Monthly Archives: February 2005

My New Map and Directions Site

This entry was posted in Google on by

It took just 30 seconds to make up my mind. Google’s new map, driving direction, yellow page site is good! I have used Yahoo Maps for years but neither it nor Mapquest hold a candle to this. Julie puts it succinctly:

DHTML-driven (IE/Firefox only right now, I believe, but YMMV) maps service. Driving directions, yellow pages, etc. Drag-the-map with your mouse, DHTML controls, no more of that click-wait, click-wait, click-wait, click-wait never-quite-right map manipulation.

Try it out. Change now!
Update: Barry provides some usage tips and suggests that this might be a good front end for Keyhole, another Google product.
Update II (2/9): Via Zomboyboy here is a more technical look at this tool.

Comments on a Young Author

This entry was posted in Literature on by

John Scalzi has written a fine annotation of a young author’s illustrated children’s tale:

What the author is saying is that while we need to integrate the lessons of nature, we are also more than what is given to us in our natural state. When nature fails or flags — as it inevitably must — our other talents must engage until such time as our natural states are refreshed again. A telling message for young women: Know who you are and be in touch with your nature, but be ready to use all the resources available to you, in all aspects of your life.

Read the original story and the rest of Scalzi’s commentary.
You might also enjoy Scalzi’s recent novel: Old Man’s War.
Via Sara’s Spot.

Social Security Shell Game

This entry was posted in bush Economics Federal Government Republicans on by

No surprise, it is the bushter himself moving the shells around. While he pretends that younger workers will benefit from his proposals the truth is, well, different. Read this from the Minnesota Star Tribune for pointers to just a few misdirections.
There are a lot of changes I’d like to see made to Social Security starting with separating its accounting entirely from the general fund and ending with, yes, privatization some time in the future.
Based on their current presentations I have zero confidence that the bush administration can or even wants to implement a viable process to accomplish this. But, then, these are the folks that brought us that fine prescription drug plan a while back.
Via Talkleft.

Frog Day

This entry was posted in Biology Friday Ark Humor Science on by

Click through at The Presurfer to find out “What Kind of Frog are You?”
Today:
pixiefrog.jpg The African bullfrog, or Pixie frog as it is often called (because of it’s latin name, not because it’s as cute as a fairy!), is one of the largest frogs in South Africa. Usually, they hang out in open grassland, and if there are any to be found, they’ll sit around in puddles. When startled, these frogs will blow up like balloons to scare away the intruder! In the dry season, they will burrow into the ground. These guys eat lots and lots of really big bugs, fish, mice, lizards, and even other frogs.
Or, also courtesy of The Presurfer, if you just want to look at frogs go see a random one.