August 2008 Archives

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1. McCain Names Sarah Palin VP Nominee

This morning presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain announced his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. The decision to put the young (Palin is 44 years old), relatively unknown female on the ticket came as a surprise, and will have many doing their homework to learn more about her track record. Catch up on some key issues in the Frontier State.

a. “Bridge to Nowhere.”

b. Oil resources and drilling in ANWR.

c. Food costs, and political corruption, and polar bears…oh my!

2. ESRI Geography Network

Educators: Looking for ways to use GIS in the classroom? ESRI’s Geography Network offers tools, tips, and data to help you beef up your teaching with technology.

3. Ticket Master World Music Tickets

As summer starts to wind down this Labor Day Weekend, why not take advantage of those last few opportunities to enjoy live outdoor music? This Saturday, I plan to attend the Planet Arlington World Music Festival here in metro D.C, featuring a wide selection of world music. Check out Ticket Master’s “World Music” listings to find a world music event near you. Expand your musical and cultural horizons!

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As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) draws to a close, I hope you've been paying as much attention to geographic references during the event as I have. Just as the primaries saw states jockey for position in the national spotlight, there seem to be as many expressions of local pride as calls for unity at this year's DNC.  Here's a review of some of my favorites.

 Ted Kennedy Tribute
Monday night featured a video tribute to veteran Senator Ted Kennedy. Central to the piece were images of Senator Kennedy aboard a sailboat, presumably in Hyannisport where he lives in my home state of Massachusetts. Kennedy and his family gushed over his love for the ocean, where he is "at peace" and shares special memories with generations of his famous family. I think the National Geographic Education Foundation made an excellent choice by presenting the Senator with a framed photograph of a sailboat in Hyannisport when he was named a "Geography Legislator of the Year" earlier this summer!

Michelle Obama: The Girl from Chicago 's "South Side"
Michelle Obama made several mentions of her childhood in a "working-class" family on Chicago's South Side. The references to the Chicago neighborhood were as much descriptively autobiographical as they were meant to counter accusations that she and husband Barak are part of the privileged elite; ivy-league graduate celebrities "out of touch" with average Americans.

Barak Obama: The Boy from Kansas
Similarly, the DNC has highlighted footage of Obama watching the proceedings from Kansas City, KS, and Billings, MT. The selection of these two locations is no accident; it's meant to portray Barak as a "down-home boy" from America's "heartland." Several political analysts have noted that Barak emphasizes his Kansas roots, while barely mentioning the time he spent in Hawai'i as a child. When the Senator traveled to the island state with his family earlier in the summer, some tried to characterize him as "exotic."

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Most of the press I'd come across prior to my somewhat more detailed investigation into the conflict occurring between Russia and Georgia displayed Russia as the sole aggressor in this conflict. Yet, the violence that erupted earlier this month is much more complicated than the simple media-translated image of a large and powerful Russia bullying a small and weaker Georgia. And, as with most international issues, many underlying facts, as well as the diverse responses of other nations towards the conflict, can be explained through geography.

First, a quick (and I mean quick) summary of the recent events:

News reports today lauded Beijing’s well-coordinated efforts as the Olympic Games drew to a close. The “gigantic party” of the closing ceremonies last night complemented the eye-popping, highly-orchestrated opening ceremonies of August 8 – an appropriate celebration for China’s massive accomplishment, according to the Washington Post. An anchor from Thailand's national television said the Beijing Olympics was the most wonderful one in history, and the organizing work was perfect. The anchor said the Games provided an opportunity for the world to further understand the developing China, and cemented the links between China and the rest of the world, embodying the slogan "One world, One dream."

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Instead of our traditional Five for Friday, we thought a Farewell Friday was in order since our two wonderful interns, Jeremy and Sara, will be leaving us today. They each wanted to say a few words to commemorate their experiences at National Geographic.

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The Beijing Olympics, broadcast in the U.S. exclusively by NBC Universal, is poised to be the most watched Olympics in history, with a record 114 million American viewers tuning in, according to Nielsen media research. However, NBC’s ratings obscure controversies surrounding the quality of the coverage. Many feel that China’s “coming out party” should serve as an occasion for the international community to learn about, and critically evaluate, the Dragon’s path to development.

Bob Costas, host of NBC’s Beijing Games coverage
Image Courtesy of Gizmodo

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Did you know that the world loses a language every 14 days? Just think of all the knowledge and cultural beauty that must be slipping away every two weeks! To combat this devastating trend, the National Geographic Society, in conjunction with the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, has developed a project to document and preserve the world’s linguistic diversity. The project, called Enduring Voices, travels to every corner of the globe, creating an enormous database of endangered languages. They’ve even produced an interactive map, accessible online, that shows global “hotspots” where languages are most threatened of becoming extinct.

What’s the value of linguistic diversity, you ask? Wouldn’t it be much more convenient, and perhaps even more peaceful, if everyone on the planet spoke one, universal language? It turns out language and linguistic diversity are important for several reasons. Language is used to construct and create catalogues of knowledge about local history, culture, and environments. Often times, specific knowledge and concepts cannot meaningfully be dissociated from the host languages themselves, or simply translated into new languages. Therefore, a lack of linguistic diversity can actually obstruct conceptual diversity. As a tool for constructing knowledge, language also helps scientists learn about the functioning of the human brain (humans, of course, are unique in their capacity for language). Like many things, though, it is often only after a language is lost and forgotten that its true importance is realized. Check out the Enduring Voices website to learn more about language and for a glossary of linguistic terms.

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1. World’s Largest Running Event to Take Place August 31
Race and place almost always go hand in hand. In every event from the most casual 5K to the Ironman Triathlon, competitors gather at a single location and race as a group on the same course. But evolving technologies may be changing that. For perhaps the first time on such a large scale, a race is occurring that is not tied to a particular place. Nike is hosting the aptly titled “Human Race 10K” on the 31^st of this month, and wherever you are in the world, you can participate (so long as you have the iPod nano, Nike+ running shoes, and the Nike+ system). Over a million people have already signed up to “run for their country or continent,” making it the largest running event in history.

After completing the ten kilometer distance (approximately 6.2 miles) on race day, simply upload your results onto the Nike Plus website to compare results with family in Boston, or friends in Berlin. If you prefer the excitement of a race-like atmosphere to the actual physical exertion, or don’t own the Nike+ equipment, there will be plenty of crowds and entertainment at the 25 locations hosting live race events, including Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires, Istanbul,  Paris, Seoul, Melbourne, Mexico City, and Rio  de  Janeiro. For a full listing of host cities, race registration, challenges, and more information, visit the Nike+ Human Race 10K website.

2. Family on Bikes

A couple weeks ago we talked about the Jensses, who are making their way around the world with mom, dad, and sons Tyler and Stefan. But they aren’t the only family out there with a captivating travel story. The Vogel family of
Boise, Idaho, recently embarked on an epic journey, traversing the Pan American Highway from the
Alaska to Argentina… on bicycles. It’s a 20,000 mile endeavor that they estimate will take them two-and-a-half years to complete. Mr. and Mrs. Vogel are homeschooling their twin boys along the way, using the world as their classroom. Lucky for us, the Vogels are making their geo-adventures available online so anyone can learn along with them as they pedal their way from the Arctic Circle to Patagonia.

Sara R.

3.Geography Tees: Fashion Trend of the Future?
Now I may be one of the worst guys to consult on anything having to do with fashion, but I think everyone will agree the geography-themed t-shirts and apparel featured on the cafepress website are pretty awesome. If you really think about it, you’re pretty much killing two birds with one stone; looking like a stud (or studette) and promoting the importance of geographic knowledge. Check out the variety of styles here.

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As I’m sure you can imagine, hosting the Olympics is no small, or inexpensive, undertaking. Consider the fact that the Chinese government has spent an estimated $70 billion preparing for its debut this summer (many believe they spent nearly $300 million for the August 8^th opening ceremonies alone). The money has gone into improving everything from city infrastructure to transportation to air quality. That’s because the Chinese undoubtedly recognize this as a prime opportunity to convey an image of modernity, power, and openness to foreign viewers around the world.

 
Yet as the end of the 2008 Olympics draws closer, there is one question that looms in the minds of many around the world:

What will hosting the Games mean for Beijing, or China for that matter, in the long run?

The hope is that the commitment will spur tourism, investment, and ultimately economic growth. But the Olympics have not proven a sure-fire benefit to a city or country’s economy. It’s a gamble.

Take, for instance, the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Much like the 2008 Games, billions of dollars were spent improving the city in preparation for the massive hoards of tourists and visitors. Yet, when the last event was over and the Olympic flame was finally extinguished, Montreal and the Canadian government were left with little in the way of increased tourism, and much in the way of debt. In contrast, the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games spurred a rebirth in the Spanish metropolis. Money flowed in, and the debt accrued in preparing for the games rapidly diminished. Before long, “the Barcelona effect” (check out this article for more insight into why Montreal and Barcelona experienced such different outcomes) had become a model for every nation vying for the chance to host an Olympics.

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The 2008 Summer Olympics are finally here! If you're as captivated by this spectacle of talent and athleticism you'll love the new interactive Olympics tracker available on the New York Times website. Now, you can explore the wide range of sports being played and find exactly when events are scheduled to take place. You can even create a list of your favorite sports to ensure that you don't miss a second of the action!

 
The website also allows you to access a really interesting map that displays the countries of the world based on the number of metals they have won at each Olympic Games. Try this: first click on the 1924 Olympic map, and then go to the map for 2004. You should notice quite a difference.

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We're back with Silvia Tolisano, Technology Integration Facilitator at San José Episcopal Day School in Jacksonville, Florida, for the final of three posts about her Global Studies program. Silvia concludes with a  message on the power of maps to facilitate learning and build bridges between prior and newly constructed knowledge.

"Making connections" is a primary goal for educators. Understanding is directly related to being able to connect new material, facts, ideas, and concepts to previously learned knowledge.

Using maps is a great way of allowing these connections to grow. Our Global Studies curriculum is taking advantage of many different ways to incorporate maps into the program.

While studying China, fourth graders were assigned a specific province. It was each group's goal to research particular characteristics of their province. Agriculture, animals, population and industries were some of the characteristics they focused on.

A giant map of China was placed on the wall. Each group received a large puzzle piece in the shape of their province, which they decorated with information they had learned.

As the culminating project, the students presented the research of their assigned province and added the puzzle piece to the big map. Once the map was completed, the teachers and students discussed the importance of each province in relationship to the country and world. Answers to questions, like "What would happen if this province with its agricultural production did not exist?" or "Why do these two neighboring provinces farm the same types of crops?" suddenly became clearer to the students as they were able to make these connections.

Throughout the school, maps were placed on walls and bulletin boards to show students where the traveling teachers and bear were on a daily basis.

Teachers printed out images from the photo stream on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com) and created connections to the geographical location on the map.

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Last Friday, intern Jeremy and I traveled to the New Jersey State Fair “Sussex County Farm and Horse Show” to take stock of geographic action in the Garden State.

What a trip. After no less than four years as a budding geographer, it never ceases to amaze me how frequently geographic “lessons” crop up--even when traveling short distances.

Geography Lesson #1: Geography is….Fun!
If you’ve been reading the blog or our newsletters recently, you know all about the 4-H- MWW partnership at state and county fairs this summer and fall. MWW, along with the GIS software developer ESRI, is supporting 4-H students using the tools and techniques of geography to benefit their communities. Each 4-H group takes their own approach to incorporating geographic connections into their annual activities and local fair presence.

The culminating event of the New Jersey State Fair was the “geography bowl,” a spirited, family-friendly competition. All participants received My Wonderful World t-shirts, and two youth and adult winners went home with National Geographic atlases, humbly presented by Yours Truly J (well actually, we had to find an alternate prize for the adult winner, an avid world traveler and National Geographic consumer who claimed to own both of the atlases and subscribe to multiple National Geographic magazines). By far the most gratifying part of the evening, though, was the enthusiasm and curiosity exhibited by contestants and audience members as they sought the correct answers. Excellent job all!

Geography Lesson #2: New Jersey really is the Garden State.
Or at least a Garden State. Or, there are substantial parts of the state with farmland and gardens. This is often lost to those of us whose experience with New Jerseyis primarily relegated to driving through on the Thruway or strolling along the boardwalk by the “shore.” Sussex County, located northwest of New York City, is a bucolic, verdant agricultural region—perfect site for the state fairgrounds!

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1. Movie Miles!!???

These days, it’s hard not to hear someone somewhere discussing the issue of food miles. “How far did your food have to travel from farm to plate?” “How many gallons of gasoline were consumed getting you that meal?” But why does it always have to be food? What about the distance other items travel to get to us consumers? Check out this thought-provoking article comparing the environmental pros and cons of renting a movie from your local video shop versus ordering it from an online database and having it mailed to your doorstep.

2. Mapping the Growth of a Giant

Walmarts. I think it’s safe to say that in the U.S., they’re EVERYWHERE. But just how did that little (and by little I mean gargantuan) store get to be so prevalent in this country? One interesting way to consider the history of Walmart and its growth is through mapping. This awesome map chronicles the store’s evolution from a small start-up in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas, to the huge chain franchise it has become today.

3. More ‘Cool Globes’

In a recent “Five for Friday” I included a blurb on the beautiful display of globes currently featured at the botanic gardens here in Washington D.C. Luckily, D.C. is not the only place one can view such works of art. To date, “Cool Globes” the non-profit behind the exhibits, has sponsored displays in Chicago, D.C. , and San Francisco (just added). London will be next. The organization seeks to raise awareness about global warming as well as inspire dialogue and local action to reverse climate trends.

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Can you walk to buy groceries? To school or work? To your favorite restaurant? To the nearest hospital? These are just a few of the factors that are taken into account when determining just how walkable a neighborhood is. Walkscore.com ranks neighborhoods in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom on a scale of 1-100 for their walkability. A neighborhood with a score below 50 is considered "car-dependent." A score of 90 to 100 is a "Walker's Paradise." Sarah C., resident blogger here at MWW, lives in a DC neighborhood with a Walk Score of 98. And, to boot, she walks to work every day!

With skyrocketing gas prices and increasing rates of obesity in our country, it's no wonder people are becoming more concerned about the walkability of their communities. What makes a neighborhood walkable? According to Walk Score, it's about having a pedestrian-friendly central area of town where most businesses, schools, and public spaces are located. The site recently released a list of the most - and least - walkable communities in the country, with San Francisco and New York coming out on top. Certain neighborhoods in these cities scored a perfect 100! (e.g. San Fran's Chinatown)

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Perhaps unlike many of you out there, it was just a few days ago that I finally heard about this guy named Matt who has managed to turn a simple, rather silly dance into one of the most popular videos on the Web. That simple dance has taken Matt to some of the most exciting places around the world and propelled him to a level of fame well above any he had ever known before (you can find out more about Matt and how he got to where he is today on his blog and in this Chicago Tribune article). That said, as I sat watching his videos I couldn’t help but think of a few questions for all of you out there in the blogosphere:

 
1. The obvious question: Have you seen it? 
(If not, don’t fret. You can easily get caught up by going to wherethehellismatt.com and clicking on the movie box in the center with the giant “play” sign)

 
2. Do you like it, dislike it, or don’t care either way? Would you vote for Matt to become the next U.S. ambassador? (Everyone knows a little bit of dancing can only help ease tense relations)

So… 

3. WHY the immense popularity???
Why Matt? Is it that this guy is just goofy and funny to watch?
(I’m almost positive that this plays at least a part in explaining the popularity, being that my own rather offbeat dance style seems to provide plenty of entertainment for those around me.) Or is there something deeper, some sense of shared humanity in the simple act of bringing people all over the world together to join in a silly little dance?

 
It’s obvious that his videos have made an impact on a number of individuals lives. I even read one viewer’s comment that read, “My son died in Iraq 7 weeks ago, and this video allowed me to sleep through the night for the first time. I was able to let go of my anger for just a few hours.”

 
And for all of you teachers out there with an interest in conveying the importance of geographic knowledge, Matt’s videos might be a great way to start off your school year with a spark of inspiration. You could turn this blog into a writing assignment, asking students for their thoughts on the reasons behind his success.  You can also download Google Earth files from Matt's website. And those are just a couple examples. If you have other ideas, let us all know by posting a comment on this blog!

 
Jeremy for My Wonderful World

Image courtesy of www.londonist.com

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1. Branson unveils plans for space tourism.

This Tuesday, English billionaire and media mogul Richard Branson unveiled the White Knight Two, a catamaran-like aircraft designed to help launch the world’s first team of tourists into space. Branson argues that the venture will allow people to see the world in completely new ways. Check out this BBC interview with the Virgin Corporation owner here. The project has not reached its testing phase just yet, but it’s hoped that the first batch of passengers will be able to fly by 2010. Find out more in this article.

2.Mapping Darfur

Exactly one year after the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to send peacekeeping forces to the war-torn Darfur region of western Sudan, many argue the mission has yet to meet its intended level of success. The Save Darfur Campaign blog points out that a key obstacle to further success is a lack of materials, especially helicopters to aid in transporting troops. To get a visual overview of the damage that has occurred in over the past twelve months, check out the Eyes On Darfur website. The site provides visiospatial depictions of the landscape before and after the UN’s historic decision.

As a Houstonian whose father works in the oil industry (oil reservoir management to be exact), I found this issue surprising, compelling, and extremely relevant even to those who live outside the Lone Star State...

Texas may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of alternative energy. Rather, it’s probably the state most associated with oil production and consumption (e.g. “Texas T” from The Beverly Hillbillies). “Black gold” certainly plays a strong role in Texas’ economy and history (it has been the top oil producing state since the 1920s), but the Lone Star State is also gaining a reputation as a leader in alternative energy. Texas is investing in wind resources more than any other state, having just committed $4.93 billion to new wind-power transmission projects. Nationwide, only 1 percent of electric power is generated by wind sources. By 2030, experts estimate that figure could jump to 20 percent if other states follow Texas’ lead.

Wind energy can be captured by wind turbines like these in Missouri
Photo courtesy of Popular Science