Cultural Geography

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Cultural Geography

November 1, 2025
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Cultural Geographies + Rewriting the Earth

Paul Kingsbury (Simon Fraser University)

Arun Saldanha  University of Minnesota

Acquiring Editor

Bridget Barry

Cultural geography has witnessed profound changes in recent years on three interrelated levels: theoretical, methodological, and sociopolitical. In terms of theory, new conceptions of culture have emerged that examine social and geographical differentiation as involving objects, affect, nonhumans, mobility, emotion, queerness, assemblage, materiality, the unconscious, biopolitics, relationality, and intersectionality.

At the level of methodology, experiments with fieldwork and writing practices demonstrate the extent to which cultural geography has learned from and contributes to many areas of policy, science, therapy, ethics, aesthetics, and activism. Finally, in terms of the sociopolitical engagements with the world outside of academia, cultural geographers are exploring the multiple crises of energy, climate change, nationalism, (sub)urban expansion, loss of biodiversity, inequality, and fragmentation of social life under the spell of digital technologies and consumerism.

Contemporary cultural geography, a distinctive and dynamic subdiscipline in geography, is an efflorescence of many strands of research exploring cultural phenomena with the shared commitment to spatiality. Arguably, the new hopes, dangers, and intensities that are rewriting the earth are best addressed through the unique perspectives of cultural geography.

This series, Cultural Geographies + Rewriting the Earth, provides a forum for cutting-edge research that embraces theoretical creativity, methodological experimentation, and ethico-political urgency. It provides a forum for a wide readership who desire to keep up with the innovations, debates, and agendas that define the humanities and social sciences today.

Cranberries

November 1, 2025
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Cranberry Mule: A holiday twist on the classic Moscow Mule, featuring cranberry juice, ginger beer, and vodka. Garnish with a slice of lime and fresh cranberries.  Here’s a simple recipe for a “Cranberry Mule”:

2 oz vodka
4 oz ginger beer
2 oz cranberry juice
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Ice
Cranberries and lime slices for garnish
Instructions:

Fill a copper mug (or another glass of your choice) with ice.
Pour in the vodka and cranberry juice.
Add the fresh lime juice.
Top off with ginger beer.
Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
Garnish with cranberries and a lime slice.

Turkey Trot

November 1, 2025
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In 2024, a record-breaking 936 Thanksgiving Turkey Trots were hosted across all 50 U.S. states, attracting over 1.1 million participants and raising more than $3.6 million for charities. This figure comes from comprehensive data compiled by RunSignup, a leading race management platform that tracked events nationwide, showing a 21% increase from 2023. Florida led with 56 events, followed by other populous states like California and Texas.

For 2025 (as of late November), early indicators suggest a similar or slightly higher total, with at least 70 new races identified and low event churn (under 2%). Registration trends show events averaging 39% of 2024 totals already, pointing to continued growth in this beloved holiday tradition. These races—mostly 5K fun runs or walks—emphasize family participation, costumes, and community support, with over 90% held on Thanksgiving Day itself

Michigan West

Maddie doing a Zumba warm up on a stage with the crowd before Turkey Trot starts

 

Catcher in the Rye

November 1, 2025
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Internet Archive:  “Catcher in the Rye” 1951 , J.D. Salinger

 

Harold Bloom’s Catcher in the Rye Critical Readings

Audiobook Chapters 1-26

Selected quotes:

“I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot.”

“It’s funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.”

“The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”

“I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It’s nice.”

“If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late? Nobody.”

Related:

“For Esme, with Love and Squalor” 1950, J.D. Salinger

Campus Rail Transit

November 1, 2025
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The West Virginia University PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) system is a unique and innovative form of public transportation that serves the WVU campus and the city of Morgantown, West Virginia. The PRT system consists of a series of automated, driverless vehicles that operate on an elevated track network, providing fast and convenient transportation to key destinations on and around the WVU campus.

The PRT system was first developed in the 1970s as a solution to the growing traffic congestion and parking demand on the WVU campus. The system was designed to be efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly, and to provide a high-tech, futuristic mode of transportation that would appeal to students and visitors.

The PRT system currently operates five different stations, with stops at key campus locations such as the Mountainlair Student Union, the Engineering Research Building, and the Health Sciences Center. The system is free for all WVU students, faculty, and staff, and also offers a low-cost fare for members of the general public.

The PRT system has been recognized as one of the most advanced and innovative public transportation systems in the world, and has won numerous awards for its design, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. It has also become an iconic symbol of the WVU campus, and is often featured in promotional materials and advertising campaigns for the university.

Standards West Virginia

More

Federal Transit Administration

West Virginia Department of Education: School Transportation

“Evaluation of the West Virginia University Personal Rapid Transit System” | A. Katz and A. Finkelstein (Journal of Transportation Engineering, 1987) This paper evaluates the technical and operational performance of the WVU PRT system based on data collected over a six-year period. The authors identify several issues with the system, including maintenance problems, limited capacity, and difficulties with vehicle docking and undocking.

“Modeling of the West Virginia University Personal Rapid Transit System” by J. Schroeder and C. Wilson (Transportation Research Record, 2002) This paper presents a mathematical model of the WVU PRT system that can be used to analyze its performance and identify potential improvements. The authors use the model to evaluate the impact of various factors, such as station dwell time and vehicle capacity, on the system’s overall performance.

“Evaluating the Effectiveness of Personal Rapid Transit: A Case Study of the West Virginia University System” by K. Fitzpatrick, M. Montufar, and K. Schreffler (Journal of Transportation Technologies, 2013) This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the WVU PRT system based on a survey of users and non-users. The authors identify several challenges facing the system, including low ridership, reliability issues, and high operating costs.

Association for Commuter Transportation: Accreditation Standards

 

Mortuary Arts

October 31, 2025
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“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;
for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 3:19 

“Marat Assassinated” | Jacques-Louis David 1793

There are several ANSI accredited standards that apply to mortuary science, particularly in the areas of forensic science and medicolegal death investigation. These standards are developed to ensure the highest levels of professionalism, quality, and consistency in the field. Here are some key standards:

  1. ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendations: The American National Standards Institute in collaboration with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences has developed various standards, including those related to the handling and processing of human remains. For example, the ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 094-2021 outlines procedures for postmortem friction ridge print recovery, emphasizing systematic approaches and legal compliance during the process​
    ANSI/ASB Standard 125-2021: This standard focuses on the general requirements for medicolegal death investigation systems. It covers infrastructure, personnel training, and competency requirements to ensure high-quality death investigations. It also references other professional guidelines and accreditation checklists from organizations such as the National Association of Medical Examiners and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners

These standards are integral to maintaining rigorous protocols and ethical practices within mortuary science and related fields. They help ensure that procedures are consistent, legally compliant, and respectful of the deceased, ultimately contributing to the reliability and credibility of forensic investigations. For more detailed information, you can refer to the ANSI and ASB standards documentation available through their respective organizations.

Anatomical Donation

Virtual Gross Anatomy Lab

Standard for Interactions Between Medical Examiner, Coroner and Death Investigation Agencies

Anatomical Donation

October 31, 2025
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Anatomical donation programs are supported by relatively stable best practice literature that are highly cross-referencing.  The organ donation industry grows at a surprising clip and, as such, has its share of sketchy actors.

Our discussion today — at 15:00 UTC– is limited to the safety and sustainability of the support facilities for human cadavers only; with attention to the most recent construction projects.

Images:

Transworld Educare Pune

High Point University

Columbia University

Representative Literature:

University of Michigan

Augusta University

Duke University

Idaho State University

Indiana University

Ohio State University

University of Cambridge

University of Minnesota

University of New England

Vanderbilt University

Relevant Codes & Standards:

ASHRAE International

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASTM International

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute

International Code Council

International Building Code

International Mechanical Code

International Plumbing Code

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

National Fire Protection Association

More:

Michigan Public Health Code

County Medical Examiners

American Association for Anatomy

American Association of Tissue Banks

IEEE: Virtual Reality Application in Anatomy Education: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Direction

Anatomy Meets Architecture: Designing New Laboratories for New Anatomists

National Donor Day: February 14

Join us today at 15:00 UTC.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

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