At a carbon trading conference in Washington, DC

http://www.carbontradeexamerica.com/

It’s more than a conference and more than a trade show; Carbon TradeEx America will be the most comprehensive event in the U.S. connecting climate policy, carbon markets, energy security, low carbon technology, and the green economic recovery. Carbon TradeEx America will help you connect with industy thought leaders, senior decision-makers, and practitioners interested in one of the biggest policy priorities of the new Obama Administration.

Historical Partisan Composition of the U.S. Congress 1855-2009

Note: Does not include independents who caucused with the Democratic Party.

Source

Upcoming New York City Networking Events

· 1/20 6:30 PM: http://www.facetofacenetworking.com/upcoming.shtml
· 1/21 1:30 PM: http://newyork.networkingforprofessionals.com/eventlistings.php?id=262
· 1/21 5:30 PM: http://wibo.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=20
· 1/21 6:00 PM: http://www.cbsacny.org/article.html?aid=678
· 1/21 6:30 PM: http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Business-Networking-Group/calendar/9381740/
· 1/21 8:00 PM: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=43773924340
· 1/22 8:30 AM: http://www.breakfastnetworking.com/
· 1/22 6:00 PM: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=45737263877
· 1/23 3:00 PM: http://www.chamber.com/calendar_detail.asp?id=246
· 1/27 12:30 PM: http://www.spainuscc.org/newsevents/event-detail.asp?eventID=87
· 1/27 6:00 PM: http://www.goldplacenyc.com/portals/26/events.aspx?DoAction=ViewEvent&EventID=170755299557528
· 1/28 7:00 PM: http://www.meetup.com/nyinternetmarketinggroup/calendar/9355350/
· 1/29 6:30 PM: http://www.sbnyc.org/events/Jan09_AnEveningWith%20BCorporation.html
· 2/5 6:00 PM: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=48979745909&ref=mf

Alan completes the Baltimore Marathon

Race info, PDF map, my splits. Also, photos from Baltimore and results from past races.

Two photos that can never again be taken

It looks like the airplane that once stood in front of the Space Pavilion at the VDNKh of Moscow has been demolished. Here's what the view looked like...

This is not the first object I've photographed to be subsequently removed. The Obelisk of Axum was taken from its eponymous site in Ethiopia in 1937 and planted in Rome's Piazza di Porta Capena:

While the Obelisk was taken down in 2003, it was not until a week before last that it was finally returned to its proper place.

News in Alaska

Story #1: Governor picked as VP
Story #2: Bear attack

Where to Go in New England

Here's a list I put together for a friend (with a map showing the locations relative to New York):

Mystic, Connecticut

-         Mystic Seaport (http://www.mysticseaport.org): Tall ships and a recreated 19^th-century shipping village.

Newport, Rhode Island (http://www.gonewport.com)

-         Newport Mansions (http://www.newportmansions.org): Mansions of wealthy families (Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, etc.).  I visited several with my family when we were there (I was 11), but I only remember The Breakers.

-         Newport Historical District (http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=759&ResourceType=District): Well-preserved colonial architecture

Fall River, Massachusetts

-         Battleship Cove (http://www.battleshipcove.org): Collection of World War II-era battleships with a military museum.

Plymouth, Massachuetts

-         Plimouth Plantation (http://www.plimoth.org): Historical reenactment of one of the first settlements in what became the United States.

-         Plymouth Rock (http://www.plymrock.org): Where the Mayflower is supposed to have landed.  A tourist trap for over 250 years.

Boston, Massachusetts

-         Boston Common: Central Park for Boston.  Visit the Public Garden (home of the famous ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ statue commemorating the children’s book of the same name) and the Lagoon (home of the Swan Boats [http://www.swanboats.com])

-         Boston Children’s Museum (http://www.bostonkids.org)

-         Freedom Trail: Starts at the Boston Common and visits most of the city’s famous sites (http://www.cityofboston.gov/FreedomTrail/).  Guided tours are available at 148 Tremont Street near the Common at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM (https://store.thefreedomtrail.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2)

-         Clam Chowder: Although you can get clam chowder anywhere in the United States, it has always found its home in Boston.  CitySearch put together a listing of the best spots to get a cup: http://boston.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/2007/clam_chowder

-         Museum of Science (http://www.mos.org): Excellent exhibits

-         Quincy Market: Historic district downtown – a bit touristy.

Concord, MA

-         Minute Man National Historic Park (http://www.nps.gov/mima/): Visit the Battle Road, where the Battle of Concord took place on April 19, 1775, and the Old North Bridge, the site of the Shot Heard ‘Round the World, as described by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Hymn (and, as US schoolchildren will tell you, later featured in the 1970s educational film series Schoolhouse Rockhttp://www.school-house-rock.com/Shot.html) (warning - the web site plays the annoying song).

Portsmouth, NH(http://www2.preservationnation.org/dozen_distinctive_destinations/2008/Portsmouth)

-         Strawberry Banke (http://www.strawberrybanke.org): Historic district featuring colonial and federal architecture

-         Isles of Shoals: Small islands off the coast, viewable from scenic tour boats (http://www.islesofshoals.com/tickets/index.php?page=shop/browse&category_id=2fd1022ccc3a56c1f878cd899a22c469)

Portland, ME

-         Old Port Exchange: Revitalized warehouse district featuring the 1807 Portland Observatory signal tower.  Restored Victorian houses

Bar Harbor, ME

-         Acadia National Park (http://www.nps.gov/acad): The most beautiful and best-preserved section of the Maine coastline.