You Can't Buy an Accurate Map

A few months ago, we purchased a really nice laminated copy of
National Geographic's Map of The World to place on our wall. Little
did we know then that it would be obsolete so quickly. At this
moment, you can't buy an accurate World Map...anywhere! Even
Google doesn't show South Sudan on either Google Maps or
the very popular Google Earth. Not yet at least. That's because
South Sudan gained their independence this weekend and map
makers haven't caught up yet. There are now (by most sources)
196 countries in the world. Too bad most maps still show only 195.

How The States Got Their Shapes

There's a new show on the History Channel that's quickly become
one of my favorites. It's called "How The States Got Their Shapes"
and it's based on the book by Mark Stein that I read a few years ago.
It lets me get my geek out on some of my favorite subjects of
Cartography, History and Geography...all wrapped up into one!
It's pretty amazing how so little is known about our nation's history
and how things came to be. If X wasn't added to Y, Z would have
never happend. What makes this show really interesting is that, at
least in my opinion, things in political geography aren't static. They
are ever changing. For example, there has been renewed talk of
Puerto Rico becoming the 51st State. I'm not even sure if this topic
will be brought up on the show or not, but it could certainly make at
least an interesting segment. It isn't just our country where geography
changes. Soon, all our world maps will be wrong. The new nation of
South Sudan will be formed. Geography is fascinating because it
changes. Always new and always interesting. Just like this show.

Helo Landing Map

My friend, Susie, helped put together the USAP
Helicopter Landing Facilities map for this year,and
was nice enough to send me an electronic copy. I've
I've broken it down into separate maps for easier
viewing.

Click on each map for a larger version.


ALL FACILITIES


ROSS ISLAND


KOETTLITZ GLACIER


DRY VALLEYS


BYRD GLACIER

A Visit From Carrie

Our friend Carrie stopped by yesterday and spent the day
with us today. For the next several months, she's taking
classes and completing training at Solar Energy International
in Carbondale Colorado. It's only about 90 minutes from
our house, so we hope to see her several times this summer!
It sounds like an excellent program and she'll be learning
all about solar power units and installation. She'll even
be taking some additional classes with the program in
Costa Rica later in the summer.

Counties Visited Map

A few months ago, I came across a fun, yet slightly geeky way
to determine where you've been in the United States. It's called
Counties Visited Map. It's easy to say I've been to this state or I've
been to that state, but this really helps you see exactly where you've
been. I found it interesting that I've driven across many interstates
across the middle of the country and almost every county in several
states, but it's quite evident that I haven't visited any of the
Northeast. I also have three more states west of the
Mississippi to visit. These are places I will visit someday.

Back in the Desert

If you go north, south or west of Grand Junction, you will
find yourself in the Desert. For the most part, there is very
little vegetation and it's just plain dry. For some reason
though, I feel very comfortable in this environment. Lynn
and I took a drive today into the desert north of town near
the Bookcliffs and it was wonderful! I'm looking forward
to exploring more of the desert this summer!

The Powell Family Theatre

My friends, Christine and Antz, invited me over to their house
in Southshore (less than a block from the beach) for dinner
and a movie at the Powell Family Theatre (PFT). The PFT
actually rotates in location. I've visited it before on the Ice,
but this is my first time in NZ. The theatre basically just
consists of really comfy chairs, a projection screen and
great projection theatre and sound system. We watched
Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp. Of course, I forgot
my camera, so I didn't get any photos of their nice house,
but since they're both very tech savvy, I figured they would
enjoy a photo I made of their house using Google Maps
Streetview!

Transitions

Last "night" the South Pole closed for the season
and as a result, I am no longer needed in the Air
Services office from 6pm to 6am. All flight from
now on will be during the day. Day and Night are
still relative terms, since the first sunset
doesn't occur for another week or so. However,
it is definitely starting to feel like winter here
as my small red jacket has been abandoned for the
season and Big Red has made it's way into my
wardrobe. Over the next 24 hours I'll be moving
into "Day" mode and away from the "wandering the
station in the middle of the night" mode. Back
amongst the living.

Culverts

Way back in the day, the founding fathers of McMurdo
had a bit of foresight and built a series of culverts,
draining the mudhole that McMurdo can become. It would
be a far more mucky place than it is with the amount of
runoff that we experience each year. A GA named Steve
actually put together a guide this season to the 25 or
so culverts and I have him to thank for this information.


My favorite culvert (if someone can have a favorite
culvert) is Culvert #1. This is the one that runs
under the road to Hut Point and without it, a large
part of town near the fuel pumps would be a swamp.


I've seen huge amounts of water go through this thing.
This is a relative trickle.


This would be a great place for a kayaker to shoot the
rapids...and a great splashdown at the bottom as it
drops into Winter Quarters Bay!

McMurdo 1967

Click on map to enlarge

I came across this map the other day, showing
McMurdo in 1967. It sure has changed quite a
bit! There are a few buildings that are still
here but most are not. Anyway, it makes for
an interesting view for Map nerds out there
like me.

Wide World of Maps

After spending the morning at the pool, we went to one of
my favorite get my geek on places. Wide World of Maps!
I've been going here since the early 90's when I first started
visiting Arizona but I had never been to the Scottsdale store.
This place has everything for a cartography or geography nut!
I could have spend thousands of dollars here, but alas, left
with a new Phoenix highway map.

Google Maps

View Airports I've Flown Through in a larger map
I've been playing around a little lately with Google Maps
and I have to say...It's AWESOME! I've been a closet
cartographer all of my life and even though I enjoy
drawing maps by hand, it's even more fun designing
maps with a powerful tool like this. My first map I
created was to show the head of the Notre Dame
Department of Archaeology where a ancient Hopewell
Culture Mound near my family's farm is located.
My most recent "project" is a map of all of the airports
I've flown through around the world. The best thing
about Google Maps...it's fun. And that's what it's all
about.

Geography Awareness Week

Happy Geography Awareness Week! In my quest to make
the world as geeky about Geography as I am, I'm
promoting Geography Awareness Week these days.
It's a National Geographic-led campaign promoting the
importance of geography education in the United States.
A subscriber of National Geographic since 1977, I've
always felt that one can never know too much about the
world outside one's own world. I feel very fortunate
that I've seen as much of the world that I have and as
long as I'm on this planet, I can't wait to see even
more!

Proud Native of Assenisipia

I ran across this map the other day on a favorite
blog of mine. It shows how Thomas Jefferson had
presented a plan to divide the Northwest Territory
into 10 states instead of the 5 or so it would eventually
become (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
and a very small part of Minnesota). Not that growing
up in Northwest Indiana was like living on a tropical
beach or anything, but at least Indiana was easier to
spell than Assenisipia. Besides, it would have made
car dealership commercials much longer...Your Chicagoland,
Southeast Assenisipia Ford dealers...