I like maps. Not only because they give us direction, but also because they can be art. Yet, maps lie. They seem to be complete, but by focusing, obstinately on a few details they are transformed. A street map ignores topographical information, which would simply get in the way. Subway maps use internal relationships to show distance and direction, and ignore actual distance and direction, which would make them unwieldy and overwhelming. That’s what I love about maps, persistent simplicity. It makes my mind whirl.
A Map of Times and Distances of Major Cities in Relationship to Washington D. C.
Even if a map becomes useless or overwhelming, I like the attempt. I don’t think we will ever find this map from the Victorian era very useful; yet, the symmetry and design is beautiful. If you want to see more like this, keep an eye on BibliOdyssey.
Maps are fiction. I wish I was the first to learn this, but sadly, a fiction writer beat me to it (Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer). He helps the future writers understand that persistent focus on, and revelation of a few details is what makes fiction work. This map as fiction business reminds me of Italo Calvino – who understood maps, and fiction, and maps as fiction better than I. His work, Invisible Cities, maps the emotional landscape Maco Polo traveled to become Kublai Khan’s guest.
Finally, as maps whirl around in my mind, I’m reminded of the kindness of David Rumsey, who has taken his collection of rare maps and delivered them to us online. He also allowed us to experience maps in a more visceral way by allowing his collection to be transformed into 3D space in Second Life. I highly recommend you visit.
Being fluent in finance is important. Now, even more so because institutions take advantage of the average person’s ignorance on this issue. If you’re not sure how, check out a fantastic video on the recent credit crisis by my instructional design hero, Jonathan Jarvis.
Today, I received free licenses from Enspire for their Fluent in Finance online course. They’ve done an excellent job. As I was taking this amazing course, I realized that I participate in an amazing simulated economy that would allow learners to take these concepts and try them out with tremendous results. It’s called EVE, the virtual world with a robust virtual economy. Using cash flow models, understanding the time value of money, and calculating risk are all essential to being able to succeed in this environment where corporations are fighting for control of scarce resources. Although, not knowing this and having a shit-ton of battleships helps a lot; if I were a student of finance, I would probably have more fun and gain longer lasting knowledge on the subject.
Recently, a group of players decided to create their own corporation. It’s fascinating to see them discuss these concepts (knowingly or not) with passion and conviction. It’s not the type of discussion I was used to in class. I truly believe that a learner would have the concepts of finance reinforced if you put their internet spaceship on the line. Also, it’s a lot better for all of us to have learners test financial models in a virtual world before they test them out in the real one, no?
@ChrisVanPatten Buffalo's alrdy got it bro. That stuff doesn't pop up overnight just cuz EHMO shows up. No matter how hard a community tries in reply to ChrisVanPatten#
The WHOLE family is going to college – like WHOA! Thanks Canisius College. WTG Buffalo! #Buffalo #EHMO#
I'm still pretty proud of my AmeriCorps brothers and sisters. 600 strong. #Buffalo #EHMO 60 PROJECTS!! #
RT @ChrisVanPatten: #Buffalo… you are pretty frickin cool sometimes. #
). He helps the future writers understand that persistent focus on, and revelation of a few details is what makes fiction work. This map as fiction business reminds me of 
, maps the emotional landscape Maco Polo traveled to become Kublai Khan’s guest.
