The Scout Report -- Volume 10, Number 46

The twenty-fourth issue of the third volume of the MET Report is available. Its Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about Fiber Optics.

http://www.cthistoryonline.org/

Online digital collaborations have reaped great dividends in the past few years, and this latest project involving the Connecticut State Library, Mystic Seaport, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the New Haven Colony Historical Society is no exception. Currently, the Connecticut History Online website contains over 14,000 images of photographs, drawings, and prints that may be searched in a number of ways, including by keyword, creator, title, and date. For those who may be overwhelmed by these numerous options, there are also a number of thematic "Journeys", which are intended to introduce visitors to highlights of this diverse collection. Some of these sections include such themes such as "Maritime Trades", Connecticut goes to the Beach", and "Rural Life in Connecticut". Educators will appreciate the classroom section of the site, which contains numerous lesson plans, puzzles, and a citation guide that will be of great assistance. [KMG]

http://www.globalhealth.org/

Created in 1972, the Global Health Council (then known as the National Council of International Health) was created to identify priority world health problems and report on them to a wide range of parties, including government agencies and the global health community. In order to disseminate its findings and keep the public informed, the Council has created this well-organized website. The homepage offers visitors the basic layout of the site's contents, as it includes a selection of news briefs dealing with world health concerns and information on the most recent accomplishments of the Council. The top of the homepage offers subject links to the main programmatic areas of interest to the Council: women's health, child health, HIV/AIDS, and infectious disease. Of course, there is a strong publication section, which includes such timely documents as "Faith in Action: Examining the Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing HIV/AIDS" and "Preventing Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Persons". [KMG]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/

Established by the National Security Act of 1947, the National Security Council (NSC) is the President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. On the NSC site, visitors can read recent and archived speeches from the National Security Advisor, learn about the Council's history, and learn about the deputy National Security Advisor as well. The history section is helpful, as it offers some valuable insights into how each President has placed his stamp on the operations of the Council, along with offering a brief synopsis of the Council's work during each term. Along with reading the text of various speeches, visitors may also elect to listen to these recent speeches online. [KMG]

http://www.kinderart.com/

KinderArt has been a presence on the web since 1996, when the organizers placed their first few free art lessons online. Since then the site's collection of helpful art lessons designed to assist K-12 educators (and their students) has grown to include over 800 different lessons. KinderArt was founded by Andrea Mulder-Slater and Jantje Blokhuis-Mulder, both of whom are practicing visual artists and educators. Visitors can view a complete list of the art lessons, or for ease of use they may also look at the topical areas covered on the site, such as drama, drawing, folk art, painting, and numerous others. The Art Speak area contains profiles of young and upcoming artists, along with helpful articles on such subjects as creating a well-stocked art cupboard and how to approach a work of art. Another final treat on the site is the virtual "fridge", where children from around the world can display their recent artistic endeavors. [KMG]

http://paperplane.org/

Ken Blackburn, who holds multiple Guinness records in time aloft for paper airplanes, has posted this website dedicated to making paper airplanes. He provides links to websites with information on paper airplanes and images with accompanying text on the how-to's of paper airplane folding. Planes submitted by visitors to the website are also posted and he encourages others to send in their models. An essay on paper airplane aerodynamics offers an in-depth discussion of why paper airplanes look different than real planes, explains the Reynolds number, and addresses other important aspects of flying such as Dihedral, weight, launching, and gliding. A section for teachers includes a guide for curriculum-based activities and explanations of relevant topics as well as some links to other websites. Visitors can also read about his experience competing for the Guinness record, find out about clubs or upcoming contests, or read a history of the paper airplane. [VF] This site is also reviewed in the November 19, 2004_NSDL MET Report_.

http://www.ename974.org/Eng/pagina/index.html#

Located in the Dutch-speaking area of Belgium, the village of Ename is ensconced within the Flemish Ardennes, a hilly region in southwestern Flanders. Historically, the site was first home to a fortress in the 11th century, which gave rise to a trading settlement. The area thrived for seven centuries until the revolutionary government of France ordered that the monastery at Ename be closed forever. Seeking to bring some of the historical fragments of this place to the web, the Ename 974 project was developed under the direction of Dirk Callebaut. On the physical site itself, the staff members continue to work on a large archaeological project and the process of developing various interpretive exhibits. The website is a delightful to get a basic understanding of Ename and the work that is going on there currently. Here visitors can browse through the interior of the Saint-Laurentius Church (the only original intact structure on the site), and view various reconstructions of the structures that one would have encountered at Ename in the medieval period. Overall, the site offers a good example of how archaeological work actually happens in the field, along with offering some insights into the world of medieval northwestern Europe. [KMG]

http://www.usccr.gov/

Founded during the crucial struggle for civil rights during the 1960s, the U.S Commission on Civil Rights has continued its work right up to the present day, and remains an important part of the federal government. Along with investigating claims of discrimination, the Commission also has a significant research arm, and the agency produces numerous reports and public news briefs that are offered here as well. Some of the more intriguing reports available on the site's homepage include "Redefining Rights in America: The Civil Rights Record of the George W. Bush Administration, 2001-2004" and "Broken Promises: Evaluating the Native American Health Care System". Visitors may also want to look through the material that provides information on how to file a complaint with the Commission, or look through the numerous job opportunities. Some of the material on the site is also available in Spanish. [KMG]

http://www.urbanecology.org/index.htm

When people think about the concept and idea of ecology, they may not immediately picture a bustling urban street or a network of interconnected bike paths. Since 1975, a group of architects and activists have been thinking about exactly those things in terms of urban ecology (and a good deal more to boot), coupling it with a conviction that urban ecology can draw on ecology, public participation and urban planning "to help design and build healthier cities." Given these ideas, it seems logical that this organization has its roots in the Bay Area, and continues to offer up interesting plans and proposals, many of which can be found on the website. One such document is the Walkable Streets Toolkit, which is designed for use by communities that seek to make their streets more pedestrian friendly. Additionally, visitors will want to look at current and past editions of The Urban Ecologist, which is the group's quarterly newsletter. [KMG]

http://www.exploratorium.edu/chaco/

The Chaco Canyon installment in the Ancient Observatories series is designed to help teachers introduce students to the field of archeoastronomy, the study of astronomy of ancient cultures. Available in both Flash/broadband and an html version for slower connections, the site includes a wealth of documentation of astronomical observations conducted from Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, from petroglyphs to NASA photographs. For example, see a 1997 photograph showing a supernova in a distant galaxy compared with a petroglyph created in AD 1054, thought to be a representation of a supernova in our own galaxy. There are also maps, animations showing seasonal alignments of the sun, and a time-lapse Quicktime movie showing how sunlight changes throughout the day at Chaco. Links are provided to NASA's Sun-Earth Day main site, featuring other ancient observatories, such as Stonehenge, and Sun Watchers Through Time. On December 21, 2004, at 12:00 noon PST, NASA and Observatorium plan to present a live webcast showcasing the work being done at Chaco Canyon. [DS]

http://www.name-this-tune.com/

Previously known as "Melodyhound", Musipedia is an open music encyclopedia modeled on (but not formally associated with) Wikipedia. Online (in one form or another) since 1997, Musipedia is a searchable, editable, and expandable collection of tunes, melodies, and musical themes. Essentially, every entry can by edited by any concerned visitors, and entries can contain pieces of sheet music, a MIDI file, and text that describes the work and its composer. Visitors can also whistle or sing a melody through their computer's microphone in order that they might search the site and find out more about that individual song or melody. The current database includes over 10000 classical melodies, over 17,000 folk songs, and around 100 national anthems. Finally, the site also has two helpful discussion forums where visitors may seek the assistance of other users of the site. [KMG]

http://www.artheals.org/start.html

More and more people are realizing the possibility of utilizing forms of art as a method of therapy and also as a way of affecting social change. One such organization that has worked in this area for some time is the Arts and Healing Network, which was founded by Marion Weber. This site was created in 1997 as a way for people to learn about the healing potential of art, and includes sections where people can learn about projects that combine art, community, and healing. Additionally, visitors can browse through the organization's newsletter and also funding opportunities for artists. Visitors will definitely want to visit the projects area as they will learn about thematic ideas that combine these two worlds, including those that raise environmental awareness and those that build community. [KMG]

http://www.dmarie.com/timecap/

Ten years ago, around the time the Scout Project was in its infancy, Bill Clinton was president, Mariah Carey was running up the pop music charts with the song Hero, and shows like ER and Friends remained popular with millions of Americans. You might ask how we found this all out, and if you guessed that we consulted the dMarie Time Capsule "On this Day in History" search engine, you would be right. This fun site allows visitors to type in a date from the past 200 years and find information such as the prices of basic foodstuffs, popular songs of the day, and news events that were making headlines. Visitors can use the "quick page" option to return basic information about each date, or use the "advanced page" option that allows visitors to select specific headlines, birthdays, songs, toys, and books for the selected date. Lovers of nostalgia will definitely find this site to be a good way to back in time, even if only for a moment. [KMG]

http://www.sauerkrautrecipes.com/

Those Scout Report readers of Eastern European heritage will no doubt be intimately familiar with that wonderful delicacy known as sauerkraut. This site is certainly one whose time has come, as more and more people discover the joys of fermented cabbage in its many incarnations and variations. One interesting little-known fact about sauerkraut is that it is an excellent source of lactobacilli (even more so than yogurt) and vitamin C. Visitors looking to experiment with sauerkraut will find a number of helpful recipes here, such as one for classic kraut balls, reuben dip, country ribs and kraut, and kraut quiche. Lest one think that sauerkraut can only be used in entrees, there are a number of dessert recipes that feature sauerkraut, including one for sauerkraut custard pie. The site is rounded out by a few fine extras, such as a sauerkraut chat discussion room and a place for visitors to add their own recipes. [KMG]

http://www.soviet-awards.com/index.htm

After the fall of the Soviet Union in the winter of 1991, thousands of items of Cold War paraphernalia found ready markets across the world, including the United States. High school and college students were now able to purchase the heavy wool jackets of Soviet and East German troops, and military buffs were able to acquire a number of patches, medals, and other items. The medals were often highly prized, and whether people understood the iconography and symbolism or not, they sought them out just the same. Fortunately for those interested in the wide world of Soviet military awards, there is this fine site which offers photographs and information about the various medals and their respective honors. With over 50 medals on the site, visitors can learn about the Order of October Revolution, the Pilot-Cosmonaut of USSR, and the rather curious Medal for Development of Virgin Lands, which commemorates the "young soviets" who relocated to Siberia, the Volga region, and northern Caucasus. For those whose interest is piqued by this material, there is also a newsletter that visitors can look through online. [KMG]

http://www.nucleotime.com/

With a proclivity for precision ourselves, the Scout Report is glad to report on this rather helpful application that will help users keep accurate time on their personal computers. NucleoTime is a time synchronization utility that does not need to be configured, and which only uses atomic time servers certified by the United States government. Visitors may download the program here, view screenshots, and read the program tutorials. NucleoTime is compatible with all systems running Windows 95 and above. [KMG]

http://www.yousoftware.com/itunes/

Many people enjoy using iTunes while at work or while performing various tasks, but may be annoyed when they need to switch back and forth to change songs and so on. The You Control application works from the Mac OS X menu bar, so users can just pull down their very own custom menu that offers access to the iTunes controls. Additionally, the program will display the current track, artist and album. The program also allows visitors the control to set hot keys to further simply the situation. [KMG]

Race to host 2012 Olympics enters final lap
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/11/15/sports1140EST0241.DTL
Now the real battle commences
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/11/15/sobose15.xml&sSheet=/sport/2004/11/15/ixothspt.html
London 2012 Homepage [pdf]
http://www.london2012.org/en
Paris 2012 Homepage [pdf]
http://www.parisjo2012.fr/en/index.jsp
Moscow 2012 [pdf, Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.m2012.ru/en/
Madrid 2012 [pdf, RealPlayer]
http://www.madrid2012.es/home/index.asp?CodPag=&s_fecha=&palabrasClave=
NYC 2012 [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.nyc2012.com/

Since the era of the modern Olympic Games began in 1896, many cities have sought to host this prestigious set of athletic events that test the physical and mental abilities of those competing in individual and team competition. While the next few sites have already been selected (Torino in 2006, Beijing in 2008, and Vancouver in 2010), there has been great speculation as of late regarding which city will host the 2012 Summer Games. This past Monday, five cities submitted their official bids to the International Olympic Committee, which will make its final decision via a secret ballot in Singapore on July 6, 2005. Each of the cities was required to turn in a set of documents that covers information that will help the IOC make its final decision. Out of the five cities that have entered bids (New York, Paris, Madrid, London, and Moscow), Paris is considered by many to be the front-runner thus far. As Paris 2012 spokesman Jerome Lenfant remarked recently, "We are not overconfident but we feel, due to all the work and checking that has been done and the support from the French government, politicians, IOC members, athletes and community leaders, we think we have put together the best of France."

The first link provides a nice introduction to the recent Olympic host city competition process provided by the San Francisco Chronicle. The second link will take visitors to a news piece from the Telegraph in Britain that details the start of this highly publicized competition, along with providing some odds on which city may win, proffered by a prominent British bookmaker. The third link details the public relations campaign and broad vision put forth by the people behind the city of London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. The fourth link whisks visitors across the Channel, where they will learn about the ambitious plans offered by the leaders who are putting forth the City of Lights for the same event. Moving up to the Moscow River, visitors will be given an intimate introduction to Moscow's proposed plans for the same august set of events by clicking on the fifth link. It should be noted that the site offers this forceful (and potentially convincing) epigram: "Russia is eternal, yet Russia is new." The sixth link leads to the Iberian-themed plans offered by Madrid, which includes a number of video clips of the site that will be transformed into Olympic-worthy locales, provided it is selected as the host location, of course. Not to be forgotten, the final link will take visitors to the official bid website for New York City. [KMG]