Weather Channel Takes on “Truly Local” Weather

Update 3/1/07: I forgot to note, it’s in partnership with Microsoft.

The new app will appear at http://www.weather.com on Monday and provide a slider so visitors can “zoom in” on the location of interest. The maps will show detailed road maps and satellite imagery. The company will start local mapping for points of interest, next.

I guess I’m spoiled. My city is quite small geographically and the local weather at Accuweather (hey, I’m a Penn Stater!) is fine. And, I’m a big fan of the hourly forecasts. (I use them to figure out the likely temperature at start, middle and end of long running races.) I know others swear by Weather Underground.

- AP

Google Federal Sales Grow

First off, the numbers:

But publicly available data indicate that the nascent business quadrupled in just one year, from $73,000 in 2005 to $312,000 in 2006, according to FedSpending.org, a nonprofit unit of OMB Watch, an advocacy group that tracks federal contracts.

One analyst notes that the federal government has trouble with IT, but doesn’t want to admit it. Topping Google list of products for government are Google Earth, search tools and its Web-based office tools.

At a two day sales meeting in DC Google partner Lockheed Martin showed off apps it built for NGA for use in Iraq.

- Washington Post

Stock Slide Map from WSJ

Since it’s timely (and financial guys tell me its valid and helpful) check out this map (free!) from the Wall Street Journal that explains what happened in the world stock markets yesterday. For those who want to know: it’s Flash.

Washington Post on Allen Carroll

Can’t place the name? He’s National Geographic Society’s chief cartographer. The profile is lightweight (kid friendly) but he does stress the importance of art and computers for today’s cartographers.

This paragraph got me thinking, especially in recent discussions of whether geospatial is a profession:

Cartographers (pronounced car-TOGG-ruh-fers) are employed by all sorts of companies. Police departments use maps to figure out where the most crimes are occurring. People who run fast-food restaurants use maps to figure out where potential customers are moving so they know the best place to open a store.

Are the folks doing those jobs considered cartographers? Are they GIS specalists? Where is the line between the end product and the process or tool used?

- Washington Post (via Columbus Dispatch)

See also: Want to make maps? about how kids can get started. No mention of the Web in the suggestions.

Maps and Books: World Book Day

World Book Day is actually March 1, tomorrow, in the U.S. In the UK travel site Storybook England offers an online map of places featured in childrens literature with suggested local attractions. The print version is sold out!

Another option for young (and old) to combine books and geography: check out Very Spatial’s interview with with James Owen, author of Here There Be Dragons.  I’m not a a scifi/fantasy sort, but if I were this sounds interesting. The allusions to historical and literary characters should keep adults and literature fans sufficiently enthralled, too.

- via TravelConnect