I was looking for an open source alternative for mapping software and/or sites like maps.google.com or maps.yahoo.com and there I came across a user edited wikipedia like site http://www.openstreetmap.org/
. It currently has users all around the world and it is amazing how there is a lot of software around it to modify these maps online.
I did my share of modifying maps for locations around my apartment and filled in a lot of nodes/tags for locations around my apartment.
I used JOSM to edit the maps.
At this point it lacks the polish and content compared to Google maps/Yahoo maps etc and I would not recommend it for reliable directions etc.Give it a year or 2 and I'm fairly certain it will become as authoritative/popular and rich in content like Wikipedia.
Apart from that I'm still waiting for Roadnav to integrate tightly with OpenStreetMap.Once it is done it would be fun to use it.
Also please feel free to modify the maps and make it better.
There is a new routing service available , which operates on OSM data , it is called http://openrouteservice.org/.Unfortunately it seems at this time they don't have directions for US.

posted at: 15:47 | category: /pleaforaction | permanent link to this entry

There are various ways in which you can help the various free/open source communities by donating your free unused internet bandwidth for perfectly legal content which can use some help in distribution and reducing the charges for the mirrors who provide free services in the spirit of free beer/freedom.

• Run a search portal by running the Yacy client more details @ http://www.yacy.net/
• Download a bittorrent client like Vuze/Azureus and then help distribute legal content from various websites like
• Debian ISO images
• Knoppix
• List of Legal Torrents website @ http://www.azureuswiki.com/index.php/Legal_torrent_sites
• Ten Sites for Free and Legal Torrents
• Download emule client from Emule Project and you can download and help distribute lot of legal content from the following websites
• Legal Content from emule-project.net
• Free/Open source software @ http://bitzi.com/society/FLOSS_Free_Libre_Open_Source_Software

posted at: 05:03 | category: /pleaforaction | permanent link to this entry

Ever wondered how would emergency officials contact your kin in case of an emergency.Now there are traditional methods like drivers license and other form of identifications in your wallet which can help emergency professionals to contact your kin to find out of any active medication, or allergies etc, a new initiative has started around the world.It is a very simple initiative called ICE--In case of emergency.
So all you have to do is add a prefix ICE-- to your contacts in your cell phone address book so that emergency professionals can contact your designated emergency contact person.So for example it could be ICE--Mum, or ICE--Dad etc. The idea is very very simple and yet very powerful and it has picked up lot of momentum especially in the UK(where the initiative was started).
You can read more about it on the following websites.
'ICE' Cell Phone Plan Would Help Rescuers
Put 'ICE' On Your Cell Phone
In case of emergency, put 'ICE' on cell phone

posted at: 13:01 | category: /pleaforaction | permanent link to this entry