Earth - Another Killer App from Google

Google have done it again! With Google Earth they are giving away yet another free internet application. Earth lets you fly around the planet's surface looking at textured satelite photographs from any point on the globe. You can see city streets, find the house where you live, the places you visited on holidays, your favorite camping site, anything! In the USA it is combined with database of local businesses and other features. Admitedly certain areas are mapped in more detail than others, and the quality and age of the photographs vary enormously from country to country. Having said that, Earth provides the best online map of Ireland I've seen so far. Having used maps.yahoo.com my expectations were quite low.

Here's an example of one view of Dun Laoghaire, in the Earth application you can zoom in to see the street names, etc. The satelite photo isn't very high res (Dublin city is much better), but you get the idea.

The only down side - you really, really need broadband to be able to use this application!

Western People: €2m guide price for ‘the Bewley’s of Ballina town’

According to this story, Western People: €2m guide price for ‘the Bewley’s of Ballina town’, Gaughin's is for sale! I'm in a state of shock, I don't know what to think. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Admitedly I only ever went there twice a year, so I don't claim to have any right to judge, but it's part of the ritual of coming home for me. I can't decide whether any change would be good. We have to acknowledge, that apart from the holiday weekends and Christmas season, the place was usually deserted. There'll be the usual jealous talk of a big windfall (from people who's understanding of business and property is vague at best), but I can't imagine the place has been anything other than a severe financial and personal burden for many years now. I hope the Gaughin's get at least that much back from it. BUT.. Maybe if they sold the about half the chairs they'd raise enough money to keep the place going for another while?

Malaysia

No blogs for ages, sorry about that! Anyway, I'm going to Malaysia for a week. Flying out tomorrow and arriving back the following Saturday. Since I don't arrive until 6pm on Sunday, AND I leave Saturday morning, AND the conference I'm attending is in the same hotel I'm staying in, AND we've got stuff scheduled from 8am until 7:30pm each day - I don't think I'll be seeing much of Kuala Lumpur.