Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/2000/se-000927.html
Volume 4, Number 3 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. The In the News section annotates nine resources on new probe data from the asteroid "Eros." [MD]
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Two From Harpweek
Presidential Elections, 1860-1884
http://elections.harpweek.com
Library of Congress Political Prints, 1766-1876 [Java]
http://loc.harpweek.com
Harpweek (last reviewed in the April 8, 2000 Scout Report for Social Sciences) recently launched two new sites featuring nineteenth-century political cartoons and prints. The first offers close to 200 political cartoons and prints commenting on US presidential elections between 1860 and 1876 (1880 and 1884 will be added in October). The images are drawn from periodicals such as Harper's Weekly,Vanity Fair, and Puck, as well as the Library of Congress political print collection, and feature famous cartoonists and artists such as Thomas Nast, Matt Morgan, A.B. Frost, and Joseph Keppler. The cartoons and prints are organized by election and candidate, and are displayed with captions and links to additional information such as a timeline, campaign issues, political tactics, and biographies. The second site features an electronic version of Bernard F. Reilly, Jr.'s well-regarded annotated catalog of the LOC's collection of American political prints. Users may browse the catalog by time period, topic, or name, or conduct a keyword search. As with the first site, the images are offered as large thumbnails with a caption. Combined, these two sites are an outstanding resource for researchers and students of American political history and the history of political prints and cartoons. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Catalogue Collectif de France
http://www.ccfr.bnf.fr/
English Introduction to Catalog
http://www.ccfr.bnf.fr/rnbcd_visu/acc1_eng.htm
Researchers interested in the holdings of French libraries and lesser-known French "centres de documentation" will want to visit the Catalogue Collectif de France (CCFR). A project of the French Ministries of Culture and Education as well as the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, the CCFR is divided into two sections, by institution (Repertoire des Bibliotheques) and by document search (Localisation de Documents). Repertoire des Bibliotheques allows users to search 3,900 institutions (Bibliotheque) by name, location, and type of library. Search results include contact information, a brief history, a description of the collections, and details about the services offered. A search of Collections in this section also allows users to identify institutional holdings by type of materials, language, and by date of publication. The Localisation de Documents section enables users to search two million items by author, title, type of material, publisher, location, and date of publication. This document search is of special interest to those looking for items published before 1811, as many of the items in the catalog represent the results of a lengthy national retrospective conversion project. Plans for the CCFR in 2001 include the addition of another eight million bibliographic records from university libraries and the national library's collections. At present, all help documentation and navigation is only available in French. [AG]
[Back to Contents]Thomas A. Edison Papers
http://edison.rutgers.edu/
A collaborative project between Rutgers University, the Smithsonian, and numerous other partners, the Thomas A. Edison Papers Project is an ongoing effort to organize and publish a select edition of the papers from the great inventor. The editors have recently announced that documents from Parts I-III (1850-1898) of the papers have now been placed online as a searchable collection of digitized images. Users can look for documents using a detailed search engine (instructions are supplied, and users are recommended to read them first). Options include searching by name, date, and document type; or performing a keyword search of folders and volumes. Documents are displayed in a cramped frame, but users can open this frame in a new browser window for full-screen reading. This is only the first installment, and the full digital edition will include the complete text of all of the print volumes. The site also offers a number of other Edison resources, including an annotated list of Edison's companies, chronologies, bibliographies, motion picture catalogs, and related links, among other resources. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Landmine Monitor Report 2000: Toward a Mine-Free World [MS Word, .zip]
http://www.icbl.org/lm/2000/
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) has recently placed online the full text of their annual report, which monitors "implementation of and compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty" and assesses efforts of the international community to resolve the landmine crisis. Although it notes that antipersonnel mines continue to be laid, the report also reveals that nearly three-quarters of the world's nations have signed the treaty, that the number of landmine producers has drastically dropped, and that trade in landmines has almost completely halted. The full text of the 1,100-page report, along with an executive summary, translated country reports, and key findings are available at the ICBL site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Advanced Buildings: Technologies and Practices
http://www.advancedbuildings.org/
Thermally broken balconies, Low-nox burners, greywater recycling, and indoor air biofilters are just a few of the aspects of energy-efficient building technologies found at this Website from Natural Resources Canada. Here users will find a well-organized index of topics subdivided into pages featuring descriptions, benefits and limitations, costs, building uses, and development statuses of 90 building technologies. Most pages contain color images and schematics of the technological design and links to related experts and industries for each technology. Also featured is an informative case study that takes an in-depth look at the technology and construction of Canada's first building built to meet the requirements of the C-2000 program (described at the site). A boolean-type search engine and links page are also provided. This is an excellent resource for engineers, architects, and builders concerned with designing and producing energy-efficient, waste- and water-reducing "smart" buildings. [HCS]
[Back to Contents]"The Minority Business Challenge: Democratizing Capital for Emerging Domestic Markets" [.pdf]
MBDA
http://www.mbda.gov/Emerging_Markets/democratizing.pdf
Milken Institute
http://www.milkeninstitute.com/pdf/minbus2.pdf
Produced by the Milken Institute under the direction of the US Commerce Department Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), this 62-page report finds that minority entrepreneurs are receiving only a fraction of the billions in venture capital poured into small businesses. This is occurring despite the fact that minority-owned firms are growing at six times the rate of all US businesses. Simply put, the report's main arguments are twofold: first, the current economic boom is not sustainable in the long run without the inclusion of minority-owned businesses and investment in those businesses; second, demographic trends point to a disproportionately white retired population, who will be dependent upon younger generations of a diverse racial and ethnic makeup. Not nurturing these firms now could have a negative impact on all Americans down the road. The full text of the report is available in .pdf format from the MBDA or Milken Institute. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Teaching History With Technology
http://www.caryacademy.pvt.k12.nc.us/historytech/
This new, free, biannual online journal is designed to help middle school and high school history and social studies teachers better integrate technology into their classrooms. Hosted and sponsored by the Cary Academy in Cary, North Carolina, each issue will feature three or four articles by teachers explaining how they have incorporated technology to enhance their students's learning experiences. For instance, the inaugural issue features pieces on students creating an online museum, Web-enhanced courses and online learning, virtual field-trips, and online research and student-produced Webpages. Submissions are welcome, and information is provided at the site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Production Practices for Major Crops in US Agriculture, 1990-97 [.pdf]
http://www.ers.usda.gov/epubs/pdf/sb969/
Recently released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS), this 104-page report "presents information on nutrient and pest management practices, crop residue management, and other general crop management practices in use on US farms." The information presented was gathered mostly in the 1990s as part of an ongoing effort to collect information on agricultural production practices to assist those analyzing their potential impact on human health and natural resources. Visitors can download the report by chapter or in its entirety in .pdf format at the ERS site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Arctic Theme Page -- NOAA
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/
This site from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is designed to provide arctic data and other information to "scientists, students, teachers, academia, managers, decision makers and the general public." Data, maps, a listing of arctic research programs, and climate index information are offered under the Scientific heading. General Interest resources include photos, and links to related sites on arctic education, arctic exploration, the northern lights, animals, ships, the environment, and archaeology and native peoples. Also included is a collection of essays answering selected questions and a FAQ. [MD]
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The Great Debate & Beyond: The History of Televised Presidential Debates [Flash, RealPlayer]
http://www.mbcnet.org/debateweb/
Created by the Museum of Broadcast Communications, this site explores the history of televised presidential debates. The online exhibit is composed of four sections. The first explores the "The Great Debate" of 1960, the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, with a fifteen-minute documentary, reflections from people who were present, written and video commentary, a bibliography, and the debate broadcast in its entirety. The second section, Presidential Debate History, 1960-1996, offers video clips, photos, news headlines, and documents from each of the presidential debates. The third section examines the impact of television on the political process with essays, interviews, and statistics, while the final section offers a well-developed collection of curriculum resources for teachers and students. This is a nicely crafted and very useful site which also offers a non-Flash version for users with slower connections. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Public Records Office Virtual Museum [.pdf]
http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/virtualmuseum/intro.htm
The National Archives has created this virtual museum to showcase artifacts from its permanent collection that documents 1,000 years of British history. Although the site has some minor design flaws, such as light text that horizontally scrolls across dark, busy backgrounds, and .pdf files that are not clearly identified as such, its structure supports those who want to use historical objects to illustrate history. The site is organized into a series of galleries, such as Kings and Queens, Famous Names, War & Defense, and Invention, Fashion & Design. Each Gallery starts with a short essay, and includes images of eight to ten artifacts. For example, the Famous Names Gallery begins by reminding us that in our unequal society, we tend to have more material documenting the rich than the rest of us, and includes Shakespeare's will, a print depicting the funeral of Lord Nelson, the document recording Sir Elton John's official name change in 1972, and a photo of Charlie Chaplin with Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald. Copies of the essays and images with their captions can be downloaded as .pdf files. [DS]
[Back to Contents]Human Rights Watch: Five New Reports
Seeking Protection: Addressing Sexual and Domestic Violence in Tanzania's Refugee Camps
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/tanzania/
Owed Justice: Thai Women Trafficked into Debt Bondage in Japan
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/japan/
Turkey: Human Rights And The European Union Accession Partnership
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/turkey2/
Nipped in the Bud: Suppression of the China Democracy Party
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/china/
Unfair Advantage: Workers' Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/uslabor/
In September, Human Rights Watch posted five new reports on their Website. The first, Seeking Protection: Addressing Sexual and Domestic Violence in Tanzania's Refugee Camps, is a 151-page indictment of the United Nation's High Commission for Refugees and the Tanzanian host government's failure to address violence against Burundi women refugees in Tanzanian camps in a "timely and effective manner, despite ample evidence that women's lives were in danger in their homes and in the general camp community." Owed Justice: Thai Women Trafficked into Debt Bondage in Japan also deals with the violation of women's rights as it examines the trafficking of Thai women who are delivered under false pretenses into atrocious labor conditions in Japan where they are often forced to work for years to pay off the "debt" of their transport. Turkey: Human Rights And The European Union Accession Partnership is a 31-page report detailing Human Rights Watch's recommendations for the EU's Accession Partnership Document laying out the human rights criteria Turkey will have to meet to be granted EU membership. Nipped in the Bud: Suppression of the China Democracy Party examines the situation of more than 30 people imprisoned for their role in the China Democracy Party and argues for their immediate release. Turning to US issues, Unfair Advantage: Workers' Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards reports on nationwide repeated violations, across all levels of employment, of federal laws and international standards protecting workers's rights to organize, to bargain collectively, and to strike. [DC]
[Back to Contents]Printmakers A - Z
http://www.library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/prints/printsA2Z.htm
To welcome students and faculty back to campus for this academic year, the Special Collections Department at Georgetown University presents Printmakers A - Z. Similar to another Georgetown exhibition previously discussed in the January 7, 2000 Scout Report, American Posters of World War One, this show uses a simple design, arranging thumbnail views in one long page, with brief accompanying information. Users can click on the thumbnails for larger views. The exhibition concept is also simple: "to present a brief survey of some of the famous, and some of the not-so-famous prints in the University's fine print collections, without recourse to some unifying theme." By doing this, the exhibition informs users that Georgetown University owns prints not only by some better known artists, such as John Steuart Curry, Jacob Lawrence, and Grant Wood, but also prints by another group of possibly lesser-known artists whose works are seen in print collections all over the US, including B.J.O. Norfeldt, Louis John Rhead, and Lucienne Bloch. [DS]
[Back to Contents]Court Rules, Forms, and Dockets -- LLRX.com
http://www.llrx.com/courtrules/
LLRX has recently created a handy metapage that links to over 700 sources for state and federal court rules, forms, and dockets. Visitors can search the list by keyword (all fields or court name) or browse using several pull-down menus or by a straight list of court type, type of resource, and jurisdiction or state. Many, but not all, of the links are briefly annotated. [MD]
[Back to Contents]The Van Morrison Website
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/van.html
This impressive, long-running fan site is maintained by Michael Hayward of Vancouver. Visitors will find pretty much all they ever wanted to know and more about Van the Man and his music. Resources include an extensively detailed discography (including video, radio, and bootlegs), a bibliography, song lyrics, a glossary of terms and references, reviews and interviews, and information on Van Morrison mailing lists. The site also offers a nice search feature and a what's new listing. Not only is the site the most comprehensive resource for Van Morrison on the net, but it is also one of the best-organized and richest fan sites the Scout Report has ever reviewed. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Classicar.com
http://www.classiccar.com/
Originally established in 1995, this site and its related subsidiaries has long reigned supreme as the ultimate online source for gearheads of all stripes and colors. Aimed especially towards active members of the classic car community, the site provides information on clubs and events, and pictures from past car shows and cruises, as well as hosting over 90 message boards and chat groups. The site also offers numerous articles, a "complete guide to classic car restoration" (Ted's Garage), a search engine for parts and services, classifieds, trivia, and a free monthly newsletter. [MD]
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Guidebeam
http://www.guidebeam.com
This neat site combines both browsing and direct technology, allowing users to create browseable topic categories on-the-fly. In other words, instead of a group of predetermined topics, such as those at Yahoo or the Open Directory, the topics displayed are based on the user's keyword search entry. All categories are cross-referenced, and it's easy to find yourself on an endless path from category to category, but results (they use Google) can be displayed at any time by clicking the highlighted term next to View Search at the top of the page. A search history is also available. The advanced search page allows users to select view (standard or frames) and alternative search engines (US Patents Office and Health intranet). A very interesting technology that's worth a look. [MD]
[Back to Contents]EchoFactor (Beta)
http://www.echofactor.com/
This interesting new headline aggregator offers very specific news feeds that users can read on the site (free e-mail updates when content changes) or have sent to their own site for free (Steal this EchoFeed). In its current beta form, EchoFactor offers feeds related to arts and entertainment, cities and regions, colleges and universities, home and garden, jobs and careers, and sports and recreation. These are accessed via subject categories or a keyword search engine. The types of feeds vary by subject. For instance, sports team feeds indexes national news, local news, and message boards; home and garden feeds include tips, columns, and message boards; and celebrity feeds contain multimedia, gossip, appearances, interviews, reviews, and more. Although it seems a bit disappointing that EchoFactor chose not to include international or political news in its beta run, the site has potential for users in search of targeted news feeds for their own use or to place on their site. [MD]
[Back to Contents]Reuel's Guide to Multi-Booting
http://www.xperts.co.za/reuel/multiboot/multiboot.htm
Created and maintained by Reuel Miller, this site is a handy resource for PC users who want to place multiple operating systems (OS's) on their machines. The tutorial guides users through both how to set up a multi-booting system on a blank hard drive, and how to keep their current OS while adding another. The tutorial also covers re-installing any of the OS's covered (Windows95, Windows98, WindowsNT, and Linux) without compromising the multi-booting setup, in addition to discussing solutions to "Non-perfect scenarios." [MD]
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Danes Reject Euro
Denmark Decides -- CNN [QuickTime, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player]
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/denmark/
"Europe questions fate of euro" -- BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_947000/947798.stm
Irish Times EuroTimes
http://www.ireland.com/eurotimes/
"Danish Voters Say No to Euro; A Blow to Unity" -- New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/29/business/29EURO.html
"Danish Voters Reject Euro" -- Washington Post
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38701-2000Sep28.html
Euronews [RealPlayer]
http://www.euronews.net/
Euro
http://europa.eu.int/euro/html/entry.html
Yesterday, 53 percent of Danish voters refused to trade in their krone for the fledgling European common currency, the euro. While the "no" vote was expected, the proposal to switch to the euro was defeated by a larger margin than forecast. European leaders immediately tried to play down the referendum defeat and insisted it would not affect the already shaky euro, which has declined by more than 25 percent in value since it was introduced in January 1999. Pundits are less sanguine, and speculation has already begun on how the Danish vote will affect opinion in Sweden and the UK, both of which plan to hold referendums on joining the common currency at some point in the indefinite future. Rather than sentimental attachment to the national currency, the "no" vote has been interpreted as resistance to any further erosion in national sovereignty. Voters feared that ceding more powers to EU headquarters could threaten domestic programs, not least Denmark's extensive welfare state. The question of national sovereignty versus a "United States of Europe" remains an extremely thorny issue for European leaders, and one that seems to have no clear resolution in the forseeable future.
Readers can begin exploring this issue with CNN's special coverage, which offers a report on the vote, analysis and archived stories, interactive features (timeline, key players, political parties, etc.), a photo gallery, a video archive, and related links. The BBC features several key stories, analysis, archived articles, and related links. The Irish Times Euro Times reports on the vote and offers a number of resources on the euro. Additional stories are provided by the New York Times (free registration required), the Washington Post, and Euronews. Official information on the common currency is available at the euro homepage. [MD]
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