Street View of Bergenser Nuttiness

As most people have seen by now, Google has a rather cool addition to their maps, called Street View. This allows you to have a look at how any place looks like if standing, or driving, on the street. Recently, this feature was launched for selected areas in Norway.

Everyone has seen the pixelated naked sunbathers, and other awkward stuff on Google Maps. With the launch of Street View for my local area, this became even more interesting. A co-worker found his poor mom taking the trash can back to the house after emptying, while staring suspiciously at the camera, and you'll find that one person is crossing Abbey Road in a very saught after pose (seemingly accidental, I might add).

Now, the Munkfish want to be noticed. We all know they're special, but lord did they prove it. Meet the Bergen Frogmen:

If you want to investigate this on your own, this show took place on Rugdeveien in Bergen.

The story is that these guys knew that the Googlemobil would come by, because of personal relationships with the Googles. So they sat around all steaming hot one morning, in diving suits (unbeknown to me if wet or dry). patiently waiting to chase them when they pass.

Google just shrugged, went "nyah", and left the guys in for all the world to enjoy.

Digital Paper Tax

The Brinkman Commission in Holland is appointed by the government to find a solution to the innovation problem in the old-school press.

They have come up with an idea to save the existing newspapers, or at least the companies behind them. They are suggesting a tax on internet connections, and that money is supposed to be used by the newspapers to improve their online services.

I can't count how many international laws of business an action like

that would break. Making a whole population sponsor the development of the new business units of certain companies.

It's fair to say that this idea is nuts.