You are being watched

This morning I installed Google Analytics on this blog. It's been a long wait; I first registered for it in mid November, and they've only just sent me the validation code.

It'll tell me how many visitors, where they come from, and lots of other bits of information.

I'll report back in a month or so with some stats and charts.

Platial - Social Mapping

This is a great new site. Using Google Maps, it allows you to mark your own favourite places, with the aim of building up a map of the world based on recommendations.

You can see my recommendations based around Clapham - zoom in.

However... I may be being petty here, but too many other people are just marking places where they live, places where they got stoned, and so on, which isn't of much use to others. Ideally when I go on holiday in a year's time I'll be able to use this instead of a guide book.

Skinner & Baddiel Times Podcast

Announced last week - 10 special podcasts for the World Cup

Excellent idea, no doubt to be promoted through TV ads. David Baddiel is of course a regular Times columnist these days.

"I see Dave and me as two, on-the-spot comedy-reporters, sending home the whole World Cup experience in regular podcast-sized packages," said Frank Skinner.

"I'm really looking forward to it; especially the 'We-just-won-the-World-Cup Special'."

Welcome to Sligo

This site and everything around it is amazing.

Supposedly entirely the creation of Aine Chambers, it is one woman's mission to tell the world about the joys of Sligo in Ireland.

It's all very bizarre. For example her videos.

So -

1 - is it completely real? If so why does it look so wonderfully amateurish, but actually work really well? & has she created something completely compelling purely by accident?

2 - is it a front for a commercial organisation? If so, how much would they have to pay someone to make this much of a spectacle of herself?

It's certainly the most entertaining site I've seen for months.

Update - I'm beginning to suspect it is 'real' - especially after seeing this Geocities version of the site. So - hats off to Aine - & let's all go to Sligo!

Nike RunLondon Route Planner

Nike has used Google Maps to create this running route planner for London as a promo for their annual Run London event.

Users can create their own routes, or browse other people's according location and length.

Very good idea, well executed

UPDATE - this is now available globally at NikePlus

More at Adrants

See also - Walkscore

User Generated Film Extolling Innocent Smoothies

A film about Innocent Smoothies, supposedly made by a fan

By this guy - see his MySpace page

It's more likely that he's just a shameless self-publicist!