Image: Steve Zumwalt/FEMA via Vox Magazine. Pinhook, Missouri, a small town situated approximately 8 miles west of the Mississippi River, holds a significant place in history as a black community founded by sharecroppers in 1927. Due to limited options for settlement from white landowners refusing to sell their land, these determined individuals settled in low-lying land that would later prove perilous […]
The Overseas Railroad was spanned over 156 miles and connected mainland Florida to Key West, a chain of islands at the southernmost tip of the state in an absolute marvel of engineering. The railroad was constructed in the early 1900s by the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) and was completed in 1912, after years of grueling labor and numerous setbacks. (Right of […]
Carlin in Jammin’ in New York. 1992. IMDB photo One of my favorite stand up comedians is the late, great George Carlin, and one of his best bits is also among his most misunderstood. In Saving the Planet, Carlin criticizes the early 90’s environmental movement for its efforts to save all sorts of living creatures and endangered species – trees, bees, whales, snails, etc. […]
Death Valley heat is in the news again as temperatures have climbed to near 130 degrees Fahrenheit, and an ongoing heat dome has persisted across the southwestern United States. Image: SRN News In the realm of weather records, one particular measurement has garnered considerable controversy and fascination over the years: the recording of a scorching 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees […]
One of the most fascinating maps I’ve seen are the Ancient Courses of the Mississippi River by cartographer Harold Fisk for the Army Corps of Engineers. The maps (they run up and down the Lower Mississippi River), show the present (c.1944) course of the river, as well as how that course has changed over time through stages. The Mississippi River has […]
Working from home has become the new normal for many people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. While some may miss the social interaction and structure of the office, others enjoy the flexibility and comfort of remote work. But what does working from home mean for the environment and the ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals of companies and […]