GeoFact of the Day Enthusiastically Endorses Democrats

Of course, GeoFact of the Day tends to focus on topics relating to geography. However, this upcoming election in the United States has real-world implications and is important enough to write about. I respect your vote no matter who you vote for and respectfully wish to share my perspective. I cheerfully support Kamala Harris for multiple reasons including her dedication and compassion in multiple public service roles — not to mention that she likes freedom, justice, and democracy. She is forward-thinking in wanting to make sure future generations can have a comfortably inhabitable Earth. Also importantly, she can stop Trump from possibly taking the U.S. to a dark, depressing, and cruel place. Trump may distance himself from Project 2025 as much as he wants to, but he is known for being a liar and therefore we should assume that he will approve and institute the nefarious agenda. Thankfully, you can read what Project 2025 is and find out how it might impact you and your family.

You may be correct in mentioning some positive things that happened because of the Trump administration, but I cannot forget some of their truly awful decisions and occurrences. For example, Trump’s administration separated children from their parents at the southern border, and his intended mass deportation plan would only encourage more of that. Trump’s Muslim nation ban unfairly discriminated against whole countries that have many wonderful people who would have brought their skills, talent, expertise, and generosity if they were allowed to. These Muslim majority nations have scientists, researchers, doctors, etc. who might have made amazing discoveries for the world and helpful contributions to the U.S. They would have helped us address critical gaps in health care and other career sectors in desperate need of more help.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matters protests — at a time when the U.S. needed uniting and compassionate leadership like never before — Trump held political rallies all across the country and spread misinformation (and the virus) while way too many Americans were dying. Other countries were able to unite their people to mask up and take social precautions seriously which halted the virus sooner; the U.S. under Trump was not able to. If you care about the future, you likely acknowledge the impact of climate change and how it might burden future generations with more difficulties. Trump likely does not care about people in the future — only himself and maybe his family. He even tried to roll back lifesaving environmental regulations; he didn’t mind us having more lead, mercury, and other toxins in our air and water, for example. Trump also supported "socialism" in the form of a trillion dollar tax cut that mostly benefited wealthy billionaires and large corporations, some of which used the benefits for buybacks and dividends and while not investing in their employees. Trump was a sore loser and could not accept the fact that he lost the 2020 election. I could go on and on, but I think you understand the gist of my concerns.

Trump supported the construction of potentially leaky oil pipelines over large Great Plains aquifers which provide clean water for many states. Several years ago, he proposed the idea of transferring Great Lakes water to drought-stricken California which would not have provided immediate relief, would have been an outrageously expensive endeavor, and would have negatively impacted recreational and economic opportunities (and the ecosystem) in the Midwest and beyond. This did not seem to make it on the news very often (especially Fox News), but President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made tremendously needed investments in the Great Lakes states and every other state — including the politically red ones. An influx of federal funds is now funding all sorts of projects from sea to shining sea. Some states such as Michigan are making amazing progress and are using their federal funds wisely such as for lead pipe removal, improved roads, more amenities, and home renovations.

There are so many topics that can be talked about in light of the upcoming election, which explains the length of this post! Another important topic is democracy: who will encourage democracies around the world to remain steadfast, courageous, and vibrant in the face of adversity? Who will help keep democracies and allies united — like how President Biden and Vice President Harris cordially strengthened our alliances with most of Europe and the Americas and strived to accomplish the same for Asia, Africa, etc.? Trump sowed and is STILL sowing the seeds of discord, cruelty, false propaganda, and chaos. I somehow came across a 2010-dated article on Howard Stern’s website about Trump (↗) and found an insightful and prescient quote that might describe Donald Trump to a T. He quipped, “If you get good ratings, you can be the worst human being on Earth.” Now I would like to think this is just part of his sarcasm and dark humor, but I think it could be a foreshadowing of what will happen if voters give him another term. We deserve better: a leader who will bring out the best in us, not the worst. I confidently believe that leader is Kamala Harris! Please consider voting in this truly important election before or on Tuesday, November 5th. Early voting and voting by mail are wonderful options and provide more convenience for you; I hope your state allows you plenty of days to vote early or to mail in your ballot.

P.S. I can’t believe the election is coming this soon!

2020 Presidential Election Results — Alabama to California

Former Vice President Joseph Biden has been elected the next President of the United States starting on January 20th, 2021. According to the Associated Press (↗), Joe Biden received 81,281,888 votes (51.38%), while current President Donald Trump received 74,223,251 votes (46.91%). While the election occurred on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020, Joe Biden was officially announced the winner on November 7th. Delayed several hours by the notorious "mob" invasion on the U.S. Capitol building, every state's electoral votes were officially recited and announced through the evening and nighttime hours.

In the wee morning hours of January 7th, Joe Biden was officially announced the winner despite some Republican objections. Way too many Republican U.S. representatives — 139 to be exact — voted in favor of one or both objections to Biden's win in the states of Arizona and Pennsylvania. Due to the mob attack, some Republicans were planning to object earlier on January 6th but changed their mind and finally supported Biden's win. Returning back to the subject of this post, here are the 2020 Presidential Results from the states of Alabama to California in alphabetical order (more posts will follow in upcoming days):

Zzyzx, California

Zzyzx is the last word listed in a dictionary! Just kidding — it definitely will not appear in any dictionary, but it is a whimsical “word” nonetheless! Previously known as Soda Springs and sitting at an elevation of approximately 933 feet, Zzyzx is the name of a sparsely populated unincorporated community found in the Mohave Desert. It is located in central San Bernardino County off the Zzyzx Road exit along Interstate 15. Zzyzx is pronounced as zye zix; zye sounds like the xy in xylophone, while zix rhymes with the number six. This barely existing community is home to the Desert Studies Center, Soda Dry Lake salt flat, Lake Tuendae, and abandoned structures of the former Zzyzx Springs health spa and resort. Managed by California State University, the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx is a place compiling research about climate, biology, archaeology, etc. in desert environments. The facility’s website is fullerton.edu/dsc (↗).

Founded by Curtis Howe Springer in 1944, the Zzyzx Springs health spa and resort was a two-story building with 60 rooms inside; this locale included a pool shaped like a cross and a boiler-heated “natural hot spring bath.” The town of Soda Springs was renamed to Zzyzx in the 1940s by Curtis, who joked that zzyzx is the last word listed in a dictionary! According to Jeopardy! game show winner and Maphead author Ken Jennings, Mr. Springer chose the name as an onomatopoeia that “sounded like sleep,” encouraging visitors to relax and unwind. Curtis’ capitalist explanation: the attention-grabbing name is a promotional gimmick to attract visitors to the area!

Mr. Springer proposed an artificial lake known as Lake Tuendae — which currently provides a home for an endangered fish species, the Mohave tui chub (Siphateles bicolor mohavensis). His resort’s short-lived success allowed Zzyzx to have other amenities, including a chapel, “Zyport” airstrip landing, radio broadcasting studio (Curtis was a Los Angeles radio deejay), and a street named Boulevard of Dreams lined with various homes including Curtis’ palace. Curtis claimed to offer miracle cures based on the area’s mineral water — at least providing oasis-like refreshments to patrons visiting the parched desert.

The resort was forced to close in the early 1970s by the federal government. Although Curtis owned a claim for mining rights, he did not properly acquire the federal land onto which the resort was built! Despite this legal quandary, the United States Board on Geographic Names met in June 1984 and officially approved Zzyzx for the town and Zzyzx Spring for a local stream. Both features are listed under Docket List 285 along with the Dumont Dunes landform in San Bernardino County. Because of this decision, Zzyzx lives on; Curtis’ legacy is still found “on the map” and on an Interstate exit sign!

California 2020 Democrat Primary Results

Below are the results of the California, UNITED STATES Democrat Presidential Primary that took place on Super Tuesday: March 3rd, 2020. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders won in the Golden State.

American Towns: Atlas

At least seven unincorporated towns and villages in the UNITED STATES are named after Atlas, a Titan god. The Atlas communities shown in the Rand McNally maps (edits by GeoFact of the Day) below are found in the states of California, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin — they all have Wikipedia pages. According to search results in the interactive Rand McNally map (↗) and some additional Wikipedia pages, other states with Atlas places include Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, and West Virginia. Populations are mostly in the double or triple digits. However, the Atlas and Atlasburg of Pennsylvania have 809 and 401 residents, respectively. Atlas, Michigan is located within Atlas Township, home to about 8,000 residents.

Atlas, California (Napa County)


Atlas, Illinois (Pike County)


Atlas, Michigan (Genesee County)


Atlas, Pennsylvania (Northumberland County)


Atlasburg, Pennsylvania (Washington County)


Atlas, Texas (Lamar County)


Atlas, Wisconsin (Polk County)