The Scout Report -- Volume 11, Number 44

http://www.socialpsychology.org/

With over 11,000 links contained within its pages, the Social Psychology Network site is arguably the largest social psychology database on the Internet. Maintained by Professor Scout Plous of Wesleyan University, the site has been generously supported by the National Science Foundation. Visitors will appreciate the very clean layout of the sites homepage, as they are presented with a search engine, along with a number of electronic forums, and a listing of related topics. To delve into the sites contents, visitors may wish to select from any one of the areas on the left-hand side of the homepage, which include listings of doctoral programs in social psychology and teaching resources. There are numerous other options for interested parties, and they lead to such offerings as rankings of doctoral programs in the field and distance learning options in the field. Finally, visitors can also view many of the sites documents in a number of languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, and German. [KMG]

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/casi/index.htm

India remains a country that fascinates both scholars looking at its historical development and those who are intimately concerned with its role in the global economy. In order to provide a congenial place for people with such interests to interact and exchange ideas, the University of Pennsylvania created the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) in 1992. Visitors to the CASI site can learn about some of their thematic areas of research, peruse an event calendar, and read a number of topical publications produced by resident scholars and academics. The occasional papers archive dates back to 1995, and users of the site will also want to look at the publication India In Transition. For visitors who may be looking for specific materials, the site also includes a search engine. [KMG]

http://www.glin.gov/

Legal scholars and those with an interest in the law will definitely want to take a look at the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) website. Here visitors can search official full text legal documents, including judicial decisions, legislation, and laws. The database is provided courtesy of the Law Library of the United States Congress, and it draws from countries from around the world who wish to provide access to their own legal documents. Some of the countries who participate in the program include Brazil, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Peru, and Romania. Visitors will find that the ways to search the database are extremely helpful. Options include searching by jurisdiction, publication date, subject terms, and language. The site is rounded out by a section that provides answers to frequently asked questions about using the database. [KMG]

http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20051027_mindthegap.pdf

Throughout the history of cities, there have always been stark contrasts between proximate conurbations. One can consider the dramatic differences between the cities of East St. Louis and St. Louis for such a study in socioeconomic contrasts. In fact, these differences have attracted the attention of policymakers, sociologists, geographers, and planners for decades. This recent report from The Brookings Institutions Metropolitan Policy program details the disparities among various groups of people within the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. Authored by Rebecca Sohmer, the 44-page report looks at how the region does (and does not) work for different populations. In the report, Sohmer details three particular gaps, namely race, class, and place disparities throughout the region. Sohmer notes that a dedicated effort committed to reducing these disparities may in fact promote a strong future workforce and build a healthier region. [KMG]

http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

Founded in 1982, the mission of Bat Conservation International (BCI) is to teach people the value of bats, to protect and conserve critical bat habitats, and to advance scientific knowledge through research. On their website, visitors will be able to learn about their advocacy and outreach efforts, along with learning more about these fascinating and important creatures. The All About Bats section is a fine place to start, as it has a number of illustrated essays that include brief overview of the natural history of bats and suggestions on photographing bats as they fly through the air. Equally compelling is the section is the conservation programs area, which details the various programs BCI operates in various bat habitats, including bridges and caves. Finally, visitors can also elect to send one of a number of electronic bat postcards to friends or colleagues. [KMG]

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/

With endorsements from both Scientific American and Science magazines, this website developed by The University of New South Wales is gaining currency among those interested in using the web for educational purposes. The basic mission of the Einstein Light site is to present a brief overview of Einsteins theory of relativity and its relationship to the work done by Galileo and Newton. This of course means they must address such thorny topics as time dilation and length contraction. They do just that, with the assistance of two animated models, Zoe and Jasper. Throughout the various modules presented here, the two models provide the means by which the casual visitor can begin to understand these concepts. Visitors may also appreciate the fact that there are also a number of related links offered here for further edification. Some of the sections here include Electricity and magnetism in a moving frame: what would you expect? and Is time dilation true?. Overall, this is a well-designed site that will be of interest to those with a general interest in this subject and for educators as well. [KMG]

http://www.folkstreams.net/

To say that finding certain obscure documentaries can be difficult is quite an understatement. Fortunately, finding documentary films about American folk or roots culture just got much easier, courtesy of the good people at Folkstreams.net. On this website, visitors can view dozens of very compelling documentaries about such persons as John E. Frail Joines, a master tale teller from Wilkes County, North Carolina and singer-faith healer Fannie Bell Chapman. Visitors looking for specific films can search the entire website for such viewing material, along with searching program transcripts, images, and essays. One rather intriguing film that should not be missed is Hundred and Two Mature, which provides a portrait of retired businessman Harry Lieberman. The site also contains an RSS feed and a worthwhile blog which allows visitors to leave audio feedback. [KMG]

http://www.e-flux.com/projects/siqueiros/

Mexican Muralist David Afaro Siqueiros, (1896-1974), collected over 11,000 photographic images as research materials for his artwork, often sketching on top of photographs, and asking photographers to stage scenes that would later appear in his work. Siqueiros wanted this archive made available to other artists for inspiration, and wrote, "Nothing can give the [artist] of today the essential feeling of the modern era's dynamic and subversive elements more than the photographic document." The Siqueiros Photographic Archive at the Sala de Arte Publico follows Siqueiros' wishes by providing this web-accessible image bank. Approximately half of the archive is now online, organized according to Siqueiros' original categories, which include Architecture, Objects, People and Historical Figures, Models, Workers & Industry, and Personal Photography, the largest category, with over 1600 images. [DS]

http://education.denniskunkel.com/

Over the past thirty years, Dennis Kunkel has worked in the field of microscopy, and along the way, he has developed a number of exhibits, publications, and other such materials on the subject. For those looking for such material online, this site provides both a fine image bank for general use and general information about the art and science of this interesting field of scientific endeavor. The first stop for most visitors should be the education image library area of the site. Here they can search the database of micrographs in its entirety, or browse the contents by category, which includes such areas as crystals, insects, or protozoa. One rather fun feature on the site is the Most Wanted Bugs section, which contains twelve bug mugs and bug body shots taken through the process of photomicrography. The site is rounded out by the Zoom In area, which allows users the opportunity to zoom in on a black ant, a fruit fly, or a mosquito. [KMG]

http://www.ifoam.org/

The demand for products grown under certified organic conditions continues to increase, and a number of organizations around the globe remain committed to this idea. One such organization is the International Federation of Organic Agriculture. From their homepage, visitors can learn about their organization, their sponsored events, and their advocacy efforts. Of course, those persons doing research on this field will want to take a look at their most recent report, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2005, which is available here. Those persons who may not be entirely familiar with the basic facts of what constitutes organic agriculture will definitely want ot take a look at the Organic Facts section of the site. Here they can learn about the basic principles of organic agriculture, along with materials on food security, food quality, and the organic certification process. [KMG]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/farmingtoday/index.shtml

When people think of rural England, they frequently think of the tranquil farms that dot the countrys landscape. As in many other places in the developed world, agricultural practices continue to change quickly, and this radio program from the BBC 4 network provides some insight into this process and what it means to those persons who live in the countryside. Hosted by Anna Hill and Miriam OReilly, the program offers discussion with policy experts, farmers, local businesspeople, and government officials. Visitors can also listen to previous shows, and they may also wish to take a look at some of the related links, such as those that profile other BBC programs, including the show On Your Farm and Open Country. [KMG]

http://www.arts.gov/pub/DisasterRecovery.pdf

First created in 1992, this guide is intended to help cultural institutions prepare for emergencies and disasters that may strike their regions. This latest version of the report, prepared by FEMA and the National Endowment for the Arts, provides summary descriptions and contact information for 15 federal grant and loan programs. The report also includes an additional number of sources of federal assistance for preparedness, mitigation, and response. Within each resource listing, the report also provides information on which activities might be eligible for support and a listing of potential award amounts. This latest version also contains a host of online resources that will be most helpful, including links to the American Institute for Conservation and the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. [KMG]

http://www.podspider.com/website/v2/en/podspider.php?affiliate=1a08f4ebe7e2be602256412ed41ed96f

As podcasts grow in popularity, people all over the world continue to search the nooks and crannies of the web in an attempt to find everything from archived broadcasts of self-help programs from Sweden to discussions of muscle-cars in southern California. With this latest application, the process involved in finding such podcasts is greatly simplified. Visitors can use their podcast directory to browse through 25 subject areas and 300 categories via the click of their mouse. This application is compatible with computers running Windows XP. [KMG]

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
From Helsinki to Helena, Montana, lovers of audio experimentation benefit from a wealth of online resources designed to let them record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings, and splice or mix sounds together. One such application that allows users to do all of those tasks is Audacity 1.2.3. Their website also contains helpful hints on using the program that will definitely come in handy. This version of Audacity is compatible with all computers running Windows 98 and newer. [KMG]

Nanotechnology may help treat cancer
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_Nanotechnology_Cancer.html

Big troubles may lurk in super-tiny tech/Nanotechnology experts say legal, ethical issues loom
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/31/MNG28FGMVJ1.DTL

Richard E. Smalley, 62, Dies; Chemistry Nobel Winner
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/29/science/29smalley.html

National Nanotechnology Initiative [pdf]
http://www.nano.gov/

Nanotubes and Buckyballs
http://www.nanotech-now.com/nanotube-buckyball-sites.htm

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology
http://www.crnano.org/index.html

Nanotechnology has been around for several decades, but a number of recent findings have increased the general interest in this emergent combination of scientific knowledge and technological innovation. At the European Cancer Conference in Paris this past Tuesday, researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology presented research findings that suggest that this emergent technology may be used to release cancer-killing drugs inside tumors within the body. The research was conducted on mice, and involved engineering nanoparticles which were embedded with a cancer drug. The initial results were promising, and Dr. David Kerr, a professor of clinical pharmacology at Oxford University commented that This looks like a step forward. After Kerrs initial remarks, he also noted that This is only one design step toward what ultimately must be a systemic treatment. As with many emergent technological advances throughout the ages, there remains a great concern about the potential ethical and moral dilemmas posed by the growth of nanotechnology. Not surprisingly, this was also a question under debate at the International Congress of Nanotechnology, which took place this week in San Francisco. [KMG]

The first link will take visitors to a news article about these recent scientific findings as reported by Emma Ross in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The second link leads to a well-written piece in the San Francisco Chronicle that explores some of the growing ethical concerns surrounding the growth of nanotechnology. The third link leads to the obituary of Richard E. Smalley, who shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996, and who is also very closely associated with the exponential growth of interest in the field of nanotechnology. The fourth link leads to the homepage of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which provides information about the federal governments efforts to facilitate technology transfer in the field and to maintain a first-rate research and development program. The fifth link will take users to a very nice site that explains both the form and structure of nanotubes and buckyballs. Both of these forms of carbon are tremendously important to the field of nanotechnology, and the explanations offered here are concise and lucid. The final link leads to the homepage of the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, which offers insights into the benefits and risks of nanotechnology, along with a rather intriguing weblog. [KMG]