Republic of Kiribati the Eastern Most Country(?) to welcome 2009 First.

Republic of Kiribati the Eastern Most Country is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. So therefore it will be the 1st nation to welcome 2009. Happy New year to folks in Republic of Kiribati. Here's a Google Maps view of Republic of Kiribati:

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Google Maps T-Shirt now available

For $13.45 you get the official Google Maps T-Shirt and if I were to buy it, I would have to pay $2.30 more because I wear XXL size. The T-Shirt is described as follows:(via)

royal blue American Apparel 100% combed cotton shirt featuring the Google Maps pin and "I am here" text on the front, Google Maps logo on the back, and URL on the sleeve. 3/4" set-in neck; shoulder-to-shoulder tape; 1" sleeves and bottom hem.

Gaza Conflict - Reactions/Reports in YouTube

I put together this quick Google Maps Mashup of the current Gaza Conflict as is being reported in YouTube from around the world. I pull in the latest geo tagged videos from YouTube which is then shown on Google Maps. Click on the arrow buttons located at the top right corner to view the next or previous videos.

Video Capture of Barack Obama's Journey

Couple of days back I had created a Google Earth version of Barack Obama's Journey to White House. This mashup requires Google Earth Plugin. For those who have not downloaded Google Earth Plugin, I did a screen capture (video) of Barack Obama's Journey. Here's how it looks.

Utah gains the most and Michigan loses the most

Census.gov is out with a population report (2007-2008) which shows that Utah led the nation with a 2.5% growth in population compared to Michigan which saw its population decline by 46,368 (0.5%).

For a look at how other states fared check out this Google Maps Mashup.

Swindling Billions will get you a house like....

this beach house owned by swindler Bernie Madoff in Montauk (Google Earth View). (also view in Google Maps).
(found at ValleyWag)



and then you might end up here...

Towns and Cities named Christmas and Holiday Season names

Did you know that there is a town named

• Santa in Benewah County, Idaho
• Santa Claus in Mohave County, Arizona
• Santa Claus in Toombs County, Georgia
• Santa Claus in Spencer County, Indiana

Check out this Google Maps view of towns in United States with holiday season names.

Barack Obama's journey - A Google Earth View

I have created a Google Earth View of Barack Obama's Journey from his birthplace in Honolulu, Hawaii to White House. This view also has video highlights from his

• speech at Democratic Convention in Boston - 2004
• Presidential Campaign Launch - Springfield, IL
• Speech at Democratic Convention in Denver, CO
• Victory Night speech at Grant Park, Chicago, IL

(Note: This mashup requires Google Earth Plugin).
(BTW if you are interested: About Me - A Google Earth Version)

Layoff Chatter on Twitter

November, 2008 saw job losses upwards of 533,000 which was the worst in 34 years. According to the labor department unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent last month which is the highest reading since 1993. That is terrible and that too so close to the holidays.

Twitter is one of the places to find out where the layoffs are taking place because some layoffs might not make it to front page news. I have put together this quick Google Maps Mashup of Twitter statuses of folks talking about layoffs.

Awesome Mackinac Bridge now seen in Google Maps Street View

Google Maps Street View coverage in United States has been doubled as of today. You can read more about it in Google LatLong Blog.

Since I am from Michigan I went about looking at landmarks in Michigan which now have Steet View coverage.

One of the places I looked at is Mackinac Bridge.


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Another place I looked at is Soo Locks

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Stinky Google Maps

First it was rotten neigbors, now you can map that rotten/stinky smell. A Japanese site has come up with a Google Maps Mashup where a user can track down weird and stinky smells. Some of the stinky smells being tracked are watermelon smell, ferret odor, gasoline fumes, and curry (is curry stinky?). (via gizmodo and japan probe)

Does Detroit matter? - Auto Jobs in USA

Here's a Google Maps view of Auto releated jobs in United States. With all the talk about Detroit Auto Bailout, the map shows that its not just about Detroit. Fortune states that

The auto industry employs workers in every state - including Alaska and Hawaii. More than 2 million jobs - from manufacturing, to parts, to auto dealers - depend on carmakers for their pay.

Detroit Auto Chatter on Twitter

So what do folks on Twitter have to say about "Auto Bailout". I have pulled in tweets from North America as it relates to "Auto Bailout" and in addition I have mapped it to their profile location on Google Maps.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The forecast calls for snow this week in South Eastern Michigan and then I see "Polar Express" DVD next to the TV and neighbors putting up Christmas lights.
What else?
Just found out (via Google Blog) that Google has

teamed up again this year with NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, to bring you the NORAD Santa Tracker.

Visit NORAD website on Christmas Eve and you can track Santa in both Google Maps and Google Earth and view videos of his flights over several landmark cities, captured by special "Santa cams."

Here's a video from last year's Santa Tracker

On this day in 1984 - Bhopal Disaster

Today December 3rd is the 24th Anniversary of the greatest environmental disaster ever, which struck Bhopal, India. According to BBC, 3000 people died initially followed by 15,000 from related illness. Greenpeace claims that a total of 20,000 people died.

Related:BBC News on December 3rd, 1984

Google Maps Satellite view of Union Carbide plant site in Bhopal, India where the accident took place

New Zealand gets Street View Imagery

Google Maps launches Street View imagery for New Zealand.

The imagery includes everything from major metropolitan areas like Auckland and Christchurch to the scenery of Lake Wakatipu; from the sub-tropical north to the mountainous south.

(via)

Here's a spectacular Google Maps Street view of Southern Ocean from the southern most tip of Highway 1 which runs the entire length (North/South) of New Zealand.


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Voices now Google Mapped

Woices.com has come up with a unique idea. It provides location Based Audio Services (LBS). Woices can be used for art as audio guides of museums, for cities, for routes, etc.

It is an interesting site to create a new layer of audio information and for improving people experiences and be more realistic.

Woices.com - A must see website!!