Remarkable Shot

A few days ago, on June 17th, NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite acquired this stunning, nearly cloud-free portrait of Alaska. The picture is eye-popping because nearly the entire stare is under a huge high pressure system. Temperatures have been in the 90's in many areas, but the sea ice along the arctic coast, where I will be in late July, has yet to retreat.

There is a big weather differential between Fairbanks in the middle of the state and Deadhorse (did I mention  this is one of my favorite place names), in the far North.

Days of Old

I am in the land of women with periwinkle cable knit sweaters and pearl earnings, and men with lobster bisque shorts. Everyone wears blue button down oxford shirts. In Connecticut, it is so green that it is blinding. The sun came out after a day of storms,  and everything sparkles in dappled sunlight. Now sitting having dinner at the bar at the River Bistro near Gaylordsville and live music with a definite faded 60's flair. Greatful Dead and CS&N. Oh, and then Norwegian Wood, just to be sure. This, added to being here for 45th boarding school alumni visit is giving me flashbacks.
"Ah, but I was so much older then; I'm younger that now",  says the band - and I can't help but agree .

The World is Explained

I little while back, I posted a piece explaining Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion map projection as a different way of looking at the Earth. It made me remember this piece from The West Wing explaining the World as it might be, if seen from a different perspective.The Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality visits the White House to make a pitch....
I'm glad you asked, they say.