Discovering Fishers

Version 0.4 of the Mapping plugin for Wordpress is now released for your enjoyment. Version 0.2 of the Greener theme for Wordpress that is used on this site is now released also. You may download them using the links below.

Mapping plugin v0.4

Greener theme v0.2

Version 0.3 of the Mapping plugin for Wordpress is now released for your enjoyment. Version 0.1 of the Greener theme for Wordpress that is used on this site is now released also. You may download them using the links below.

Mapping plugin v0.3

Greener theme v0.1

In Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv makes the case that we, as suburbanites, are suffering from “Nature Deficit Disorder.” This deficiency causes our lives to be less fulfilling. We at Greenerfishers.org want our visitors to discover their community, and according to Louv, “it takes going out the front door to discover your community.” We heartily agree. We recommend this book as a path to understanding that experiencing nature is not a privilege— it’s a necessary part of becoming a part of the place where we live.

Hamilton County has a voter information service page where residents can:

• Verify that you are a registered voter in Hamilton County;
• Verify which precinct you are registered in;
• Obtain the address and a map for your precinct’s 2008 polling place;
• View your precinct’s sample ballots a few weeks prior to election day.

The last day to register to vote is October 6. Register with one of these registration forms. Also, on this voter information page, you can see:

• Current Elected Officials
• 2008 Election Candidates
• 2008 Election Calendar
• 2008 Offices up for Election
• 2008 Polling Locations

A listing of polling locations is available. Precinct maps are fun to look at. Observe gerrymandering firsthand!

• Delaware township
• Fall Creek township
• Other Hamilton County townships

Google published a cool gadget that allows webmasters to embed a voter information map in web pages. Try it out here!

Version 0.1 of the Mapping plugin for Wordpress is now released for your enjoyment. You may download it using the link below. Minimal documentation is included in the download; more detailed documentation is forthcoming!

Mapping plugin v0.1

This is a great book to help fathers get better at their jobs. Fatherhood can feel overwhelming at times because of all the responsibilities and all the pressure that comes with the role. For the times when it is necessary to take a step back, relax, and realize how enjoyable fatherhood can and should be, this book suggests 101 “secrets” to share with a son or daughter. Many of these ideas involve the outdoors, such as:

• How to catch a frog
• How to get the honey out of a honeysuckle
• How to identify a poisonous snake *
• How to get a cricket to tell you the temperature
• How to tell a moth from a butterfly
• How to pick up a crab
• How to paddle a canoe
• How to skip a rock

Ironically, the last line of the book is “always listen to your mother.” That would make for a good secret #102.

* Of course, that should be venomous, since no snakes are actually poisonous! Poison is used to discourage predators, while venom is used to catch prey.

Mapping data is stored in a separate table by the Mapping plugin. The diagram below shows the additional data table stored by the Mapping plugin in the Wordpress database.

wp-data-model.pdf

You’ve probably seen those bright green and yellow Abitibi Paper Retriever bins around town. Local organizations earn money when you drop off your newspaper, magazines, shopping catalogs and mail in these bins. There is a recycling center locator form online to help you find the nearest one to you, or look on this website under recycling.