Integrating the Derivative

You call this a road?

Jason — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:04:10 +0000

This is the so-called “road” in front of my grandparents’ house. Their road is about a mile long and it’s like this in patches the entire length. Think I could get some stimulus money allocated for this?

My Convention experience

Jason — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:06:11 +0000

I posted about my experience at the State Convention over on the Dems’ website. Check it out!

Wednesday Cat

Jason — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:54:24 +0000

Ready…

Set…

POUNCE!!!!!!!!!

New blog!

Jason — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:34:37 +0000

Because I post so much material here , I started a new blog over at Newaygopoli. Newaygopoli will focus on the history of politics in Newaygo County. I”m looking forward to staring at tiny print on the microfilm reader to bring you stories from the past!

West Michigan historical trivia

Jason — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:35:52 +0000

Here are a few facts to stump your local history buff! I was searching Google Books and came across a title called “Michigan Historical Collection.” It includes a section that has the original names of some of our West Michigan counties (page 94).

The original counties were organized in 1840 and then had their names changed in 1843. The following counties in the list are in the WMR coverage area:

Aishcum County -> Lake County

Notipekago County -> Mason County

Kautawaubet County -> Wexford County

Omeena County -> Grand Traverse County

Read the book here.

More mapping

Jason — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:14:52 +0000

Here’s my next try on the maps. This time it’s a comparison between the seven color map of the last post and a nine color map. The ranges are pretty arbitrary so if you have a different suggestion please say so in comments. What do you think?

2006 2nd Congressional District results in seven and nine colors. Click to make VERY large.

My counties

Jason — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:17:13 +0000

I found a neat website where you can track the counties you’ve travelled through.

hmm…I guess I’m a homebody.

Counties I've travelled in

New style of election map

Jason — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:49:11 +0000

Lately I’ve been working with a new style of election map that uses seven discrete colors instead of a continuous range. I adopted it from Peter Bratt over at West Michigan Rising (see an example here, my maps use the same range). Below is a side-by-side comparison of the new style using the results from the 2nd Congressional District in 2006. Any thoughts on which image is easier to interpret?

Results of the 2nd Congressional District election in 2006

i can haz box?

Jason — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:59:43 +0000

Inaugural music

Jason — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:15:26 +0000

Besides the obvious, another thing that I liked about the Inauguration was the musical selection. After some searching I was able to find the list of music played by the United States Marine Corps Band here. I especially liked Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Seventeen Come Sunday” which I actually played in college. I’ve embedded a recording from YouTube of this song below. I miss being in a band.