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The Scout Report
January 13, 2006
Volume 12, Number 2
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A publication of the Internet Scout Project.
Sponsored by University of Wisconsin - Madison Libraries.
=======


==   I N   T H E   S C O U T   R E P O R T   T H I S   W E E K  ========



====== Research and Education ====
1.  Pluralism Project
2.  NASA: Satellite Tracking
3.  U.S. Congress Votes Database
4.  Katrina Index: Tracking Variables of Post-Katrina Reconstruction
5.  Portraits by Carl Van Vechten

====== General Interest ====
6.  Poetry Archive
7.  Fashion in Colors
8.  Public Information Films
9.  Museum of Yo-Yo History
10. Rice Bowl Journals
11. Going Down The Crooked Road

====== Network Tools ====
12. Newsplorer 1.0
13. SETI@home 5.2.1

====== In The News ====
14. College students return to New Orleans for new start

====== Research and Education ====

1.  Pluralism Project [pdf]
http://www.pluralism.org/index.php

Like many academic projects, the Pluralism Project began as a small
gathering of academicians interested in exploring a rapidly changing
phenomenon of social life, in this case, the world of religion. Since its
inception in 1991, the Pluralism Project (located at Harvard University) has
engaged in a broad research agenda that includes providing educational
resources to college educators and disseminating reports on the nature of
religion in American cities. On their site, visitors can learn about their
activities, and perhaps most interestingly, examine some of the online
resources they have created. These resources include calendars of religious
events, online slide shows (such as the one that profiles a Hare Krishna
community in West Virginia) and bibliographies of key works dealing with
various faiths, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam. Finally, visitors
can also sign up to receive their monthly email newsletter. [KMG]


2.  NASA: Satellite Tracking [Real Player, pdf]
http://science.nasa.gov/realtime/

While NASA has offered a number of fine sites about their research for the
general public over the years, this particular site may be one of their
best. With a minimum of fuss, visitors can use several of the online
tracking applications offered here to locate hundreds of satellites and
other such large objects in space. A good way to start a visit to this site
is by taking a look at the J-Track 2.5 section, as it offers a quick way to
find out the current location of the Space Station and the Chandra X-Ray
Observatory. Additionally, visitors can also locate weather satellites using
this application. The Live 3D Java Tracking Display here allows visitors to
monitor close to 700 satellites that are in motion around the earth.
Finally, visitors can also use a handy application offered here that allows
them to determine which satellites might be seen from their location in the
night sky. [KMG]


3.  U.S. Congress Votes Database
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

While many people may eventually become aware of how their elected officials
in the U.S. Congress voted on a particular bill or resolution, this database
created by the Washington Post will allow them to find out rather quickly.
Utilizing a variety of authoritative data sources (such as the web site of
the Senate and the Library of Congress's THOMAS site), the database contains
the results of every vote cast in the Congress since 1991. Visitors can look
at vote results in a variety of different ways, such as particular Congress
or a particular individual. Recently, they also added a selection of "Votes
by Type", such as those cast on impeachments, treaties, and vice-
presidential tiebreakers. Additionally, the site contains a RSS feed of
recent votes by each member of Congress. [KMG]


4.  Katrina Index: Tracking Variables of Post-Katrina Reconstruction [pdf]
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/200512_katrinaindex.htm

The Brookings Institution has released a number of reports on the efforts to
rebuild the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina over the past few months,
and a number of them have garnered significant attention by policymakers and
other interested parties. This 47-page report authored by Bruce Katz, Matt
Fellowes, and Mia Mabanta, gives a detailed data-oriented summary of the
recent progress that has occurred. Some of their findings are not
particularly encouraging, including the revelation that unemployment rates
continue to rise throughout the affected region and that buying food is
still rather difficult to do throughout the metropolitan area. The report
does offer some positive news, such as the fact that the number of open bus
routes in Orleans Parish has increased. Overall, this is a very well-
researched paper that should prove valuable to anyone with an interest in
the future reconstruction and sustainability of this area. [KMG]


5.  Portraits by Carl Van Vechten
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/vanvechten/

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1880, Carl Van Vechten had a career in a host
of artistic endeavors throughout his life, including his written works and
his prodigious work in photography. After graduating from the University of
Chicago, he became a staff writer with the Chicago American and he soon
found himself asked to also provide photographs to accompany his copy.
During this period, he also published his first book of essays and then
later began photographing a number of landscapes and acquaintances. This
particular collection from the American Memory Project at the Library of
Congress brings together close to 1400 of his photographs for consideration
by the web-browsing public, and it is definitely worth several visits. The
casual visitor may want to begin looking through the photographs by browsing
the occupational index listings, which include artists such as Georgia
O'Keefe, Truman Capote, Ossie Davis, and Ethel Waters. Finally, visitors may
also want to look over a timeline and biographical sketch of Van Vechten,
which also appear on the site. [KMG]



====== General Interest ====

6.  Poetry Archive [Real Player]
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/home.do

Poetry is often seen by some as inaccessible, which is quite a shame,
considering the beauty that can be contained within a single stanza, or in
some cases, the mere elocution of one word. Hearing poetry read is a
wondrous joy, and The Poetry Archive is a great way to enter this world.
Established in 1999, The Poetry Archive contains readings by hundreds of
poets, including a number of real historical gems from those who have passed
away. The site also includes a "Lucky Dip" feature, which takes visitors to
the work of a poet selected at random from their generous collection. The
homepage contains links to a number of educational resources, including
those for teachers seeking to utilize the contents of the site in their
classroom and for those looking for a brief introduction to reading poetry.
One recording that should not be missed is by the late John Betjeman, whose
poem "A Nip in the Air' contains the words: "Now if the harvest is over/And
the world cold/Give me the bonus of laughter/As I lose hold". [KMG]


7.  Fashion in Colors [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://ndm.si.edu/EXHIBITIONS/fashion_in_colors/

Fashion in Colors creates a new way to explore the history of costume  - by
color. Historic garments are displayed along with fashions designed by over
a dozen twentieth century designers, including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior,
Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Junya Watanabe. For example, the blue
grouping includes an English brocaded taffeta dress from the mid-18th
century; a late 19th century day dress dyed mauve, the first synthetic
aniline dye color; a Balenciaga cocktail dress from 1959; and a pleated
polyester organdy dress designed by Watanabe/Comme des Garcons in 2000.
Yellow, red, black, multi-color and white all provide similar groupings.
Visitors may also browse by designer, or take a virtual tour of the
galleries by color. [DS]


8.  Public Information Films [Real Player]
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/

At the time of their creation, public information films created by the
British government after World War II may have been seen as overly didactic
and pedestrian in their approach to filmmaking. Fifty years on, they are
most correctly seen as a fascinating way to gain some insight into this
particular moment in British history. The National Archives has created this
website which contains several dozen of these public information films that
deal with such diverse subjects as public health, a trip on a London bus,
and the Berlin airlift. Before delving into the films, visitors may wish to
peruse a timeline of pertinent events during the years 1945 to 1951 and also
read about the austere conditions around much of the United Kingdom during
the period. [KMG]


9.  Museum of Yo-Yo History
http://www.theyoyomuseum.com/

Perhaps no toy is as maligned as the yo-yo, despite its long and colorful
history. The roots of the yo-yo can be traced back to antiquity, and there
is even a Grecian urn in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
that depicts that most well-known of yo-yo maneuvers: walking the dog.
Visitors with a penchant for the yo-yo will appreciate the wide range of
materials that can be found on the site, particularly the rather compelling
online exhibit of highly valuable yo-yos, such as the 1984 Olympics No Jive
model. For those who want to continue their exploration of the yo-yo, there
is the "Profiles & History" area, which contains player and company
profiles, along with historical photographs of yo-yos in action. [KMG]


10. Rice Bowl Journals
http://www.ricebowljournals.com/

Over the past few years, a number of online journal communities have been
created on the web to facilitate group dialogue around a variety of issues.
As one might surmise from its title, the Rice Bowl Journals website is aimed
at primarily serving the Asian online journal community. The diarists
featured on the site can be examined by ethnicity and location, and visitors
may also wish to browse the journals by category. Perhaps of equal interest
are the online discussion forums, which allow visitors to offer commentary
on current events, campus life, and the art of online journaling. The site
is rounded out by a FAQ area and a place for visitors to leave feedback.
[KMG]


11. Going Down The Crooked Road [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.roanoke.com/multimedia/crooked/franklin.html

The Crooked Road runs through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in
Virginia and has a storied place in the history of country music and
Appalachian culture. This past summer, Ralph Berrier Jr. and Kyle Green of
The Roanoke Times set out to document the music and musicians of the area,
stopping in such small towns as Floyd, Ferrum, Galax, and Clintwood. Along
the way, they documented their experiences through extensive reportage and
photography, all of which is included on this nice multimedia feature.
Visitors can view videos taken along their journey, learn about how a
bluegrass tune is constructed, and listen to audio vignettes of each stop
they made. The site also includes a fine recipe for a local favorite, Great
Smoky Mountains' grilled veggies, and number of podcasts for portable
listening enjoyment. [KMG]



====== Network Tools ====

12. Newsplorer 1.0
http://www.newsplorer.com/

There is a tremendous amount of news floating around the web, but some users
may find it difficult to locate exactly what they may be looking for. This
handy news reader application may be of great use to some users who find
themselves vexed by this situation. Newsplorer 1.0 groups news sources by
category, provides a popup windows displaying the latest news headlines, and
also contains an offline browsing feature. This version is compatible with
all computers running Windows 95 and newer. [KMG]


13. SETI@home 5.2.1
http://www.setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

What if a screensaver could be more than just a screensaver? While this may
seem like an odd question to pose, a number of screensavers these days
function as data analyzers for large-scale scientific endeavors. One of the
best known of these screensavers is the SETI@home (Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project. When users install this screensaver,
their computer will assist in the process of analyzing data about radio or
lights signals emanating from close to 30,000 sun like stars that might
possess intelligent life. This version of the screensaver is compatible with
all computers running Windows 95 or newer and Mac OS X 10.3 or newer. [KMG]



====== In The News ====

14. College students return to New Orleans for new start
Colleges alive with the sound of students
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-
4/113687611925370.xml&coll=1

Displaced Students Return to Louisiana for 2nd Try
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901731.html

Dillard U. Students Start School in Style
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3575720.html

UNO contacting students for enrolment
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/2174097.html

No words to describe New Orleans
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/01/10/news-redcross2-01-10.html

NPR: Spring and Students' Thoughts Turn to Tuition [Real Player]
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5135673

The clarion call of higher education is bringing students back to the
Crescent City, despite the desperation felt by many of the city's longtime
residents. This week, thousands of displaced students returned to a number
of local institutions, including Dillard University, Xavier University, and
the University of New Orleans. Many college students in New Orleans and
environs sought academic as well as literal refuge at a host of welcoming
institutions across the country for the fall term, and some vowed never to
return. Conditions have varied greatly at area institutions, with some
students returning to find makeshift classrooms and the ranks of faculty
members decimated by cutbacks. Over 800 students at Dillard University found
themselves the guests of the New Orleans Hilton Riverside, and became the
recipients of fine food service and free cable television. The financial
situation for many area institutions of higher education remains precarious,
and a number of them are trying to entice students who enrolled elsewhere
for the fall term to return. At the University of New Orleans, a number of
professors and administrators are emailing students with the hope that they
will reach 12,000 enrolled students for the spring semester. Regardless of
how things turn out, a number of institutions have already announced that
they will need to consolidate existing academic programs and engage in
vigorous fundraising initiatives. [KMG]

The first link leads to a story that appeared in this Tuesday's New Orleans
Times-Picayune that discusses the experiences of students returning to
colleges and universities in New Orleans. The second link will take visitors
to a nice article from the Washington Post that talks about the complex
feelings and emotions that many of these students are working through as
they return. The third link leads to a news story from the Houston Chronicle
that profiles the new living (and learning) quarters of a number of Dillard
University students. The fourth link leads to a news piece that talks about
the attempts by various members of the University of New Orleans community
to get students to return to the main campus. The fifth link leads to a
first-hand narrative offered by Dawn Birk, a SUNY-New Paltz psychology
student, who recently spent time working with the Red Cross on disaster
relief efforts in New Orleans. The sixth and final link will take users to a
splendid audio feature from NPR that talks about how and where college
students might look to find the necessary funds to continue their studies.
[KMG]




======                        ======
==   Index for January 13, 2006   ==
======                        ======

1.  Pluralism Project [pdf]
http://www.pluralism.org/index.php

2.  NASA: Satellite Tracking [Real Player, pdf]
http://science.nasa.gov/realtime/

3.  U.S. Congress Votes Database
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

4.  Katrina Index: Tracking Variables of Post-Katrina Reconstruction [pdf]
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/200512_katrinaindex.htm

5.  Portraits by Carl Van Vechten
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/vanvechten/

6.  Poetry Archive [Real Player]
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/home.do

7.  Fashion in Colors [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://ndm.si.edu/EXHIBITIONS/fashion_in_colors/

8.  Public Information Films [Real Player]
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/

9.  Museum of Yo-Yo History
http://www.theyoyomuseum.com/

10. Rice Bowl Journals
http://www.ricebowljournals.com/

11. Going Down The Crooked Road [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.roanoke.com/multimedia/crooked/franklin.html

12. Newsplorer 1.0
http://www.newsplorer.com/

13. SETI@home 5.2.1
http://www.setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

14. College students return to New Orleans for new start
Colleges alive with the sound of students
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-
4/113687611925370.xml&coll=1




From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2006.
http://scout.wisc.edu/

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