Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Week 1 Lab: Fun Maps!

fone zones

This map is found from the blog Strange Maps post, which is originally published by a study done by the MIT Sensible City Lab. This map not only shows the regular United States divided by its state boarders, the color layer of the lab is the "call data communities." It means that regions with the same color are more likely to call each other. So if we think that each states would be each individual calling friends, we can tell who are friends and who are not! It is not shocking to see that people in states near each other tends to call each other more frequently, but California, has an so called "internal" conflict because it is divided into north and south regions. And both Norcal and Socal form allies in the neighbor state Nevada.

US Maps of Shame
shamemap

This Map of Shame is published by Pleated Jeans, originally posted by Jeff Wysaski. This map is composed by rationale and statistics, charting 50 things that each state is best at. Examples include: crime, road accidents, moral nadirs etc. Disclaimer is that all claims are backed up by references like reliable statistics, but others do have a less scientific straw polls. Guess our lesson learned in this class is that the first step to compose map is to gather data scientifically, what a great example!  Anyways, our dear state California is famous for its air pollution. Can we say that LA is a big contribution to this title?  :P 

mapawesome

We have to talk about the awesomeness now! This map is published by way of retort by Political Language. The indicators of awesomeness inlcude health and welfare, economy, environment, education, and even moral. Interestingly Virginia and Indiana are the states with the most birthplaces of presidents and vice-presidents. Oklahoma has the best licence plate, while Missouri is the best in bromine production. California is the best in Safest for workers. But what does that mean? Maybe we can contact the map creator Llya Gerner via tumblr?

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