<![CDATA[Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted.]]>Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. So new thread.

One major frustration I have with online maps (and there are a LOT of complaints) is that very few make it easy to see, like, countries. I just want a normal, easy, zoomable political map of the world.

I've been sensitive to the issues of the Mercator projection, but a lot of the alternatives are just a pain. The Equal Earth projection mentioned in the previous post looks like a good compromise.

So I went to equal-earth.com, downloaded a full-resolution map (actually two - one centered on Greenwich, and one on Oceania (150º E). Saved 'em to a local folder, and created a Raycast quick link for them.

So anytime I want to look up a country I see mentioned in an article, I just hit a hot key, type "world", and boom! there's a map.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/ec00f761-ba1c-424b-b5e1-35440701678f/sadly-i-couldn-t-quote-the-last-post-i-just...reposted.RSS for NodeSat, 30 May 2026 20:01:51 GMTMon, 18 May 2026 16:24:08 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. on Mon, 18 May 2026 16:53:13 GMT]]>@zero_gravitas Actually, that Natural Earth looks even better to my eye. I may have to look for a couple good image files of that one also.

But really, I just wanted a quick reference for world nations, which always seemed to become a 5-minute search whenever I wanted to see something "real quick."

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596617599284458https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596617599284458Mon, 18 May 2026 16:53:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. on Mon, 18 May 2026 16:47:57 GMT]]>@darthnull A globe projection obviously get's you past the worst compromises—at work I've settled on Natural Earth projection... but at times I switch to use a Mercator with a healthy pitch set to the camera—side by side people often prefer the later. Don't get me started on disputed borders though...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://indieweb.social/users/zero_gravitas/statuses/116596596879217024https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://indieweb.social/users/zero_gravitas/statuses/116596596879217024Mon, 18 May 2026 16:47:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. on Mon, 18 May 2026 16:44:06 GMT]]>@zero_gravitas I just found this - a simple overlay/toggle comparison. I can't say which one is more "right", but that Gall-Peters just, as CJ was saying, looks wrong. 🙂

I wonder if the Peters distortions are simply a result of trying to stick to a rectilinear format. I'm okay with the curved sides if it keeps the shapes closer to reality (where, I'll admit, reality is probably more shaped by a lifetime with Mercator than actual reality).

The deformation indicators ("Tissot Indicatrix") at the bottom really sell it to me.

Link Preview Image
Compare Map Projections

Compare the map projections and

favicon

(map-projections.net)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596581783349172https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596581783349172Mon, 18 May 2026 16:44:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. on Mon, 18 May 2026 16:35:00 GMT]]>@zero_gravitas I do wonder why, when we're almost always looking at maybe <100 mile areas, online maps don't use something other than Mercator. Just zoom in as if you were zooming in on a globe.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596545960720588https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596545960720588Mon, 18 May 2026 16:35:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. on Mon, 18 May 2026 16:33:46 GMT]]>@zero_gravitas I knew what this was before I even clicked. 🙂

That map just...it adds too many other distortions.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596541152122710https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/darthnull/statuses/116596541152122710Mon, 18 May 2026 16:33:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sadly, I couldn't quote the last post I just...reposted. on Mon, 18 May 2026 16:32:11 GMT]]>@darthnull https://youtu.be/eLqC3FNNOaI?si=M-ujedVEQw9Oe4sr&t=145

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://indieweb.social/users/zero_gravitas/statuses/116596534877834856https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://indieweb.social/users/zero_gravitas/statuses/116596534877834856Mon, 18 May 2026 16:32:11 GMT