IBISEYE

IBISEYE is an online hurricane tracker mashup with Google Maps acting as a base. That description does not describe the coolness factor enough, though. The site shows at risk areas, projected paths, has hotpoints with storm information, and a cloud overlay to name just a few things. Check it out today! (Hat Tip: La Cartoteca)

Georgia-Russia War in Cartoon Maps

The Russia-Georgia War has finally come into the realm of cartoon maps. These maps do not show spatial accuracy, not but a long shot, instead are meant to portray the feelings of the cartographer. Several new cartoon maps are interesting in what they portray.

Pro-Georgia

This map comes from Michael J. Totten's website. It shows Russia as a vampire stealing Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia. The creature has the Nazi SS symbology equating Russia to Hitler's regime. The vampire matches Russia as a Eurasian regime, close to human (Europe) but different in a negative way (Eurasian culture)

The second map displays Putin's hipness with his toplessness and rhyming text while equating his regime to the Soviet Union.

Pro-Russia


This odd map going in chain e-mails shows the Russian bear fighting American and Israeli intervention in Georgia. The map does not shy away from Russia's militant tendencies showing them as a powerful (good) thing. The odd thing is that once the war started Israel stopped military ties to Georgia in a surprising pro-Russia move. The likely reason for the Jewish symbology on planes and in the "Georgia" name is standard, old Russian anti-semitism.

United States versus Canada

The border between the United States of America and Canada is the longest unprotected border in the world. To many people the similarities between the two countries make them seem like one for all practical purposes. However, the two states have seen war and strife in their short histories.

American Revolution
Outcome: Freedom for the United States; Americans fail to annex Canada
Most of Canada was French territory until the end of the French and Indian War. When cries for independence emerged from the thirteen colonies, French and loyalist Canada favored the King. General George Washington favored a military campaign to annex the region. An invasion spearheaded by Richard Montgomery and future traitor Benedict Arnold quickly took Montreal but was defeated outside Quebec City. After the failed invasion the United States realized the impracticability of taking Canada. However, the United States Congress pre-approved Canada's membership in the Articles of Confederation; Canada never took up the offer.

War of 1812
Outcome: United States fails to take Canada, British temporally take parts of the United States
Americans like to sway they "beat the British twice." Not quite. The invasion of Canada proved to be a disaster. The fighting started off well but most of America's army was militia and unwilling to fight off their home state's soil. The highlight of the American invasion was the burning of York (present-day Toronto) but that led to the British burning of Washington D.C. At the end of the war the British controlled Fort Detroit (Detroit, Michigan) and Fort Niagara (Niagara Falls, New York).

Lower Canada Rebellion, Patriot War, and the Republic of Canada
Outcome: Defeat of the pro-American Canadians by pro-British Canadians
Canada had a series of rebellions which were crushed. In the 1830s, the Pariote Movement of French and Anglo-Canadians favored liberalism and an independent Canada. They were backed by the Hunter Brothers, a secret society dedicated to the liberation of Canada. The Lower Canada Rebellion and the Patriot War were a series of wars in which the British solidified their presences in Canada. Some Hunter Brothers were Americans and were led into battle by Americans. The rebellions mostly ended when the Republic of Canada's government was forced out of the Niagara River and into American jails.

Aroostook War
Outcome: Canada takes part of Maine
Look at old maps of Maine and one may notice that Maine had much more territory up north. That was the claim laid by the Americans ever since the Treaty of Paris. The United Kingdom; however, claimed much of Maine. The Aroostook War settled the matter by negotiation. Competing maps, both showing the holder having less territory, pressed each side into compromise.

San Juan Island War
Outcome: United States wins one; keeps several small islands in present-day Washington state
The San Juan Island War is also referred to as the Pig War. An American killed a pig in his garden and all Hell nearly breaks loose. The pig belong to an British subject on the disputed island. Anger rose on both sides because the islands were strong points along valued trade routes. Both sides agreed to joint military occupation after a rushing of troops including future Civil War (non)-hero George Pickett. Kaiser Wilhelm I eventually was asked to settle the matter. He ruled in favor of the United States.

Fenian Raids
Outcome: British and Canadians withstand Irish-American attacks
The United States was upset at the British tact support for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. There was one way the Americans could strike back without risk of major backlash: terrorism. The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish republican/terrorist organization based in the United States. A Brotherhood song ending with "And we'll go and capture Canada, for we've nothing else to do" sums up the mood of Irish who just wanted to kill some British. It is alleged President Andrew Johnson gave passive support to the Brotherhood though American government officials stopped some raids before they occured. A series of raids and battles, some won by the Brotherhood, failed to do anything except make Canadian/American relations distant until World War II.

The "wars" between United States and Canada is surprisingly one of Canadian success. However, World War II required cooperation and brought America and Canada closer together. Today, Americans and Canadians regard each other as brothers, if somewhat odd brothers.

Russia Recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia

The Russian Federation has officially recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries. Russia claims the two regions cannot reasonable return to Georgian control after the war and therefore have the right to be independent. Another justification is Kosovo, where the West recognized the independence of the once Serbian province.

South Ossetians openly state their desire to join the Russian Federation within a Ossetian republic with North Ossetia. Abkhazia on the other hand seems to favor independence with an alliance with Russia. So far only Russia has recognized the breakaway republics but look for allies like Belarus to follow suit.

Ukraine and the Baltic states, with their large Russian minorities, are on guard worrying about Russia plans towards them with the continue to pull the Russian Bear's leg.

Off to Canada

Raise the Stars and Stripes as Catholicgauze leaves on a vacation until September 1. The place I am going? Canada! I have never gone to the Land of the Maple Leaf before and I hope my futherest trip north is not full of cold weather. I will probably get in a few posts here and there but do not expect daily posts until September 1. Take care, eh!

Google Earth Inspires Amateur Geographer to Find a Crater

Daniel Connelly is on a mission. He is trying to prove the world's largest impact crater exists in Australia. Connelly is no geomorphologist though, he is a normal man who at first was looking into visiting Australia. In order to scout out the best locations Connelly used Google Earth. He noticed what looked like rings. Examining the rings further lead Connelly to believe that he found an impact crater 1,300 miles across. Most scientists he has talked to have told him "no" but that does not keep Connelly from trying to scientifically prove his claim.

While Connelly may be wrong, Google Earth has proven its worth. The tool has encouraged the public to explore and educate themselves to explore the world. What a great feel good story for a Friday!

Electoral College Demographics Map Calculator

Race, religion, and gender play power roles in elections in the United States. Some groups like Whites or Catholics tend to be fairly spilt in the electoral preference while Blacks and Mormons tend to vote in a bloc.

Now one can tinker with demographics to make an election outcome. Using Boston.com's interactive map, one can see what would happen if Blacks voted in mass for Obama while women went overwhelmingly went for McCain or whatever scenario you want.