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type="text/javascript">h2 = document.getElementById("title").getElementsByTagName("h2")[0];h2.innerHTML = widont(h2.innerHTML);</script><p>By <a class="url fn" href="/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/mbiopage.htm">Matt Rosenberg</a>, About.com Guide to Geography since 1997</p><ul class="hlist"><li><a href="/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/mbiopage.htm" zt="18/1fg">My Bio</a></li><li class="social "><a href="/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/" zt="18/1ff">My Blog</a></li><li class="social last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-geography" zt="18/1fh">My Forum</a></li></ul><div class="subscribe hlist"><h6>Add to: </h6><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://fusion.google.com/add?feedurl=http://z.about.com/5/g/geography/b/index.xml?r=9F" title="Add the Geography Blog to Google Reader" zt="18/1YZ/cz">iGoogle</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http://z.about.com/5/g/geography/b/index.xml?r=94" title="Add the Geography Blog to My Yahoo!" zt="18/1YZ/d0">My Yahoo!</a></li><li class="rss last"><a href="/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm#rs" zt="18/1YZ/Zt">RSS</a></li></ul></div></div> <div id="abm" class="clear"><div id="abc"> <div id="articlebody"> <h2>G8 Meeting Earthquake Plan</h2> <div class="date">Wednesday July 8, 2009</div> <div class="entry">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/library/misc/blg7.htm" zt="1/1UH">G8</a> begins a meeting today in L'Aquila, Italy, which was the site of a magnitude 6.3 earthquake last April. Due to safety concerns to protect the world's top leaders, an earthquake evacuation plan has been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hYQ6SrAMM8F4t47Oww3KimyF3x1wD999IL6G1" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">developed</a> to helicopter out Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister Taro Aso, President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and President Barack Obama in the event of another earthquake.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/08/g8-meeting-earthquake-plan.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/08/g8-meeting-earthquake-plan.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <script type="text/javascript">zSB(3,3)</script> <h2>The End of an Era</h2> <div class="date">Sunday July 5, 2009</div> <div class="entry">Take a look at this <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/05/magazine/20090705-gilded-slideshow_index.html" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">photo essay</a> from <i>The New York Times</i> that records the situation in America's cities where major construction projects have been stopped suddenly due to the economic situation. </div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/05/the-end-of-an-era.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/05/the-end-of-an-era.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2>New Orleans Was Fastest Growing City in 2008</h2> <div class="date">Friday July 3, 2009</div> <div class="entry">Recently released <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013960.html" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">data</a> from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that New Orleans was the fastest growing city in 2008, as it grew by 8.2% as it welcomed home residents who evacuated from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/obtainpopulationdata/a/postkatrina.htm" zt="1/1UH">Hurricane Katrina</a>. Four of the ten fastest growing cities in 2008 were in Texas and all ten can be considered part of the Sunbelt:<p> 1. New Orleans, Louisiana<br> 2. Round Rock, Texas<br> 3. Cary, North Carolina<br> 4. Gilbert, Arizona<br> 5. McKinney, Texas<br> 6. Roseville, California<br> 7. Irvine, California<br> 8. Raleigh, North Carolina<br> 9. Killeen, Texas<br> 10. Fort Worth, Texas<p></div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/03/new-orleans-was-fastest-growing-city-in-2008.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/03/new-orleans-was-fastest-growing-city-in-2008.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/suezcanal.htm" zt="1/1UH">Suez Canal</a></h2> <div class="date">Friday July 3, 2009</div> <div class="entry">Egypt's Suez Canal is a 101 mile (163 km) long canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, a northern branch of the Red Sea. Learn all about the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/suezcanal.htm" zt="1/1UH">Suez Canal</a> and its fascinating history in this latest article from Amanda Briney.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/03/suez-canal.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/03/suez-canal.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2>New Additions and One Subtraction from World Heritage List</h2> <div class="date">Wednesday July 1, 2009</div> <div class="entry">UNESCO has <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/536" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">added</a> thirteen new sites and has <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/536" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">deleted</a> one site to the much coveted World Heritage List. The deletion of the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany from the list is the first European deletion from the World Heritage List in the nearly 40-year history of the list. The World Heritage Committee removed Dresden from the list due to the start of construction of a four-lane bridge, the Waldschl鰏schen Bridge, in the heart of the cultural landscape.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/01/new-additions-and-one-subtraction-from-world-heritage-list.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (2)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/07/01/new-additions-and-one-subtraction-from-world-heritage-list.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/geodesyearthsize.htm" zt="1/1UH">Geodesy</a></h2> <div class="date">Tuesday June 30, 2009</div> <div class="entry"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/geodesyearthsize.htm" zt="1/1UH">Geodesy</a> is a branch of science responsible for measuring the Earth's size and shape with surveys and mathematical calculations. Learn all about <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/geodesyearthsize.htm" zt="1/1UH">geodesy and the size and shape of our planet</a> from Amanda Briney.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/30/geodesy.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/30/geodesy.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2>New Museum in Athens Hopes to Pressure UK</h2> <div class="date">Monday June 29, 2009</div> <div class="entry">The New Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece is said to be "the ultimate showcase of classical civilization." However, most notable is the lack of a complete collection of the Elgin Marbles, most of which are on display in the British Museum in London. London has been unwilling to give the artifacts back but now that Athens has a beautiful location to display them properly, there might be more diplomatic pressure to return them. Read the fascinating story in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/arts/design/20acropolis.html" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new"><i>The New York Times</i>.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/29/new-museum-in-athens-hopes-to-pressure-uk.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/29/new-museum-in-athens-hopes-to-pressure-uk.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/understandmaps/a/orienteering.htm" zt="1/1UH">Orienteering</a> </h2> <div class="date">Monday June 29, 2009</div> <div class="entry">Orienteering is a great geographical family sport using navigation with maps and compasses to find various points in unfamiliar and often difficult-to-follow terrain. Learn about orienteering and how to get involved in this great sport from this <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/understandmaps/a/orienteering.htm" zt="1/1UH">latest article on orienteering</a> from Amanda Briney.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/29/orienteering.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/29/orienteering.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2>Geographical Careers Video</h2> <div class="date">Thursday June 25, 2009</div> <div class="entry">I don't usually post videos because there are so many, I would just clog up the blog but this professional <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geographile.blogspot.com/2009/06/careers-in-geography.html" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">video from the Royal Geographical Society</a> is worth watching. It includes interviews with people who studied geography at university and are now working in related fields. It's inspirational and might get you thinking about various <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/od/careersingeography/a/jobsgeography.htm" zt="1/1UH">career options in geography</a>.</div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/25/geographical-careers-video.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (0)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/25/geographical-careers-video.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <h2>The Presidential Map</h2> <div class="date">Thursday June 25, 2009</div> <div class="entry"><center><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712im_/http://z.about.com/d/geography/1/0/q/5/1/3647637535_6288dbd7e7.jpg"></center><p> In the above fantastically geographic photo, we see President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, looking at a map donated to the White House by the National Geographic Society. The photo was taken on June 10, 2009 by Pete Souza, White House photographer. It's great to see the Commander-In-Chief using a map and thinking geographically about the issues at hand. Thanks to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geographile.blogspot.com/" zt="1/XL/X[" target="_new">Geographile</a> for pointing out this great photo. </div> <ul class="meta hlist"><li class="comment"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/25/the-presidential-map.htm#comments" zt="18/1[C/bY">Comments</a> (13)</li><li class="permalink last" rel="bookmark"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/2009/06/25/the-presidential-map.htm" zt="18/1[C/as">Permalink</a></li></ul> <div><a href="/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/b/a/200906.htm#258620" zt="18/1[C/az">Read Archives</a></div>  </div> <div id="coda"><div id="resources"><div id="related"><h5> Related Articles</h5><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061712/http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/mprev00.htm" zt="18/1YL/Zn">Past Issues of Weekly Geography Articles from 2000</a></li><li><a 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