Blog Topic #2

Google Earth is an excellent tool for viewing the Earth from different spatial perspectives and scales. We are trained from an early age to veiw the world from flat maps showing north at the top and south at the bottom. Many maps also center the U.S. in the middle of the map. Viewing the Earth from different perspectives changes our views and makes us think about how people living in other areas "view" the United States.

In this blog I want you to show Latin America from two different perspectives and/or scales. For example, the perspective shown at right makes you realize how narrow the isthmus connecting South America and Middle America actually is.

Go to Google Earth and "fly around" until you find a unique perspective. Feel free to add or remove layers of information available on Google Earth. When you have the image you want positioned on the screen go to File, Save, Save Image..., and save the image as a .jpeg and then upload it into your blog. Describe how each image makes you think differently about Latin America.

If you don't have Google Earth on your computer, go to http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html to download a free version.

Blog Topic #1

The island nation of Haiti is experiencing the devastating impact of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The video below provides a glimpse of how violent the ground shook.



Natural disasters and the worldwide relief efforts that quickly follow are examples of globalization. Technology allows pictures, videos, and calls for help to circulate around the globe in a matter of minutes. That is a good thing. As I write this billions of dollars in relief aid, equipment, and rescue personel are flowing into Haiti. Relief efforts are made difficult by the economic and political realities of Haiti - the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

In this blog I want you to:
1. Post a Youtube video showing some aspect of the disaster and/or relief efforts and comment on why you selected this video and what it says about the situation.

2. Post a picture from Haiti and comment on how the image assists us in understanding the cause, impacts, or relief efforts associated with the the disaster.

U.S. Windchill Map

Awesome!!!

Welcome Students

Welcome to World Regional Geography for the spring 2010 semester. I look forward to getting to know all of you this semester and expanding your knowledge of the world.

God has created such an amazing world for us, with so many things to learn and places to travel to and explore. Studying geography will make your travels and life more fulfilling since you will understand and appreciate what you see, feel, taste, and experience!