The Tingler

This morning I raked leaves and at lunch took a break to watch The Tingler.  It was shown on TCM, so you know it is a classic film.  Great stuff.

Now I get to grade papers.

Pet Halloween

Halloween is a BIG holiday in the States.  Some reports predict "HALLOWEEN SPENDING TO REACH $8.4 BILLION, HIGHEST IN SURVEY HISTORY" according to the National Retail Association.

In a recent stop at a Big Box pet food and supply store I noticed this display.

Don't worry Biscuit.  I won't dress you up like Trump!

Dozens of ancient shipwrecks found accidentally during Black Sea mapping

A cool news report (and related to an earlier post) is the mapping of ship wrecks in the Black Sea.  I remember a colleague in grad school whose interest was in marine archaelology since water (and cold water in particular) helps preserve these ships for future study.  Check out the news at this link.

WHO maps

Climate is the long term atmospheric conditions in a region.  Typically it is measured by precipitation and temperature averages.  Travel decisions are often based on climatic conditions.  Check out this interactive website for the air pollution.

Be a Transportation Planner!

Design your own streetscape for pedestrian and biking.  Forget adding lanes to deal with your traffic jams, add a bike lane.  You too can be a transportation planner using this cool site 
Thanks to a colleague who shared this neat website.

Panoramio going off line

Bummer,

but check out my pics until I figure out the way I can share in the future.

Near Live Satelite Imagery

Want to track natural events over time using remote sensed imagery?  Check out this link:

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/

You can track atmospheric events on this site.  Don't expect to see what is in you backyard.  This is a global view that can only zoom in so far.  But for vacation plans and hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and big events that can be observed from space this link rocks.

SCORP

SCORP.
the funny sounding word stands for State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreeation Plan and you can find thme for your state at this site:

https://recpro.memberclicks.net/scorp-library

enjoy

Volunteering is Big Business in America

About a quarter of Americans volunteered at least once in 2015.  In a recent news release from (get this) the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Most volunteers tend to be "By age, 35- to 44-year-olds and 45- to 54-year-olds were the most likely to volunteer (28.9 percent and 28.0 percent, respectively). Volunteer rates were lowest among 20- to 24-year-olds (18.4 percent). Teenagers (16- to 19-year-olds) continued to have a relatively high volunteer rate, at 26.4 percent. Over the year, the volunteer rates for 35- to 44-year-olds and 55- to 64-year-olds declined."

Caribbean Flights disrupted?

Check out what is in the air in the Caribbean or anywhere else for that matter using this really cool site   Currently 89% of flights have been canceled at Miami (MIA).

2017 National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Request for Presentations

2017 National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Creating a Relevant and Inclusive Future

May 1-4, 2017 – Scottsdale, Arizona

We are seeking presentations from outdoor recreation professionals (e.g., planners, managers, academics, consultants, etc.) and students that demonstrate how you, your organization, and/or the profession are creating a lasting legacy of conservation and stewardship by fostering relevant and inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities for all.  As outdoor recreation professionals, we will share outstanding examples of innovation and research that invite all people to share equally in the multiple benefits of outdoor recreation and open space.  

Tell us about your creative approaches for connecting youth to the outdoors, examples of innovative solutions to ensure recreation opportunities are accessible, use of technology to reach visitors who increasingly rely on mobile devices, and other case studies that present new ideas and tools to succeed today and to create a relevant, sustainable, and inclusive future for outdoor recreation.

We are seeking presentations that highlight:

Diversity of opportunity - To better serve the broader spectrum of the American people. This may include topics like frontcountry, backcountry, traditional recreation, new initiatives, underserved populations, culturally relevant recreation, etc.

Diversity of engagement - To partner with communities in decision-making, sustainability, and the identification of values and experiences.  

Diversity of the profession - To infuse innovation and excellence in volunteerism, employment, education, and outreach.

Submittal Deadline: October 28, 2016, midnight EST

For more information: http://www.recpro.org/2017-national-outdoor-recreation-conference

Planning a winter vacation to a small Caribbean Island?

Or any island for that matter.  Check out this YouTube link for some scary landings/takeoffs.

Also see the report from The Guardian here.

Can you imagine trying to land after flying 16 hours?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PCOcyt7BPI 

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/12281.pdf

NOAA is not just hurricane tracking information, but also a source for nautical maps.  For instance check out this map of the inner Harbor in Baltimore, my old stomping grounds.

One of the cool things by exploring the site, is that you find ship wrecks!  Cool for boating and skin diving, this is really interesting.