novice blogger aficionado

Finally..

2006-04-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, thanks to the expertise and aid of my friend doza, here is the last map.

2006-04-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

Land Use

Delaware Maps

2006-04-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

Capstone Project

2006-04-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

Unfortuntaely, I had to make a few modifications to my capstone project. And, I really should have anticipated the problems I ran into. First of all, I am some what savy with GIS and have been using ArcMap and manipulating data for over a year and a half. Having said that, I am WELL aware of the problems you can run into with data availability, data manipulation and data clean up. This project was no exception...So, although my maps were not what I originally set out to do and show, I think that the amount of problems and cleanup and lack of data availability were all part of the project.

One thing about GIS, especially if you are unfamiliar, is that it is difficult to realize all the time and frustration that goes into one lonely map...For data to display in ArcMap it has to be in a particular format...okay, this is easy enough--convert it from excel to a readable format. Usually this is a seemless process. But, sometimes, if the cells are not formatted the appropriate way, they are unreadable in ArcMap. It really becomes a mystery, trying to find what went wrong from one click to the next. And another caveat, problems are typically unique. Or they happen once or twice and by the time the second time rolls around--you have no idea how in the heck you rectified the problem before.

Okay, so the data is in the correct format...now can it join to existing data in ArcMap? Do they have similar fields? For example, joining data and shapefiles by tract is a common method. But in one file a tract (census divisions) is depicted as "000501" and your outside data is "501" or "501.12". In that current state there is no way to join the one file to the other. What next? Data cleanup--let the fun begin...

Once this is done, typically, the data is ready to join. And then the real fun of map creation happens. Unfortunately, you have to work with what you have. Unless you have an unlimited amount of time to order or create your own data files, you are usually limited to what is available over governement sites and usually this is limited to the past two decades of census collection.

Maybe this somewhat explains the arduous nature of mapping...and, I think I even simplified it a bit.

Any thoughts?

2006-02-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

The below is an another idea from my father regarding my capstone. This could also be an interesting topic. But, is this conquerable? I am wondering if this may be a better idea than my idea of comparing two US and two European post-industrial cities. Not sure. But I need to make up my mind quickly...

"Is there a way of comparing the development of Miami and its suburbs (say 30 - 40 years ago) with what is going on in lower Delaware today? This would be a pretty deep study which is way beyond your present assignment. I am thinking that the politics of land development lets things proceed in an underhanded manner until there is a disaster. For example, the endangering of the Everglades, etc. or the need for major infrastructure after there has been a large commitment by many people (maybe as will be in Rehoboth). Would the use of GIS be able to show whether there are impending crises ahead that are not being considered today? I have to think that there are not many like Bringham Young who set the standards for the development of the Mormon cities. It might be a perspective on "ad hoc" community developments that are the way of the current US culture."

Things we take for granted...

2006-02-20T06:51:00.000-08:00

like the ability to post entries in Wikipedia and engage in discourse with others anomysly via the internet. As we all know, but sometimes may not actively think about, not all of us are this lucky...

And for those of you who are interested in online discussion on the Washington Post, which are frankly pretty good, check out these today:

Live Discussions

Tuesday, 11 a.m. ET

The Post's Phil Pan discusses his series, The Great Firewall of China. Submit your questions.

Tuesday, 2 p.m. ET

Harvard fellow and blogger Rebecca MacKinnon discusses China's digital revolution. Submit your questions.

A Fluency Milestone within HUD

2006-02-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is taking a lesson on some of the cost and time saving benefits of e-government and paper reduction...If they can do it, it seems that most everyone can...

Taxation without Representation...but clean water?

2006-02-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

"My water bill comes with a nifty little newsletter called "What's on Tap." (Get it? It's a pun.)

Anyway, this month's lead story: "District Drinking Water Meets Federal Requirements for Lead Levels."

The fact that this is newsworthy (which it definitely is) frightens me. Luckily, most of my friends own a Brita filter, which does a great job of keeping the poison lead water cold."
-Johnny Shades, Cafe227.blogspot.com

Oh the days of living in the District and paying 10% taxes and receiving very little...I have to comment on my friends posting because I lived with him during one of the initial (or was it...) lead scares. At the time, not too long ago, there was fear of lead in the drinking water. The funny part (not funny, ha ha, funny what the heck?) was that they did not have adequate maps to tell where the lead pipes were located. In other words, the auspice was on the consumer to contact the water authority and get this "kit". Being paranoid by nature, I called for this kit. We waited in peril. In the mean time, awaiting our results of leaded water or no leaded water, we got a water cooler...turns out, we were fine. Just an interesting commentary on the Nation's capital. Maybe sometime I will tell you about car inspections and what a horse and pony show that is...

Project...again

2006-02-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Okay. After hoping for a bit of input via my blog from some outsiders, I have received input via other means from outsiders. I am pretty set on the post-industrial cities idea and GIS. I am thinking of looking at a few cities in the US and a few in Europe. Maybe...Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, K.C., Dortmund, Wales (yes, realize this is not a city), Manchester.... maybe looking at population variables, occupations, economic development activities, etc. Also, doing this on various time periods.

I thought it was bad when...

2006-02-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

one of my past employers (in the private sector)tracked us through our key cards. I know that this is not an uncommon thing to use to track when employees get to work and to keep things "secure", however, my former place of employment took it to a different level. You needed your key card to enter stairways, other parts of floors, and to enter off the elevator. But let's be honest here...when you work in a billable hour environment, the tracking becomes more of a financial issue than a security issue. For instance, "piggy-backing" was not allowed. And on our billable hours records we had to enter when we entered work. If you put a time that seemed a bit out of the ordinary, the security personal would check the camera footage and see when you really came in...creepy, huh?

Well, not as creepy as this.

environmental consciousness

2006-02-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

Hmmm…is there censorship in the government regarding climate flipping and irreversibilities of environmental use? With an administration that has been quoted with a “not on my watch” mentality, then why would they want to highlight the grim future and fate of our environment?

Post Industrial Thoughts

2006-02-12T14:02:00.000-08:00

An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette forwarded to me by a friend (really in hopes of inspiring and fine-tuning my capstone project) speaks of US Steel’s involvement in steel production in Eastern Europe. I found this article especially interesting because of my interest in post-industrial cities and also my interest in Croatian Innovation Systems. In my opinion, the article downplayed and oversimplified the downfall of the US steel industry. Although, Serbia was the industrial dominant of the Former Jugoslavia, and arguably may have a tougher road ahead of them than other Jugoslavian countries, the article seems to brush over a lot of the issues associated with why a US company is over there. Many MNC locate in Non-EU countries because of the proximity to the market and the proximity to inputs. I think it is an important concept to mention future and current agglomerations and cluster economies (which was somewhat mentioned, just not in those words). Also, are these steel mills that our country and other post-industrial countries are familiar or are these the “mini-mills” that are mostly used today? And for countries that are trying to compete on a global level, is heavy industry investment a good idea for them in the long run? Just some thoughts.

U Street Cardoza

2006-02-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

This is Betty. Betty is the owner of the White Law Market on the corner of 13th and T, NW, my former stomping ground. The name "White Law" is just that. A hotel directly across the street called the "White Law Hotel" was the only hotel available to the affluent African American's during the early part of the 20th century. This area is rich with cultural tradition and the likes of Duke Ellington both lived and played in the U street Area. Anyway, this store is a relic of this neighborhood's past. Once a viable African American community, it was destroyed from within during the riots of the 1960's and continued to deterriate from then...until a massive gentrification campaign insued in the 1990's. Gentrification is a controversial word and has controversial implications.

So, what is interesting about Betty's store is that she has payed attention to her market. She sells for the former inhabitants of this area, while catering to the new two male income dwellers...and she makes some good Ethopian food...

Capstone Project

2006-02-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

Okay. I am inviting any of my million blog readers to offer me suggestions for my capstone project. I know that I want to utilize GIS for this project because: a) it is a useful tool for my study and my Masters b) it is a very versatile project and can really visually depict any variable and c) I like it.

I was thinking last night of doing something in a comparative sense relating to post-industrial/rust belt cities. Potentially internationally. Any ideas on what to compare?

Here We Go!

2006-02-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

There is something about reading articles characterizing Pittsburghers...it makes me feel a sense of nostalgia, even though I have been here for over a year and a half. And reading this, from the Washington Post, brings me back to the days of watching Steeler games at a Steeler bar in Capitol Hill with all of my fellow ex-pats (so to speak...). It is very interesting to be in the burgh during this historical event...but, I miss the commradery of Politiki. Even if it was sold to a Patriots Fan...

On a seperate, but equally as important, note...My friend Zeb did predict the Steelers going to the Super Bowl. Although, this prediction was made during a self-indulgent karokee moment on NYE a few years back, he seems to think it still holds clout.

Shameless Plug

2006-02-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are interested in all sorts of cultural commentary...check out this blog. I have to admit, I know the authors. Or alternatively, just click on the links for "Cafe 227"

Really?

2006-02-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

I know we are a litigious society and all...but come on now....

Very exciting...

2006-02-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

It appears that someone other than friends, family and fellow classmates read my blog...Not sure how that happened, but none the less, it brings a smile to my face.

Clearly not a "Fluency Milestone"

2006-01-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is clearly not a fluency milestone. Just had to put something a bit more personal on here...so here it is: My Dad and I watching one of the many winning Steeler games...

Fluency Milestone #5

2006-01-25T06:24:00.000-08:00

We had a guest speaker on Wiki culture last night...very interesting and very insightful. Of course this prompted me to explore Wikipedia and all of it's opportunities...In my spare time, I think I will now finally learn Serbo-Croatian...

Also, my friend sat in on the class. And, he has his own Wiki site run by colleagues at Carnegie Mellon's Celluar Biomechanics Labortory. I took a look and other than the subject matter being completely foreign to me, it is an interesting protocol for a lab environment.

Fluency Milestone #4

2006-01-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, here is one example of a GIS map I created using a prototype of an upcoming database project I have been working on. And, for whatever reason, using Picasa is easier said than done...I know I am missing something here.

Fluency Milestone #3

2006-01-18T05:14:00.000-08:00

More Google....Google is entering a more traditional media. If anyone is interested in this subject and interested in participating and reading an online discussion with a Washington Post writer and author of "The Google Story", the chat begins at 1pm, January 18th.

Fluency Milestone #2

2006-01-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

On Google...

Some of this weeks readings focus on the internet superpower-Google. I have to admit, I really haven't thought about an negative consequences of this new Google age. But, after watching the short film, "Epic 2015", and reading these various editorials mostly on the implications of Google Scholar, it has me thinking.

One editorial asks the obvious question of what will a generation look like that relies solely on Google Scholar, a generation that has never actually held a book or conducted traditional research in a library. But aren't we almost there? Although, university library collections may not be available online, academic journals and articles are, making that aspect of library research obsolete. It is unnecessary to go to the library for articles. And this has transpired in just the past few years. While at American, I worked in the periodical section of the library. I graduated in 1999, not THAT long ago...but while I was there, my research was conducted through volumes and volumes of bound periodicals. And this seems so arduous to me now. That was just seven years ago.

Fluency Milestone #1 and some other stuff

2006-01-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

I am in my fourth and final (hopefully) semester in the Masters in Public Administration Program at GSPIA.

I came to GSPIA with the goal of preparing myself academically and professionally for a career in Urban Planning. And hopefully this will happen come May 2006...Before GSPIA, I lived in Washington, D.C. for about 9 years. I am a graduate of American University with a degree in Justice and from there embarked upon a stint in the field of Securities and Exchange Commission regulation and compliance at two large corporate law firms. I did want to go to law school. But as many who have worked in law firms may have experienced, I some what quickly learned that this was not for me. Hence, graduate school...

So, I am now in this capstone: Digital Governance. I have to admit that prior to January 10th, 2006 I was not thrilled about the idea of this capstone. But, now it seems to be a blessing in disguise, which is true to form for a lot of my graduate school experience.

My experience with the field of Digital Governance. Not much. However, through class, an internship at Pitt's COPC, and involvement with a non-profit plotting illegal dumpsites with GIS, I am becoming very proficient in ArcGIS and really enjoy it. And hope that this skill will land me a seat in some company that pays me less than I was making before having this expensive out of state Masters degree. But, a seat in a company or organization that I enjoy. And that is worth the expensive out of state Masters degree...

I should comment on the Lessig reading, which was my initial intent of today's blog. But, I think I will come back to that in another installment.

Keep posted. I think I will comment on Piracy next. Watch out.

Test

2006-01-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

This is my first official blog entry. I have tried to post bloggesque postings on sites such as myspace.com and friendster.com, but this seems more official. So here goes..