Modern Christmas trees trace their origins to renaissance Germany. Some attribute the beginning to Martin Luther. In addition to his Ninety-Five Theses, which disputed the efficacy of Indulgences – a big money raiser for the church – he’s also credited with placing lit candles on an evergreen tree. There’s no… Read more“Map Monday, A Brief History of Christmas Trees”
Map Monday, A November Election we can all Disagree on and still be Friends
In November Americans set aside a day to give thanks. The national holiday of Thanksgiving generally includes family gatherings, over-eating, football, and at least where I Iive the first snows of winter. For better or worse it’s also the month Americans run the popularity contests known as an election. Like… Read more“Map Monday, A November Election we can all Disagree on and still be Friends”
Map Monday, Where are the World’s High-speed trains and How Fast are they?
Trains offered the first form of truly high-speed land transportation. For nearly 100 years they reigned supreme for intercity and longer distance travel. During the first half of the 20th century automobiles and airplanes chipped away at the railway’s monopoly. The advent of jet airplanes and the modern highway system… Read more“Map Monday, Where are the World’s High-speed trains and How Fast are they?”