Examining How We Measure Our Lives
Commentary, critiques, and observations on information design and data visualisation
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Read on…: How to Build a Citadel
La Citadelle de Québec consists of several layers of fortifications that are not discernible to an eye outside the fortification. This has to do with the well-planned angle of the tops of the fortifications. Thankfully, designers said about explaining this through some graphics. While I do not have a great shot from outside the fortress […]
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Cap aux Diamant Redoubt
Read on…: Cap aux Diamant RedoubtPart of my trip to la Citadelle de Québec involved a visit to the Bastion du Roi, which features one of the oldest parts of the fortress: Cap aux Diamant Redoubt. A redoubt is a hardened fortification completely enclosed and separate from larger fortifications. Often it serves as a place of last retreat. In Québec, […]
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Why Québec Was Important and How it Became English
Read on…: Why Québec Was Important and How it Became EnglishWhen I was in Québec I had the good fortune to take photographs of multiple signs and graphics aiming to educate readers about various things. I have spent a bit of my weekend combing through my photographs to see what I can present. The first in today’s post is simply why Québec was so important. […]
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Understanding Museum Pieces in French
Read on…: Understanding Museum Pieces in FrenchYesterday’s piece was from the Musée de la Civilisation à Québec and looked at a bilingual exhibit on Greek and Roman mythology. The museum, of course, had many other exhibits. Today I want to show an interesting bit that explained why the museum, a modern construction dating to the late 1980s, incorporated an 18th century house called […]
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Genealogy of the Gods
Read on…: Genealogy of the GodsApologies for the lack of posting yesterday, but I had some travel difficulties returning from Canada. But today, we have a few photos of a family tree from a nice exhibit at the Musée de la Civilisation à Québec, or Museum of Civilisation, on the gods of Mount Olympus. My guided tour (in English) featured only […]
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Ringwoodlite
Read on…: RingwoodliteYour author is still in Canada. So here’s a graphic from the Globe and Mail that explains the process by which ringwoodite is formed. Recent research shows that the water contained within the mineral makes the mantle beneath the surface of the Earth contain more water than all the world’s oceans. But mostly, I’m still […]
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Newfoundland and Labrador
Read on…: Newfoundland and LabradorYour (not-so) humble author is on holiday in Canada for a couple of days. Thankfully, he is staying away from dogs. Credit for the piece goes to Stats Canada (in no way associated with Statistics Canada).
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Where’s the Beef?
Read on…: Where’s the Beef?Today I’m enjoying some really good burgers. So via Fastco, today’s graphic looks at cattle, pig, and chicken populations across different regions of the world. In the United States, as you can see in the map here, that dark red spot in eastern Pennsylvania, that has to be Lancaster County. Credit for the piece goes […]
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Impact of Climate Change
Read on…: Impact of Climate ChangeAs someone who likes cooler weather, climate change sucks. Because that generally means warmer weather. Yes, yes, I know it means equally good chances for extreme cold temperatures and in general more extreme weather, but mostly I hate hot weather. So a new report by Risky Business Project, a group led by former New York […]
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What About the Bees?
Read on…: What About the Bees?Last week President Obama announced a task force to investigate the disappearance of honeybees. While that might sound like something out of a Doctor Who episode—it is—the problem is real since bees pollinate the flowers that become the fruit and vegetables we consume. The Washington Post took a look at what might be responsible for […]