Home 3 to Airport directions

Here is the map showing the directions from the winter home to the airport.

Home 3 Tour

Here is the tour of my winter home.

Home 3 Map

This is the map of my winter hme. For some reason, no other site has satelite maps of this location. Quikmaps was it, but if you can't get too close.

Also, there are no registered sex offender in Ludlow, VT.

Satelite views of House 2

Here are the additional satelite views of house 2, my summer home. The one below I don't like as much as the google earth and quikmaps view for this location. Please click on the link below.

http://maps.live.com/#JnE9eXAuOCtoYXJ2ZXN0ZXIrd2F5JTJjK29haytibHVmZnMlMmMrbWElN2Vzc3QuMCU3ZXBnLjEmYmI9NTguNTg1NDM1NjkxMTk5MiU3ZS0zNC41NDEwMTU2MjUlN2UxOC43Mjk1MDE5OTkwNzIyJTdlLTExMS4xODE2NDA2MjU=

This one is not as good either, but here it is.

http://www.zillow.com/homes/map/8-harvester-way,-Oak-Bluffs,-ma_rb/

Directions from summer home to airport

Map of Summer Home

Here is the map of my summer home. This includes the location of the one registered sex offender.

Home 2: Tour

Here is the tour of the summer home in Martha's Vineyard.

Home 1: Additional Satelite Photos & home comparisons

http://maps.live.com/#JnE9eXAuNjIzK2dyZWVuK2hpbGwrcmQlMmMrbWFkaXNvbiUyYytjdCU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj01OC41ODU0MzU2OTExOTkyJTdlLTM0LjU0MTAxNTYyNSU3ZTE4LjcyOTUwMTk5OTA3MjIlN2UtMTExLjE4MTY0MDYyNQ==

Please see the above link for an additional satelite view of my new home. I like this one better because you can see more of the home.

http://www.zillow.com/homes/map/623-Green-Hill-Rd.,-Madison,-CT_rb/

The above also has a satelite view. This also offers comparisons with other homes in the same area. The other houses cost less, but they aren't as nice. Also, they don't have a horse barn or as much property.

House 1: Satelite map w/ Sex Offenders & other locations

House 1 Airport Map

Here is the map of the nearest airport to the main house.

House 1 Tour

Here is the tour of the main house and the important destinations.

Geo-Spatial data

The map posted below was a lot of fun. It was great to be able to look at Umass Lowells campus all the way in Connecticut. I have never been to the campus, so I was really cool for me to see. I didn't realize how large the school is, or that it was even split into 3 campuses. How would I, since I've never seen it before.

I can understand why this technology is considered a benefit to society. The government could watch what is going on without us knowing, which would assist in catching criminals, terrorists, etc. Of course, the technology would have to catch up and be more live, rather than have old data stored. It is also useful for transportation issues. You can get a much better idea of better routes from the view from above that could help in evacuations, better alternate transportation options, better ways to send transported materials, etc.

I even found my house. I noticed that the big tree in the back is pretty much blocking everything from view except for the roof and driveway. I noticed none of the cars where there, however, which started me thinking - if this was real time, wouldn't everyone who looked at the map know that no one was home? I realized then the negative implications. How great for a robber to stake out your home? They could decide ahead of time when the best times would be to rob the house, how many people live there, are there any children, if there are any dogs that may cause problems for them, are the neighbors home as well, when they are home - do they have nice expensive cars, does their home and possessions outside indicate they have money?

Not very comforting thoughts. Then, of course is the idea of how far does it go? Do we eventually get the technology where we can look into someones front window and watch them watch tv? My dad is forever looking thorough the blinds to see what everyone is doing around us. I can't stand it! First of all, I don't care if the next door neighbor has their dog tied to the tree in the front yard (I care about the dog, but I already know in my opinion that they do not spend the appropriate amount of time with her or have her in the house as much as I would), I don't care if the neighbor on the otherside went riding on his motorscooter with someone on a motorcycle. Second of all, do I want anyone doing that to me?

If my dad was computer savy, the whole town would be in for it. He would be watching everyone to see what they were doing and what they had. My poor siblings would be watched as well. How nice to know they are having a barbeque and didn't invite us. He would drive me crazier than he already does.

Sometimes, we have to say that our privacy can outweight the benefits of a new technology. I don't want people to know if I'm home, or if I have pets, or what car I drive, etc. It is my business. One day, I happened to go outside when the neighbor was beating his garbage can with a weed-wacker. I guess the weed-wacker was not working and he got mad. I quickly made an exit so he did not see me and I'm sure if he knew I saw him have his little fit, he would be embarassed. What if every time you did something outside that you necessarily wouldn't want someone to see, was being watched online? I would not be happy.

In the article assigned about google adding the UK to the maps, they mentioned how that the marker plates of vehicles would be blurred out. Wouldn't someone at some point be able to unscramble that information if they really wanted it. What if they got to the point that they could see what was in our mail boxes? Or how about our children? Do we want anyone to be able to know where are children are at any given moment, make it easier for them to be taken, or watched for some perverted thrill.

I think I'd rather not knowing what Umass Lowell looks like. If I wanted to know that bad, I would drive there and see it for myself. Give me privacy and security over technological wonders.

Map of Umass Lowell N. Campus

Song

Click the arrow icon [Start] button on the controls to play.

Welcome

My dog, Kiki

Information Creation and Censorship

[I do appologize for this being so late! I have been sick and my computer had died. I had limited access to a computer and finally got a new one. It has taken me awhile to get "back on track". Thanks!]

Reading the article "Censorship 'Changes Face of Net'," was very interesting. I had not considered that a country would feel the need to censor what their people wrote and read on line. Of course, with the example used in the article - China, it makes perfect sense. They do not want the truth told or read. Particularly on the net where anyone in any country would have access. It is difficult to promote propaganda if you allow your citizens to post whatever they want online for all to see.

It reminds me of all the hype prior/during the Olympics. All the information that came out later. All the information that they hid in order not to show the world what was really going on there, what they are really like. I happened to be affected by the pet food recall a few years ago. For those of you who do not know, the industrial chemical, melamine, was found in cat and dog canned food. It so happened that my beloved dog, Kiki, ate one of the foods. I checked out the brand and lot number as soon as I heard. I was devastated to learn it was on the list of foods recalled. I can not express the horror I felt! Luckily for Kiki and myself, her food missed the lot numbers and date of manufacture by one week! I thought how could this be allowed to happen.

Now, as you probably know, a few months ago it came out the melamine was found in milk products in China. It was known for months and it was hidden. So many lives of their own people were wrecked by this horrible chemical. To know children died or got ill due to the greed of some people and that the government hid it to protect their reputation in order to show the world the new "China" at the Olympics. Especially where obviously after the pet deaths and illnesses it was widely known what would happen.

Can you imagine the panic in China and the world if someone had posted the truth on the internet! That their own children were being poisoned and were in danger? No wonder why nations wish to censor the internet.

"Censorship 'Changes face of Net'." BBC News. 6 June 2007. 14 October 2008 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6724531.stm>.

Cyber-attacks

The fact that Georgia's websites were blocked is a scary idea. The fact that it was most likely by Russia due to the war. It makes it even more disturbing in the fact that even though Russian officials state there was no war, this would be the only reason to block Georgian websites. In this way, the country was disabled. It would not only affect services such as the police, fire department, etc., but civilians as well. This seems to be more like a war against every single person in Georgia.

The fact that in today's society, the web has been so ingrained into our psyches that we are lost without it. During a traditional war, the fighting can affect civilians. Many are killed who are not actually involved in the fighting. Cyber-warfare allows for an enemy to target non-combatants definitely.

My computer passed on a few weeks ago. I have been at a total loss. I am lucky that have been able to use my mother's computer in order to access the internet. I check my email accounts, bank account, various websites and of course, UMass' websites. The fact that cyber-warfare is excentually like my computer for everyone in a country that is targeted, is a hard to digest. The government, financial, commerce, education, private-sector employers and citizens can now be the direct target of terrorism or war.

It just shows that we have to insure that our infastructure can function without the internet in order to protect ourselves. I know a lot of people who would not have a clue how to function. My previous employer used the internet for everything! The computer files and screens that we had to access were all internet based programs. For example, in order to do our timesheets you had to log into a website to do so. If you got a question from a customer that you did not know, you had to access another web page to look up the information. The business is total dependent on the internet. I see it know as being too dangerous. It is only auto insurance, but it would affect so many people if those website went away.

Who owns a name?

The Internet will certainly be affecting this years presidential election. Technology allows anyone to post pretty much whatever they want out on the web for all to see. This is a good thing as far as exchanging ideas and being able to express one's self, however, it does allow for misinformation. It also brings up the question of who has the right to use a particular domain name or blog.

Barack Obama was able to gain control of a blog started by a supporter. This blogger was not compensated for his hard work. It comes down to the question of who owns the name "Barack Obama." I can understand how and way Obama was able to take over this blog. It is his name and is for the benefit of his campaign. However, since someone else was working on their own, using his name, to further his campaign, it seems a little wrong to not compensate this person.

Anyone can purchase a domain name. Even if it is a famous person's name, a candidate, etc. Is it fair that anyone can buy your name in the hope of making money, getting publicity, etc. from someone else's identity? I happen to have the same name as someone who used to be famous. She is more infamous to most people who remember her. I have to ask myself, who owns my name? Does she, or do I? In fact, my name is real, I was named it by my parents without meaning any connection to this ex-star, she took my family's last name long before I was born.

It is a difficult subject to approach. I think it does make a difference if a name belongs to a present star or candidate. They should be the only ones to use their names. Others would still be able to post their opinions, but I think it would be less confusing for many people if others would not be able to call their websites or blogs, etc, after these famous names. This would be an impossible task, to be sure.

I think the present state of affairs will strongly be affected by the use of a candidate's name by anyone. It opens up the chance that misinformation will be posted and believed to be real. Especially if someone thinks a representative of, or the actual person (ex. Barack Obama) posted the information. Many people don't use critical thinking when then read. They think if it is in writing, anywhere, it must be true. This will definitely affect the election and how people will feel and vote for the candidates.