Google Finance

Today Google released a beta version of its new financial site~ Google Finance

While one could always enter a stock symbol into the Google search box for a quote, this new service is far more evolved. One interesting feature is an interactive chart correlating news and other events with stock price movement. Charts can be changed to show stock activity for different time periods by clicking and dragging, and they can be zoomed in on to get further information. News stories appearing on specific days are displayed on the side and are automatically adjusted to reflect the time period selected. Google Finance incorporates blog postings as an important feature on the results page. There are also a number of personalization and other options which are better seen then described.

There are presently many players providing financial information online. Please let me know if you think that Google Finance represents a true advance!


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New York statutes online

To find the print version of New York statutes in the Deane Law library you would go to the Reading Room and look at either McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York or New York Consolidated Laws Service. If you want to find them online you would go to the New York State Assembly's website. However, once here, it is not very clear how to get to the statutes. First click "Bill search & Legislative information" on the left. Then, on the new page, click "New York State Laws" on the right. This will bring you to the statutes or the Laws of New York. You can then either search or browse the laws.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Crime and Forensics Online

Even a nap-loving cat couldn’t miss the increased public interest in crime scene investigations, forensic evidence, and the use of DNA to catch the guilty and exonerate the innocent. TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY--along with relentless media coverage of tragic and unsolved crimes--keep more than future prosecutors and defenders focused on the legal and scientific challenges. For a general introduction to all categories of forensic evidence and new developments, check out Crime and Clues: The Art and Science of Criminal Investigation, created by an expert crime scene investigator. A virtual world of forensics resources with links are provided at Michigan State University’s Criminal Justice Resources: Forensic Science, and at Prentice Hall’s Cybrary: The World’s Criminal Justice Directory.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Day of the Green

Although I am neither Irish or green, I could not let March 17th go by without a nod to our Irish brethren - both feline and human. So, in the spirit of the day, here are some websites to visit to investigate Irish law.

Irish Government
Law Library of Ireland
Irish Law Site at UCC
Legal Information Institute - Ireland

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google Mars

It is almost a surety that you are all familiar with Google. And many of you may have seen Google Moon. (For those of you who aren't, zoom in all the way.) Well Google has now come up with Google Mars. Links are provided if you want to learn about the geography of the planet, or some of the craft that have visited there.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Bridge the Gap: Practical Skills for Law Students

You can still register for the LLAGNY Bridge the Gap program scheduled for Friday, March 24th. The program sponsored by the Law Library Association of Greater New York discusses the concerns of the Summer or 1st year associates with the goal of easing the transition from law school to employment. The day consists of a general overview session as well as subject-specific break-out sessions and concludes with a panel discussion about life as a summer associate. The presentors are law firm librarians and the panel is comprised of leading members of the bar and judiciary. If you already have a job check with your firm about attending this program. Several send their Summer Associates to this program every year.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

CIA FILM LIST RELEASED

As reported by wonderful site THE MEMORY HOLE ("rescuing knowledge, freeing information")

"After a certain number of years, the CIA, like many other agencies, turns over its films and other documents to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
The lengthy list of CIA films at the Archives has never been publicly released, but researcher Michael Ravnitzky requested and received a copy from NARA. Many of the films were created by the CIA, and some - such as news reports and the occasional Hollywood movie - were not."

Hope you can take a look, as this is a really wild list of titles. The Link to The Memory Hole includes instructions on how you can access a copy of any of the films via the Freedom of Information Act.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

What's That Country?

How much do you know about Chad, India, Sudan, or the United Arab Emirates? Yes, all have been in the news recently. But beyond current affairs, law students and attorneys dealing with corporate, trade, finance or copyright issues--not to mention immigration clients--know that finding reliable information about foreign countries is critical. CountryWatch, a database provided to all Hofstra students through the Axinn Library, is a great place to start for up-to-date information about 192 countries. Along with news coverage, CountryWatch’s team of international business and academic experts provide CountryReviews (demographic, political, economic, cultural and environmental information), CountryWatch Map Gallery, and CountryWatch Data (a statistical set of economic, health, demographic and environmental data searchable by country or region across a 10-year span). On campus, you can link to CountryWatch from the “Research Databases” list on the “Libraries” page of the Hofstra web site. For off-campus access, a network user name and password is required.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Notes - the good kind

Albert Schweitzer is reported to have said - " There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." Well, I have already got one down. For the other, I go to the Naxos Music Library - a subscription database courtesy of the Axinn Library which provides not only textual information, but the ability to listen to samples of the music as well.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

21st Century Library Workshops

The 21st Century Library will hold a series of workshops the week of March 13th in the lower level computer lab. Attend all or just the workshops that interest you. These 50 minute workshops will demonstrate how to extend your legal research skills in specific subject areas. The following workshops are offered.

Monday: March 13th: 12:10 PM: Health Law Research Online: An Introduction

This workshop will introduce the fundamentals of researching health law online. Participants will learn how to find the major federal statutes and regulations pertinent to health law, to research federal health agencies, and to find such relevant secondary sources as medical journal articles, medical dictionaries, and newsletters.

Monday: March 13^th: 5:10 PM: Congress Surfing in the 21^st Century

No, those terms are not mutually exclusive - if you need Congressional documents, the Web is one of the best places to go. So, if you are struggling to find documents for source gathering, need to do some legislative history research, or just want to see where some of your tax dollars are going.

Wednesday: March 15^th: 12:10 PM: Litigation Resources via Lexis & Westlaw

Lexis and Westlaw offer vast resources for all phases of litigation. Learn what these services have to offer, and how to efficiently make use of them. Topics will include accessing briefs, injury valuation, jury instructions, locating and evaluating expert witnesses, obtaining information regarding opposing counsel, locating forms and checklists. Attendance is guaranteed to save you time in the future!

Wednesday: March 15^th: 1:10 PM: History Research Online

Online history research?? Not how to dig through old, dusty books and use tricky microfiche? Of course not! For research papers, citation checking, and uncovering the historical background of legal issues in class or at work, many finding tools and full-text materials for historical research are online and easy to use. This workshop will show you where to begin and how to find reliable and authoritative online sources. We'll focus on a basic research strategy that you can apply to any history or legal history topic.

Hope to see many of you! If would like us to give a workshop on any topic, please let us know. Stop by the reference desk or drop a comment in the Suggestion Box.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat