The Scout Report -- Volume 9, Number 36

http://scout.wisc.edu/nsdl-reports/met/2003/met-030912.php

The eleventh issue of the second volume of the MET Report is available. Its Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about Voice over Internet Protocol.

http://webcat.library.wisc.edu:3200/EcoNatRes/

Developed by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections group, the Ecology and Natural Resources Collection Web site brings together writings about research in ecology and natural resources conducted by University of Wisconsin faculty and staff, along with unique or valuable titles in these fields from the holdings of the University of Wisconsin Libraries. While titles will continue to be added in the future to this archive, the archive currently contains several important works, including Soils of Wisconsin, authored by Francis Doan Hole. The archive contains some other amazing material, such as 188 images from the papers of the late naturalist Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac. Here visitors can peruse (and search) various images, including several pages of his hand-written journals, photographs of him out and about around Wisconsin, and hand-drawn maps of the places that were dear to him. Finally, users can look through the Wisconsin Land Economic Inventory maps (often called the Bordner Survey after its director, John Bordner), which offer a portrait of the Wisconsin landscape during the 1930s and 1940s. [KMG]

http://www.yale.edu/envirocenter/

Established in 1994 by the Yale Law School and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy "draws on resources throughout Yale University to develop and advance environmental policy locally, regionally, nationally, and globally." This is not a surprising partnership, as the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (founded by Gifford Pinchot) helped launch the conservation movement of the early 20th century, and graduates of the Yale Law School were some of the primary movers behind the environmental law movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. From the homepage, visitors can learn about ongoing research projects (such as those dealing with global environmental governance), read a number of publications authored by Center faculty, and learn about upcoming conferences and events sponsored by the Center. Rounding out the site is the Environmental Sustainability Index, which serves as "a measure of overall progress towards environmental sustainability". Here visitors can examine the ESI scores of 142 countries, which are based upon a set of 20 core indicators, along with reading a full report on the results from the 2002 findings. [KMG]

http://www.export.gov/iraq/

Recently, the United States Department of Commerce established this site to inform individuals and various business concerns about the efforts to rebuild Iraq. A broad range of material is covered on the site, such as various business opportunities throughout the country, the general commercial environment, and information on how to support humanitarian assistance. The section on the commercial environment includes a general business guide, an overview of commercial law in Iraq, and a number of news briefs. Within the section on awarded contracts and grants, visitors can look to see which contractors have received license to perform various tasks throughout the country, along with any subcontractors that might be in their employ. Finally, the site also provides information about internship opportunities with the Afghanistan and Iraq Reconstruction Task Forces. [KMG]

http://www-iurd.ced.berkeley.edu/pub/WP-2003-04-screen.pdf

Authored by John D. Landis and Michael Reilly of the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of California at Berkeley, this working paper from the Institute of Urban and Regional Development addresses the issue of how and where future urban development may take place around California over the coming decades. It is estimated that by 2020 California will be home to between 43 and 46 million residents, and by 2050, the state's population could be as large as 70 million persons. Within its 114 pages, this report presents the results of a series of baseline population and urban growth projections for California's 38 urban counties through the year 2100. The report also includes a section dedicated to explaining the methodology and data used to develop the different projections, and a section that quantitatively assesses the impacts of these projections on wetland, hillside, farmland, and habitat loss. [KMG]

The American Heritage Book of English Usage
http://www.bartleby.com/64/
Webgrammar's Free Tips
http://www.webgrammar.com/

This first Web site takes visitors to the American Heritage Book of English Usage, which is a guide to current problems and debates in English language usage that will be valuable for native and non-native speakers alike. The work may be searched by keyword, or users may elect to browse through its 10 chapters. The subjects covered by the various chapters include gender, science terms, e-mail, word choice, and style. The second site, developed by Judy Vorfeld, is a good online writing guide that covers such topics as common writing mistakes, style questions, and the usage of idioms. Visitors also have the option to sign up to receive Vorfeld's monthly text e-zine, which contains answers to questions about grammar, various pieces of trivia, and feedback from other subscribers. [KMG]

http://www.hurricaneadvisories.com/

The mere mention of the word hurricane is enough to frighten many people, but this new Web site offers a great deal of material about the nature of current hurricanes, along with safety tips and storm outlook information that will at least assuage the fears of some. The Hurricane Advisories.com Web site contains information for preparing for hurricane season, along with detailed climate reports on current hurricanes that may be bound for coastline areas. Visitors to the site can also view the past tracks of different hurricanes going back to 1994. Along the side of the homepage, visitors can also use a number of drop down menus to browse for information about storm conditions in states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. [KMG]

Researchers Ape Nature With Flapping-Wing Aircraft
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8852-2003Aug31.html
Project Ornithopter [pdf, mpg]
http://www.ornithopter.net/

A Washington Post article from September 1, 2003 looks back at a significant moment in aviation when, in spring 2002, researchers successfully demonstrated an ornithopter capable of hovering. An ornithopter is a kind of aircraft that mimics flying creatures by using flapping wings instead of conventional propulsion systems. Many potential applications exist for future ornithopters, including Mars missions and military reconnaissance. One of the researchers that led the development efforts maintains an excellent Web site of background material and image and video galleries. Several publications about ornithopter design can be downloaded from the Research section. September 12, 2003 NSDL MET Report. [CL]

http://www.orca-live.com/

A great combination of art and science, the Orca Live Web site provides live Webcam viewing of Orca whales off Hanson Island, in the Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and British Columbia. Founded by Dr. Paul Spong, the Orca Lab on Hanson Island and underwater video cameras and microphones at Cracroft Point, monitor the whales' voices and movements 24 hours a day, covering an approximately 20 km. (12.5 mi) area around Hanson Island. If there is not too much happening on the live camera, the site offers archived video highlights from 2000 and 2002. To orient yourself, the Visit Hanson Island section allows you to zoom in and find the location of Hanson Island on Earth (an html version for those with slower connection is also provided). Also at the site, subscribe to a newsletter announcing the best times for live viewing, chat with other orca watchers, or simply open a window for peaceful underwater viewing, accompanied by the sounds of water, birds, and whales. [DS]

http://www.pbs.org/amex/newyork

Maligned by some when they were completed in the early 1970s, the World Trade Center towers are now part of the collective American consciousness after the events of September 11, 2001. This Web site is an effective and authoritative companion to the eighth episode of filmmaker Ric Burns documentary, "New York: A Documentary Film." Produced by WGBH, and with major funding from the Sloan Foundation, the film examines the events that gave birth to the World Trade Center, continuing with a discussion of its rather controversial construction, and concluding with the buildings' destruction in early September 2001. The Web site includes basic information about the television program itself, including a complete transcript, suggestions for further reading, and some excellent primary source readings. The special features section should not be missed, as it contains an online forum where visitors can ask questions of various experts regarding the Trade Center, watch interview outtakes from the film (featuring such notables as Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, and Mike Wallace), and view an 18-minute film titled "Building the World Trade Center," which was produced by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1983. The site is rounded out by a timeline and a number of maps of Lower Manhattan over the past 300 years. [KMG]

http://www.aacu-edu.org/

Founded in 1915 by college presidents, the Association of American Colleges and Universities is "the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality and public standing of undergraduate liberal education." The Association currently has over 850 accredited member institutions, which include research universities, masters institutions, and traditional liberal arts colleges. The Association sponsors a multitude of conferences and a number of timely publications, and there is a great deal of material about both to be found on their site. Visitors that may be unfamiliar with the nature of the Association may do well to first examine the About AAC&U section of the site to learn more about its mission, strategic plan, partnerships, and board of directors. The Publications section is also quite valuable, as visitors can read selected articles from two major quarterly publications published by the Association, "Liberal Education" and "Peer Review." Visitors will also want to take a look at the Association's major initiatives, which include Liberal Arts Colleges and Global Learning, Journey Towards Democracy, and Integrative Learning: Opportunities to Connect. [KMG]

http://www.awarefoundation.org/aware/

The mission of the Adolescent Wellness and Reproductive Education Foundation (AWARE) is "dedicated to educating and empowering adolescents to make responsible decisions regarding their wellness, sexuality and reproductive health." Additionally, the AWARE Foundation also is concerned with reaching out to parents as well, in order to keep them informed about various issues affecting teen health and sexuality. The site features an area where parents and young people can ask questions, which will be answered by a team of health care specialists. In addition, visitors can take part in live chat sessions about teen health, or simply read through transcripts of previous live chat sessions. The site also provides a Fast Facts list that details some brief, but important, facts about teen sexuality and reproductive health. Finally, the site also contains a number of emergency health resources, including Web sites and phone numbers of organizations that deal with eating disorders, sexual abuse, and mental health. [KMG]

http://americanart.si.edu/tours/index.html

While the Smithsonian American Art Museum has over 15,000 pieces of art in its entire collection, 13 of these works have been selected by the museum's director, Elizabeth Broun, as her personal favorites, and placed online in this collection. Some of the works featured here include Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler by John Singer Sargent, Storm King on the Hudson by Samuel Colman, and Achelous and Hercules by Thomas Hart Benton. Each work of art features a brief piece of text by Ms. Broun about the important of each work, along with a video clip that features Ms. Brown sharing her impressions on each piece. Overall, this exhibit provides a great deal of insight into thirteen artworks within the American Art Museum's holdings, and allows users to learn about the legacy and history of each work. [KMG]

The Real Mingus Web
http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/flash.htm
Charles Mingus-Verve Records [QuickTime, RealOnePlayer]
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx?aid=2669

The late Charles Mingus was one of the jazz world's most accomplished bassists and composers, and his music lives on after his death through the concerted efforts of his wife, Sue Mingus, and the Charles Mingus Big Band. This first Web site will take users to a site devoted to Mingus that includes a brief biography, information about the Mingus Big Band, a gallery of images, and brief writings by Mingus himself. The writings section may be the most compelling, as it contains brief explanations of his song titles and his Grammy-nominated liner notes for his 1971 album, Let My Children Hear Music. The second site is provided by the Verve music group company, and allows visitors to listen to songs from a number of his albums, including Pre-Bird, Mingus Plays Piano, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, and the legendary Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus. [KMG]

http://www.nicemcmedia.com/

This latest edition of Nice MCPlayer allows users to play a variety of file formats, and includes several additional skins as well. The player also allows users to open files several different ways, including dragging a file directly into the player, or by simply using the open file button in the player's tool bar. This version of Nice MCPlayer also is available in multiple languages, and features customizable keyboard shortcuts. Nice MCPlayer 1.3 is compatible with all systems running Windows 98 and higher. [KMG]

http://www.instantget.com/

InstantGet 1.41 is a helpful and efficient download manager and accelerator that splits downloading files into multiple sections, essentially downloading each section simultaneously in order to increase downloading speed. InstantGet also has several rich management features, such as the ability to search for downloaded files by filename or comment, along with support for both the ftp and http protocols. From the homepage, users can view a complete features list and examine a series of screenshots. InstantGet 1.41 is compatible with all systems running Windows 98 and higher. [KMG]

Second Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks Quieter On Campus
http://www.dailycardinal.com/news/461524.html
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Helps Lighten Mood of Students
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2003/09/09-12-03tdc/09-12-03dnews-08.asp
Yale Marks September 11th with Quiet Tone
http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=23052
Two Years Later: Students Reflect on Effects of Sept. 11, 2001
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=25211
Education World: Helping Children Cope: Teacher Resources for Talking about Tragedy
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr369.shtml
NIMH: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm

Two years after the tragic events of 9/11, many people around the US and the world attended a number of memorial services dedicated to the lives of those who passed away on that horrible day. Along with the services held in New York and Washington, DC, numerous college campuses paid homage to the deceased in a number of ways. On the campus of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the school's austere carillon tower bells chimed at 10:30 AM for several minutes, and a blood drive was planned with the cooperation of the American Red Cross. At Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA, the Hillel Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and several Greek organizations sponsored a Mitzvah Marathon, where members of the university community received a photograph of one of the victims, and each participant was told to carry out a mitzvah (or good deed), with the intent to "get rid of darkness by adding a little light to our lives." A number of schools featured similar programs, with many of them opting out of the more elaborate memorial services that were common last September, and electing instead to allow students to choose to reflect in their own fashion.

The first link leads to a news story about the events held to commemorate 9/11 on the campus of the University of Wisconsin from one of their student newspapers, the Daily Cardinal. The second link leads to an article from the PSU Digital Collegian that talks about the service activities that were an integral part of the remembrances on their campus in State College, PA. The third link leads to a news piece from the Yale Daily News that highlights the candlelight vigil, readings, and performances that were held this past Thursday. The fourth link leads to an article from the UCLA Daily Bruin that features comments from students about their reactions and feelings about the recent anniversary of the events of 9/11. The fifth link is to a special Web page developed by Education World that contains a number of resources for helping teachers talk with young people about coping with crisis and tragedy. The final link leads to a 10-page document developed by the National Institute of Mental Health that explicates what is known about the impact of violence and disasters on children and adolescents, and also suggests steps to minimize long-term emotional harm. [KMG]