Desultory Thoughts

If you’re familiar with Google Maps then most likely you know about the awesome “street view” view. It was originally available in San Francisco and New York but since then Google has been busy driving the streets of many metropolitan cities and taking pictures with their fancy truck.

I’ve ascertained that they were here on September 11, 2007. If you were in downtown Salt Lake City on that day (or within a day or two of 9/11 because who knows how long it might take to drive up and down every street in Salt Lake) then check out the maps and see if you can find yourself!

I looked at the places I work first to see if I could find myself walking to lunch and that’s where I found my clue as to when the google truck was in town. I work at the Energy Solutions Arena and the marque says “September” and the flags are at half-staff. That narrows it down to 9/11 and a quick google search confirmed that the Governor had ordered that all flags be at half-staff on 9/11/2007.

People have noted all sorts of interesting pictures that were captured in other cities when people in public places didn’t possibly realize that they were in fact in a public place. I wonder what we’ll find happening in Salt Lake City. If you find something interesting, please be sure to let us know! Here is a YouTube video that shows just how detailed these street views can get.

UPDATE:

In my excitement to post this story I just assumed it was downtown metropolitan Salt Lake City. BOY was I wrong. Tooele even made the cut!! They drove by our house and I didn’t even know it. And my kids weren’t out playing that day, darn it.

Besides Tooele they pretty much got everything as far south as Santaquin, as far north as North Ogden and from the Dugway exit on I-80 all the way Kamas in the east.

 UPDATE: As I’m looking around I thought it would be cool to link to some of the things I’m finding:

• The house I grew up in
• The house Heather grew up in
  
• My High School (that place is OLD)

My wife, Heather, took the plunge today and started her very own blog, which now makes us officially a blog family. I’ve been blogging in some form or another since 2001 and I’ve found it interesting to watch as it gets more and more popular. There must be something theraputic about sharing your thoughts with others. Heather has vowed to share her positive thoughts since she admittedly shares many of her negative thoughts with her private journal. As you can guess, I’m thrilled to hear it!

Check her out at heatherslack.com!