The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has a unit devoted to the study of geological time.
Called, Geologic Time: The Story of a Changing Earth, this site presents the visitor with all kinds of information about the phases in our earth's formation and history.
This is the place to come to get some sense of the span of time the earth has been evolving to where it is today. We might think that life goes by in the "blink of an eye." Seeing this timeline, and realizing how many billions of years have passed, will put our time on earth in a completely different perspective.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Help Resource For Hurricane Survivors
As a sort of follow-up to my earlier post regarding resources for Katrina survivors, I add the US government's attempt to help people out.
Housed at FirstGov.gov, the "federal government's official web portal," there is a Hurricane Recovery site dedicated to providing information and links to those affected by these disasters and those who want to help those made homeless or who were injured during, or in the aftermath, of the storms.
There are linked resources for Finding Family and Friends, How To Get Help, Shelter and Housing for Survivors, and so on.
In fact, even at the FirstGov.gov home page, there are many, many resources listed for information and help.
Housed at FirstGov.gov, the "federal government's official web portal," there is a Hurricane Recovery site dedicated to providing information and links to those affected by these disasters and those who want to help those made homeless or who were injured during, or in the aftermath, of the storms.
There are linked resources for Finding Family and Friends, How To Get Help, Shelter and Housing for Survivors, and so on.
In fact, even at the FirstGov.gov home page, there are many, many resources listed for information and help.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Another terrible storm
Hurricane Rita has arrived after days of ominous progress toward the Gulf area of the U.S. I mark this event with a link to an article summarizing Rita's birth, development, progress, and devastation on Wikipedia, the free, online encyclopedia "that anyone can edit."
My reaction toward this whole idea of there being an encyclopedia -- something I've always associated with an absolute and ultimate authority on a vast range of topics -- that this would be a resource that could be edited by anyone has evolved. I used to assume that such a thing could not possible have any validity to a more moderated attitude which is a mixture of curiosity and "hmmm, maybe they're on to something!" More about Wikipedia later.
Click here for the article on Hurricane Rita.
My reaction toward this whole idea of there being an encyclopedia -- something I've always associated with an absolute and ultimate authority on a vast range of topics -- that this would be a resource that could be edited by anyone has evolved. I used to assume that such a thing could not possible have any validity to a more moderated attitude which is a mixture of curiosity and "hmmm, maybe they're on to something!" More about Wikipedia later.
Click here for the article on Hurricane Rita.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Help Resource For Katrina Survivors
A wiki site has been assembled that has collected a number of resources for people injured, displaced, separated from family, out of work, homeless, and otherwise in need of help.
Click here.
Click here.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Looking At New Orleans From Many Perspectives
The New York Times has an interactive set of maps of New Orleans that shows us a number of aspects of this disaster.
The first map gives us a chance to see a satellite image of the city (dated August 31). By clicking on various buttons you can view the area by elevation (above & below sea level) or by population density, by non-white population, and by median income. Being able to see this information helps bring into much sharper focus the realities of the scope of the catastrophe including the topological layout of the city. The sociological ramifications are also inescapable.
The locations of some of the primary landmarks we see and hear about in news reportsand (i.e. the Superdome, the Convention Center, the 17th Street breach of the levee, the French Quarter, etc.) are labeled which help orient us to the geography of the area.
Other maps at this site indicate regional updates which show where refugees are finding shelter and help, and yet another map has additional (and updated) satellite images of the region.
For those of us who are trying to visualize the levee system, there is a map that clearly lays out the incredibly intricate system that has protected New Orleans for so long and its pumping stations.
Two additional maps are there. One displays the evacuation routes which give another indication of the widespread damage as it shows how many roadways are closed. Finally, there is a map that shows the location of the oil platforms out in the gulf and graphs that show why the potential impact on the oil industry is so great.
As difficult as it is to grasp what has been and is going on in that part of our country, this series of maps help a great deal in getting some idea of the exceptionally daunting challenges facing the people who live in that area, have been completely uprooted, and have nothing left.
It also helps us see the challenge all of us as US citizens face as we continue the task of helping many thousands of our fellow citizens regain their health, their homes, and their lives.
The first map gives us a chance to see a satellite image of the city (dated August 31). By clicking on various buttons you can view the area by elevation (above & below sea level) or by population density, by non-white population, and by median income. Being able to see this information helps bring into much sharper focus the realities of the scope of the catastrophe including the topological layout of the city. The sociological ramifications are also inescapable.
The locations of some of the primary landmarks we see and hear about in news reportsand (i.e. the Superdome, the Convention Center, the 17th Street breach of the levee, the French Quarter, etc.) are labeled which help orient us to the geography of the area.
Other maps at this site indicate regional updates which show where refugees are finding shelter and help, and yet another map has additional (and updated) satellite images of the region.
For those of us who are trying to visualize the levee system, there is a map that clearly lays out the incredibly intricate system that has protected New Orleans for so long and its pumping stations.
Two additional maps are there. One displays the evacuation routes which give another indication of the widespread damage as it shows how many roadways are closed. Finally, there is a map that shows the location of the oil platforms out in the gulf and graphs that show why the potential impact on the oil industry is so great.
As difficult as it is to grasp what has been and is going on in that part of our country, this series of maps help a great deal in getting some idea of the exceptionally daunting challenges facing the people who live in that area, have been completely uprooted, and have nothing left.
It also helps us see the challenge all of us as US citizens face as we continue the task of helping many thousands of our fellow citizens regain their health, their homes, and their lives.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
The American Red Cross
I don't imagine that there is any group or organization in this world that is perfect, either in its mission or in how it carries out its mission.
However, over the years as we've seen various disasters in this world -- including the ones that have happened in the US (many previous natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, extreme weather) -- it seems to me that the International Red Cross (International Committee of the Red Cross/ICRC) and the American Red Cross are both heroic and absolutely crucial in times of great need.
If not "perfect" in mission and actions, it seems to come darn close.
At times like these, I cannot think of another organization that needs our financial support more than the Red Cross.
The web site for our local (Seattle) chapter is available by clicking here.
However, over the years as we've seen various disasters in this world -- including the ones that have happened in the US (many previous natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, extreme weather) -- it seems to me that the International Red Cross (International Committee of the Red Cross/ICRC) and the American Red Cross are both heroic and absolutely crucial in times of great need.
If not "perfect" in mission and actions, it seems to come darn close.
At times like these, I cannot think of another organization that needs our financial support more than the Red Cross.
The web site for our local (Seattle) chapter is available by clicking here.
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