The Map: a lament.

ConversesThe Quiet Life

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The Map: a lament.

Aquest tema està marcat com "inactiu": L'últim missatge és de fa més de 90 dies. Podeu revifar-lo enviant una resposta.

1LesMiserables
des. 25, 2012, 3:12 am

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578191471150162626.html

I concur. The utility of terra-google is unquestionable but the romance is gone.

2GoFurther
des. 25, 2012, 4:19 am

Google maps may be of some value, but they do have some omissions – the missing “hic sunt dracones” comes to mind.

3LesMiserables
gen. 11, 2013, 9:28 pm

Interestingly, I have just purchased a Sat.Nav as I am on secondment for a few months to another line of work which requires lots of visits in unfamiliar urban streets within a busy city.

4GoFurther
gen. 11, 2013, 10:46 pm

A satellite navigational system – you haven’t gone over to the dark side have you, Halicarnassus? ;-) I guess this is not a good time to boast about my new Central American roadmap, which I acquired for less than $5 – its waterproof too!

Years ago, while hiking in the Hawaiian Islands, I met a young Polynesian woman who told me about their efforts to revive historic navigational skills. She was a participant on a long distance canoe voyage using celestial navigation. Her experience was very interesting, a lot more arduous, and less romantic than I had expected though. Although I must concede this is hardly practical for you, with the unfortunate light pollution in large cities.

5LesMiserables
gen. 11, 2013, 10:55 pm

> 4

I hope not! This is one of those things I think that is practical and temporally non-invasive.

6HarryMacDonald
gen. 12, 2013, 10:17 pm

Dear friend Halicarnassus, I am surprised at you. Much of the viability of these digital mapping systems is based on the collection and publication of private information, much of it done by plundering tax-records, 'phone-books and such, whether or not the persons covered desire to have this info used this way. The totalitarian implications are obvious, and let's not kid ourselves about that. Dear GoFurther, your anecdote is fascinating. You might be interested to know that the United States Naval Academy -- get that? NAVAL Academy -- stopped teaching celestial navigation several years ago. Happy trails to all. Perhaps we could get up an interesting discussion of that ancient (classical) phenomenon, the periplus. Peace -- Goddard

7LesMiserables
gen. 12, 2013, 11:20 pm

> 6

Well the thing is, I can already read maps pretty accurately, take a bearing etc (being a Scout) and to be honest if Acme Corp. or the CIA really are interested in my journeys then I'm kind of flattered. Ha! I wonder what they will make of my going out for a madras last night?

8GoFurther
gen. 13, 2013, 3:14 am

Although the article is dated July/August 2010, it does raise some valid concerns in regards to Google Maps. Perhaps some of you will find it interesting:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2010/1007.gravois.html

9HarryMacDonald
gen. 14, 2013, 5:08 pm

In re #7. Hey, assume nothing. I remember once getting access to the Govt file on me, and at-least half of it was ludicrously wrong. That in no way changes the stupidity, and indeed the horror, of surveillance in a supposedly free society. From experience, I can tell you the following. When I was growing-up in the supposedly paranoiac Fifties (MacCarthyism and all the rest), one regularly heard the maxim that "democracy is the system under which the early-morning clatter at the front door is the milkman, not the secret police". This was a conceptual stick with which to beat the "Red menace". As somebody who's had a visit from the guardians of "homeland security" (and indeed, in the early morning), I can tell you that Fifties look good by comparison. Incidentally, for those of you outside the US and Canada, it is illegal in either country, even to discuss the fact that such "visits" have been paid by our protectors in Washington or Ottawa. So, be prepared send me a cake in jail/gaol -- and put a heavy-duty file in it.

10LesMiserables
gen. 14, 2013, 11:58 pm

> 9

We'll get you out if it comes to it :-)
One thing I do know that many of the walking asleep in those countries and many others fail to appreciate is that those governments actively spy on their own citizens. They do so in a more subtle way than other nations but they do so for ends that only are there to reproduce the power relations in those societies.

11GoFurther
gen. 15, 2013, 3:30 am

>9 HarryMacDonald: You can count on me too, as it may be the only time someone will show an appreciation of my baking skills. Come to think of it, it is a good thing you advised us to invest in some quality tools on the DIY thread…

12LesMiserables
gen. 15, 2013, 4:29 am

> 11

You really know how to hammer the point...

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