Smokey the Bear's Google Map Hack

Came across an interesting Google Map hack that maps forest fires, US wildfires. Unfortunately it only maps American forest fires.I would like something that ties together all world wide forest fires.

Remember what evil Smokey the Bear says, only you can prevent forests.

Amnestry International (Belgium) Slimes Darth Vader

I am going to defend Darth Vader from the accusations of sleaze in this ad. Darth Vader is a legitimate representative of a government that is currently suffering a minor insurgency. He is not our, western civilization's, enemy today and is unlikely our enemy tomorrow. On the other hand I fully despise companies that enter into commercial relations with our enemies be they communist and/or muslim tyrannies. Amnesty International (Belgium) should recognize that there is lot worse groups out there then arms manufacturers and the legitimate governments of Galaxies far, far away.

Nixon - "He May Not Be Perfect"

"...but do we really want some unknown new guy. I'll stick with the evil maniac I know."

Dr Zoidberg,

 neatly illustrating the benefits of incumbency,

 Futurama S07E03

Mustache Shared by Clowns (and Hitler)

The supposed motive for Chaplin making The Great Dictator was "he stole my mustache". However, I can't a good source for that quote.

Crazy Posers

Some of were crazy before it was cool.

Streetcorner Prophet, Futurama S07E02

Drinking At Work

You can't drink at work. This isn't a sawmill.

New beveragemachinebot at Planet Express,

 Futurama S07E01

Photo from Documenting Reality.

Is This Post Really New

Futurama S07E01

Dexter's Sign of the Cross

I am a father, a son, and a serial killer

Dexter,

 giving his own spin on the Trintarian formula.
Then he expounds upon the Manichean heresy.

 Dexter S06E12

New Harry Turtledove Alternative History Short Story Involving Robert E Lee

Twenty years ago Harry Turtledove wrote Guns of the South. It is story about some time traveling Afrikaners who bring AK47 to the CSA. Here is the short story, Lee at the Alamo.

Multiserver Map Server - ACME Mapserver 2.0

Lately I have been using ACME Mapper 2.0. It is a combination of 8 different servers. Half of the options come come directly from Google. The other options are varied and  and interesting.

There is an option that provides topographic in varying resolutions.Below you can see Mono Lake as it looks on three different scaled maps. This map server zooms in on one map and then changes to a different map as zoom in and out. The setback for this map server is that there is not complete coverage everywhere in the world.

Here are images grabbed from topographic server at ACME Mapper 2.0 of  Mono Lake in three different resolutions using three different maps.

DOQ is also available but it is limited to the US. It looks interesting from a technical point, the curve of the earth is adjusted to create flat images.

There is a feature to tie into weather data. It is part of a system called NEXRAD, it is another American funded system however there is some limited coverage into Canada. Here are two images of a storm system in Lake Ontario taken about 40 minutes apart.

1:02 AM 6/19/2012

1:32 AM 6/19/2012

Mapnik is an open source mapping program, as such it can be uneven. Take a look at this region in Silicon Valley near the intersection of the Union Pacific and the Bay Shore Freeway. This area has the buildings outlines and driveways marked. Nearby neighbourhoods are not so extensively mapped.

Mapnik also allows for mapping of pedestrian pathways. Look at this image of downtown Toronto where the sidewalks, pavement in a park and underground passageways are all marked.

Too Many Cameras

Remember the Monty Python skit about a collector of of the boiled eggs of birds watchers, see here for bad camera pointed at TV screen. The problem is the observer effect. I long time ago I came across a definition of family from the south pacific: father, mother, brother, sister, anthropologist. Maybe there needs to be less observation and more theorizing and synthesis. Read here about an Austrian Pol who ran a foul of cameras set up to track wild life.

"Wanna Join Our Club?"

Another fine and confusing dream/nightmare from the same studio that brought us Betty Boop and Popeye.

Ballerina Hordes

Not every like little girl gets to do what she wants. The world could not support that many ballerinas.

Marie Calvert, Mad Men S05E12

Continuum - First Reactions

First reactions to the pilot of Continuum.

Good Things

Tony Amendola,

A TV show that is filmed in Vancouver that is set in Vancouver not Seacouver.

Smoking/Smirking Man

Prison Suit, Prison Shoes, see Escaped Prisoner

Bad

The Genius Teenager

Several problems with this character. First it is Dawson Casting. The other technological and business. The myth of the lone inventor is long in dying. As soon as tech is near practicable, business plans are written, money raised, company floated, patents filed.

Why Actors Act

"...getting jerked off while watching yourself on TV. Actors work their whole lives for that."

Matt Leblanc

 playing the character Matt Leblanc

 on Episodes S02E01

Just How Many People Has the Kool-Aid Guy Killed?

Besides Jonestown?