the Naval Historical Center has digitized its material, making more than two centuries of archival material readily available to interested parties. The Web site presents an alphabetic listing of every state in the nation, each of which link directly to primary source material on parties and organizations involved in American naval history in any way, whether it be in the form of production, administration, or active military service. Many of the states' listings link to historical societies and other archival resources, each of which call attention to notable maritime holdings in their collections. Beyond the above, Sources on US Naval History also links back to its creator, the Naval Historical Center, which is the historical branch of the Department of the Navy. [WH]
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The Rise of the E-Citizen: How People Use Government Agencies' Web Sites [.pdf]
http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/pdfs/PIP_Govt_Website_Rpt.pdf
At one time, creating and maintaining a Web site was an option for government agencies. However, with the increase in Internet traffic, laws and executive orders are now mandating that governments provide, at a minimum, basic online information and services to the Internet community. This report, produced by the Pew Internet and the American Life Project, states that nearly 68 million American adults have used government agency Web sites at one time or another. Of the 68 million, 42 million have used government Web sites to research public policy issues, 23 million have used the Internet to send comments to public officials concerning policy choices, 14 million have used government Web sites to gather information to help them decide how to cast their votes, and 13 million have participated in online lobbying campaigns. Accessible in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, this report is divided into four parts: Who visits government Web sites and what they do; A closer look at some activities, which focuses on more specific goals and actions of government site users; Different types of government Web site users, which identifies three major variables associated with differences among those who use government agency Web sites; and finally, A case study of the last visit to government Websites, which reveals data from a survey taken by members of the American Life Project. [MG]
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Human Cloning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry
http://www.bioethics.gov/cloningreport/
In January of this year, President Bush formed and appointed the Council on Bioethics, assigning it the task of debating and reporting on the ethical issues surrounding cloning. After six months of debate, the Council has released the report, "Human Cloning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry," which favors a four-year moratorium on attempts to create cloned cells for medical research. The ten members in favor of the moratorium argue that it would allow time to study moral and scientific controversies surrounding the procedure and to improve any regulatory oversights. However, the seven members who dissented argued that a delay would hinder important medical research and block the development of significant medical therapies. In short, the report consists of, among other things, a transmittal letter to the President, an Executive Summary, and eight chapters, most of which are available in HTML format. [MG]
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The Avalon Project: African-Americans - Biography, Autobiography and History
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/treatise/african_americans.htm
The Avalon Project at Yale Law School, (last mentioned in the April 4, 1997 Scout Report) has recently added an African American biography, autobiography, and history section. The section contains complete copies of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech, My Bondage and Freedom by Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, dictated by Sojourner Truth and edited by Olive Gilbert, The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois, and Up From Slavery: An Autobiography by Booker T. Washington. All transcripts are lucid and available in HTML format. [MG]
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ARTISTE: Image Retrieval System Puts European Galleries in the Picture
http://www.cultivate-int.org/issue7/artiste/
Still under development, Artiste's image retrieval system seeks to cross link, integrate, and render more searchable the vast holdings of four of Europe's grandest museums: London's National Gallery, London's Victoria and Albert Museum, Paris's Louvre, and Florence's Uffizi Gallery. A massive endeavor, the project relies on metadata and sophisticated content analysis of 2 and 3D collections to build a linked database now containing more than 60,000 separate images. Artiste's presentation of its work and progress is both detailed and well illustrated, carefully walking visitors through the process designed to yield new ways of studying art and identifying the complex interrelationships between works, themes, and masters. [WH]
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freedominfo.org
http://www.freedominfo.org/
Freedominfo.org is a newly released site that provides data on freedom of information laws from areas all across the globe. Designed to link the efforts of freedom of information advocates around the world and give voice to movements that have previously struggled for greater openness, this site contains a global survey that summarizes these laws in 45 countries. Written by David Banisar of Privacy International, the survey also provides links to the text of each law as well as other relevant sites. In addition, users will also find case studies, news releases, reports, and analysis; and beginning this month, the site will present a regular column called IFTI Watch, which features news regarding access to information in international financial and trade institutions. [MG]
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Mike's Electric Stuff [.avi]
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/
Mike's Electric Stuff is a popular Web site with various odds and ends about electronics and related equipment. Ever wondered just how much fun microwaving a CD can be? That's just the beginning of the wild things you can find. The site is divided into three main sections: antique glass (e.g., nixie tubes and neon lamps), Tesla coils and high-voltage stuff, and miscellaneous items such as lasers. Detailed instructions are given for several projects (perhaps crazy experiments would be the better term). A particularly well documented project shows how to build old-fashioned nixie tube clocks, and printed circuit board layouts are included. This site is also reviewed in the July 19, 2002 NSDL MET Report. [CL]
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State Health Facts Online
http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/cgi-bin/healthfacts.cgi?
Provided by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts discloses important health and health policy information for all fifty states and US territories. Data are divided into ten categories -- demographics and the economy, health status, health coverage and uninsured, medicaid and CHIP, medicare, health costs and budgets, managed care and health insurance, providers and service use, women's health, minority health, and HIV/ AIDS -- and are displayed as tables, rankings, graphs, or color-coded maps. Users may access individual state profiles and then compare them to other states, or the US as a whole. Also available is a complete list of all the categories, subcategories, and topics that are available on the State Health Facts Online site; links to over 40 Kaiser Family Foundation reports and related resources; a glossary; methodology; and contact information. [MG]
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Gabriel: Gateway to Europe's National Libraries
http://www.kb.nl/gabriel/
Gabriel: Gateway to Europe's National Libraries (last mentioned in the February 19, 1999 Scout Report) has been redesigned and updated and is now showcasing an improved, more user-friendly platform. Covering 41 European national libraries from the 39 countries represented in the Conference of European National Librarians (CENL), Gabriel offers information on their services, online exhibitions, and printed and electronic collections, as well as instructions on how to gain access to their online catalogues and services. Accessible in English, French, and German, all Web sites of the European national libraries can be searched simultaneously using a single keyword or phrase. [MG]
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Manuel R. Bustamante Photograph Collection
http://www.library.miami.edu/chcdigital/chc5017_main.html
Made available by the University of Miami's Cuban Heritage Digital Collection (CHDC) of the Otto G. Richter Library, the Manuel R. Bustamante Photograph Collection contains over 600 photographs of Cuba that date from the turn of the 20th century to the 1930s. Donated by Manuel R. Bustamante, this collection showcases many aspects of Cuban life and culture not only through visual images but also through documents and memorabilia. The collection is divided into six categories -- churches and altars, cities and towns, faces of Cuba, industry and economy, landscapes, and rural life -- and have been made available by the CHDC for research and study purposes. [MG]
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America's Best Hospitals 2002
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/tophosp.htm
Provided by US News, this 13th edition of America's Best Hospitals ranks 205 medical centers in 17 areas of specialization. Some of the rankings include the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York; and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore as the top three cancer medical facilities; and the Cleveland Clinic; the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston as the top three medical centers in the category of heart and heart surgery. Also available on the site is a hospital database that can be searched by specialty, location, or medical center name. [MG]
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Rocketinfo's Search Engine
http://www.rocketnews.com/2corporate/searchengine.html
Scouring over 5,000 Web sites for current news and information, Rocketinfo's search engine (formerly known as RocketNews) can retrieve news articles and stories as far back as five days. By entering a keyword or phrase, Rocketinfo will provide relevant news stories from sources such as the Associated Press, CNN News, and the Washington Post. Fast and user-friendly, this search engine makes news stories easily accessible and perhaps will make you think twice about spending money for a newspaper. [MG]
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Ditto.com: See the Web
http://www.ditto.com/default.asp
Fast and fun, this search engine differs from others by allowing users to visually navigate the Web. After entering a keyword or phrase, this search engine provides a relevant list of sources through photographic images, allowing users to see where they are going before they actually get there. For online shoppers, this is a great way to surf and shop the Web. [MG]
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Lindh Pleads Guilty and Strikes a Surprising Deal
New York Times: John Walker Lindh Pleads Guilty
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=68&ncid=68&e=20&u=/nyt/20020715/ts_nyt/john_walker_lindh_pleads_guilty
Washington Times: Lindh Pleads Guilty to 2 Counts
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020716-28166.htm
Washington Times: Spann Widow Criticizes Deal with Lindh as Too Lenient
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020717-407709.htm
CNN American Morning with Paula Zahn: Interview with Shannon Spann
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0207/16/ltm.06.html
Text of John Walker Lindh Deal
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020715/ap_on_re_us/lindh_deal_text_1
John Walker Lindh Chronology
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020715/ap_on_re_us/lindh_chronology_1
John Walker Lindh, the Californian who converted to Islam and became a warrior for Afghanistan's Taliban, pleaded guilty to two charges in a surprise deal that will send him to prison for 20 years, making him eligible for parole in 17 years. Under the agreement, the government dropped nine of the 10 charges against Lindh -- three of which carried life sentences, including conspiracy to murder Americans abroad and assisting terrorists -- and accepted guilty pleas for supplying services to the Taliban and carrying an explosive device while committing a felony. Each charge carries a 10-year sentence, which are to be served consecutively. White House officials said President Bush approved an outline of the plea deal, which the judge is scheduled to impose October 4.
Along with the deal came Lindh's agreement to cooperate fully with government investigators looking into Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda organization. In addition, Lindh dropped all claims of US military mistreatment while in detention in Afghanistan. A movie deal is rumored to be in the works; however, Lindh has agreed to yield any profits he may acquire to the government. For more information on this news story, users may access the first two links above. Viewers interested in the response from Shannon Spann, the widow of the CIA officer who was murdered moments after questioning John Walker Lindh, can click on links three and four. The last two links respectively lead to the text of the plea agreement that US prosecutors struck with Lindh, and a chronology of events leading up to Lindh's guilty plea, starting from November 25, 2001. [MG]
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