September 24, 2006

Welcome to Issue #243 of the Internet Legal Research Weekly, a newsletter that delivers relevant and timely legal research information, and other fun stuff, to your inbox every Sunday. If you like what you read, please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, and encourage him or her to do the same! To subscribe, all you have to do is visit Inter Alia and fill out the subscription form -- it's free!

I'm back! Seems like forever since I did a newsletter issue. My computer is back up and running, which is great. I'll tell you -- if you can afford the time (and hassle), a clean install can really be a good thing -- it cleans off all the junk, the programs you no longer want, the registry entries that no longer matter, and gives you a fresh, clean system. Ahhhh.....

Create your own Google Maps
I love Google mashups -- where people take Google Maps and combine them with other types of data, to provide really useful graphic tools. Now you can (sorta) do the same thing -- with Show Me Where, you can create your own Google Map, with annotated markers to denote places on the map. Then you can e-mail the map or publish it to a web site. Somewhat limited in its usefulness, but we're getting there.

Podcasting for Litigators
The ABA Section of Litigation started their Litigation Podcast last month, and they currently have 3 available. The podcasts provide tips and tactics for the practicing trial lawyer. The latest looks like it's right up my alley: "Quick and Dirty Research." Give them a listen.

Blawgs of the Weeks
I've been gone so long, I just don't have the time (or space) to list all the great legal blogs I mentioned on Inter Alia the past 3 weeks. Here's a sample of what I think are among the best of them:

Over the past three weeks, I received several helpful tips from readers on how to best deal with my computer issues. More than one of you suggested I just needed to switch to a Mac, and ditch the PC.

One reader gave a good tip that I wanted to relate here. He suggested I use software to make an "image" of my computer -- then if I have problems, I can just restore the image. This is a great idea, because it saves lots of time -- the image reloads Windows XP and all (well, most) of your applications without you having to reinstall everything one at a time. Probably the best product for creating an image is Acronis True Image. The personal version is only $50, and enterprise versions are available.

If you decide to backup your computer files via the "image" method, make sure you keep the image in a place where it can remain safe. If you keep the image on your hard drive and the drive fails, it's not much use to you. It's probably a good idea to have a separate hard drive that can hold the image (it's good to have a separate hard drive anyway, to back up your important files).

Although I appreciate the simplicity and efficiency of programs like Acronis True Image, I don't really mind having to go through the process of formatting my hard drive and reinstalling programs. It's like doing spring cleaning -- I have a clean, fresh hard drive, and I can choose not to reinstall those programs that I don't use much, or were giving me problems.

Do you have a question about searching the Internet or your computer in general? Drop me an e-mail at tom(at)inter-alia(dot)net – I’ll post your question (don’t worry, I won’t use your real name) and try to get an answer for you!

The Science Inventory
A part of the EPA website, the Science Inventory is a searchable database of EPA science activities and scientific/technical work products. There are a number of ways to obtain information from this site -- there are simple and advanced keyword search features, but there are also ways to browse for information, if you don't have keywords in mind. You can search by scientific topic, from Air to Water Quality, or you can see environmental research in your geographical area. There's also a glossary of environmental terms.

FormsPass ($$)
This site is powered by USlegalforms.com, and it provides users with state, federal, business, personal, real estate, and general legal forms. To subscribe, you'll have to contact the publisher -- the subscription fees are not listed on this site. You subscribe by state -- there does not appear to be any other grouping of subscriptions. You do get free access to legal forms here (which, of course, you can get for free on the IRS site, too).

Google/U.S. Census Mashup
I have spoken here before about "Web 2.0" applications -- they take two (or more) different types of information, and put them together in helpful and interesting ways. This is one such tool -- the folks who put this together have taken the 2000 U.S. Census Data and created a "mashup" with Google Maps. Just enter an address, and the site will provide some basic Census statistics for that area, and up to 5 miles out. This Web 2.0 stuff has the potential to be very powerful.

Federal Communications Commission
We continue with our weekly visits to federal agencies, and I have to say the FCC has just about the least interesting layout of the agencies I've reviewed lately. The middle of the page is devoted to news headlines, and there are tons of links down either side -- unfortunately, I think it's awfully confusing to try to figure out what's what. There's an area called Strategic Goals that discusses such issues as Broadband, Spectrum, and Competition. There's also a Consumer Center with links to resources on Junk Faxes, Emergency Alert Systems, Do-Not-Call Registry, Obscenity/Decency, and more.

Intelihealth
Intelihealth is brought to you by Aetna, with consumer health information provided by Harvard Medical School. The top of the page makes it easy to get to information, including Diseases and Conditions, Healthy Lifestyle, Your Health, and Look it Up (featuring a dictionary and drug resource center, among other things). You'll also find an area with commentaries written by medical experts, links to Dental Health, a place to Ask the Expert, interactive tools, and boards where you can discuss medical and health issues.

Need a quick map of a world country? MapQuest makes world maps available for you to print out or e-mail.

GetMakeovers.com allows you to upload your own photo and see how you would look with different hair, makeup, glasses, etc. Or you can just makeover the models on the site.

Well, that’s it for Issue #243 – I hope you liked it! If you did, pass this along to anyone you think might be interested, and encourage him or her to subscribe. Also, feel free to drop me an e-mail any time if you have questions, or if you have websites or other topics you want included in a future issue.

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