Globalis

The United Nations University has made Globalis available to the masses.

Globalis is an "interactive world atlas where you decide what is to be displayed on the map. Globalis aims to create an understanding for similarities and differences in human societies, as well as how we influence life on the planet." Translation: It’s pretty cool.

Globalis offers statistics in many different categories and thematic maps. One can zoom in and zoom out, places labels, and much more.

Go ahead and check it out!

Category: Atlas, GeoInfo

Quick France Update

The protest/riots continue to go on at full speed even as Chirac promises to water down the bill. Sarkozy's efforts to be a flip-fop and become the hero of the rioters seems to be working.

I just heard on French TV that more police have been injured than in the 2005 Islamists riots. Maybe because those were well organized efforts while this is just random acts of violence by spoiled kids.

Foreign News for the Expatriate

There's nothing like foreign news in English. Sure one can try to read Spanish, German, or Fromage but that gets complicated. Now though there is Expatica. Expatica offers news about Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain along with Housing, Employment, and other services.

For the past day or so I've been following the riots in France and how Gerhard Schroeder is poison for companies.

Enjoy!

Iraq War Coalition Fatalities Map

Graphic Designer Tim Klimowicz has created a flash map which depicts Coalition fatalities in Iraq and Kuwait from the start of the war in March 2003 to late Mate 2006.

This map hits close to home with anyone who has even very minor military experience like me. One can turn on and off different countries layers to see who relatively few non-Americans have died in the war.

The map is a sad one but everyone needs to remember those brave soldiers who gave their lives for freedom for Iraq. The map includes accidental and other non-combat deaths.

Category: Maps, War on Terrorism

Maps of Jupiter

NASA has released Cassini made maps of Jupiter in several different projections. From what I can tell Jupiter is a cloudy place. The BBC has a good rundown of information dealing with the maps. Enjoy! (Hat tip: The Map Room)

Category: Space

Geography of Made-Up Lands: San Serriffe

Yesterday was the thirty-ninth anniversary of San Serriffe's independence! The fictional country made by the Guardian newspaper twenty-nine years ago on April Fools.

Wikitravel has a nice tourist guide to the country. The Guardian still has two follow up stories up on the internet here and here.

A sad thing is many people fell for this hoax. Where is our English grammar education gone when people do not get the joke "San Serriffe" with the islands of Upper Casse and Lower Casse?

Geography and Film: Brotherhood of the Wolf

The Brotherhood of the Wolf is a 2001 French movie based on the Beast of Gevaudan.

Movie Review

The movie is literally a mixed bag. The first half has a hard time determining if it is going to be a Kung Fu, erotica, travel, or horror movie. The second half, starting with the main characters return from Paris is much better and focused. The action scenes are great. Finally, the movie is free with its liberty to do absolutely unexpected things in the second half.

Geography Review

The Gevaudan province in the Languedoc region is depicted as a forested, rocky, and bogged hinterland region of France. The movie does a good job at portraying and giving a sense of place.

The society of the region is depicted as a rich, interloping oligarchy ruling over the peasant class. The upper class is divided between the Enlightenment movement and loyalties to the Catholic Church. Peasants are depicted as loyal church goers.

Some of the villains are cast interestingly. They seem to be dressed like the Hun hoard and behave like Roma (Gypsies). Secondary villains include some members of the Church's hierarchy. The ruling oligarchs are also portrayed in a negative light. Seems like typical French bias.

Category: Geography in Movies