04/25/02
NOTE: If you are not already receiving the Newsletter by e-mail, and would like to, contact sbianchi@nsf.gov. PLEASE STATE WHETHER YOU PREFER THE FULL NEWSLETTER OR JUST THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.
This newsletter is available to the public at the following locations:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/swain/nsflibnews/
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/scitechnews/
http://avel.edu.au/scitech.html
Phibot
http://phibot.org/new/_SID_=2002040820324244604/Search/Main
“Phibot is an intelligent internet information retrieval tool for
scientists. As part of the Adaptive Read Project, phibot is a web-based
experiment for collaborative information retrieval. We try to carry out an
approach for query reformulation on a large scale internet search engine. In
this experiment we want to investigate, if query reformulation improves the
results of the search engine. We gather the users relevance feedback as well
as the queries and the search results and constantly feed our search engine
with this data. The whole process is fully automatic.
What you see in the middle column the first time entering Phibot are the latest physics news on the Internet from different news sources. Phibot differentiates between a Newssearch and a Websearch. Both results will be displayed in the middle column in two different boxes.”
This tool is a bit terse on the background info and help screens, but they are there if you look for them, and the search results are quite nice. It is primarily designed to search physics websites and news, but you may also choose general science websites and news, and get very nice search results. It is well worth a look!
DOE National Science Bowl, May 3-6, 2002
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl is a math and
science competition among teams of high school students throughout the
country. Current public, private or home school students are encouraged each
year to form a team and participate in one of the 61 regional competitions
held from January to March. DOE laboratories, in conjunction with state and
local school districts, state and community colleges, and local and national
companies, co-sponsor and provide sites for the competition and prizes to high
schools participating at the regional level. Additionally, more than 5,000
volunteers from the DOE, the private sector, colleges and universities, and
non-profit organizations contribute their time and energy to help make these
regional competitions succeed. The regional champions will compete May 3-6 in
Washington, DC for the national title. The DOE is committed to math and
science education to help provide a technically trained and diverse workforce
for the Nation.
The Origins and Evolution of Family Planning Programs in Developing Countries,
Judith R. Seltzer, MR-1276-WFHF/DLPF/RF. Rand, 2002.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1276/
Marine Biotechnology in the Twenty-First Century: Problems, Promise, and Products.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10340.html?onpi_listserv040502
The Future Of The Information Revolution In Europe: Proceedings Of An International Conference.
Rand, 2001.
http://www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF172/
Digest of Education Statistics, 2001.
US Dept. Education, 2002.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2002130
Space-Based Broadcasting: The Future of Worldwide Audio Broadcasting.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10335.html?onpi_listserv040502
Getting Serious Online.
PEW Internet Project, 2002.
http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=55
Electronic Proceedings for the 1st International Workshop on Peer-to-Peer Systems.
MIT, 2002.
http://www.cs.rice.edu/Conferences/IPTPS02/
Electronic Government: Challenges to Effective Adoption of the Extensible Markup Language.
GAO-02-327, 2002.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02327.pdf
National Coastal Condition Report.
EPA, 2000.
http://epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr/downloads.html
Lessons For The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure: International Case Study Analysis.
Rand, 2002.
http://www.rand.org/publications/DB/DB380/
Satellite Imagery Control: an American Dilemma.
Inst. francais des relations internationales, 2002.
http://www.csis.org/nardon_ang.pdf
ChemWeb.com has FREE access
to the following Elsevier Science Journals until 15th May, so why not take a look.
(Free registration to ChemWeb required.)
http://www.chemweb.com/journals?action=library&subset=Free
Web Exhibits
http://webexhibits.org/
“WebExhibits produces novel exhibits, to help improve cultural literacy, by
promoting online exhibits and interesting the public in links between art with
science. We also locate other high quality exhibits on the internet, including
many subjects, from the general interest to the highly academic. If you would
like to help expand our collection, please suggest an exhibit or review an
exhibit.” Current exhibits include:
Truly a lovely and interesting website!
Strange Science: The Rocky Road to Modern Paleontology and Biology
http://www.strangescience.net/
Explores the “weird ideas” of paleontologists and biologists during the
evolution of “the knowledge we take for granted today.” Contains a gallery of
information and images of mistaken dinosaurs, dragons, mammals, sea monsters,
hominids, fossils, and monsters; frauds; a timeline of events; and profiles of
related scientists, artists, and collectors (including women in paleontology -
see the biographies section). (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Visible Human Server
http://visiblehuman.epfl.ch/
“This Web site from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology allows users
to view three dimensional models of human anatomy. A free registration allows
users to log on and fully access the site, but there are some sample
demonstrations available without registration. When visiting the site, you can
view, rotate, and extract cross sections from the anatomical models, or build
your own anatomic model by choosing the structures of interest. The site works
best with Internet Explorer 5 and the latest version of Microsoft Java VM. The
site provides how-to files that are extremely helpful for new users. This is
certainly a site for those studying human anatomy, but it is a cool site that
may also appeal to others. This site is also reviewed in the April 5, 2002
_NSDL Life Sciences Report_.” [AL] (From the Scout Report)
The Shape of Life
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/shapeoflife/
A companion website to the PBS television series on the origins of life on
earth, this site is visually gripping. It has very short explorations into the
topic, accompanied by brief scientist biographies and interviews.
North American Bear Center
http://www.bear.org/
“Take a virtual tour of a bear's den, sample the actual sounds of a bear
and learn all about black, grizzly, brown and polar bears at this site. Slide
shows, original bear stories and a bibliography of the bear books are also
included.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Skulls
http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/skulls/
“A site devoted to skulls may sound rather morbid. Surprisingly, this
fascinating site is anything but. The California Academy of Sciences invites
you to ‘Come in, explore, and get inside our heads.’ We did just that,
starting with the ‘What is a Skull?’ section, where we met the folks
associated with the exhibit and read their varied and insightful introductions
to the subect. The Diversity and Living Tissues sections taught us what a
skull says about its owner. And in Skulls in Culture, we examined how artists
such as Georgia O'Keeffe and the Grateful Dead have used the object
symbolically in their art. We promise you'll never look at a skull the same
way.” (From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
The Globus Project
http://www.globus.org/
“The development of the World Wide Web has revolutionized the way we think
about information. We take for granted our ability to access information from
all over the world via the Web. The goal of the Globus project is to bring
about a similar revolution with respect to computation. We can hardly imagine
the types of applications we might construct if access to supercomputers, live
satellite imagery, and mass storage were as straightforward as access to the
Web. The Globus Project is developing the technology that can make this vision
a reality.”
National Compound Semiconductor Roadmap
http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/information/312_electronics/ncsr/
This site from the Office of Naval Research is billed as “an interactive
tool to aid in the advancement of compound semiconductor research and
technology implementation” with the following goals:
Listed are materials, properties, devices and challenges, with an invitation to discuss each.
Edison's Miracle of Light
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/edison/
“Explores the ‘web of personal, patent, and corporate battles’ Thomas
Edison encountered in forming a ‘new industry to provide electric power.’
Contains a historical essay, a complete list of Edison's patents, information
on the AC and DC currents, recordings produced by the Edison company, a
gallery of advertisements for Edison inventions, sources for further reading,
and a timeline of the inventor's life. From the PBS American Experience
series; features program transcript and teacher's guide.” (From Librarian's
Index to the Internet)
The Principles of Flight
http://www.pilotsweb.com/principle.htm
“An excellent introduction to the science of flight. Formulas, laws, and
the principles governing the physics of flight are explained using
descriptions, equations, and simple diagrams. Categories include Newton's
laws, Bernoulli's Principle of Pressure, airfoils, lift and drag, load
factors, and more.” (From the Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Wind Energy and Wind Turbines: Danish Wind Industry Association
http://www.windpower.org/
“This searchable site presents information ‘on wind energy resources and
wind turbine technology, meteorology, economics, research and development, and
environmental aspects of renewable energy.’ History includes profiles of wind
technology pioneers, notes on The Great California Wind Rush (early 1980s),
and other developments. Reference includes tables, a discussion of Betz' Law,
a bibliography, and a glossary. From the Danish Wind Industry Association.
View in English, Danish, German, Spanish, and French.” (From Librarian's Index
to the Internet)
Galileo 1/45 Scale Model Assembly Instructions
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/model/instructions.html
Cassini instructions
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/english/kids/models.html
The first site has detailed, clear instructions and printable files to
allow you to put together a model of this very complex satellite. The second
site has both a simpler and a more challenging model of the Cassini satellite.
From NASA.
The Crystal Palace
http://www.iath.virginia.edu/london/model/
“Built of prefabricated metal and glass, the Crystal Palace was a high-tech
wonder of the Victorian era, much like the technical and scientific
innovations it housed during the Great Exhibition of 1851. Sitting in London's
Hyde Park, this elegant, minimally ornamented structure foreshadowed the metal
and glass buildings of the 20th century. While the Crystal Palace no longer
exists, this site carefully recreates the building with Quicktime animation
and VRML. You can even learn how old books and plans helped create the 3D
models. Take a walk back through time in this surprisingly modern building.”
(From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
Structurae: International Database and Gallery of Structures
http://www.structurae.de/
“This searchable site is designed to ‘provide information on structures of
interest to the civil engineer.’ There are over 3,000 structures including
buildings, bridges, dams, towers, and domes. The database is browsable
alphabetically, by structure type, function, construction method, geography,
large-scale projects, persons, or firm. Information includes materials,
dimensions, starting and completion dates, and some photographs. Additionally,
there is a 2,500 year timeline and related resources. Available in English,
French, and German.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Glass Steel and Stone
http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/
“From one of the tallest buildings in the world to quirky structures made of
vegetables and ice, this architecture photography site exhaustively catalogs
buildings of all shapes and sizes. The ancient Temple of Luxor by the Nile
River in Egypt and the Atomium in Brussels demonstrate architectural ingenuity
through the centuries. You'll find the stories behind the buildings too, such
as the turmoil between politicians and the architect of the Sydney Opera
House. There's even a page devoted to haunted architecture, so you can't say
we didn't warn you if you find a ghost in your hotel room.” (From Yahoo's
Picks of the Week) This site is searchable in several ways and has images and
fascinating information on structures from bridges to sandcastles ...
Why the Towers Fell
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wtc/
“A companion web site to a PBS NOVA program that ‘follows a team of
forensic engineers during their in-depth investigation of the precise causes
of the Twin Towers' collapse.’ An engineer discusses the 2001 World Trade
Center collapse and methods of improving building safety. Includes articles
about a survivor from a floor above the impact, firefighter equipment, and the
The Structure of Metal. There is a list of related books and online
resources.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Bomb Squad
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/robots/
“Explores how robots are used to perform dangerous activities, such as
defusing explosives. Contains a video, an interview with scientist Hans
Moravec, and information on the hazardous duty robots Mini-Andros, Robug III,
and the Spiral Track Autonomous Robot (STAR). From the PBS program NOVA.
Includes a transcript of the show.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Inventing Modern America
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/ima/
“Based on the book by David E. Brown, this site features the
resourcefulness of American inventors. Five individuals are highlighted, among
them the minds behind the computer mouse, the balloon catheter, kevlar,
human-powered flight, and an inexpensive means to provide drinking water for
developing countries. The profiles are thorough, and include interviews,
biographies, videos, and patents held. A source of inspiration for Doug
Englebart (who envisioned the possibilities of a graphic computer in 1950) was
an article written in 1945 by Vannevar Bush. There is a link to this article,
which hints at both personal computers and a Web-like system. Two games are
featured; one is based on your ability to trace the connection between
inventions, and the other lets you guess which invention preceded another. So,
which came first, radar or sonar? The site is sponsored by the Lemelson-MIT
Program, which offers the world's largest award for invention, a cool
$500.000, given annually in April.” (From New Scientist Web Links)
Office of Naval Research (ONR) Science and Technology Focus: Oceanography
http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/
“This is an amazing site that leads the user to the ‘ocean in motion’; the
seven major sea currents, the forces that drive them, and their perceptible
effects; information on the composition of the sea, including an analysis of
sea water, the topography and geology of the ocean floor, habitats, ocean life
(focusing on marine mammals, the California sea lion, and the green sea
turtle), and information on research vessels.” (From Librarian's Index to the
Internet)
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing: Education page
http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/eduref/educate.html
“This educational website goes quite a bit deeper into the subject of
remote sensing than does the NASA site. In addition to a good survey of the
scientific and technical basics, this website deals more with the specific
data products and applications of remote sensing. For example, the ‘RADARSAT
at Titanic's Gravesite’ subpage includes a fine radar imige of the spot where
the ocean liner Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg on April 14, 1912 at
2340h. Today, ship captains have information about such hazards provided by
remote-sensing satellites like Canada's RADARSAT. This website includes an
excellent Remote Sensing Glossary.” (From Websurfer's Biweekly Earth Science
Review)
One World Journeys: Mercury Rising
http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/climate/
“As the Flash intro to this compelling site from One World Journeys informs
us, ‘Earth is heating up, and it's time to pay attention.’ Join a team of
scientists, reporters, and photographers as they file reports from the
Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica where they are documenting how changes
in the earth's climate affect nature. They plan to file reports on a regular
basis, and if the first one is any indication, this site's worth a bookmark.
Don't miss the Eco-Gallery for photos of the changing Arctic regions of the
world. This information-rich site also provides guides for educators and
students, making it a journey that shouldn't be missed.” (From Yahoo's Picks
of the Week)
Reading Weather Maps
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/maps/
Learn how to read weather maps with data collected on Earth's surface and
above; the differences between Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit temperatures;
and how to convert local time to the standard time used by meteorologists.
From the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Teach Space
http://www.space.com/teachspace/module_astronaut_0900/lesson_library_0900.html
“From the multimedia company and Web site Space.com (last mentioned in the
December 7, 2001 Scout Report) comes the Teach Space educational site
dedicated to upper elementary and middle school teachers. Teach Space delivers
‘easy-to-teach’ space science lessons divided into monthly modules of a
certain topic, stand alone lessons from varied subjects, and even a lesson
library. Each lesson contains an overview, objective, materials needed
(including any worksheets or data required procedures), links, and more. Even
though the subject is fairly focused on the site, teachers will appreciate the
quality material offered not to mention its excellent design. [JAB]” (From the
Scout Report)
Life, the Universe, and the Electron: An Exhibition to Celebrate the Centenary of Its Discovery
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/electron/index.asp
“Although earlier scientists argued these tiny subatomic particles (with a
mass later discovered to be 9*10-31 kg or 1 two thousandth of the mass of a
proton) must exist, no objective proof had been offered. While conducting
experiments on cathode rays, J. J. Thomson ‘showed that cathode rays were
particles with a negative electric charge and much smaller than an atom.’
These early experiments laid the foundation for our understanding of the atom
and the birth of electronics. The exhibition follows this chronology of our
evolving understanding of atomic structure and explains briefly each discovery
along the way. This exhibition delivers each episode in the history of nuclear
physics in a clear, straightforward manner and supplements essays with short
animations and clips. Produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
discovery of the electron in 1997, this virtual exhibition from the Science
Museum (London) and the Institute of Physics remains a useful and attractive
learning tool for high school students and learners of all ages. [DJS]” (From
the Scout Report)
Infrared Astronomy
http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/Outreach/Edu/
Linda Hermans-Killam at Caltech authors this great site, and it could not
be done better. The topic is covered thoroughly, concisely, and clearly, and
is easy to navigate and well peppered with images and links. It includes
everything from the history of infrafed spectroscopy to classroom activities.
Don't miss this one! (Thanks to Netsurfer Science.)
An Atlas of the Universe
http://anzwers.org/free/universe/
“This site consists of nine main maps of the universe, ranging from the
nearest stars to the sun, out to the limits of the visible universe. Each main
map page contains a description of the map, as well as other, related maps.
The main map images can be printed. There are extensive annotated links to
related Web sites and a glossary. Available in English, French, Portuguese,
and Serbian.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapses
http://nsidc.org/iceshelves/larsenb2002/index.html
“The National Snow and Ice Data Center recently reported that a huge ice
mass on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula has shattered and
separated from the continent. The Web site provides a description of the event
-- along with photographs, movies, and several informative links that include
ones to additional articles written about the event. [JAB]” (From the Scout
Report)
Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/
“This site contains background material to accompany NOVA's PBS television
programs about Sir Ernest Shackleton and his Antarctic expedition. It includes
an interview with Shackleton's daughter Alexandra, several stories of polar
survivors, teacher resources, and an annotated list of suggested books and
online resources.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Mountain Voices
http://www.mountainvoices.org/
“How does development affect individuals in different countries? Oral
testimonies have been gathered from communities in the Himalaya, the Andes,
the Sierra Norte, Mount Elgon, the highlands of Ethiopia and Lesotho, China,
the Sudety mountains and the Karakorum mountains. Students can learn of the
past and present of many native peoples in the world, as well as the realities
of the global economy in these regions.” (From Blue WebN)
Commanding Heights: The Battle For The World Economy
http://pbs.org/commandingheights/
A three-part, six-hour documentary series and companion Web site, premieres
simultaneously on PBS and PBS.org. As part of the series, Commanding Heights
Online illuminates the history of the global economy and shows how key
economic theories have evolved in the context of historical events. Providing
a comprehensive history of the ideas, events, and values that have shaped the
present global economy, the Commanding Heights Web site complements and
enriches the resources of the PBS broadcast.
Editorial Cartoon Database Available at GALILEO
http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/baldy.html
“Clifford Baldowski donated more than 7,000 cartoons to the Richard B.
Russell Library for Political Research and Studies at the University of
Georgia before his death. 2,500 of the cartoons are now available online. The
cartoons cover 1946-1982 and cover state, national, and international politics
and issues.
The collection is searchable via many variables, including keywords, title, subject, and publication date. You may also specify whether or not the results should have images included. A search for ‘subsidies’ found five results. If you specify images results contain a title and an image thumbnail. Click on the title of the cartoon and you'll get a full citation, including publication date and a full description. Click on the thumbnail and you'll get a larger picture. The pictures are too small in my opinion and rather distractingly watermarked. Thank goodness for the thorough description.
One nice feature of this collection is that you can save cartoons. Once you've saved a collection you can either e- mail it (looks like just the citation information is mailed) or view all the cartoons/citations on a single page for saving or printing.” (From Research Buzz)
Mummy Bundles of Puruchucu
http://crater.nationalgeographic.com/channel/inca/
This site from the National Geographic invites you to watch a short
documentary about the excavations at Puruchucu, an Inca cemetary beneath the
modern town of Tupac Amaru, Peru, and to look through the layers of the
“Cotton King” mummy bundle and learn about the artifacts -- and the two
mummies -- found inside. It also offers links to related sites and information
about the Inca and about mummies.
The following items are from Edupage. To subscribe to Edupage: send mail to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: subscribe edupage Anonymous (if your name is Anonymous; otherwise, substitute your own name). To unsubscribe send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: unsubscribe edupage. (If you have subscription problems, send mail to: manager@educom.unc.edu.)
NEW INSTITUTE WILL STUDY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
http://www.clir.org/pubs/press/2002_mellsci.html
A grant from the Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation will fund a new institute to study ways that technology can
improve scholarly communication. The Scholarly Communication Institute,
developed by the Council on Library and Information Resources and the
Dartmouth College Library, will host a small group of experts in the field to
discuss innovation and improvements that technology allows in the ways
scholarly information is generated, distributed, and archived. The institute
will hold at least three annual sessions, which will take place at the
Dartmouth campus.
CLIR, 11 April 2002 via Edupage
IEEE CHANGES AUTHOR REQUIREMENTS ON DMCA
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-883990.html
The Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) said it will remove language from its author
agreement form assuring that the content is in compliance with the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Bill Hagen of the IEEE said the DMCA has been
extremely controversial, and the language in the author agreement drew many
complaints from authors inside and outside the United States. American authors
feel that the DMCA unconsitutionally stifles research and their rights to
publish results, while authors from outside the Unites States do not think
they should be subject to American laws.
CNET, 16 April 2002 via Edupage
LEADER IN THE ACADEMIC-PORTAL ARENA TO SHUT DOWN
http://chronicle.com/free/2002/04/2002041101t.htm
After being in service
for just over one year, the academic portal of the University of Michigan at
Ann Arbor will shut down on June 30. Michigan's portal, my.umich.edu, was one
of several high-profile experiments being closely watched by academic
technologists and policy makers. Portals are still relatively new, and many
institutions are waiting to see how the pioneers fare before deciding whether
to pursue a portal. Officials from Michigan said they could not continue the
project due to its complexity and expense, and they have no plans to replace
it with a commercial product.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 11 April 2002 via Edupage
GLOBAL CYBERUNIVERSITY COULD OPEN NEXT YEAR
http://chronicle.com/free/2002/04/2002042401u.htm
A group of 19 colleges in 15
countries has agreed to sponsor an “international cyberuniversity,” which
could be up and running by next year. Initial plans for the new university
were held at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, which will be responsible for
the technical operations. The group faces the issue of what language to use
for instruction, as well as many technical challenges, including compatibility
of hardware and bandwidths. Degress from the university would be jointly
awarded by all of the institutions, which include one U.S. school, Pomona
College in Claremont, California.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 23 April 2002 via Edupage
BUSH ADMINISTRATION LIMITS STUDY FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS
University
officials have expressed deep concern over the Bush Administration's policies
for foreign students. Access to student visas was recently tightened in an
effort to combat terrorism, and a presidential directive issued in October
suggested placing limits on the fields of study that international students
are allowed to pursue. Representatives from colleges and universities argued
that security screening should take place before students arrive in the United
States. They said the basic character of higher education would be compromised
if certain information were held off limits for some students. A spokesman for
the Office of Homeland Security confirmed that the government would indeed
monitor the courses of study of foreign students, looking for suspicious
activity, and that the group overseeing the regulations was already reviewing
draft recommendations.
New York Times, 18 April 2002 via Edupage
NEW RULES DISAPPOINT SATELLITE RESEARCHERS
http://chronicle.com/daily/2002/04/2002041801n.htm
Despite easing of some
regulations for sharing data about satellite projects, university researchers
were largely disappointed with the continued restrictions in revised rules for
satellite-based research. The new rules, issued by the State Department, still
require researchers to obtain State Department approval before sharing certain
data with academic and commercial organizations in many countries. U.S.
researchers said the rules effectively exclude people in those countries from
participating in satellite projects. The State Department defended the rules,
saying they are a security precaution but do not impede legitimate research
and sharing of data.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 18 April 2002 (sub. req'd)
Mathematical and Scientific Quotes from Cambridge
http://www.cs.stir.ac.uk/~scu/Humour/Education/cambr_mat.html
Scientists make great comedians, especially when they don't mean to be . . .
Google Ranking Unmasked - Pigeon Rank!
http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html
A wonderful April Fool's joke from Google.
Internet Moving Images Archive: Movie Collection
http://www.archive.org/movies/
This is a fascinating site. An archive of “movies” from a huge variety of
sources, available both streaming and for download (caution: these are huge
files. Don't download without a fast connection). You will find a little of
everything here: old newsreels (Lindbergh's Flight & Return, 1927),
amateur films of local events (lion dance from a 1925 Chinese New Year
parade), educational or vocational films (What to Do on a Date, 1950),
commercials (I am intrigued by the commercial from 1938 comparing canines and
Chevrolets), animation (a bullfighting mud animation done by a
Chinese-American, 1926), and a variety of films on scientific themes as well,
both newsreel and educational. Folks, this kind of thing is one of the wonders
of our age. This is one of the reasons I LOVE the Internet! Imagine having
these films available at your fingertips!
Overdue
http://www.barnacle.org/overdue/
“Daily comic strip featuring libraries, librarians, and patrons (library
users or clients). Archived, and available via a free e-mail subscription.”
(From Librarian's Index to the Internet.)
All items from the Scout Report are copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-2002. 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 InterNIC provides information about the Internet to the US research and education community under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation: NCR-9218742. The Government has certain rights in this material.
Blue Web'n is a searchable library of Blue-Ribbon Web sites categorized by grade level, content area, and type. Visit Blue Web'n online at http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the participants (authors), and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation.