Aon’s CSI Insider - October 2006
The Insider brings you new websites for research, examination and review. It also offers a fresh view into well utilized search tools for new context and content.
*** News/Media ***
Submitted by: Sara_Higgins at aon.com
Probert Encyclopedia
http://www.probertencylopedia.com
The Probert Encyclopedia is a site that focuses on short explanations on numerous subjects much like a traditional encyclopedia would only with an updated twist. You can browse through preset categories such as money, architecture and language. Each category lists in alphabetical order for easy searching.
Looking through each of the category listings, you will find an in-depth variety of information. For example, the Dictionary section translates single words from English to French or Spanish. Its Language section catalogues over 6,000 languages past and present spoken globally. The Slang listing is a comprehensive online dictionary of over 16,000 English language slang and dialect terms from around the world. The Money section gives the definitions and explanations to money related and business terms. It’s a quick reference and major time saver.
Beginners Guide
http://www.beginnersguide.com
BeginnersGuide.com is a “watering hole for your curiosity muscle.” It gathers thousands of pages of information to read absorb and print. The reality is we don’t always know everything our clients do and exactly how everything works within every business situation. Here you can brush up quickly on your subject before you make that all important client call.
Each category is listed with a main title and subcategories that are broken down for the subject in question. The information is straight forward and practical without the useless data.
National Public Radio (NPR)
http://www.npr.org
National Public Radio, NPR, is a nationally recognized provider of news, information and entertainment programming. NPR is the first noncommercial, satellite-delivered radio network. It’s an independent, private, nonprofit, organization funded primarily through its own service-generating activities.
NPR was incorporated in 1970 pursuant to the public Broadcasting Act of 1967. Its programs can be heard on over 800 public radio stations across the US and produces and distributes more than 130 hours of original programs weekly. Each NPR Member Station serves local listeners with a distinctive combination of national and local programming, original online content and offers “5 minute hourly” newscast giving you breaking news one the hour.
*** Legal/Government ***
The Legal Information Institute
http://www.law.cornell.edu
The LII is known internationally as on of the leading “law-not-com” provider of public legal information. It offers all opinions of the US Supreme Court handed down since 1992, over 600 selected historic decisions selected for their importance, over a decade of opinions of the NY Courts of Appeals and the full US Code. It publishes secondary sources: libraries in two important areas (legal ethics and social security) and a series of “topical” pages that serve as concise explanatory guides and Internet resource listings for roughly 100 areas of law. Sites used range from CSPAN to FedLaw to the Down Jones Business Directory, as well as numerous off-line references.
FactCheck.org
http://www.factcheck.org
The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a nonpartisan, non profit, “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.
They monitor the statements of US political players from TV ads, speeches, debates, interviews and all news releases. “Established journalism and high ethical standards are used to increase public knowledge and understanding. Each article is clearly written with facts, analysis, and in-depth source listings. This site is updated as the information becomes available. The archive search is clear and easily accessed.
The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. It was established by publisher Walter Annenberg in 1994 to increase public policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels. It accepts no funding from corporation, labor unions, political or private parties, or from lobbying organizations.”
*** Health/Public Welfare ***
Family Watchdog
http://www.familywatchdog.us
This website was designed to inform the public of convicted sexual offenders who may reside in their neighborhoods. The site has an interactive map that shows each sex offender in a few mile radius, their photo, description and their convictions. The family watchdog also has a notification service that will watch the addresses you list and will alert you if a convicted sex offender registers in the neighborhood. The website offers an array of statistics, safety tips, and news which are extremely informative.
*** Info Industry ***
Submitted by: Marisol_Declet at aon.com
Pretrieve
http://www.pretrieve.com
Pretrieve is a search engine that helps to retrieve public records (persons, businesses or addresses). This site is a useful tool in linking a researcher/investigator to find public record information that gives results of the exact public record site. Pretrieve is a free public record search engine that retrieves useful public record information.
Merlin Data
http://www.merlindata.com
Merlin Information Services, located in Montana, provide access to public records and other investigative databases. The services are geared toward those who perform skiptraces, look for assets, run background checks & do investigative work. The website offers a pay per search feature option as well as a flat monthly rate depending upon usage.
Turbo Scout
http://www.turboscout.com
The website turboscout allows a person to search all the search engines, (Google, Yahoo, Ask, MSN, etc.) on one website without retyping or opening additional windows on the computer. The website encompasses the web, images, reference, news, products, blogs & audio/visual from all of the search engines currently available on the world wide web.
