Hall of Black Achievement Gallery
http://www.bridgew.edu/HOBA/gallery.htm
A project of Bridgewater State College, the Hall of Black Achievement (HOBA). is a repository of the significant achievements and contributions of African Americans, Cape Verdeans, and Hispanics of African descent. The mission of the HOBA is to "discover, detail, and disclose the significant achievements and contributions of people of color." HOBA also serves as a forum for research, discussion, and analysis of the significant contributions that people of color continue to make to this country and beyond. The Web site now features a gallery of the historical figures inducted into the HOBA and chronicles their lives, contributions, and the period of history in which they lived. Audio narratives can be heard with RealPlayer. [MG]
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PBS Kids: ZOOM
http://pbskids.org/zoom/
ZOOM is PBS's award-winning daily interactive television series and 3,000 page Web site. The site challenges young kids to spend less time in front of the television screen and more time in front of the computer screen -- learning, growing, and interacting with their peers. Behind each entertaining half hour PBS episode is a curriculum developed by leading educators and advisors. ZOOM's multi-disciplinary format encourages viewers to take an active approach to learning, promotes the flow of their creativity, and advises them to never underestimate the importance of questioning. Already home to hundreds of ZOOM activities such as science experiments, recipes, trivia, games, and viewer submissions (Z-mail), the site has added new features, including ZOOM Into Action, an updated cast area, ZOOM music, a virtual tour of the television control room, and instructions to over 85 new activities from the show. [MG]
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LLRX.com: Business Filings Databases
http://www.llrx.com/columns/roundup19.htm
This column from Law Library Resource Xchange (LLRX) (last mentioned in the September 7, 2001 Scout Report) by Kathy Biehl becomes more interesting with every revelation of misleading corporate accounting practices. This is a straightforward listing of state government's efforts to provide easy access to required disclosure filings of businesses within each state. Each entry is clearly annotated, describing services offered and any required fees (most services here are free). The range of information and services varies considerably from very basic (i.e. "name availability") to complete access to corporate filings. The noteworthy exception here is tax filings. Most states do not currently include access to filings with taxing authorities. [DJS]
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USPTO Releases Annual List of Top 10 Organizations Receiving Most Patents
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/02-01.htm
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced the top 10 private sector patent recipients for the 2001 calendar year. Listed are the 10 corporations receiving the most patents for inventions in 2001, along with their 2001 ranking. For the ninth consecutive year, IBM received more patents than any other private sector organization. It is important to note that the listed patent counts are preliminary counts, which are subject to correction. The final list for the top patenting organizations in 2001 should be available by early April 2002. [MG]
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Fortune: Best Companies to Work For
http://www.fortune.com/lists/bestcompanies/
Fortune has recently released its list of the "Best Companies to Work For." According to Fortune, the list consists of 100 companies who were willing "to come up with creative ways to keep their employees satisfied" and treated them with "respect and dignity." 80 companies on the list avoided layoffs last year (in the wake of the September 11th tragedy), while 47 reported that they have some sort of official policy barring layoffs. Of course, sometimes companies are forced to take the drastic step of laying off employees, and when layoffs occurred, Fortune gave companies credit for offering generous severance. Click to this site to find out who made the list and a detailed explanation of how the companies were chosen. [MG]
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ProGenealogists
http://progenealogists.com/genealogysleuthb.htm
An unparalleled resource in genealogical research, the Progenealogist metasite is a clearinghouse for information of every variety imaginable. Produced by the Family History Research Group, a private research group of professional genealogists, the site is a fantastic starting point for anyone interested in conducting genealogical research. From an organizational standpoint alone, the site couldn't have been more masterfully rendered, offering a wealth of practical resources, beginning with direct links to genealogical records, censuses, and genealogical organizations in every state and every country. Beyond that, however, the site also directly links to sources for vital and military records, as well as obituary and biographical services. The obvious aside, the site also features an impressive array of tools and lexical links, including currency and date converters and directories of every sort. While some of the services featured on the site are run by for-profit organizations, they are in the minority. Just the same, given all the site has to offer and the knowledge that went into its construction, it is clear that the Progenealogist site offers something for everyone -- and delivers. [WH]
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Official Site of the 2002 Olympic Games
http://www.saltlake2002.com/x/f/frame.htm?u=/news/slocmain_front.asp
As the 2002 Winter Olympic Games draw near, viewers can learn all about the sports, schedules, and athletes at this attractive and informative Web site, sponsored by MSNBC and MSN. Viewers can also find information on tickets, transportation, accommodations, venues, the Olympic Arts Festival, and much more. Extensive information to the Olympic world is merely a click away. [MG]
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