def plot_vgp_basemap(mapname, vgp_lon=None, vgp_lat=None, di_block=None, label='', color='k', marker='o', markersize=20, legend='no'):
    """
    This function plots a paleomagnetic pole on whatever current map projection
    has been set using the basemap plotting library.
    Before this function is called, a plot needs to be initialized with code
    that looks something like:
    >from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap
    >mapname = Basemap(projection='ortho',lat_0=35,lon_0=200)
    >plt.figure(figsize=(6, 6))
    >mapname.drawcoastlines(linewidth=0.25)
    >mapname.fillcontinents(color='bisque',lake_color='white',zorder=1)
    >mapname.drawmapboundary(fill_color='white')
    >mapname.drawmeridians(np.arange(0,360,30))
    >mapname.drawparallels(np.arange(-90,90,30))
    Required Parameters
    -----------
    mapname : the name of the current map that has been developed using basemap
    plon : the longitude of the paleomagnetic pole being plotted (in degrees E)
    plat : the latitude of the paleomagnetic pole being plotted (in degrees)
    Optional Parameters (defaults are used if not specified)
    -----------
    color : the color desired for the symbol and its A95 ellipse (default is 'k' aka black)
    marker : the marker shape desired for the pole mean symbol (default is 'o' aka a circle)
    label : the default is no label. Labels can be assigned.
    legend : the default is no legend ('no'). Putting 'yes' will plot a legend.
    """
    if di_block != None:
        di_lists = unpack_di_block(di_block)
        if len(di_lists) == 3:
            vgp_lon, vgp_lat, intensity = di_lists
        if len(di_lists) == 2:
            vgp_lon, vgp_lat = di_lists
    centerlon, centerlat = mapname(vgp_lon, vgp_lat)
    mapname.scatter(centerlon, centerlat, marker=marker,
                    s=markersize, color=color, label=label, zorder=100)
    if legend == 'yes':
        plt.legend(loc=2)