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 |   A tentative blog to test the temperature. |
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Ten years ago I was writing several blogs on various subjects - F1 motor racing, Music, Classic Cars, Great Romances and, most crushingly, a personal journal that included my thoughts on America, memories of England and Africa, opinion, humour, writing and anything else that occurred. It all became too much (I was attempting to update the journal every day) and I collapsed, exhausted and thoroughly disillusioned in the end. So this blog is indeed a Toe in the Water, a place to document my thoughts in and on WdC but with a determination not to get sucked into the blog whirlpool ever again. Here's hoping.     |
| Cartography I discovered something new today. Windows 10 was recently upgraded and the task bar now advises me of the local weather. It is somehow quite satisfying to be able to put a number to the temperature outside my window, instead of relying on the clichés of “really hot” or “freezing cold.” Today, I decided to investigate this new ability further. I clicked on the temperature and, after much clicking and searching, I arrived at a really detailed summary of the weather in my locale. There was even a number set to the quality of the air I was breathing. Hopefully, it is good enough to support life for a little longer. But my joy really overflowed when I realised that I could summon up a map of the area. How I have missed maps since losing my old school atlas in one of my moves. They are the vehicles of the imagination, the transport to places far away or even just down there in the street below. And this was a map that has several abilities beyond those I expected. It was a weather map and painted places having the same temperature in a particular colour so that the land had overlays of bands of colour merging into each other. At a glance I could see how hot it was out there at any given moment. And there were little arrows streaming across the map to indicate wind directions. All of this was animated, instantly updated as data came in, I guess. It was and is a truly beautiful map. I was hooked immediately. That was when I discovered that moving the mouse wheel would zoom in or out, almost infinitely. Suddenly I could hurtle inwards to examine my immediate environs in great detail. Even minor roads were supplied with names and I could (and did) find exactly where I lived. This isn’t Google Earth so I can’t see a photograph of the house but this is a map and therefore better than that. It gives me information rather than attempting to entertain with pretty gimmicks. I’ve fooled with Earth many times but always found it useless for serious map reading exercises. This Microsoft version is far better, understanding as it does what maps are for. Now I can zoom out and see where all those places are that Andrea has mentioned before. At last I begin to have some sense of where in the world I am. It is hard to explain but a geographer without maps is lost as no one else is. I need a mental map that I can unfold and follow as I travel around new territories. Only then can I truly understand when Andrea says something like, “Oh, that’s up in Andover, I think.” Already I begin to have a feel for where these place names are on the surface of the world. So it’s a momentous day for me. Perhaps I am found at last. Word count: 492 |
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I've always remembered that episode and thought that was a fun idea.
Quite good is quite a good compliment 
As someone who just reviewed an item in your port, I can't help but wonder, Did I pick an item that you'd throw out? 