RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, in 360 degrees and virtual reality

Yet another cool hike around the area is the Ramshorn-Livingston Sanctuary in Catskill, a pleasant hike with neat sights and sounds and a marsh overlook that's fantastic (and shakes a bit on top, which makes it better in my view).

As with previous tours posted here, The Street View map below constitutes many 360-degree images, all connected so that you can 'walk' around the trails. I did a big loop so I ended up touching on all trails. There are more than 30 images, all taken on June 3.

Let's take a virtual reality hike around Louisa Pond at Shaupeneak Ridge

One of my favorite hikes around the area is located at Shaupeneak Ridge in the town of Esopus, an amazing park kept by Scenic Hudson. The tour you see below is the park's easy blue trail, a 1.18-mile trek around the pond.


The Street View map below constitutes more than 30 360-degree images from May 14, all connected, so that you can 'walk' around the pond.

How to make an automatic map of phone photos with Picasa

Picasa is Google's photo sharing service. If you have a Google account, you have this already.

The idea, again, is to take photos with your phone and have a map automatically created from them.

1. Take photo.
2. Share to Picasa (native on Android; or via email on iPhone or through apps) in an album of your choice. Don't forget to have geolocation turned on.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 as needed.
4. Visit https://picasaweb.google.com. Login with your Google account. Your photos should be in an album. Click on your album. Noticed all your photos are already mapped. Similar to Flickr, you can view it in a map, or as a slideshow. But what if you want to embed the map?

4.Click "View in Google Earth." Don't worry if you don't have the program. Click "save File" instead and make sure the file has the extension KML (example: "freeman.kml")

5. Visit http://maps.google.com and hit "My Places" and "Create map."
6. Hit "Import" and upload your kml file. BOOM!

7. Hit "done" and the link icon to get your embed in however shape you want it.

8. Paste in your site and do a silly dance, because you're done.

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Troubleshooting: Every now and then you'll get a "this map cannot be embedded."

HAHAHA. Funny Google, you.

Just get the URL and paste it in your browser. Then get your embed code.


View Freeman test in a larger map

5 digital tools for newsrooms and how they help journalism

Here's my list for the top five digital tools and how they can help journalism

1. Storify.
The most overdone way this tool has been used is to pile up tweets and facebook posts. I believe this is a gross underuse of the tool.

JRC Chat on Google for journalism

Good morning! Members of the Journal Register Company's Idealab - and everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the (kind-of) weekly Twitter chat at noon.

Today we're talking about Google tools and how they can be used in the pursuit of journalism excellence.

The live feed is posted below. But you can also follow the chat here or here or also here. And you can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, just post a tweet with the hashtag "#jrcchat" so it can automatically appear below, or post a comment in the field at the bottom of the chat box.

Since this is about Google, I figured we could also try livestreaming a Hangout of the chat, if anyone wants in as well.

Google Maps doesn't like Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge

What's the closest way from Kingston to Rhinebeck?
Let's ask Google Maps!


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What's the closest way from Kingston to Tivoli?

Let's ask Google Maps!


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FAIL!
So what happens if you want to go from the actual Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge to, say, Kingston? An Epic FAIL, that's what:
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I've put a ticket with Google and will let you know about the resolution.

UPDATE! Google Maps Teams responds:

"Your Google Maps problem report has been reviewed, and you were right! We'll update the map soon and email you when you can see the change."

Central Hudson's outage map

Central Hudson has a very handy map with outages that you cannot look at if you have not power. That's why we have neighbors and smartphones.
The map also includes information about dry ice and water distribution. It's essential

Local live cams tracking Hurricane Irene's impact

Click on 'Live Cam' to see the live video feed. If there is no cam, blame Irene

Kingston's "Ask for Arts" gallery guide

Kingston art gallery openings this weekend, via the Arts Society of Kingston:


View Kingston "ASK for Arts" Gallery Guide in a larger map