Sometimes you come across something that just blows you away. I recently read this article:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/01/16/169511949/a-mysterious-patch-of-light-shows-up-in-the-north-dakota-dark
This kind of thing is just amazing to me. It's been known for a long time that people - human beings - have a significant impact on the natural environment. While much of the impact can easily be written off as relatively benign, the visual impact of the oil and gas exploitation in North Dakota provides a stunning reminder that not everything we do to our world is good for it. Or us.
I believe that we have an opportunity to be good stewards of the world we've been given. Surely these resources are too valuable to waste in this manner. We are literally burning away our future in the name of convenience and profit. I think this is incredibly short sighted, and our posterity will not thank us for what we've done.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Maps
I have always had an affinity for maps. I don't remember exactly when it started, but I remember in grade school when the teacher would roll down maps from the big, curtain-shade set attached to the chalk board. I would get excited by what was there, what we were about to discuss, and the places we would go.
As an adult, I recognize the practical importance of maps. Having a map to guide you on a road trip is not only useful for planning the trip, but can be life saving when you are lost or headed the wrong direction. But there is also a power in a map - even a road atlas - that helps to inspire... Looking up far away places and dreaming of what these worlds would be like... It's really just as fun now as when I was a school boy.
Now, of course, we have incredible technology. I have a GPS unit in my car which gives me different options for my route (fastest route, most freeways, least (?) freeways, avoid toll roads). My wife's unit is more modern and has instant traffic updates and gives her suggestions about how to route her trip around the traffic hold up. The GPS unit works by receiving signals from satellites in space. The more satellites that one can receive signals from the more accurately one can triangulate one's position in space. The accuracy is something like 10 feet. This is absolutely stunning. These satellites can track your position, your relative speed, your direction, and thus guide you along your way. The traditional road atlas is almost obsolete.
Another blow to the traditional road atlas is Google Earth and other online mapping services. Google Earth is my favorite. The thing is absolutely stunning. With just a few clicks and by using the zoom function on your mouse, you can visit anywhere. ANYWHERE. Most of the world also has been driven and photographed - at least from the road - in a 3D environment where you can look around in all directions. You can follow the road, essentially walking/driving down roads you've never been down, or visiting places you've been.
Maps continue to be important, but as the technology advances, the way we look at the world changes, and the maps adjust themselves accordingly. Further, the function of the map is evolving as well. Linking various data to geography can be instructive, such as showing where drought is happening, where population is trending, and where sicknesses appear. Linkages can then be formed that help guide decisions about policy and where action needs to be taken.
We live in a world of rapid changes. It can be hard to find one's place in it all. But as we look to make the technology work for us, we can become empowered in ways that are helpful and innovative.
As an adult, I recognize the practical importance of maps. Having a map to guide you on a road trip is not only useful for planning the trip, but can be life saving when you are lost or headed the wrong direction. But there is also a power in a map - even a road atlas - that helps to inspire... Looking up far away places and dreaming of what these worlds would be like... It's really just as fun now as when I was a school boy.
Now, of course, we have incredible technology. I have a GPS unit in my car which gives me different options for my route (fastest route, most freeways, least (?) freeways, avoid toll roads). My wife's unit is more modern and has instant traffic updates and gives her suggestions about how to route her trip around the traffic hold up. The GPS unit works by receiving signals from satellites in space. The more satellites that one can receive signals from the more accurately one can triangulate one's position in space. The accuracy is something like 10 feet. This is absolutely stunning. These satellites can track your position, your relative speed, your direction, and thus guide you along your way. The traditional road atlas is almost obsolete.
Another blow to the traditional road atlas is Google Earth and other online mapping services. Google Earth is my favorite. The thing is absolutely stunning. With just a few clicks and by using the zoom function on your mouse, you can visit anywhere. ANYWHERE. Most of the world also has been driven and photographed - at least from the road - in a 3D environment where you can look around in all directions. You can follow the road, essentially walking/driving down roads you've never been down, or visiting places you've been.
Maps continue to be important, but as the technology advances, the way we look at the world changes, and the maps adjust themselves accordingly. Further, the function of the map is evolving as well. Linking various data to geography can be instructive, such as showing where drought is happening, where population is trending, and where sicknesses appear. Linkages can then be formed that help guide decisions about policy and where action needs to be taken.
We live in a world of rapid changes. It can be hard to find one's place in it all. But as we look to make the technology work for us, we can become empowered in ways that are helpful and innovative.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
A new year...
Happy New Year, everyone!
I hope that 2012 was prosperous and successful for all of you.
As we look forward to 2013, there are a number of projects that are coming to completion and a number of others that will take off.
Eagle Drive is coming right along. The southbound lanes are open beginning at around the post office and it's lovely. The traffic light is in operation at the Lakes of Champions intersection, and as one who lives down there, I appreciate the break it affords me in the traffic. This will also help as we move school traffic in and around the area. Eagle Drive will be completed soon - prior to the opening of school next fall.
Speaking of the schools, Barbers Hill ISD is looking to build a new building to the east. This is on some property the ISD already owns that extends beyond the existing Perry Drive. As a result, the school, City, County, and local industry, are all working together to fund an extension and expansion of Perry Drive that will ultimately connect Eagle Drive to FM 565 east. The County is working with the State on the FM 1409 extension from FM 565 north to IH-10, and further down to FM 565 south. All of these projects are slated to begin very soon and are targeted to be completed for the 2014 school year. The school opening is a bit of a moving target, however, so stay tuned for updates on that.
Other projects that are winding up include the sewer improvements we've completed with GLO disaster recovery funds. These improvements, as I've noted in past posts, will make it possible for us to withstand future major events (hurricanes) better. While these projects are mainly not visible (those who live along the streets affected have seen their driveways taken up while the sewer lines were put in), the effects of having these improvements in place will be felt in an event. One of the major problems we had in Hurricane Ike dealt with the power outage to our sewer lift stations. The projects we have been working on will reduce the dependence on electrical power for lift stations by half, and provide emergency generators to the remaining lift stations. We will be in a much better position to recover more quickly and resist negative impacts of future storms due to the $4 million we've used from federal funds (only a very small local contribution has been put into the projects).
So stay tuned! 2013 is shaping up to be another exciting year here in Mont Belvieu!
I hope that 2012 was prosperous and successful for all of you.
As we look forward to 2013, there are a number of projects that are coming to completion and a number of others that will take off.
Eagle Drive is coming right along. The southbound lanes are open beginning at around the post office and it's lovely. The traffic light is in operation at the Lakes of Champions intersection, and as one who lives down there, I appreciate the break it affords me in the traffic. This will also help as we move school traffic in and around the area. Eagle Drive will be completed soon - prior to the opening of school next fall.
Speaking of the schools, Barbers Hill ISD is looking to build a new building to the east. This is on some property the ISD already owns that extends beyond the existing Perry Drive. As a result, the school, City, County, and local industry, are all working together to fund an extension and expansion of Perry Drive that will ultimately connect Eagle Drive to FM 565 east. The County is working with the State on the FM 1409 extension from FM 565 north to IH-10, and further down to FM 565 south. All of these projects are slated to begin very soon and are targeted to be completed for the 2014 school year. The school opening is a bit of a moving target, however, so stay tuned for updates on that.
Other projects that are winding up include the sewer improvements we've completed with GLO disaster recovery funds. These improvements, as I've noted in past posts, will make it possible for us to withstand future major events (hurricanes) better. While these projects are mainly not visible (those who live along the streets affected have seen their driveways taken up while the sewer lines were put in), the effects of having these improvements in place will be felt in an event. One of the major problems we had in Hurricane Ike dealt with the power outage to our sewer lift stations. The projects we have been working on will reduce the dependence on electrical power for lift stations by half, and provide emergency generators to the remaining lift stations. We will be in a much better position to recover more quickly and resist negative impacts of future storms due to the $4 million we've used from federal funds (only a very small local contribution has been put into the projects).
So stay tuned! 2013 is shaping up to be another exciting year here in Mont Belvieu!
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