The Scout Report -- Volume 9, Number 41

The ninth issues of the second volumes of the Life Sciences Report and Physical Sciences Report are available. The Topic in Depth section of Life Sciences Report annotates sites on the Health Benefits of Tea. The Physical Sciences Report's Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about the Physics of Sound.

http://www.psy.pdx.edu/PsiCafe/

Designed and maintained by Nicole Sage (a doctoral student at Portland State University), the Psi Caf site is a clearinghouse of important links and resources dealing with the field of psychology and its many specialties, including behavioral psychology, experimental psychology, and social psychology. The site's homepage is well-organized, with sections that allow visitors to review the top headlines in psychology news (culled from a host of periodicals, newspapers, and journals), examine important dates in the history of psychology, and a What's New? area. For those seeking to enter the field of psychology, there is an area on applying to graduate programs, with additional links to related Web sites. Equally valuable is the section dedicated to key theorists in the field, which visitors can browse by last name or by their particular perspective from which they are known. Numerous theorists are covered in this area, such as Jerome Bruner, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, Erik Erikson, and Howard Gardner. [KMG]

http://home.lecorbusier.com/

Despite the fact that the famed Swiss modernist architect Le Corbusier only designed one building in the United States (the Carpenter Center at Harvard), his ideas about urban design manifested themselves quite prolifically through the American landscape throughout the 20th century. While there is no one definitive Web site dealing with this architect whose work is synonymous with modernism, this site provides a number of thematically organized links that will help those seeking for information about Corbu. Thematic sections located here include online 3D models of his very distinctive buildings, his writings, biographical sketches, and visual images. Those persons unfamiliar with the work of Le Corbusier will want to be sure to check out the links related to the Villa Savoye, a home located in a Parisian suburb that was designed by Corbu as a machine a habiter, or a machine for living. [KMG]

http://special.lib.umn.edu/swha/IMAGES/home.html

This fascinating collection of social hygiene posters (designed to inculcate certain social practices regarding hygiene, friendship, prostitution, and mental health) is culled from the fine holdings of the Social Welfare History Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Interestingly enough, the Archives were established in 1964 by the historian Clarke Chambers, who in his own work on voluntary associations discovered that most manuscript repositories had collected very few social welfare records. Visitors will appreciate the online search engine which features options such as a time period search, a keyword search, and the opportunity to search by the subject or theme of each poster. Each record contains an image of the original poster, information about the poster's provenance, its creation date, and the organization responsible for creating the poster. For those interested in the social history of the United States during this period, this small collection will be quite appealing. [KMG]

http://quake.geo.berkeley.edu/

A project between the University of California Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and the United State Geological Survey, the Northern California Earthquake Data Center (NCEDC) "is a long-term archive and distribution center for seismological and geodetic data for Northern and Central California." Educators and students can examine recent seismograms from the Berkeley Digital Seismic Network. Researchers will benefit from the site's enormous amount of data collections including BARD; a system of 67 constantly operating Global Positioning System receivers in Northern California. By reading the annual reports, educators will also learn about the center's many outreach activities from talks and lab tours to the production of classroom resources for kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers. This site is also reviewed in the October 17, 2003 NSDL Physical Sciences Report. [RME]

http://libtext.library.wisc.edu/IllusShake/

For illustrations of puckish glee, turn to this digital collection from the University of Wisconsin - Madison Libraries, which includes selections from twelve works by and about William Shakespeare (and a few other British playwrights), originally published in places ranging from Philadelphia to Leipzig, dating 1826 - 1919. The books chosen for this digital collection are heavily illustrated versions of Shakespeare. While some text is available, such as picture captions, title pages, bits of dialogue, and synopses of plays -- all of which is fully searchable -- the collection is really designed to enable users to flip to the pictures. For example, a 5 volume set, The spirit of the plays of Shakspeaire [sic], drawn and engraved by Frank Howard, 1833, consists of a series plates for each play, with some explanatory text. The dramatic souvenir: Being literary and graphical illustrations of Shakespeare and other celebrated English dramatists, published by Charles Tilt, also 1833, has about two pages per play: a synopsis, and several pictures. [DS]

http://content.lib.washington.edu/pioneerlifeweb/index.html

Like many other parts of the American West, the area that later became the state of Washington in 1889 was a place of great opportunity, both in terms of the existing natural resources, and in a more intangible fashion, a place that represented a new beginning for those persons venturing west from the Midwest and the East Coast. This recently developed online database presented by the University of Washington Library contains writings, diaries, letters, and recollections from those persons who moved to Washington in the 19th century. Visitors can search the collections, or elect to browse through the collection list, which contains over two dozen primary documents available for viewing. Some of the highlights here include the recollections of Lila Hannah Firth who lived on San Juan Island (located in Puget Sound) in the 1860s and an account of the first ascension of Mount Rainier, one Dr. William F. Tolmie. Rounding out the site is an online exhibition titled Northwest of the West: the Frontier Experience on the Northwest Coast., which serves as a nice introduction to the overall experience of these first pioneers moving west. [KMG]

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/lhtnhtml/lhtnhome.html

While Alexis de Tocqueville's, Democracy in America may remain one of the most important and compelling commentaries on the American condition, the American Memory project at the Library of Congress has compiled this wonderful collection of 253 published narratives by Americans and foreign visitors from the period of 1750 to 1920 for the convenience of the Web-browsing public. The criteria used to determine which narratives would be included in the collection were that the work had to be primarily in the first person, that it was free of copyright restrictions, and that it was part of the Library of Congress's General Collections. Along with familiar works by Charles Dickens, Washington Irving, and James Fenimore Cooper, the collection includes works by lesser known persons, such as Josiah Gregg's, The Journal of a Santa Fe trader, 1831-1839 and Captain Basil Hall's, Travels in North America, in the years 1827 and 1828. [KMG]

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/biodiversity/

Chicago's Field Museum has dubbed the 2003-2004 school year as "The Year of Biodiversity and Conservation," and invites everyone to join in "exploring, celebrating, and protecting our planet's amazing web of life." Visitors can start the exploring, celebrating, and protecting right here in the well-designed and informative Web site created for the program. Biodiversity basics, conservation issues and efforts, free downloadable lesson plans, and other resources are all on hand. The site also contains an interactive map featuring Field Museum researchers studying biodiversity around the world. This site is also reviewed in the October 17, 2003 NSDL Life Sciences Report. [RS]

http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/

Founded in 1959, the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) at Harvard is a collaborative unit affiliated with the Graduate School of Design and the Kennedy School of Government. The Center's central focus is to "analyze the dynamic relationships between housing markets and economic, demographic, and social trends, providing leaders in government, business, and the non-profit sector with the knowledge needed to develop effective policies and strategies." The site contains links to information about ongoing research projects, educational opportunities in the field, publications, and people affiliated with JCHS. The publication section is quite strong, as visitors can browse through a diverse set of publications (many of which are available at not cost) by thematic focus, including finance, community, development, and industry studies. One of the more compelling recent publications (most of which is available here) is the monograph titled Low-Income Homeownership: Examining the Unexamined Goal. [KMG]

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com

Standing as a testament to the wide ranging contributions of the Jewish people to world culture and history, this Web site contains the complete contents of the massive 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia, originally published between 1901-1906 by the Funk & Wagnall's Company. Conceived and funded by the Kopelman Foundation, this compilation is the only free encyclopedia of Judaica available on the Internet. While the encyclopedia obviously does not include such topics as the creation of the state of Israel or the Holocaust, it is a rather fascinating collection that recalls an interesting period in scholarship, and is a helpful historical document. Visitors can browse by the encyclopedia by letter, along with viewing a transcription of each entry and any accompanying images included with each entry. Those who might be interested in helping compile an updated version of the encyclopedia are also invited to join the mailing list. [KMG]

http://www.enc.org/

Located at The Ohio State University, the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC) was started in 1992, and is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Teachers who don't already know about this fine online resource will want to make sure and examine the thousands of curriculum resources available on the site. The bulk of the materials are contained with four primary areas: Web Links, Education Topics, Curriculum Resources, and Professional Development. The Education Topics area is quite authoritative, containing a number of important articles for educators dealing with classroom assessment methods, equity and diversity in the classroom, and implementing technology. Another nice feature is the monthly Digital Dozen, which highlights 12 valuable sites for math and science teachers. Visitors can browse the current selections, or view an archive that dates back to August 1995. For persons seeking to keep up to date on education news and research findings, the educational headlines and bulletins prominently displayed on the homepage will be an invaluable resource. [KMG]

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds/
The pre-Columbian world of the American Southeast was a place teeming with a number of Native American groups, some of which left very discernable traces of an incipient urbanism that would be of great interest to later generations, including many archeologists and scholars. Working in collaboration with the Southeast Archaeological Center and the Natchez Trace Parkway, the National Park Service has created this online guide to the most prominent publicly-owned earthen structures created by the various Native American groups of the region. Visitors to the site will want to begin by reading the brief introductory essay, then continuing through to the interactive map of Mississippi that features profiles of each 11 mound sites. For visitors who wish to learn more, there is a thorough bibliography provided, along with a list of links related to archaeology, preservation, and tourism in Mississippi. [KMG]

http://www.usaid.gov/

Tracing its historical genesis to the Marshall Plan, the U.S. Agency for International Devlopment (USAID), was officially established on November 3, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. With this act, USAID became "the first U.S. foreign assistance organization whose primary emphasis was on long-range economic and social development assistance efforts." New visitors will want to begin their browsing by learning more about the organization in the About USAID section, which can be accessed from the homepage. Here individuals can read about the history of the organization, its various accomplishments, and read some of its key documents, such as the fiscal year performance overview, the strategic plan, and the complete Greenbook, which contains a complete historical record of U.S. foreign aid to the world from 1945 to 2001. The other areas of the site address such topics as the agency's work around the world, its policy statements, media information, and material about job opportunities with the organization. [KMG]

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/vietnam/?src=e_ce

Oriented around the theme of journeys, this online exhibit explores the various journeys that both the nation and people of Vietnam has undergone over the past few millennia, in particular the transition from French colonial control through the conflict with the United States, and the movement to a free-market economy over the past decade.
Curated by Laurel Kendall (and hosted by the American Museum of Natural History), the exhibit begins with Journeys Through Time and Space, where visitors can read some introductory remarks about the country, such as the various ethnic groups in the country, its geography, and history. The other sections (which are interspersed with photographs and illustrations) deal with death rites, the importance of various deities, and the transformation of the economy in the country. The site also features several fine video clips, including a 4-minute video of the rite that marks the passage of a young Vietnamese boy into manhood. [KMG]

http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/sociosite/

With the broad range of research interests covered within the field of sociology around the world, it is a formidable task to attempt to offer a clearinghouse of information about the various aspects of this area of scholarship. This site puts forth an admirable effort in this arena, and is maintained by Albert Benschop, a professor of sociology at the University of Amsterdam. The site is divided into 18 subject areas, including those devoted to courses, journals, data archives, research centers, associations, newsletters, publishers, and subject areas. The Sociologists section is quite helpful for those looking to peruse valuable online materials related to important persons who have worked in sociology (and other related disciplines), such as Claude Levi-Strauss, Robert Merton, Erving Goffman, and dozens of others. Almost every section is arranged geographically, facilitating searches for journals found in almost any part of the world, or for sociology departments on different continents. Finally, those who would like to contribute helpful links or materials to the project may also sign up to join up as a correspondent or editor. [KMG]

http://www.naturalreaders.com/standard_version.htm

This handy program allows users to listen to emails, text selections, and other written materials via a number of voices included with the software. With this free edition, users can change the speed of reading, the voice of reading, the volume of reading, and can also read the text and have it saved to a .wav file. From the program's Web site, users can read a FAQ section, and view several screenshots. This edition of Free Natural Voice Reader Standard 2.9 is compatible with all systems running Windows 98 and higher. [KMG]

http://www.software602.com/products/pcs/business.html

For those looking for an alternative to some of the more mainstream computer office suite packages, the free edition of 602PC Suite 4.0 may be worth a look. The package of programs includes a word processor, spreadsheet, photo editor, and a digital photo organizer. Additionally, this application is compatible with MS Office document types, and supports a number of different languages. The program is a bit large (approximately 21.5 MB), so those persons using a dial-up connection will want to keep this in mind. 602PC Suite 4 is compatible with all systems running Windows 98 and higher. [KMG]

Mid-sized Cities get hip to attract Young Professionals
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-10-cities-cover_x.htm
Michigan Works to Attract Fresh Talent
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031011-113027-2249r.htm
CreativeClass.org
http://www.creativeclass.org/
MPR Books: Midmorning Book List: Interview with Richard Florida [RealOnePlayer]
http://www.mpr.org/www/books/rafiles/020717_florida.ram
The Memphis Manifesto [pdf]
http://www.creativeclass.org/acrobat/manifesto.pdf
Boho Britain: Creativity Class Index [doc]
http://www.creativeclass.org/acrobat/manifesto.pdf

Throughout the twentieth century, numerous commentators, pundits, and scholars have proffered numerous strategies for maintaining the vitality and economic growth of urban areas. Some of the more traditional forms of economic development have included the construction of sports facilities, festival marketplaces, and new buildings for established cultural institutions, such as art museums and opera houses. While many cities continue with these familiar policy initiatives (despite evidence that these strategies may be somewhat ineffective), other cities are working on attracting (and retaining) members of the creative class. This idea is derived from the work of Richard Florida, a professor of planning at Carnegie-Mellon University, who has suggested in his recent work that cities should concentrate more on attracting young persons who work in the numerous vocations that constitute this creative class, which includes visual artists, software developers, and writers. Most recently, this idea has proved to be of great interest to mid-sized cities in the US (and abroad), including places such as Cincinnati, Memphis, and Milwaukee.

The first link will take visitors to a recent USA Today news piece that discusses the various efforts made by medium-sized cities around the United States to attract and retrain these members of the creative class. The second link leads to a story from the Washington Times about the efforts made by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan to create a Cool Cities initiative that will also keep young people from moving out of the state for more attractive locales. The third link leads to the Creative Class Web page, where visitors can read about Florida's work, view maps and lists of those areas that (currently) best foster the creative class milieu, and read about Florida's creative class colleagues. The fourth link leads to an interview conducted with Florida last year on Minnesota Public Radio's Midmorning show by Katherine Lanpher. In the interview, Florida offers a brief overview of his inspiration for the book, and responds to a number of engaging questions and comments by listeners. The fifth link leads to the Memphis Manifesto, a document produced by a group of concerned persons in and around the Memphis area who would like Memphis to increase its ability to attract young, talented people. The final Web site leads to a list of the 50 most creative cities in the UK, created by utilizing a modified version of Florida's criteria, and generated by the DEMOS group, an independent think-tank. Not surprisingly, cities such as Manchester and London are ranked quite high, while cities such as Milton Keynes (in the south of England) fall towards the bottom of these rankings. [KMG]