July 31, 2026
The Limits and Damage of Rat Poison
Chicago's watchdog agency just released a report detailing the failures of the city's rat-control efforts-- beginning with the over-reliance on…
What is this, and where in Allendale did I photograph it?
Answer: It's a benchmark from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and it's next to the Allendale firehouse.
More about these markers here:
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-i-find-survey-benchmark-and-triangulation-station-information
There used to be one on top of High Mountain but it and its replacements reportedly kept getting stolen. Still fun to try to find where it was.
My favorite fake: A U.S. Geological Survey benchmark, sold as a keychain fob at the Grand Canyon. (So sorry to hear about the wildfires there.)