About Geography

Census Worker Death Ruled Suicide

2009-11-25T12:22:34Z

Law enforcement officials have ruled that the U.S. Census Bureau worker who was found dead hanging from a tree in rural Kentucky in September committed suicide. The Bureau released a statement yesterday, "The death of our co-worker William Sparkman was a tragedy and remains a loss for the Census Bureau family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

Census Worker Death Ruled Suicide originally appeared on About.com Geography on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 12:22:34.

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Animated Unemployment Map

2009-11-24T13:27:08Z

Take a look at this impressive animated county-level map of unemployment rates in the United States from January 2007 to September 2009. Watch as the unemployment rate really expands around mid-2008.

Animated Unemployment Map originally appeared on About.com Geography on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 13:27:08.

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A Quiet Hurricane Season

2009-11-23T23:37:52Z

National Geographic reports on the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which was the most tranquil hurricane season in quite some time. Although the Atlantic hurricane season doesn't end until December 1, with such a quiet year it is safe to say a major hurricane in the next week is unlikely. There were a mere nine named storms of the season, while the average is fifteen. There were three hurricanes and two of those became major hurricanes. National Geographic says, "Totals were well below yearly averages since 1995, when meteorologists think an ongoing period of increased hurricane activity began in the Atlantic. Hurricane seasons since 1995 have averaged 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes."

A Quiet Hurricane Season originally appeared on About.com Geography on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 08:30:44.

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New Sea - The Salish Sea in Pacific Northwest

2009-11-22T16:03:22Z

The U.S .Board on Geographic Names and Province of British Columbia Geographic Names Office have defined a new sea - the Salish Sea. The Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest and is connected to the Pacific Ocean. The new sea consists of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the inland waterways in the region. The name, proposed in 1988, is a tribute to the native Coast Salish people who inhabited the region.

New Sea - The Salish Sea in Pacific Northwest originally appeared on About.com Geography on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 08:02:02.

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GIS Job Skills

2009-11-22T15:20:52Z

Geography graduate student Michalis Avraam at the University of Washington has compiled a fantastic listing of skills needed to obtain a job in GIS or career in GIS. He includes key aspects of GIS skills, programming skills, database skills, project management skills, and more. Check it out, you'll be glad you did!

GIS Job Skills originally appeared on About.com Geography on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 15:20:52.

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The New President of Europe

2009-11-19T18:50:14Z

Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy was unanimously elected the first President of the European Union by the twenty-seven member states today in Brussels. The New York Times reports, "The Belgian prime minister, an economist who likes bowling duckpins and writing haiku, has earned respect for calming down ethnic tensions in Belgium in his 11 months as prime minister" The position of president is expected to begin January 1, 2010. Prime Minister van Rompuy beat former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the new post.

The New President of Europe originally appeared on About.com Geography on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 18:50:14.

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Leading Countries for Scientific Publications

2009-11-18T09:37:27Z

A new study on the number of scientific publications per capita found that European countries led the world in research and innovation. The seven most productive countries in terms of scientific research articles published per citizen are: 1) Switzerland, 2) Sweden, 3) Denmark, 4) Israel, 5) Finland, 6), the Netherlands, and 7) Canada. The U.S. ranked twelfth while Germany ranked fifteenth in the study based on scientific articles from 2005.

Leading Countries for Scientific Publications originally appeared on About.com Geography on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 09:37:27.

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Television Series Seeks Young Geographers

2009-11-17T21:43:14Z

Mark Burnett Productions, the creative force behind Survivor, The Apprentice and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? is searching for young people (ages 6-12) who are geography experts for a new television network series set to air in early 2010. If you think your child fits that description, contact Joshua Robinson at jdrcasting@gmail.com or (310) 903-5438. The casting deadline is Friday, November 20.

Television Series Seeks Young Geographers originally appeared on About.com Geography on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 21:43:14.

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Palestine Seeks UN Declaration of Statehood

2009-11-18T11:13:32Z

Palestinian diplomats have requested the European Union to ask the United Nations Security Council to declare the West Bank and Gaza Strip as an independent state. American, Israeli, and even EU officials balked at the idea. As the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council, the U.S. has veto power, so the idea likely would not get far. Palestine also unilaterally declared independence in November 1988, which did not gain widespread recognition.

Palestine Seeks UN Declaration of Statehood originally appeared on About.com Geography on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 00:04:50.

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Mo Rocca and World Capital Cities

2009-11-16T09:23:53Z

This funny video posted on the great Geographile blog it worth watching. It shows comedian Mo Rocca dealing with "harassment" from various individuals regarding his knowledge of all of the capitals of the world. Enjoy!

Mo Rocca and World Capital Cities originally appeared on About.com Geography on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 09:23:53.

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