The Scout Report - July 24, 1998

The Scout Report

July 24, 1998

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Science Department, University of Wisconsin

The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators, the InterNIC's primary audience. 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.

An Acrobat .pdf version of this report is available for printing and distributing locally. For information on Adobe Acrobat Reader, visit the Adobe site.


In This Issue:

New From Internet Scout

Research and Education

General Interest

Network Tools

Where Are They Now


New From Internet Scout

Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/sci-engr/
Volume 1, Number 22 of the Scout Report for Science & Engineering is available. It annotates over twenty new and newly discovered Internet resources in the physical & life sciences and engineering. The In the News section annotates nine resources on ice. [JS]
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Research And Education

Looking for a Few Good Clones--Nature Web Special
http://www.nature.com/
Select Web Specials/Cloning
Nature has updated its Web Special on Cloning (discussed in the March 7, 1997 Scout Report) to incorporate the latest strides in cloning research that have enabled scientists at the University of Hawaii to clone more than twenty mice from adult cells. The Web Special contains a Letter to Nature: "Full-term development of mice from enucleated oocytes injected with cumulus cell nuclei," by T. Wakayama, et. al. (Nature 394, 369; 1998); a commentary by Davor Solter of the Department of Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Institut fur Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Germany; updates on the validity of the sheep cloning experiment; and an opinion piece. The sheep cloning articles from the February 27, 1997 issue of Nature are also available. [JS]
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AGRICOLA Web Gateway--NAL
http://www.nal.usda.gov/ag98/
NAL Document Delivery Services Information
http://www.nalusda.gov/ddsb/
The US National Agricultural Library, the largest agricultural library in the world, has recently opened a Web gateway to its mammoth AGRICOLA (AGRICultural OnLine Access) database. AGRICOLA "is a machine-readable database of bibliographic records created by the National Agricultural Library and its cooperators. Production of these records in electronic form began in 1970, but the database covers materials dating from the 16th century to the present. The records describe publications and resources encompassing all aspects of agriculture and allied disciplines, including plant and animal sciences, forestry, entomology, soil and water resources, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, agricultural products, alternative farming practices, and food and nutrition." The Web interface is divided into two sections at this time, an online public access book catalog and a "journal article citation index." The book catalog contains 667,000 bibliographic records produced since 1970, while the journal section contains 985,000 records produced since 1985. Searching is available on six variables for each section, and several of the indexes are browseable, for ease of use. Those who prefer text searching can still access AGRICOLA via NAL's ISIS Telnet interface (discussed in the February 23, 1996 Scout Report). [JS]
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Three from the National Center for Education Statistics
The Condition of Education 1998
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/condition98/index.html
Developments in School Finance 1997 [.pdf, 188p.]
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=98212XXXXX
Americas Children: Key National Indicators of Child Well-Being 1998
http://www.childstats.gov/ac1998/ac98.htm
The US Department of Education's NCES has recently released three information resources on various aspects of education. The Condition of Education 1998 is an annual compendium of about 60 indicators in six major areas including access and participation, economic outcomes, and financial and human resources. These tabular and graphic indicators are gleaned from various surveys and publications both inside and outside of the Department of Education. Currency of the data varies by indicator. Developments in School Finance 1997 (available in Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] format only), edited by William J. Fowler, contains the fiscal proceedings from the 1997 NCES Summer Conference, eight scholarly papers on "emerging issues in educational finance." Titles include: "Does Money Matter for Minority and Disadvantaged Students? Assessing the New Empirical Evidence," by David Grissmer, et. al.; "School District Expenditures, School Resources and Student Achievement: Modeling the Production Function," by Harold Wenglinsky; and "The Development of School Finance Formulas to Guarantee the Provision of Adequate Education to Low-Income Students," by Andrew Reschovsky and Jennifer Imazeki. Users can download the entire publication or articles of their choosing. America's Children, developed by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, is the second in a series of annual compendia of statistical indicators on US children. This issue, which contains 23 indicators in six topics, shows overall improvement in children's well-being but continuing racial, ethnic,and class disparities. Information is presented in non-technical terms with heavy use of charts and tables. [JS]
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Checklist of Online Vegetation and Plant Distribution Maps
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/branner/vegmaps.htm
Stanford University Libraries' Branner Earth Sciences Library and Map Collections has made available this incredible resource of online vegetation and plant distribution maps. Under each classified area (world, continent, or region), users will find hyperlinked titles and brief descriptions of Websites offering vegetation distribution information. Most of the world's forests are covered here, with many protected areas highlighted. This massive effort will reap rewards for those who take the time to explore. In addition to the extensive listings of plant distribution sites, a final section, Other Sites, offers a compilation of cartographic links for botanists and an Internet directory for botany. [LXP]
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Special Subject Guides--LSSULG Germany
http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ssgfi/
The Lower-Saxonian State and University Library Gottingen, Germany maintains three annotated subject directories at this site. These searchable and browseable directories, in mathematics, earth sciences and geography, and Anglo-American culture, contain annotations of Websites, CD-ROMs, and books. The most impressive aspect of the site is the bibliographic metadata (choose "Metadata" from any results list), based on Dublin Core elements complimented by several locally established elements, including statistical data, evaluation, and source types. In addition to standard bibliographic information, resources have been classified according to several standard classification schemes (including MSC Mathematical Subject Classification, Dewey Decimal, and locally-developed Gottinger Online Klassifikation). Resources are also evaluated on contents, clarity, quality of index, and links. [AG]
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The Hoover Dam: Lonely Lands Made Fruitful [Flash2]
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/DISPLAY/hoover/front.html
Less Graphical Entrance
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/DISPLAY/hoover/front2.html
Project designer Janet Haven of the University of Virginia American Studies Program presents the construction of the Hoover Dam as an alternative narrative to the devastation of the Great Depression in her photoessay, The Hoover Dam: Lonely Lands Made Fruitful. Five slide shows created in Flash2 cover the construction from diverting the Colorado River to pouring concrete and adding the final touches to a completed dam. The slide shows are prefaced by historical background, including short essays on topics such as the Dam as the "Machine in the Desert" and the text of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Dedication Speech upon completion, September 30, 1935. Images of maps and plans are linked throughout, and a list of Works Consulted gives concise source descriptions as well as ideas for further reading. [MW]
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The Primary Sources Network
http://primarysources.msu.edu/
The Primary Sources Network is a collaborative project by a group of Michigan school districts, museums, universities, and corporations, funded by a U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant. The goal of the project is to improve student learning by using technology to integrate primary sources into classroom curricula. Directed at educators, the site provides sample curriculum units and a gallery of artifacts from the Henry Ford Museum, one of the project partners. Links to other collections of primary sources, such as Library of Congress American Memory and the National Archives Information Locator (NAIL, discussed in the February 2, 1996 Scout Report), together with good definitions of the terms "primary sources" and "material culture," make this site a useful starting place for educators who want to bring more primary sources into the classroom. Users may find it easiest to navigate the site using icons and the site map. [DS]
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General Interest

State-level Lists of Casualties from the Vietnam Conflict (1957-)--NARA CER
http://www.nara.gov/nara/electronic/korvnsta.html
The Center for Electronic Records of the US National Archives and Records Administration has recently added this database to its already existing casualty list for the Korean Conflict (discussed in the March 6, 1998 Scout Report). The database, which is only browseable, includes name of casualty, rank, branch of military service, "home of record," date of birth and death, "category of casualty," and an indicator as to whether the remains have been recovered. Records may be sorted alphabetically or by "home of record," within state. The database covers 1957-1995 and contains records for 58,187 individuals. [JS]
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eBlast--Encyclopedia Britannica
http://www.eBLAST.com/
Text Only
http://www.eBLAST.com/index_t.html
Encyclopedia Britannica has formally launched its eBLAST (Encyclopedia Britannica Links and Search Tool) Internet guide. Available since 1997 in preview mode as the Encyclopedia Britannica Internet Guide, the site has been expanded and enhanced to include searchable and browseable reviews and ratings of over 125,000 sites in nineteen subject areas from arts and literature to world geography and culture. Sites are rated from "Noteworthy" (one star) to "Best of the Web" (five stars) by EB editors. Users can "drill down" from the broad categories to progressively more precise sub-categories, or they can view the expanded outline of sites from one page. In addition, several features such as Bookmarks of the Smart & Famous, a Guest Column, and a Net Events section highlight noteworthy Websites or specific aspects of the Web. [JS]
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Green Web of Knowledge--EPA
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ala/index.html
One responsibility of the US Environmental Protection Agency is to provide the public with information about the environment. Stressing the theory that individuals can make a difference, this site from the Great Lakes National Program Office provides information for individuals. Within the Home and Garden section, citizens can learn about how to conserve water and energy, landscape naturally, and create a healthy home. Resources for concerned community members, planners, and educators within the Great Lakes region are highlighted under the Community section. The Webs of Life section informs visitors about the Great Lakes ecosystem, in general, and ozone depletion and wetlands preservation, in particular. Librarian's Links provides a categorized listing of EPA resources on the Internet. [KH]
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The Forbes International 800
http://www.forbes.com/tool/toolbox/int500/
From Matsui & Co ($142.8 billion in revenue) to BAA ($2.8 billion in revenue) Forbes magazine has released its 1998 list of the top ranking international companies. Companies can be searched by name, country, or industry type. Company listings contain contact information and Website addresses, and of course, the numbers: basic revenue, assets, market value, and stock price and earnings information. Interestingly, though Japan is currently in an economic crisis, it hosts eight of the top ten companies. The 1997 list is also available. [JS]
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Literary Traveler
http://www.literarytraveler.com/
The mission of the Nomad Group is "to help foster and develop a love for the art and literature of the world" through publications such as their quarterly online journal, Literary Traveler. The Summer 1998 issue is the second in a four-part series on America and focuses on the theme, Home in the South. The contributing authors reflect on the writings of Thomas Wolfe, Robert Frost, and Kate Chopin as well as their own travels to the places described by these poets and writers. Many of the articles include photos, links to related Internet resources, as well as information for visitors to the locales described. [AG]
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1998 Tour de France
Official Site
http://www.letour.fr/
VeloCity [Frames]
http://www.worldmedia.fr/tour/
As the world's most famous bicycle race winds down, interested Internauts may want to follow it to its conclusion at these two sites. The Societe du Tour de France provides the official Tour site. In addition to up to date standings, the site includes a map of the course (also available in Shockwave Flash format), brief information about the riders, an historical database of Tour information going back to 1903, selected highlights from past tours, and complete Tour archives since 1995. World Media's VeloCity, in conjunction with CBS Sportsline, provides the second site, which is highlighted by daily coverage, standings (including best sprinter, climber, and team), a race map, and information about the history of the race. [JS]
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Network Tools

Netscape Communicator 4.5 Preview
http://www.netscape.com/communicator/navigator/v4.5/
The first preview (Beta) version of Netscape's 4.5 Communicator Web browser is available for downloading. The browser, in versions for Windows, Macintosh, and Unix platforms, is highlighted by an interesting and controversial feature called "smart browsing," which allows users to type words, rather than URLs, into the location field. A site that may be relevant is retrieved, along with a list of Related Sites drawn from Netscape's Netcenter (discussed in the September 5, 1997 Scout Report). Netscape claims this feature "integrates" the Web with the browser. In reality, it begins to integrate Netscape's Netcenter Portal with the browser. [JS]
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RealPlayer G2 Beta
http://www.real.com/products/player/
RealPlayer G2 Beta was recently released for Windows 95/NT. Its most notable enhancement is delivery of higher quality streaming audio and video. Other improvements have been made to the interface, including better integration and features involving content channels. RealPlayer G2 is the first streaming media player to support the playback of SMIL-based (Synchronized Multi-media Integration Language) presentations, a combination of animation, audio, graphics, text, and video (discussed in the June 19, 1998 Scout Report). RealPlayer G2 Beta is a free product provided by RealNetworks, Inc. [TB]
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"Competition and Innovation in the Digital Age: Beyond the Browser Wars"--US Senate Committee on the Judiciary
http://www.senate.gov/~judiciary/wlful723.htm
The US Senate Committee on the Judiciary held its latest hearing on competition in the computer age on July 23, 1998. At their site, users can read statements from Lawrence J. Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation; Mitchell Kertzman, CEO of Sybase Inc.; Jeff Papows, CEO of Lotus Development Corporation; Michael Jeffress, Vice President of Electronic TV Host; and Robert Glaser, CEO of Real Networks; as well as Committee members Orrin Hatch and Patrick Leahy. An earlier hearing concentrating on market power in the software industry was held in March 1998 (discussed in the March 6, 1998 Scout Report). [JS]
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Where Are They Now

Volume 2, Number 13, July 21, 1995
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/report/archive/.html
The Nine Planets: A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html
The Nine Planets was and is a textbook example of a content-rich and entertaining site lovingly built and maintained by a single hobbyist author, in this case, software engineer William Arnett. Simply yet elegantly designed from the beginning, the site contains one page of information on each of the over 90 bodies in the Solar System, including planets, satellites, asteroids, and meteors. Arnett provides images, facts, data, and links to more information, as well as a general glossary. The Nine Planets is now mirrored at over 50 sites worldwide and is still one of the best places to start for general information on the Solar System. [JS]
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Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-1998. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the Scout Report provided the copyright notice and this paragraph is preserved on all copies. The Internet Scout Project provides information about the Internet to the US research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin - Madison or the National Science Foundation.


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

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