Wherever I Go, You Go

WHEN: Once a week WHERE: You're already here ::Blog soundtrack:: In honor of my aforementioned half-vow ("wish") to keep my posts shorter and more focused on "space", I present you with a new feature for this blog. No, you can not shop on Dunder Mifflin Infinity or download iTunes from this URL but (even better) you can follow me every week as my camera and I chart new geographies in search of Jesse's picture of the week. I'll explain. First, I have to bore you with a Geography 101 lesson. Nevermind, let's just skip that part ;) Second, I DO need to introduce you to a fun online tool that some of you may not be aware of. It's not new but may be new to some. Bing ("But It's Not Google") is Microsoft's revamped search engine that was introduced last June and some of you may use it as your home page (we do). Although I think Google works better, Bing has beautiful photography as the homepage's background and the photo is updated daily. I suppose that's where I subconsciously got the idea for my "Picture of the Week". But my favorite feature about Bing is the Maps feature. Yes, I think Google does a better job with maps too (Google Earth, Street View, 3D Earth, etc.), because after all they are the best at everything, anywhere, anyway and will probably own planet Earth by 2011. However, Bing is the only source I know with oblique imagery of most places in the US. Their "Bird's Eye" feature allows you to see your neighborhood as a bird flying overhead. You can even zoom in and out by using your mouse scroller and rotate the picture north, south, east, and west. This can be particularly useful when you want to see what a house/building looks like and not just where your GPS (accurately or inaccurately) says it is. It is also useful if you want a good view of where a picture was taken, say, oh I don't know, like a picture of the week?

Bing's "Bird's Eye" feature Traditional (planview) shot of Wrigley Field in Chicago "Bird's Eye" view of Wrigley Field Traditional shot of the Statue of Liberty "Bird's Eye" view of the Statue of Liberty

I thought Bing's Bird's Eye imagery would be a relevant feature to add to my blog but wasn't sure where to implement it. I have decided on using it with my picture of the week (POW) and have added a link directly below each POW for where the picture was taken. I have taken the time to get the exact coordinates of where each picture was taken (or the subject in the picture) so the link should be accurate to within a foot or two. The only catch to my new feature is that the link takes you to a wide-extent, map (streets) view of the coordinates. You manually have to click on the Bird's Eye feature in the top left of the map under the "Aerial" tab. I know, I know, "Why are asking us to do so much? I have to get on to reading the next blog." Hey, you don't have to click on the link. But don't blame me if you find yourself wasting time "flying" through your neighborhood or around your favorite vacation destinations. Maybe I'm the only one that does that. I have also added some of my favorite national weather links to the right sidebar but I imagine I am the only one that will use those too. At least they make the blog look more geographical.