June 12, 2025 - Started the Advanced GIS Textbook

Today, I spent a couple hours (about 2.5) beginning to write what will become an open access textbook for GEOG 3650 students at UVU. I have drafted the title page and began writing an introduction to the book. 


Some things I am pondering about this book:

1. Whether to embed links and make the book very dynamic (with links to my youtube channel, articles, etc.), but also becoming vulnerable to breaking down as soon as links change, etc. (I think this will have to be the case, but perhaps I can write it in a way that the links are all located in one part of each chapter, making them easier to fix later on). 

2. How to set the balance of the book with both lab (practical) and content (theoretical) content. 

3. How to make the book attractive enough that students will want to read it. It will probably be easy enough to write the content, but embedding figures may take some time! 


I also did a 16 mile road bike ride (got a few short segment PRs), flatted due to no more tubeless sealant left in the tires, so then spent two hours on bike maintenance, refilling sealant, mounting tires, changing out the small chainring (34t for 36t) on the road bike, and replacing some bar tape on the gravel bike. Next goal is to PR my time riding up what used to be called Squaw Peak Road and is now Kyhv Peak Road. Will have to go at a time that the Provo Canyon road crossing is not taking my life in my hands OR drive the bike over. 

Other accomplishments, included laundry, cleaning bathrooms, and cooking some tasty pasta. 


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