The Scout Report -- Volume 15, Number 17

http://ideas.repec.org/

Billed as the "largest bibliographic database dedicated to economics", the Internet Documents In Economics Access Services (IDEAS) database contains over 700,000 citations, including links to working papers, articles, chapters, and books. The database is housed at the University of Connecticut, and it is overseen by Christian Zimmermann and a number of his colleagues. A handy table on the site's homepage gives some basic statistics on what users can find here, and they should feel free to perform a detailed search on anything from agricultural economics to supply chains. Moving down the site, there's a listing of institutions which have recently joined the IDEAS database and a section titled "How to get papers listed", which might helpful for aspiring economists and other types. Additionally, visitors can read through their FAQ section and they shouldn't leave without looking at their two informative weblogs. [KMG]

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/index.htm

The definition of "emerging" infectious diseases includes those diseases "whose incidences in humans has increased in the past 2 decades or threatens to increase in the near future." The journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases continues to be an invaluable resource for public health professionals, scholars, and others. On the journal's homepage, users can read over the current issue and take a look at all of the articles and various commentaries contained within. Visitors can also peruse the archive, which dates back to the journal's first issue in 1995. As with many online journals, visitors can sign up to receive their RSS feed and they even have a podcast archive. The podcasts are a nice bonus, and they include programs like "Strategies For Fighting Pandemic Flu in Developing Countries" and "The Mystery of Increased Hospitalization of Elderly Patients". [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.eh-resources.org/index.html

Professor Jan Oosthoek at the University of Edinburgh has maintained a web presence since 1999, and his most recent website was relaunched in March 2008. The purpose of the site is to provide a range of resources and information on environmental history for the general public and scholars. Some of these resources include topical bibliographies, essays, annotated guides to other web resources, and a news feed. Visitors who click on the "Bibliography" area will find links to detailed thematic bibliographies that cover El Nino, climate history, Scottish forest history, and other topics. Moving on, the "Essays" area contains twelve different essays, including "The role of wood in world history", "What is environmental history?", and "Dutch river defences in historical perspective". The "Podcast" area is a real treat, and features interviews and discussions about topics such as urban air pollution in historical perspective and the environmental legacy of apartheid in South Africa. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.cshl.edu/

Established in 1890, the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is one of the best-known and most respected private research institutions in the United States. Over the past century, the Laboratory has supported the careers of seven Nobel Prize recipients and it is particularly well-regarded for its work in the field of genetics research. Today, there are over 400 scientists who work at the facility in Long Island, and their work ranges across the areas of cancer, neuroscience, genomics, and bioinformatics. Their website is a cornucopia of information on their activities, and first-time visitors should start by reading over the "CSHL Headlines" scrolling updates on the homepage. After that, they can look at the "Research" section. Here they will find overviews of their primary research groups and links to some of their specialized facilities, like the Dolan DNA Learning Center. Most visitors will want to visit the "Library and Archives" section. Here they can learn about CSHL authors' publications and look through the digital collections. The digital collections include tributes to Barbara McClintock, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1983, and who worked at the Laboratory for four decades. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/king/index-e.html

Despite his rather distinguished name, noted Canadian politician William Lyon Mackenzie King was generally just referred to as "William King". During his long career he served three terms as the prime minister of Canada, and he also found time to be a lawyer, economist, and professor. For over fifty years, starting with his time as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, he kept a detailed personal diary which only concluded with his passing in 1950. The Library and Archives of Canada has created this website to introduce King's diary to contemporary readers, and they do so through explanatory essays, substantive excerpts from his writings, and a chronology of his life. First-time visitors will want to look at the two background essays titled " 'Dear Diary': Diary Writing as a Genre" and "The Political Man of Letters: Mackenzie King as Writer and Bookman". Visitors can continue on to read excerpts from the diary and even peer into the homes that he inhabited during his life. [KMG]

http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/

The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging has created a fantastic website to assist medical professionals, the caregivers of the elderly, and the elderly themselves in considering the unique health care needs of the elderly. There are several useful features that visitors should check out. In the box on the right side of the page entitled "Spotlight On", there is information on the physician referral service that can help the elderly find Family Practice and Internal Medicine physicians that are sensitive to eldercare issues, many of whom have the AGS' Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine. Visitors can click on "FHA Physician Referral Service" in the box on the right to get started. Those persons who might be going to a doctor's appointment should check out the extremely helpful "What to Ask?" feature on the left hand side menu, under Features. A list of almost two dozen health topics of concern, such as "Digestive Disorders", "Hormone Disorders", "Palliative Care and Hospice" are provided. Clicking on a topic or subtopic will give a list of questions to ask your doctor regarding that concern. The lists of questions can be printed using the light blue "What to Ask Printer Friendly" button, located at the top of each list of questions. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.wdl.org/en/

The World Digital Library, supported by UNESCO, is a project to provide primary sources from other countries and cultures free of charge, and is offered in seven different languages, including Arabic, Portuguese, and Russian. The design of the website is easy to navigate and very interactive, with its map of the world and timeline beneath it. Moving either of the lime green bars on the left and right of the timeline will change the images on the world map above it, and will provide images of the time period chosen when clicked. Each image is explained in whichever of the seven languages chosen in which to view the site, but any language that appears in the image remains in its original language. At the top of the page, visitors can choose to browse by "Place", "Time", "Topic", "Type of Item", and "Institution". The image quality is excellent, and once chosen, the image can be zoomed in on and panned. Thumbnails of similar items to the image chosen are also provided underneath the image. [KMG]

http://www.foodfirst.org/

"The purpose of the Institute for Food and Development Policy - Food First - is to eliminate the injustices that cause hunger." This is the Food First's mission statement, and to find out exactly what Food First is doing to surmount the problem of hunger, visitors should take a look at "Programs" found on the menu on the left side of the page. They have a three-pronged approach composed of the following programs: "Building Local Agri-Foods Systems", "Democratizing Developments: Land, Resources and Markets", and "Forging Food Sovereignty with Farmers". The issues that Food First is tackling with their three-pronged approach are also on the left side of the page under the heading "Issues", and include "Challenging Industrial Agriculture and the Green Revolution", "Globalization, Trade and International Financial Institutions", and "Social Movements". Each of the issues is explained by articles from various sources, as well as reports, documentaries, and radio interviews. Visitors shouldn't miss checking out the "Publications" section, a link to which can be found at the top of the page. "Books", "Development Reports", "Fact Sheets", and "Policy Briefs" are just some of the types of publications that can be perused. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.preservationvirginia.org/jr.html?process=0

The archaeological site of Jamestown, the failed English Settlement in Virginia that was established in 1607, is under excavation, and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities' website detailing its progress is very thorough and provides many different features to tell Jamestown's story. Visitors unfamiliar with the story of Jamestown should start by clicking on "History of Jamestown", near the bottom of the page. Within the text are hyperlinks to concepts that have examples or require more in depth explanation. Visitors can view past exhibits that were at Jamestown, by clicking on "Exhibits", on the left hand menu. Two digitized exhibits from 1998 and 1999 are both accessible here. The "Findings" section enables visitors to click on a drawing of a map of various sites on the excavation site. Once clicked, a photograph of the actual excavation site will be revealed, along with an explanation of the project's findings. The "Resources" section, mainly for researchers, is not to be missed, as it includes the rather fun "Interactive Exercises" that shows how archaeology is done at the Jamestown site. [KMG]

http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/index.html

The Field Guide to the Californias is a wonderful part of the excellent San Diego Natural History Museum website. The Field Guide includes "Illustrated Guides", "Checklists", "Explore More About...", and "Places to Explore". The Illustrated Guides section has links to many types of flora and fauna, such as "Arthropods", "Reptiles and Amphibians", "Mammals", and "Plants". Each type leads to a further breakdown of guides, by species of animal or plant. Visitors interested in birds will find "Birds: Wrenderings" an archive of newsletters of the San Diego County Bird Atlas project to be of particular interest. Go under the heading "Explore More About..." on the right side of the page, to be able to read newsletters from 1997-2002. Other documents of the project, such as "Project Overview", "Volunteer Work" and "Reports from the Field" can also be accessed from this page. Visitors interested in getting out in the fresh air should check out "Places to Explore", which provides links to "Guided Nature Walks--Canyoneers", "Wild Lands Exploration" and "Tide Pools in San Diego County". [KMG]

http://digital-library.usma.edu/collections/maps/

The United States Military Academy Library has a rather impressive map collection, and they continue to add to their digitized map holdings via this website. The maps here are divided into three sections: "Civil War Maps", "Colonial and Federal Era Maps", and "West Point Maps". The "West Point Maps" area only contains five maps, but they include several unusual topographical maps which are not widely known from the early 1900s. The "Civil War Maps" area is quite a find, and visitors can make their way through 40 different maps which document defense lines, battle strategies, and basic political boundaries. The site is rounded out by 55 maps from the colonial period that document early renderings of the American colonies, Revolutionary War battlegrounds, and rivers of strategic importance. [KMG]

http://cdi.uvm.edu/collections/getCollection.xql?title=Fletcher%20Family

The University of Vermont Libraries' Center for Digital Initiatives has continued to add to their online offerings in recent years. This latest collection is quite a pip, and it contains family correspondence from the Fletcher Family of Vermont. The family correspondence begins in 1826, and it is primarily focused around several family members who moved west to New York, Ohio, and other parts of the heartland. Throughout these letters, the various correspondents detail the process of creating and managing their new farms and the documents leave no fact (or price) unexplored as they discuss the land, grains, stock, and groceries. All told, there are 139 letters in the collection, and visitors can click on the "Browse the Collection" section to view the letters listed by author. Additionally, visitors can search the collection by keyword, title, or subject. [KMG]

http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/baroque/

Some people might think of the Baroque movement as overly fussy and ostentatious, and if they do, this website might win them over to its charms. Those who are already converted will definitely want to spend some time wandering over this online exhibit designed to complement a in situ exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum. On the homepage, visitors will find that they can listen to some "greatest hits" from the Baroque age of classical music, and then make their way over to the "The Exhibition" section. Here they can learn about the emergence of this global style through some short explanatory texts, all of which have images drawn from the collection itself. No such site would be complete without an "Interactive Global Baroque" map, and this section allows users to click around the world in search of Baroque masterpieces. Finally, the "Video & Music" area contains excerpts from an oratory Latin Mass, a religious procession from Holy Week in Seville, and some additional musical selections. [KMG]

http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/WomenHistory/index.html

Since the United States Post Office was established in the late 18th century, women have struggled to be recognized within its ranks. One of the earliest instances involving such a situation was when Mary Katherine Goddard petitioned none other than President George Washington after having been removed from office because of her gender. This intriguing online exhibit created by the National Postal Museum takes a close look at the role that women have played in this American institution. Visitors can click on the "Women in Postal History" section to read a series of historical essays which explore topics that include women in postal folklore and postal women in the early republic. The "Women Today" area provides a short essay on the recent history of women's involvement in the Post Office. The final section, "In their Own Words" allows users to listen to excerpts from oral histories conducted with female employees. Some of the subjects covered here include the work environment, promotions, family life, and working while pregnant. [KMG]

http://www.correctionhistory.org/index.html

The mission of the New York Correction History Society is "to pursue, preserve and promote the history of correction services in New York." The Society helps fulfill their mission via this site which has an ample offering of institutional history, inmate art, philosophical musings, and perspectives of the role of such facilities in the history of the Empire State. The homepage is a bit busy, visually speaking, and there isn't a formal index of subjects covered within, but a bit of careful investigation will yield some rich material. Visitors will note that one of the finds here is a virtual tour of Rikers Island from 1948, and it is nestled right next to a historical essay on the jail system in Westchester County. Further down near the bottom of the homepage, visitors can learn about a 1987 coloring book titled "Getting to Know Your New York City Department of Correction". There's much more to see here, and the site does a nice job of covering the various aspects of the correctional experience. [KMG]

http://www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/380

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) presents this exhibition of artwork by South African artist William Kentridge. Kentridge works include drawings, sculptures, stage sets and prints, but is probably best known for his stop-motion animated films. Kentridge makes his films from charcoal drawings that he erases and re-draws, to create motion. A two-minute video on the site, "William Kentridge on his process" shows Kentridge filming a drawing of ocean waves hitting rocks. He steps up to the drawing, erases and draws, then walks across his studio to the camera, shoots 2 frames, and repeats. He estimates that for a 4 second film, 100 frames, he will walk across the studio 50 times. In other short online videos, Kentridge discusses the music and characters in his films. In an audio interview recorded in 2006, the artist talks about his drawings and early experiments with film. [DS]

http://www.wisecleaner.com/

This free version of Wise Registry allows even neophyte computer users to perform a Windows registry scan with relatively little hassle. The program has a user-friendly interface, and the cleanup tool also offers an undo option, which is quite helpful when dealing with such a task. This version is compatible with computers running Windows 98 and newer. [KMG]

http://www.google.com/chrome

The purpose of Google's Chrome browser is to effectively make the "browser disappear" and to make the web "faster, safer, and easier." One rather noticeable feature is that instead of having a traditional toolbar, Chrome puts its tabs on top, and allows users to move them around to suit their own purposes. Users can also take advantage of the individual controls within each tab, which include forward and back buttons. Finally, the browser also contains a hybrid device which brings together the search box and the address bar. This version of Chrome is compatible with computers running Windows Vista and XP. [KMG]

Europeans rally on May Day amid economic worries [Free Registration may be required]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050100990.html?sub=AR

Economic woes fuel May Day anger
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8027884.stm

Immigration activists plan May Day rallies
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rallies1-2009may01,0,7459575.story

Biltmore Village brings back May Day celebration
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090501/NEWS01/905010335

Chicago Anarchists on trial: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair 1886-7
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ichihtml/hayhome.html

F. Scott Fitzgerald's "May Day"
http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/mayday/index.html

Images of May Day often include flowers, maypoles, and children delivering May Day baskets not riot gear and tear gas. However, May Day is also known as International Workers' Day and is a commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Affair. The Haymarket Affair occurred during a strike in Chicago when a peaceful labor rally turned violent. Since then, May Day has become an international celebration of the labor movement and is often used as a day for political protest for workers' rights. Facing serious economic hardships and rising unemployment, governments around the globe are concerned that May Day rallies may turn violent. Clashes have broken out in a number of countries as unions use traditional May Day marches to protest against the handling of the global economic crisis. In Istanbul, riot police fired tear gas and water cannons as protesters threw gas bombs and attacked banks and shops. German police made dozens of arrests in Berlin where protesters began setting fire to cars. There have also been marches in Russia, the Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong, where demonstrators are calling on governments to do more to protect jobs. Tens of thousands are expected to protest for immigration reform in downtown Los Angeles. Trade unions in France have called for French people to come out in force for the traditional May Day march and some 300 rallies are planned throughout the country as demonstrators protest against the government's handling of the economic crisis. The French government has faced growing hostility from workers including riots and increasing incidents of "boss-napping," workers holding their bosses captive to force concessions from corporations. Social historian Patrick Weil suggests that France may be on the verge of a revolution: "When you have this anger, this feeling of resentment, this feeling of injustice represented by the presidential power, yes, there is some ground for potential revolt if you don't want to say the word 'revolution'." [CMH]

The first link will take visitors to an article from the Washington Post about the May Day rallies occurring around the world. The second link leads to a piece from the BBC that discusses the current economic crisis and subsequent violence that has been occurring over the past several months in France as more violence is expected today during May Day marches. The third link leads to a piece from the LA Times discussing the rallies planned for May Day in downtown LA in support of immigration reform. On a lighter note, the fourth link leads to an article from the Citizen-Times of Ashville, NC describing Biltmore Village's efforts to bring back a more serene, traditional May Day celebration. The fifth link leads to a page from the Library of Congress' American Memory Project on the Haymarket Affair and includes more than 3,800 images of original manuscripts, broadsides, photographs, prints, and artifacts. The last link leads to a brief introduction and then the full text of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novella, "May Day". [CMH]