Platial News and Neogeography

California Senator Barbara Boxer Launches Platial Supporter Map

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) is using Platial to provide a new way for people to stand with her and show their support. Supporters can add themselves to Senator Boxer’s Platial map along with a photo and a message about why they are behind her, collectively building a map that shows support for Senator Boxer across the country and even around the world.

Supporters who want to help spread the word about Senator Boxer’s Platial map can grab the code and repost it on their own profiles, blogs, and websites.

Senator Boxer eventually plans to add new Platial maps to provide her supporters with additional ways to get involved online and voice their opinions on issues that matter to them. To stand up and be counted as a supporter of Senator Boxer, add yourself to her Platial map now!

One Laptop Per Child

The one laptop per child project has been in progress for some time now, and the XO laptop product is finally becoming available. Until November 26th, in the US and Canada, you can get one for your child and also donate one to a child in a developing country for only $400.

Give one, get one.

Here's a blurb about the machine: "The XO laptop runs on Linux, a free and open-source operating system. OLPC’s commitment to software freedom gives children the opportunity to use their laptops on their own terms. The children—and their teachers—have the freedom to reshape, reinvent, and reapply their software, hardware, and content. There’s even a button located on the keyboard that allows children to view the programming behind certain applications. The XO laptop’s revolutionary interface, Sugar, also promotes sharing and learning."

Our Little Milestones

We have been working so hard that we've been sort of neglecting our blog lately. Platial is based mainly in Portland, but we have people on the team in California, New York, and Boston, too. Every 4-6 weeks, we get together, usually in Portland. Most of us were together this week for a big work session. This session was a little bit special because it was exactly two years ago that we all got together for the first time at the Jupiter Hotel. We went back Tuesday night and had dinner at the Doug Fir, which is the restaurant connected to the hotel. I had wild boar ribs!

Interestingly, we didn't do much reminiscing. One of our new users, Whoosie, who did the urban foraging website I wrote about a few days ago, joined us. He's new to Portland and a very cool guy. We talked about the future and our dreams for what we want to build, just like we did two years ago.

We updated the site yesterday with a few bug fixes and the first update of our About page since December 2005, when we launched the website. Check it out. We have a map of where people who've worked on the project were born, and a little slide show of the past two years. The map needs a few additions, coming soon.

If you're reading this, you are probably one of our mappers and I say this a lot, but thanks. We're proud to have you and everything we've done has been with your help and guidance.

Breathing Maps

dotbaz has a few really quirky ponderings about maps as (perhaps?) metaphors for organisms.

50 Cent Ticket Promo Using Platial

Win Tickets to 50 Cent's International Tour!

50 Cent is using his Platial map to give a few lucky winners free tickets to his International Curtis Tour! All of the dates and venue locations are displayed on the Curtis Tour Map, and fans are encouraged to add their own markers and rep their city. Fans must add themselves to the tour map, and then post it on their own profile page on Thisis50.com to be eligible to win. Check out thisis50.com for more information and to grab the map. Find out when Curtis will be coming to you, upload your picture, leave 50 a comment, and enter to win your free tickets!

Glean the Planet

About two months ago, I wrote a blog post about Urban Foraging on Platial, which turned out to be one of the most popular posts we've had.

Since then, a new awesome urban foraging project called Glean the Planet has kicked off, and we are very proud that they have chosen to use Platial. Dock Whoosie, a 28yr old living in Portland, Oregon (Platial's home town!) is the creator of the site.

Here's a tidbit from the press release:

Glean the Planet is a web site designed to facilitate the redistribution of community and individual food resources. The site offers both discussion forums and open source mapping software from Google maps and Platial.com. By allowing users to map specific locations and illustrate them with pictures and additional detailed information, this mapping software helps people facilitate the local sharing of food outside of monetary-based economies.

For instance, if you know of a food baring tree, a stand of bamboo or a healthy dumpster in your neighborhood, you can plot it on Glean the Planet’s maps. You find the map of your state and make an entry. Then add web links, text, and photos to your entries and others.

Whoosie says, “My activism has shifted focus lately. I am working a lot on myself and my relationships. Understanding the non-human world around me has been a key focus of my time this past year. In reevaluating the definition of sustainability I have found a need to be more critical of the way I consume…going beyond purchasing decisions at a store or gas pump, to building a direct subsistence relationship with the land base where I live. Politically, I am playing a supportive role with the construction of Glean the Planet, building infrastructure that supports the change I desire.”

Go have a look at the site, add some stuff, and if you have any ideas or comments about the site, email Dock Whoosie to let him know.