January 2008 Archives

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Images courtesy of National Geographic and U2 Limited.

Every geographer knows that our most powerful memories and experiences are often deeply rooted in a sense of place. Think about the emotions connected to the site of your childhood home, favorite vacation locale, or daily refuge spot. A good filmmaker recognizes this terrene and transcendent nature of place and strives to bring viewers into the elaborate environment(s) inhabited by their characters. Two successful approaches were described in last week’s New York Times reviews of the Sundance Film Festival and National Geographic’s U23D.

The old-fashioned technique of vivid story-telling and richly crafted detail is back in style—with a new, more nuanced mien. NY Times critic Manohla Dargis describes this year’s most appealing Sundance Films as evincing “...the emergence of a new American realism. Although my favorite fiction films at Sundance were different in theme and tone, they were united by stylistic commonalities, a feel for the still moment — and, importantly, for beauty — a grounded sense of place.”

Below is a brief selection of some of Dargis’s place-based observations. For more, read the full Sundance review.

Ballast: “Expressively shot in the Mississippi Delta by Lol Crawley, who splashes shocks of color on the wintry blue landscape, the film owes an obvious debt to the Dardennes in its sense of urgency, intimacy and carefully articulated feel for place without in any way being a slavish imitation.”

“The Order of Myths, Margaret Brown’s examination of the history and present-day reality of the segregated worlds of Mardi Gras in Mobile, Ala…[is] a story that is at once very site-specific and seemingly simple and as big and richly complex as the United States itself.”

Another NY Times review by Matt Zoller Seitz describes the revolutionary, technologically advanced approach to filmmaking and space creation in U23D. The film follows one of the famous rock band’s concerts in South America during the Vertigo tour. Like most concerts (and albums), the artists strive to create a unique experience through the lyrics and musical composition of their songs. U2 and the band’s lead singer, internationally recognized humanitarian Bono, have long articulated a message of peace and social justice. U23D represents an attempt to bring that message to the cinema just as it would be experienced in real time at a concert. Shot entirely in 3-D, the film provokes a broad range of sensual modalities to make the audience feel like they are actually attending the performance.

A U2 fan myself, I was lucky enough to take part in an advanced screening for National Geographic employees a few months ago. As Seitz says, “The very idea of self-contained screen geography is thrillingly reconceived…” and I can attest that U23D is truly the next best thing to witnessing the live concert.

Check out these new films, and think about how place is artfully constructed and construed through the many productions you watch, books you read, and music you listen to. You’ll likely find that your memories and impressions are as profoundly linked to setting as they are in your daily life.

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Images courtesy of WashingtonPost.com.

Remember my New Year’s resolution to learn more about my neighborhood in Washington, D.C.? Well, I just found a great new application to help me in that quest.

WashingtonPost.com has a feature called “Local Explorer” that provides detailed maps of sites of interest in the Washington, D.C. Metro Region. Powered by Google, it stays true to the innovator’s trademark clean, user-friendly format. Simply type in an address, zip code, neighborhood, city or county, and you’re instantly presented with a map of the area. Then, select from a long list of categories to display on the map: schools, home sales, museums, restaurants, metro stops, even crime locations. Great for tourists and locals alike, “Local Explorer” aggregates a massive database of information and enables the user to visualize it through a customizable geographic lens. I recently used it to identify libraries close to my apartment.

“Local Explorer” illustrates one of the many ways news outlets are using the latest geospatial technologies to better inform members of their communities. See if your local online news source or Google affiliate has a similar feature. If not, suggest that they work with Google to create one!

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

 
Forget gingko biloba: To enhance brain functioning, just add a map to your daily dose of vitamins.

Image courtesy of National Geographic Magazine Online.

National Geographic is bringing a new twist to the standard "this day in history" lesson--maps.

"Map of the Day" highlights a pivotal historical event for each day of the year, along with an interactive map. The maps are adapted from an array of sources including the Society's own annals, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives. An engaging quiz question adds an additional layer of fun--and mental stimulation--to each map and written description.

Today's feature is sure to evoke a smile from every National Geographic employee: a map of the star-dappled ceiling that graces the main lobby of the historic Society headquarters. Over 700 individual bulbs illuminate an exact replica of the sky over Washington, D.C., on the night in January, 1888, when a group of 33 prominent scientists first met to discuss the creation of a society for the "increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge."

We LOVE "Map of the Day" for its application of the geographic perspective to historical science. Of course, our colleagues in academia have long known that the two are inextricably linked. So add this innovative tool to your bookmarks to start thinking geographically about world events past and present. We hope you'll make "Map of the Day" as habitual as your morning cup of coffee!

Tell Us: Check out the "Map of the Day" features to date and tell us which one is your favorite so far.

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Battle of the Bulge - Belgium

Tanks and infantrymen of the 82nd Airborne Division, Company G, 740th Tank Battalion, 504th Regiment, push through the snow towards their objective in Belgium.  U.S. First Army near Herresbach.

Image courtesy of the United States Army.

The Weather Channel has just debuted a new series called "When Weather Changed History." Read the official press release here. Airing Sundays at 9pm and 11pm (ET), the show's title aptly reflects the content. Featured topics include: extreme winter conditions during World War II's Battle of the Bulge, the Dust Bowl's exacerbating effects on the Great Depression, and the potential role of freezing temperatures on the 1986 Challenger Explosion.

As a geographer, I couldn't help but notice an underlying trend: cold. Naturally, I began to speculate about how that trend is likely to shift in the face of global warming. While many scientists predict that extreme weather events of all kinds are likely to increase as a result of climate change, incidents including the 2003 European heat wave and 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita make me wonder whether heat may become an increasingly decisive factor.

Another common theme throughout the series: military geography. Here again, warmer climes may start to have a greater influence, but for an even more complex set of reasons. In addition to shifts in global weather trends, changes in geopolitical dynamics mean that U.S.troops are fighting more battles in hot, tropical and arid regions of Asia, versus cooler and temperate regions of Europe and North America. In just the last century, the U.S.has had to adapt to new types of climate and terrain in Southeast Asia (Korea, Vietnam), the Persian Gulf, and most recently, Iraq. One thing is certain: Global warming means there's sure to be plenty of material for the show!

Visit the official When Weather Changed History website, where you can take an interactive quiz (it's pretty challenging!) and enter a Sweepstakes to win a weather-themed vacation. And for more on the topic, check out this top ten list of "How Weather Changed History "  from Live Science. Then Tell Us: What are your picks for the most influential weather events?

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

"Geography is sooooo boring" thinks Marissa as she sits in her third grade class. So boring, in fact, that she promptly drifts off to sleep. Luckily, with a little help from some new friends, she soon discovers that geography is about more than just maps and globes; it's about a wide world of diverse animals, environments, and cultures. Geography is out there--and it's fun!

Spin the Globe Adventures--Australia by Marissa Giamo is the first in a series of children's books that chronicle the journeys of a young girl and her spherical friend "Spin" (Spin the Globe, get it? ) as they travel the world in search of the true meaning of geography. I found Australia to be a charming story, perfect for younger audiences in the 8-10 age range. Accompanied by colorful illustrations, a list of Aussie vocabulary, and a quiz about Australian animals, it is both entertaining and educational. I was tickled to reflect fondly on my own semester abroad in Australia, and I couldn't help but grin at the fact main character looked a little bit like me with her curly red hair :-).

What I love best about Spin, though, is its laudable mission, "Kids Becoming Global Citizens." It is, of course, directly aligned with My Wonderful World's own mission to "give kids the power of global knowledge." On her website, spinadventures.com (notice who's featured on the links page), Giamo explains the importance of learning geography: "Our kids' world will be one in which their lives will be influenced by what happens around the world. You can give your child a real head start by teaching them about these places today....and perhaps, even help [them] to make different choices for now and our very globalized future."

So check out spinadventures.com to learn more about the book and Spin the Globe Adventures, and get your World Passport to make reading along even more fun! There are resources for Parents and Teachers, including information on ways to get involved with I-EARN, one of our own Coalition partners that works to connect teachers and students with their peers around the world. As Spin main character Marissa concludes: [Geography] is an adventure! It's a cool ride, and I can't wait for the next trip." Thanks Marissa Giamo for inspiring kids to buckle up and join in the fun!

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Image courtesy of Penn State University Map Library.

The presidential primary season is underway, and election season means election maps. So start thinking in shades of red and blue, because the state-by-state dynamics occurring now will largely determine the final color scheme to be emblazoned in our minds and on our t-shirts.

Cultural geography has a decisive impact on the race to the White House. The U.S. is an expansive, populous country with a system of united but largely independent states, each with its own unique character and political leanings. Ultimately, the Electoral College system ensures that even the smallest states will have a voice in the final polls. Whether in the forms of "bumps" or setbacks, the votes cast in the first few primaries and caucuses will influence attitudes across the country through next November. It certainly makes for an exciting, geographically intriguing spectacle!

This election is slated to be one of most intense ever, a horse race to the finish. But don't just listen to the opinions and [mis]predictions of the pundits: Stay tuned into the action with these great, geographically-oriented tools. Before the event in Michigan tonight, read how local-level geography impacted each candidate in Iowa and New Hampshire. Then, continue to follow along with this interactive map, available on the National Public Radio website. Click on a state for information on past primary outcomes, "fun-facts," and links to local news sites. The Online NewsHour is another excellent resource. Check out their feature "Big Picture Cities" which adopts an even more localized perspective. Currently, they're talking about Las Vegas, Nevada.

Start exploring now, and see if you can predict how geography will factor into the final election results!

Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

It's a new year replete with opportunities to engage in your world.

So Tell Us: What's your geographic New Year's resolution for 2008?

Mine is to explore the local geography of my hometown of nearly 6 months now: Washington, DC.
As much as it plays the role of national monument, museum, and legislative center, D.C. has a rich history and modern flavor all its own, as any native will attest. I hope to dive into the many realms of national and local, Mall-side and backstreet, popular and unknown, via that oft-overlooked mode of travel: my own two feet. The goal is to develop nuanced, personally meaningful 'mental maps' of my surroundings.

Thanks to my friend Jake for pointing out this blog to help get me started: Prince of Petworth. The Prince "chronicles the happenings in Petworth, Columbia Heights, U St. and other neighborhoods in Washington, DC" and has been quoted in notable local outlets including DCist, Wonkette, Washington Post’s Express, and Citypaper. Nothing like a good geography tip from a fellow blogger!

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

The U.S. News & World Report has included geography among a list of “50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2008.” A “quick pick” in the “Your Mind” section, the feature encourages readers to “Get lost in the art of geography.”

My Wonderful World applauds U.S.News & World’s recognition of the value of learning geography! The set of skills and a body of knowledge that comes with learning geography prepares one to understand and succeed in the world. Our friend Caitlin Snaring (2007 winner of the National Geographic Bee) said it best: “Geography is not just learning something that you will forget…It will help you for the rest of your life."

Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to start thinking geographically! Matt Rosenberg of ­About.com: Geography recommends that people use an atlas like they use a dictionary. “When you read or hear a place name you don’t know, look it up!” We think this is an excellent idea, especially since the 2006 Roper Poll indicates that less than one in three households has an atlas.

There you have it: a New Year’s resolution for 2008!

Check out the following resources:

Purchase at atlas:
Oxford Atlas, 14th Edition
National Geographic atlases

Online atlas tools:
National Geographic "Map Machine"
National Geographic "Map Machine" student atlas
Google Earth
ArcGIS Explorer
National Geographic People and Places
MSN Encarta Atlas

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates

Subscribe to this blog's feed

   
Images courtesy of centralasiatravel.com, bakingshop.com.

I realize that Christmas has come and gone, but I just had to share this neat article that so aptly displays how GIS (Geographic Information Systems) can be utilized to sort out even the most extraordinary of puzzles: “Santa Claus should live in Kyrgyzstan.”

“Experts at the consulting engineering company SWECO have come to the conclusion that Santa Claus should live in Kyrgyzstan. By starting his journey there, Santa can achieve the most efficient around-the-world trip to distribute Christmas gifts. He can eliminate time-consuming detours and avoid subjecting his reindeer to undue strain”(From SWECO’s website).

As the blurb above indicates, engineers at the Swedish Company SWECO employed GIS to determine that Santa Claus should start his Christmas Eve sleigh ride in Kyrgyzstan and travel west around the globe. Apparently, this will maximize travel efficiency and ensure that he is able to fully circumnavigate the Earth by the time that bright-eyed children around the world clamor to open their presents on Christmas morning.

To arrive at this conclusion, the engineers assessed data related to planetary rotation, population densities of the world’s children, and additional demographic information. Kyrgyzstan, specifically the location of Latitude: (N) 40.40 °, Longitude: (E) 74.24 °, was ultimately identified as the ideal launching point due to its proximity to the population centers of China and India, and its central position in the northern hemisphere where nearly 90% of Earth’s human population is found. By journeying in a westward direction, Santa can work against the rotation of the Earth, thereby doubling the time available to deliver gifts.

Personally, I have a few lingering questions regarding the comprehensiveness of SWECO’s methodology. For example, was religious affiliation taken into account as a demographic variable? While China and India may be home to the world’s first and second largest populations of children, a recent feature in National Geographic magazine revealed that only 8% of China’s population, 6% of Indians, and one third of the world’s total citizens identify as Christian (“States of Faith,” Culture/Geography, NGM December 2007, source: World Christian Database). And even if great numbers of children in these two countries were counting on a visit from Santa, why then should he start in Kyrgyzstan fly east, and then backtrack west? Why wouldn’t he just start in Japan, instead?

Additionally, were prevailing trade winds considered in designing the flight path? At what altitude should he fly? I just might have to email SWECO’s ‘press officer’ to find out more; I’ll be sure to keep you posted if I learn any additional information about the process of analysis. This would be an excellent project for a GIS student to take on to see whether they would come to the same conclusions. Of course, none of this seems to be bothering the Kyrgyz people: In a country where no more than 25% of the population practices the Christian faith (at least 75% of the population is Muslim), the government has announced plans to christen one of country’s many snowy peaks “Mount Santa Claus”, and will host an international Santa Claus Congress next year!

Fascinating, no? This story was certainly on my mind over the holidays—first pre-Christmas each time I saw a commercial advertising a GPS device, and again as I sat in traffic for over twelve hours while driving back to Washington, D.C., from Boston. I kept thinking: There’s got to be a better way. If only I had a couple of Swedish engineers in the back seat to optimize my route…and maybe a little magic, too (check out the last paragraph of the SWECO article. I can’t help but chuckle every time I read it)!

 Sarah for My Wonderful World

My Wonderful World Home About My Wonderful World Sign Up for Updates