Well, not exactly. I'm off the ship, but still formally stationed in Norfolk until the 10th. The ship left this morning, off to adventure and excitement on the high seas, while I slept late.
There's an odd feeling of disconnection. It's not just that I've left the people I've worked with for four years (though that's certainly part of it.) But I've had obligations of all kinds over the past few years, and none of them apply to me now. It's low-stress, I suppose, but also isolated and rather boring: I feel like I'm spinning my wheels.
Oh, well. Soon to Florida! (With a stopoff at my parents' to see my dog and my bouncy, train-loving nephew.) And soon I'll be muttering about the complications of radio tech manuals.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
We Are The World (Or Its GDP)
Another weird map, which unfortunately is too large and lengthwise to be shown here. (But click and see!)
So, basically, the names of the states have been replaced by the names of countries with a roughly-similar Gross Domestic Product. Which gives us the bizarre view of an America made up of an entirely-different kind of states.
It's fun to look at, but it doesn't really tell us much as a map, for a couple of reasons. The most prominent states (aside from the one you live in, I guess) are going to be the geographically-largest ones; and California and Texas excepted, size doesn't equate to economic strength. Notice how the tiny northeastern states are crowded with developed-world nations, but the large-scale west has nations like Bulgaria.
Secondly, but closely-related: geographic size doesn't tell us anything about population, and population is much more of an economic indicator than landmass.
But, still. It's fun and interesting to gawk at; if only because the replacements give me geeky parallel-earth imaginings.
(Are there any other kind?)
So, basically, the names of the states have been replaced by the names of countries with a roughly-similar Gross Domestic Product. Which gives us the bizarre view of an America made up of an entirely-different kind of states.
It's fun to look at, but it doesn't really tell us much as a map, for a couple of reasons. The most prominent states (aside from the one you live in, I guess) are going to be the geographically-largest ones; and California and Texas excepted, size doesn't equate to economic strength. Notice how the tiny northeastern states are crowded with developed-world nations, but the large-scale west has nations like Bulgaria.
Secondly, but closely-related: geographic size doesn't tell us anything about population, and population is much more of an economic indicator than landmass.
But, still. It's fun and interesting to gawk at; if only because the replacements give me geeky parallel-earth imaginings.
(Are there any other kind?)
The Future, Systematically Presented
A Comprehensive Map of All Possible Human Futures.
Yikes! But it does have a sort of rough-hewn, Darwinian get-right-to-the-point kind of plausibility about it.
Yikes! But it does have a sort of rough-hewn, Darwinian get-right-to-the-point kind of plausibility about it.
Whoops, New Year!
I haven't exactly been hibernating (ah, that would have been nice...) It's just been extremely busy as I prepare my move to sunny Florida.
But hopefully I'll be posting again, now that I'm home. I've got a couple of things saved up that I'd meant to blog about.
But hopefully I'll be posting again, now that I'm home. I've got a couple of things saved up that I'd meant to blog about.
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