National Hazards Support System

The USGS Natural Hazards Support System (NHSS) at http://nhss.cr.usgs.gov/is a web tool that helps monitor, respond to and analyze hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather, floods, wildfires, and tsunamis.

Marcus Zillman's White Papers

Marcus Zillman's website www.whitepapers.us provides link collections and internet mini-guides on a great range of topics.

"Beyond Google" presentation

Since early 2004, Information Resource Officer Karen Hartman has delivered her “Beyond Google: What's New in Web Search, Weblogs and RSS Technology” over 12 times, to more than 600 librarians, teachers and legislative researchers in Southern Africa.

A text version (plus a link to a zipped copy of the .ppt file) of a recent update to her PowerPoint presentation, is now available at:
http://pretoria.usembassy.gov/wwwhit50.html

Currently in Congress 1-15 May 2005

The latest issue of Currently in Congress is available on the US Mission to South Africa's IRC webpage:
http://pretoria.usembassy.gov/wwwhic00.html

This fortnightly update of selected current events in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate is compiled by the IRC in Cape Town. It is written primarily for an Africa-wide audience, but it includes legislation and hearings of a general interest as well.

Previous issues are archived on the website.

Journalist's Guide to the Federal Courts

A Journalist's Guide to the Federal Courts is intended to assist reporters assigned to court coverage. The section on the Federal district courts provides a walk-through of each stage of both a criminal and a civil case. It also describes the key players in the federal trial courts and identifies the types of court information a journalist might need, as well as possible sources for that information.

CFR report on Dialogue with the Muslim World

The Council on Foreign Relations released on May 7, 2005 a Council Special Report (CSR) titled: "A New Beginning: Strategies for a More Fruitful Dialogue with the Muslim World".

From the Foreword:

"This report [...] shows that it is possible to project a more favorable image of America in the Muslim world. Through focus group research in Morocco, Egypt, and Indonesia, they learned that although hostility is intense, there is an opportunity to change minds. "

The report (96 pages) is available in .pdf format online at: http://www.cfr.org/pdf/Anti-American_CSR.pdf

Feedburner

Feedburner is a service that provides free statistics on RSS feeds, including
feed circulation, which news aggregators people use to read your feed, and what feed items subscribers most often "clickthrough" to read on your site. There is aslo a "pro" option that provides greater detail for a fee. www.feedburner.com

Making of U.S. Foreign Policy

Another IRC Barcelona information product that may be of interest for educators and others is the infopack on "The Making of U.S. Foreign Policy"

Historical Timeline of U.S. Foreign Policy

IRC Barcelona has produced a handy "Historical Timeline of U.S. Foreign Policy"HistoryUSForeignPolicy.doc

"The 2005 Political Typology" Pew report

The 2005 Political Typology: Beyond Red vs. Blue

The latest installment of the Pew Research Center's Political Typology finds significant cleavages within both major parties that go well beyond the familiar red-blue divide. The in-depth polling identifies challenges for both parties with their core constituencies and with voters in the middle of the electorate.

[...] As part of the release of the 2005 Political Typology, the Pew Research Center has created an interactive website where users can find out where they fit in the Political Typology, and to see how the various typology groups feel about major issues of the day. The special website can be found at Pew Political Typology.

This is the fourth such typology developed by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press since 1987. Many of the groups identified in the current surveys are similar to those in past typologies, reflecting the continuing importance of a number of key beliefs and values. These themes endure despite the consequential events of the past four years - especially the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq.