The Scout Report - March 2, 2001

March 2, 2001

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators. However, everyone is welcome to subscribe to one of the mailing lists (plain text or HTML). Subscription instructions are included at the end of each report.


In This Issue:

Subject Specific Reports

Research and Education

General Interest

Network Tools

In The News


Subject Specific Reports

Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/2001/se-010228.html
Volume 4, Number 13 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates nine resources on the surprising find of submarine volcanoes in the Arctic Ocean.
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Research and Education

Links to Psychological Journals: The Journal Locator in Psychology and the Social Sciences
http://www.wiso.uni-augsburg.de/sozio/hartmann/psycho/journals.html
US Mirror
http://telehealth.net/armin/
UK Mirror
http://ctiwebct.york.ac.uk/journals/journals.html
Created and maintained by Armin Gunther and Martien Brand, this impressive metasite indexes over 1,600 online psychology and social science journals published in English, German, French, Dutch, and Spanish. The format of the site varies at some of the nine mirrors (four in the US), but at the main site and most of the mirrors, users can search the index by keyword or browse by alphabetical listing, subject, and by type of information online (ejournals, selected articles, abstracts, tables of contents) via pull-down menus. Entries include a brief description, content offered online, and a link. An excellent resource for scholars and students in psychology, linguistics, and sociology. [MD]
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Jenda: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies [.pdf]
http://www.jendajournal.com/jenda/
Africa Resource Center
http://www.africaresource.com/index.htm
Published by Africa Resource Center and directed by an all-African women team of co-editors, this new ejournal represents in part an effort to occupy and redefine the space of African Women's studies, a space initially defined by white female scholars. The journal also aims to "create a global forum for African women scholars, analysts and activists to participate on an equal footing with their contemporaries worldwide in debates, exchanges of ideas, and the creation and documentation of knowledge." In pursuit of both goals it will publish original essays, reprints, commentary, exhibition, reviews, interviews, and related writings. Judging by the inaugural issue, Jenda holds great promise, offering a large selection of interesting and engaging essays and other content, much more than comparable print or online journals. In addition, the left-hand side of the journal page contains a fairly deep Africa-focused bibliography, organized by topic. The main Africa Resource Center site offers a wealth of Africa resources, including several additional ejournals, databases, bibliographies, an online art gallery, and more. [MD]
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Manuscripts Catalogue
http://molcat.bl.uk/
This site is designed to serve as a single access point to information on the catalogs of the British Library's Department of Manuscripts, which cover accessions from 1753 to the present day. Visitors may search the catalogs index (a list of those available online can be found in the About section) by name, language, year, and other modifiers. They can also search the descriptions by keyword or find a specific manuscript by number. Returns include a brief description which links to the full entry. Searching tips and information on ordering copies from the British Library are provided. While this site may not prove especially useful to scholars unfamiliar with the Library's manuscript catalogs, it is a solid resource for experienced researchers. [MD]
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MarLIN
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/
MarLIN, the Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland, is an initiative of the Marine Biological Association (MBA) of the UK. Designed to provide "the most comprehensive and easily used source of information about marine habitats, communities and species around Britain and Ireland," the searchable database includes over 29,000 location records from the Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR) database, and it is expanding to include numerous other datasets. Together, these data will provide environmental decision-makers with basic information for planning and assessment. Although not all sections of the site are yet complete, there is already a wealth of excellent information in the Species Information, Habitat (Biotype) Information, Marine Life Protection, and publications sections, with details on the status of all sections provided at the Main Menu page. [LXP]
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Facts on International Relations and Security Trends (FIRST)
http://first.sipri.org/
A joint project of the international relations and Security Network (ISN) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), FIRST is the initial step in an ongoing effort to create a federated system of databases in the fields of International Relations and security. At the site, users can access a wide range of facts and information related to these fields via a pull-down menu and check-box interface. Using the pull-downs, visitors select a nation and year (1988-2000). They then select one or more topics in check-boxes arranged by subject, such as conflicts and peace keeping activities, military expenditure, weapons of mass destruction, and political system and country indicators, among others. Results are offered on a single page, divided by the selected topics and with links to the source sites. Links are also provided to the FIRST glossary and acronyms list. [MD]
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National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) [.pdf]
http://nccs.urban.org/
A project of the Urban Institute Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, the NCCS is "is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States," charged with developing and providing quality data on "nonprofit organizations and their activities for use in research on the relationships between the nonprofit sector, government, the commercial sector, and the broader civil society." At the site, visitors will find a number of tools and resources related to nonprofits. These include databases, a data guide, glossary, fact sheets, state profiles, IRS forms, and a bibliography. Also provided are a list of related mailing lists (including the NCCS mailing list) and general information about the Center and its activities. [MD]
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GigaLaw.com
http://gigalaw.com/
Produced by attorneys and law professors, Gigalaw "provides legal information for Internet and technology professionals, Internet entrepreneurs and the lawyers who serve them." Chief among the offerings are articles and essays focusing mainly on law, technology, and the Internet. These are organized by date or topic (contract law, privacy, free speech, etc.), with the most recent additions featured on the homepage. The site also offers a daily (and weekly) news service, on the site or via email, that summarizes relevant news stories and offers a link to the full text. Other content at Gigalaw includes a selection of full-text intellectual property cases and statutes, some model legal forms, and a discussion list. [MD]
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Hawaiian Newspapers, War Records, and Trust Territory Image Collections [.tif]
http://128.171.57.100/
Created by the University of Hawai'i System Libraries, this site contains three collections of digitized images. The first features images of Hawaiian language newspapers published from 1834 to 1948. They include stories, photos, advertisements, letters to the editor, and other content. The quality of images varies. The second collection comes from the Hawai'i War Records Depository (HWRD), and in addition to the photos, this section also provides information on the holdings of the HWRD, contact information, and a link to an online catalog. The third, and largest, collection includes approximately 8,000 images from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) archives. The photos are browsed by "reel" number and are offered as large thumbnails with links to full-size JPEG or TIFF images. The photos may also be keyword searched using an internal search engine. Links to further information about the four separate, self-governing districts that once composed the TTPI are also provided. [MD]
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Water in Africa
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/water/africa/
Peace Corps World Wise Schools
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/
Developed by the Peace Corps' World Wise Schools and funded through a grant from the US Department of Education, this project provides learning resources to help educators "teach geography, language arts technology, and visual art in a meaningful and original way by using authentic materials collected by Peace Corps Volunteers." These include over 600 photos and 300 anecdotes on the use and availability of water in different African nations, as well as 24 lesson plans, sorted by title, grade, and subject. The photos and anecdotes may also be browsed by country, with basic country information and maps provided. More learning and teaching resources can be found at the World Wise Schools main site. [MD]
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General Interest

2000 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/
This week the US State Department released the 25th edition of its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The report cites continued abuses in countries that have long been noted for human rights violations, including Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, and Afghanistan. It also notes a worsening in China's human rights record, perhaps signalling a tougher stance towards the world's most populous nation under the new US administration. Users may read the full text of the report, which is organized by region, at the State Department site. [MD]
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A Blueprint for New Beginnings -- A Responsible Budget for America's Priorities [.pdf]
http://w3.access.gpo.gov/usbudget/index.html
HTML Version
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/usbudget/blueprint/budtoc.html
Both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the White House have posted copies of the President's budget plan for FY 2002. The 207-page plan is a summary and will be followed by the traditional and more detailed budget documents in April. At the OMB site, users may also download numerous other budget documents, including the final two official statements from the Clinton White House: The Economic Report of the President and the FY 2002 Fiscal Outlook. [MD]
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The Merchants of Cool -- PBS [RealPlayer]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/
The companion site to this week's excellent Frontline explores the symbiotic relationships between teens, the media, and the creators and sellers of popular culture. In the program, Frontline correspondent Douglas Rushkoff interviews marketers, media executives, cultural/media critics, and members of the teen market that the former are so desperately trying to reach (and create). Among other things, Rushkoff explores the "mook" (young male) and "midriff" (young female) stereotypes and the marketing of supposedly anti-establishment rage rockers. At the site, visitors can explore the major themes of the film, read interview transcripts and the reactions of teens who viewed the program, and learn about some of the companies and media giants featured in the film. Also included are a discussion list, a teacher's guide, and some additional short features. [MD]
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Traveling Culture: Circuit Chautauqua in the Twentieth Century -- LOC [.pdf]
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/iauhtml/tccchome.html
The latest addition to the American Memory Project highlights a University of Iowa Libraries collection of talent brochures and other materials from one of the largest booking agencies for Chautauqua performers. The site presents "7,949 publicity brochures, promotional advertisements and talent circulars for some 4,546 performers who were part of the Chautauqua circuit." These may be searched by keyword or browsed by subject or name. The digitized images are offered as thumbnails with links to a full-size .jpg image or .pdf file, accompanied by bibliographic information. The site also links to a brief online essay on Chautauqua. [MD]
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The Hockliffe Project
http://www.cta.dmu.ac.uk/projects/Hockliffe/HP_home_right.htm
Created by Dr. Matthew Grenby, Hockliffe Research Fellow at De Montfort University, this site presents digitized versions of about 100 late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century British books for children. Plans are underway to mount the entire Hockliffe catalog of over 1,000 early children's books on the Web as the entry point to the digitized versions. The current site lists the titles in a long table that is rather slow-loading, especially for those of us in the US. Once a title is selected, page images are presented in a frame with page numbers for navigation in an adjacent frame. A good selection of the many types of writing for children is already present at the site: fairy tales, fables, magazines, and moral and educational stories, such as several versions of Cinderella, Aesop's fables, and Jack and the Beanstalk. All the digitized texts are accompanied by explanatory essays, which may be the best way to start into the books, since the essays include links to pages within the texts themselves and related reference materials. [DS]
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Two on Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and Mouth Disease -- MAFF
http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.htm
Foot and Mouth -- BBC News [RealPlayer]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/in_depth/uk/2001/foot_and_mouth/default.stm
Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious but not necessarily fatal viral infection that is transmitted through dust particles in the air, infecting the hooves and mouths of pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats. In recent weeks, a string of cases have been reported in England, sparking fears of another repeat of the epidemic of 1967, in which over 400,000 animals were destroyed. Farmers and government officials have so far followed the standard plan for dealing with such outbreaks: isolate affected farms and destroy infected herds. As part of this effort, local authorities have been empowered to prevent all foot traffic in designated areas and there has even been talk of delaying the impending general election in Britain for fear that politicians and staff on the campaign trail might spread the disease. Users who want to learn about the disease and measures to control it should consult these two sites. The first is provided by the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAFF), and offers the best source of official information and news on the outbreak and the government's response. The second site, a special report from the BBC, contains breaking news, analysis, background information, and audio and video selections. [MD]
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WWF Annual Report 2000 [.pdf, MS Word]
http://www.panda.org/resources/publications/areport2000/ar_down.htm
Released earlier this month, the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) annual report describes the organization's work and concerns in six "global priorities": forests, freshwater, oceans and coasts, species, climate change, and toxic chemicals. The lavishly illustrated report also briefly covers the activities of the past year and the Fund's expenditures. Users may download the full text in .pdf or Word format. [MD]
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Mr. President: Profiles of our Nation's Leaders -- SI
http://educate.si.edu/president/
Did you know that Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory for less than three cents an acre or that William Henry Harrison "was one of the first U.S. politicians to use false advertizing," campaigning as a simple man who lived in a log cabin while he had been to medical school and grown up on a Virginia plantation? Mr. President, a new Website from the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies, is studded with these sorts of facts. The site uses a gallery format to give brief introductions to each of the former US presidents. Five galleries are arranged chronologically, each containing thumbnails of famous portraits of eight or nine presidents. Clicking on a thumbnail brings up a page with an expanded version of the portrait, a brief quote from and blurb on the president, and a "fast facts" card citing brief stats. While not an in-depth site, Mr. President is carefully composed, and everyone should find something of interest when browsing here. [TK]
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Network Tools

Opera 5.0 TP1 for Mac
http://www.opera.com/download/mac.html
On February 21, Opera announced the release of a free Technology Preview (TP) version of its speedy and versatile browser for the Macintosh. Opera is quite small (2.2 MB download), standards compliant, customizable, and also offers some nice cookie management options. It is possible to surf with Opera using only your keyboard, and the browser includes a built-in Google search bar. Note that this is an initial partial work build and lacks certain features, such as Java support and Apple Script. It will expire on March 30, 2001. [MD]
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AnyBrowser.com
http://www.anybrowser.com/
AnyBrowser allows users to test their sites using several free tools. Visitors can check the validity and compatibility of their HTML, check their links, see the site at various screen sizes, and create metatags. In addition, the site also offers directories of additional resources and free tools and information about site promotion. [MD]
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In The News

Seattle Cleans Up
Northwest Quake -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/quake/
The Earthquake -- Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/photogallery/quake/
"Quake Jolts Northwest" -- San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/01/MN144973.DTL
"Adding up Seattle quake damage could take days" -- CNN [QuickTime, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player]
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/03/02/northwest.quake.01/index.html
USGS Earthquake Bulletin
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/activity/latest/eq_01_02_28.html
USGS Intensity Map
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/pnw/STORE/X2281854/ciim_display.html
Earthquakes Hazards Program -- USGS
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/
Pacific Northwest Earthquake Information -- PNSN
http://spike.geophys.washington.edu/SEIS/PNSN/welcome.html
Although the damage from Wednesday's earthquake has been estimated at $2 billion, many in Seattle and western Washington feel rather lucky. The 6.8-magnitude quake has been linked to only one death (a heart attack), and the physical damage could have been considerably worse. Experts attribute the relatively moderate damage to the fact that the quake began 30 miles underground and to the retrofit measures taken since the mid-1980s to brace area roads, bridges, and buildings. Still, a number of counties in western Washington have been declared federal disaster areas making available federal funds and loans for uninsured losses, emergency housing, and to repair public facilities. While some people remain hospitalized, for the most part Seattle has returned to daily business, with most schools and highways open. The clean-up and repairs, however, will likely take several weeks.

The Seattle Post-Intelligence's special report on the quake contains breaking news, archived stories, transportation updates, and photos. The Seattle Times offers a large collection of photos, while the San Francisco Chronicle's report includes links to numerous stories as well as another photo gallery. CNN's report includes video selections, related stories, and some additional resources. Scientific information on the quake and related resources on earthquakes in general can be found at the above three sites from the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the one from Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN). [MD]
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From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2001. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/

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Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2001. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.

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The Scout Report (ISSN 1092-3861) is published weekly by Internet Scout
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