Countries Increasing Their Military Strength
Friday November 30, 2007
Foreign Policy discusses five countries that are increasing their military might while the rest of the world is downsizing. Learn why China, the U.S., India, Venezuela, and South Africa ... Read More
ZIP Code Comparison Site
Friday November 30, 2007
Thanks to Rich for letting me know about the site ZIPskinny, which is a really easy-to-use and fun site that provides demographic comparisons between ZIP Codes. Type in any ... Read More
Welcome Aboard Amanda, Geography at About.com Intern!
Wednesday November 28, 2007
I'm thrilled to announce the creation of a new position here at Geography at About.com - the position of Geography Intern. I've selected California State University, Sacramento geography major ... Read More
Most Common Last Names in U.S.
Tuesday November 27, 2007
The U.S. Census Bureau has just released a listing of the most common last names (surnames) in the U.S. based on Census 2000 data. The ten most popular last ... Read More
The Leaning Church Tower of Bad Frankenhausen
Monday November 26, 2007
The Washington Post has an article about a more than six hundred year-old 184-foot-tall church tower in the town of Bad Frankenhausen that has been leaning ever since it was ... Read More
Environmental Costs of Three Gorges
Sunday November 25, 2007
The New York Times has an extensive article about the environmental costs of dam projects such as the Three Gorges Dam in China. The Times reports some interesting facts ... Read More
Euro Expansion
Saturday November 24, 2007
On January 1, two new countries, Cyprus and Malta, will start using the euro as their official currency. The two additions will bring the total number of euro countries ... Read More
Where in the World is Australia?
Saturday November 24, 2007
In a recent article about Australian Prime Minister John Howard's defeat and end of his tenure as Prime Minister, the New York Times says that Howard is, "one of President ... Read More
Vanity Addresses
Thursday November 22, 2007
The New Yorker covers the story of vanity addresses in New York City, where for $5500 a building can apply to the municipality to be assigned a "vanity address," one ... Read More
The Last Telephone Booths in America
Thursday November 22, 2007
There are not many Superman-style telephone booths left in the United States. This Washington Post article talks about the last real phone booth (with walls) in the D.C. area ... Read More
Thanksgiving and Holiday Facts
Wednesday November 21, 2007
The U.S. Census Bureau has published two recent listings of fascinating facts about Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season. If you want to know a ton about Thanksgiving, such ... Read More
A Very Historic Map Collection
Wednesday November 21, 2007
This press release describes the fascinating map collection of the American Geographical Society Library, which has been housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 1978. The collection includes more ... Read More
Detroit Ranks Most Dangerous City in U.S.A.
Sunday November 18, 2007
A private agency utilizing FBI crime data has rated Detroit as the most dangerous city in the United States. Following Detroit are St. Louis, Flint (Michigan), Oakland, and Camden, ... Read More
Paperless Maps
Sunday November 18, 2007
Business Week has a lengthy article describing the state of the geotechnology business, especially in regard to map data providers and the latest mergers and acquisitions of those companies. ... Read More
The Average American
Sunday November 18, 2007
Time Magazine has an interesting article that attempts to paint a portrait of the Average American, based on demographic data. Subsequent pages of the article have some interesting maps ... Read More
U.N. Waters Down Anti-Rape Resolution
Sunday November 18, 2007
The United Nations General Assembly approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution to condemn rape but watered down the language of the resolution due to pressure by Angola, representing African countries. The ... Read More
Hitler's Globe Sells for $100,000
Thursday November 15, 2007
A globe found in Adolf Hitler's Eagle Nest retreat in the Bavarian Alps by American soldier John Barsamian in May 1945 was sold at auction for $100,000 yesterday. This ... Read More
Happy Geography Awareness Week!
Saturday November 10, 2007
Happy Geography Awareness Week. Geography Awareness Week 2007 runs from Sunday, November 11 through Saturday, November 17. This week's theme is Asia.
In honor of Geography Awareness Week, I ... Read More
New National Geographic Blog
Saturday November 10, 2007
National Geographic has created a new mapping blog called contours. It's the official blog of National Geographic Maps and is frequently updated with information about new National Geographic map-related ... Read More
LAPD to Map Muslims
Saturday November 10, 2007
GeoBlogger Catholicgauze reports on a Los Angeles Police Department plan to map the Muslim community in the City of Angels. The plan has come under fire as racial profiling ... Read More
10 Worst Natural Disasters in the U.S.
Saturday November 10, 2007
LiveScience provides a listing of the The 10 Worst U.S Natural Disasters. The list includes a few heat waves, a couple of hurricanes, and even an earthquake and ... Read More
New European Fertility Rates Announced
Monday November 5, 2007
The Population Reference Bureau has announced new fertility rates for European countries. They found that no country in Europe has a total fertility rate of replacement value or above. ... Read More
Outsourcing Personal Assistants
Sunday November 4, 2007
The International Herald Tribune has a fascinating story on the nascent phenomenon of hiring out personal assistant service and tutoring services to countries like India. The story tells of ... Read More
The NFL Doesn't Teach Geography
Sunday November 4, 2007
Caitlin at GeoLounge has the interesting story of Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder and his lack of geographic knowledge.
Geography Awareness Week
Sunday November 4, 2007
Geography Awareness Week starts a week from now, on Sunday, November 11. This year's theme is Asia, the world's largest continent in both area and population (Asia is home ... Read More
Music Map
Saturday November 3, 2007
The Music Map is a world map that provides lists of the ten most popular music artists and albums for many countries (or U.S. states). It's an interesting look ... Read More
Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday
Thursday November 1, 2007
This year's Daylight Saving Time in the United States was the first that was extra-long, extended by four weeks by Congress. This super-long Daylight Saving Time is finally coming ... Read More