Tag: critique

  • Where Is That Pesky Mason–Dixon Line?

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    Brendan Barry
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    It’s no big secret that genealogy and family history are two of my big interests and hobbies. Consequently, on rainy days I sometimes like to enjoy an episode or two of Who Do You Think You Are (I prefer the UK version, but the American one will do too) or Finding Your Roots. So I…

  • Urban Heat Islands

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    Brendan Barry
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    Yesterday was the first day of 32º+C (90º+F) in Philadelphia in October in 78 years. Gross. But it made me remember this piece last month from NPR that looked at the correlation between extreme urban heat islands and areas of urban poverty. In addition to the narrative—well worth the read—the piece makes use of choropleths…

  • Baby You Can Drive My Non-automobile Personal Mode of Transportation

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    Brendan Barry
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    Last week was the climate summit in New York, and the science continues to get worse. Any real substantive progress in fighting climate change will require sacrifices and changes to the way our societies function and are organised, including spatially. Because one area that needs to be addressed is the use of personal automobiles that consume oil…

  • The Map

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    Brendan Barry
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    I mean come on, guys, did you really expect me to not touch this one? Well we made it to Friday, and naturally in the not so serious we have to cover the sharpie map. Because, if the data does not agree with your opinions, clearly the correct response is to just make shit up.…

  • Merging of the States

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    Brendan Barry
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    Dorian now speeds away from Newfoundland and into the North Atlantic. We looked at its historic intensity last week. But during that week, with all the talk of maps and Alabama, I noted to myself a map from the BBC that showed the forecast path. But note the state borders. New Jersey and Delaware have merged. Is…

  • Greenland Is Melting

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    Brendan Barry
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    There is a lot going on in the world—here’s looking at you Brexit vote today—but I did not want to miss this frightening article from the BBC on the melting of Greenland’s ice. It’s happening. And it’s happening faster than thought. There are several insightful graphics, including the standard photo slider of before and after,…

  • Hong Kong Identity

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    Brendan Barry
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    One of the things I have been following closely the last few months has been the protests in Hong Kong. The city is one of China’s few Special Administrative Regions—basically the former British colony of Hong Kong and the former Portuguese colony of Macau, two cities bordering mainland China and separated by the Pearl River estuary.…

  • A Very Loud Tube

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    Brendan Barry
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    As all my readers probably know, I love London. And in loving London, I love the Tube and the Oyster Card and all that goes along with Transport for London. But, I have noticed that sometimes when I take the Underground, there are segments where it gets a bit loud, especially with the windows open.…

  • From Frying Pan to the Fires of a War Zone

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    Brendan Barry
    in

    Moving away from climate change now, we turn to the lovely land of Afghanistan. While the Trump administration continues to negotiate with the Taliban in hopes of ending the war, the war continues to go worse for Afghanistan, its government, and its allies, including the United States. It is true that US and NATO ally…

  • Hotter Muggier Faster

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    Brendan Barry
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    Last week we looked at a few posts that showed the future impact of climate change at both a global and US-level scale. In the midst of last week and those articles, the Washington Post looked backwards at the past century or so to identify how quickly the US has changed. Spoiler: some places are…