The Scout Report -- Volume 14, Number 25

http://www.crise.ox.ac.uk/

Located within Oxford University, the Centre for Research for Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity (CRISE) was created "to investigate relationships between ethnicity, inequality and conflict, with the aim of identifying economic, political, social and cultural policies which promote stable and inclusive multiethnic societies." Visitors will get a sense of their research by looking over the "News" updates on the homepage, and they can also use the embedded search engine to look for specific items of interest. Academicians and policy analysts should make a beeline for the "Publications" area of the site. Here they will find a set of policy briefings, policy work papers, and policy context papers. Recent titles include "The History of Violence and the State in Indonesia" and "Education, Labour Markets and Inequality in Peru". Moving on, the "CRISE Policy Work" area features the specific policy briefings mentioned above, many of which are completed in conjunction with other like-minded organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme. [KMG]

http://history.denverlibrary.org/

Not many public libraries have the extensive online genealogical collection that is offered by the Denver Public Library, and their site may serve as an inspiration and model to those who seek to work on such an endeavor. First-time visitors may wish to start by looking through the "Browse Collection" area. Here they can look at genealogical documents culled from the Library's extensive holdings, learn about the history of Denver's neighborhoods, and view historic maps of Colorado and other Western states. Moving on, the "Research Tools" area brings together a wide range of research tools for those persons looking into family history, Colorado vital records, and Colorado newspapers. Some of the resources are limited to those persons with a Denver Public Library card, but many are accessible to the general public. Finally, visitors can also sign up to receive their in-house newsletter which reports on their latest finding aids, books, and digital collections. [KMG]

http://www.gcmrc.gov/

Created in 1995, the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) was created in order to measure the effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on natural and physical resources along the Colorado River. As such, the GCMRCs projects also monitor and examine the biological, cultural, and physical resources of the entire Colorado River ecosystem. The materials on their site are divided into five primary sections, including "News & Info", "Research", and "Products". In the "News & Info" area visitors can learn about the endangered species that reside in the area covered by the GCMRC and also take a look at their outreach materials, which include fact sheets, posters, and transcripts from recent symposia. The "Research" area is a bit more technical in nature, containing papers on water flow simulations and elevation data. The site is rounded out by the "Products" area, where visitors can look over new publications and evaluate simulation models. [KMG]

http://ldpd.lamp.columbia.edu/lehman/

The late Herbert H. Lehman served in the United States Senate from 1949 to 1957, prior to that he was the Governor of New York from 1933 to 1942. He was also the son of Mayer Lehman, who helped found the noted investment banking firm, Lehman Brothers. The Columbia Universities Libraries Rare Book & Manuscript Library holds the Lehman Special Correspondence Files, which contains the Lehman family correspondence with nearly 1,000 individuals dating from 1895 to 1963. Lehman himself started this particular trove in order to isolate materials he wanted for his own personal use. This digital collection contains over 37,000 documents, which include letters from Benjamin Cardozo, Robert F. Kennedy, Adlai Stevenson, Robert Wagner, Alfred E. Smith, Henry Morgenthau, and Harold Ickes. Visitors can use the finding aid to locate specific items, and the search engine offered here is quite advanced. [KMG]

http://chinadigitaltimes.net/

Created and maintained by the Berkeley China Internet Project, the China Digital Times (CDT) is a "collaborative news website covering China's social and political transition and its emerging role in the world." With their outstanding team of editors and media specialists, the CDT should be considered one of the most compelling sites covering important news and developments across China. Much like a traditional newspaper website, visitors can scroll through news highlights culled from various international media sources, add comments to various news items, and also search the entire site for specific materials. Those users with specific thematic interests will want to move right away to the "Sections" area, which breaks down news items into areas that include politics, society, Taiwan, economy, and culture. Even more fine tuned features can be found in the "News Focus" area, which includes sections that address human rights, the information revolution, and the environment. [KMG]

http://www.ciw.edu/

Andrew Carnegie was known for his philanthropy, and in 1895 he contributed his vast wealth to creating 22 various organizations that still bear his name. In 1901 he created what became known as the Carnegie Institution for Science with an initial gift of $10 million. Over the past century, the Institution has continued to support a wide range of scientific endeavors, and researchers such as Edwin Hubble, Barbara McClintock, and Andrew Fire have been associated with this august organization. On their first-rate site, visitors can browse through sections that profile their various departments (which include embryology and global ecology), read their latest reports, and view an interactive calendar of events sponsored by the Institute. Visitors with a scholarly bent will want to browse on over to the "Publications/Archives" section. Here they will find the Institute's annual report, listings of their books in prints, and a wide selection of online books. The online offerings span the past five decades, and visitors can view everything from "Ceramics for the Archaeologist" to "How Galaxies Rotate". Those persons looking for specific information about the Institution's academic departments would do well to click on through to the "Departments" area to learn more about fellowships, employment opportunities, and recent and forthcoming conferences. [KMG]

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG702.pdf

When policy makers and others think about what subjects to cut in public school, funding for the arts is often the first to be considered. This June 2008 report from the Rand Corporation takes a critical look at public-private partnerships in United States cities designed to reinvigorate and restore arts education in public school districts. Authored by Susan J. Bodilly, Catherine H. Augustine, and Laura Zakaras, the 109-page report focuses on programs in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles County, New York City, and Alameda County in Northern California. The study itself was commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and found that "budget cuts resulting from state and local budget problems to the emphasis of the No Child Left Behind Act on reading and math have sharply reduced the number of arts teaching positions." Visitors will note that the study goes into great detail regarding the nature of these programs, and those working in the fields of public policy or arts education will want to let their colleagues and associates know about this timely study. [KMG]

http://www.unesco.org/shs/views

The Social and Human Sciences division of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) works on issues that include human rights, poverty eradication, and social transformations across the world. Starting in 2003, the division began to publish a quarterly magazine to keep interested parties abreast of their work and activities. The magazine is called "SHSviews" and the site provides users with access to current and previous issues. With a broad mission, the magazine contains works that analyzes the state of bioethics in Africa, AIDS outreach efforts in India, and the state of international anti-doping treaties. Visitors can scan through each issue and also sign up to receive the publication electronically. Additionally, the site contains an "Interviews" section, which brings together interviews with persons such as the director-general of the International Labour Organization and the mayor of Nairobi. [KMG]

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/absalom/

Published in 1936, "Absalom, Absalom!" is a work by noted American author and Nobel-Prize recipient William Faulkner. The book takes place around the time of the Civil War and is narrated via a series of flashbacks. This website, which is a fascinating interactive companion to this remarkable modernist novel, was created by Stephen Railton and Will Rourk of the University of Virginia. Visitors to the site's homepage can read the user instructions, and then look through the chapter-by-chapter chronology as they see fit. After looking over the chronologies offered here, visitors should click on over to the "Faulkner on Absalom, Absalom!" section of the site. Here they can listen to Faulkner talk about selected passages from the work at various lectures he gave at the University of Virginia in 1957 and 1958. The site also contains printable versions of the chronologies for those who wish to consult them in an offline setting. [KMG]

http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/educate/list.asp?key=56

Over the past couple of years, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has revamped their website, and they have also embarked on an ambitious podcast series. Currently the site contains over 70 podcasts, which cover topics like bookmaking, experimental filmmaking, and the craft of sculpture. Generally the podcasts are related to recent exhibitions and viewings at the Hirshhorn, but most of them work quite well as stand-alone explorations of artistic endeavors and pursuits. Some of the highlights here include a discussion with Dietrich Neumann about the "blurring of illusion and reality in architecture and film" and a conversation with artist Alyson Shotz about her provocative work that recently appeared in the Hirshhorn's "Currents" installation. [KMG]

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx

Before any trip, it might not be a bad idea to consult this fine site created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is easy to use, and visitors can get started by using their online "Yellow Book" feature offered on their homepage. With this feature, visitors can look up travel health information for over 90 countries. Further down the homepage, visitors will note that the "Specific Topics" area contains information on required vaccinations, yellow fever, mosquito and tick prevention, avian influenza outbreaks, and other public health matters. Those persons who might be traveling with special needs will want to take a look at the "Special Needs Travelers" section, as it includes updates on travelers with HIV, disabilities, or those who might be breast-feeding. On the right-hand side of the site, visitors can look over the "Announcements" area and also take a look at their podcast series. [KMG]

http://www.davidrumsey.com/recentadditions.html

Passionate about cartography and maps in general since his youth, David Rumsey has amassed an amazing collection of maps and map-related ephemera over the past several decades. The Scout Report has profiled this site a few times over the past years, and the online David Rumsey Historical Map Collection continues to grow by leaps and bounds. This new site is a perfect way to keep tabs on the latest additions to this ever-growing collection. Here visitors can look at the materials added to the site chronologically, and some of the more recent highlights include the addition of the famed Celestial Atlas from 1822 and the London Atlas of Universal Geography from 1838. And this is far from all, as visitors can also avail themselves of the New Mercantile Marine Atlas from 1922, which includes 200 marine charts (complete with shipping routes) and an early Rand McNally Road Atlas from 1927. [KMG]

http://www.curemeso.org/

Drawing on a wide range of experts, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation works on funding high quality and promising research projects from around the world and serving in an advisory capacity through their efforts in Washington D.C. On their homepage, users can look at their online discussion board, read resources for patients coping with this condition, and become acquainted with their research funding opportunities. Those persons who have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma can click on the "Get Help Now' area to submit questions to a medical professional. Scholars already in the field can navigate over to the "Research" area to read up on their grant programs and read research articles and publications relevant to mesothelioma. The site is rounded out by an "Advocacy" area, which provides information about interested parties wishing to help out this cause. [KMG]

http://www.usmayors.org/publications/

Many urban areas are faced with similar problems, and it makes sense that many mayors in the United States have joined forces with The U.S. Conference of Mayors in order to speak with a unified voice about the issues that urban areas struggle with on a regular basis. With that in mind, the Conference of Mayors has put together this sage site which contains a diverse set of policy publications and attendant prescriptions addressing everything from brownfields to climate protection. The papers are organized chronologically and they date back to 1993. All told, there are over 50 papers available here and some of the more recent titles include a report on hunger and homelessness in American cities and an omnibus survey on cities' water management policies. [KMG]

http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/Tools/

Colleges and universities around the world have embarked on a new era of assisting teachers with their classroom manner and organization. The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Pennsylvania State University has created this site to give educators access to a wide range of excellent teaching and learning tools. The materials and resources here are divided into the following sections: "Course Design and Planning", "Teaching and Assessment Strategies", "Tools for Course Evaluation", "Tools for University Assessment", and "Scholarship of Teaching and Learning". Within these sections, users can read and download specific activities geared towards syllabus improvement, writing effective and meaningful tests, and incorporating problem-based activities into the classroom. Overall, the site is well designed and it is one that educators and the like will want to pass along to their colleagues across campus. [KMG]

http://moma.org/exhibitions/2007/multiplex/

Taking its name from the type of American movie theater that houses a large number of screens in order to provide a wide variety of movies, the web site for Multiplex, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), teaches an art history lesson in an entertaining fashion. Introductory comments from Deborah Wye, curator of the exhibition, point out that it was around 1970 that our current pluralistic view of art came into being, "a complicated artistic terrain with a range of widely divergent approaches." Close to 60 works can be viewed at the site, organized into three sections. "Abstractions" includes works such as Robert Mangold's Distorted Circle within a Polygon I, 1972. "Mutability" where one can view Articulated Lair, 1986, by Louise Bourgeois, and "Provocation" which includes the video Gordon's Makes us Drunk by Gilbert & George. [DS]

http://evernote.com/

Sometimes it would be great to have a long roll of virtual paper just to store thoughts, reminders, notes, and other items. This latest version of Evernote might be just the application, as it gives users the ability to quickly access typed and handwritten memos. Visitors can also synchronize items from their phone to their Evernote program as well. This particular free version offers users 40MB per month of storage, and it is compatible with computers running Windows XP or Vista. [KMG]

http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password

Those persons who are having trouble keeping track of all their computer passwords may breathe a sign of relief upon learning about this application. The 1Password application effectively generates secure passwords for sites which require a login. It works with many of the most popular browsers and this version is compatible with computers running Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5. [KMG]

State pursues sugar buyout to aid Glades
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/580786.html

Swamped by developers, but now there is hope for the Everglades
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/swamped-by-developers-but-now-there-is-hope-for-the-everglades-853531.html

Land Deal Would Help Restore Everglades [Real Player]
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91853812

Sugar would stay plentiful, pricey
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/agriculture/article642351.ece

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan [pdf, Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.evergladesplan.org/

The Everglades Digital Library [pdf]
http://cwis.fcla.edu/edl/

Restoring the Everglades has been an uphill battle for decades. A new phase in the battle to save the Everglades may have started this past Tuesday, when the state of Florida effectively bought out the United States Sugar Corporation, which happens to be the nation's largest sugarcane producer. At a press conference, Florida Governor Charlie Crist said, "I can envision no better gift to the Everglades, the people of Florida and the people of America-as well as our planet-than to place in public ownership this missing link that represents the key to true restoration." As part of the deal, U.S. Sugar will receive $1.75 billion from the state and they will turn over 187,000 acres immediately north of Everglades National Park along with other pieces of infrastructure. As this process is completed over the coming years, the natural flow of water will be restored to the area, effectively adding about a million acre-feet of water storage. There are plenty of details to be worked out, but the atmosphere surrounding this recent announcement remains one of true excitement. The mood might be best summarized by Margaret McPherson, vice president of the Everglades Foundation, who remarked, "I'm going to do cartwheels." [KMG]

The first link will lead visitors to an article on this recent transaction from this Tuesday's Miami Herald. The second link leads to another piece on the subject from the Independent's Leonard Doyle writing from Washington, DC. Moving on, the third link leads to a National Public Radio feature on the sale of U.S. Sugar. The fourth link leads to an investigative report from this Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times which examines how this sale might affect the price of sugar. For those who would like to know more about the Everglades Restoration plan, the fifth link contains numerous publications, fact sheets, and interactive activities on this long-term process. Finally, the last link leads to the Everglades Digital Library, which was developed using the Collection Workflow Integration System (CWIS), a free software package created by the Internet Scout Project. [KMG]