Today may be 09/09/09, and the day that a certain hyped video game releases (Beatles Rock Band, more on that later), but there's yet another game out today for which we are extremely excited: Monopoly City Streets, and it's free.

It's being called the "biggest live game of Monopoly in history"—would we be part of a Guinness World Record then?—and it's focused on using Google Maps as the gameboard, with the ability to utilize street view to aid in making location purchase decisions. And just like in the real Monopoly, this worldwide version has you buying streets and building everything from hazards to skyscrapers on them.

But how will it work? We'll defer to PC World to explain this one: ]]> JetSetCD 2009-09-09T09:45:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/29/14167/2146

Have you ever wondered where you'd end up if you could somehow dig a hole straight through the earth from where you were standing? Of course you have. Everybody has. Well, now there's a nifty website that can answer that question in seconds. The Antipodes Map couldn't be simpler to use. Pick any location on earth on a Google map and it will automatically generate its antipode, i.e. the land (or ocean) located on the opposite side of the world. ]]> Victor Ozols 2009-03-29T14:16:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/25/161719/601

Wait till the Wu Tang Clan hears about this one. A software glitch on Google Maps is confusing a neighborhood in Staten Island with the upstate town of Schenectady, sending Great Kills-bound drivers on a three-hour, 170-mile odyssey in the wrong direction. As the Daily News points out, the 10308 zip code is coming up in searches as Schenectady, and those looking for directions to the Shaolin hamlet will instead find themselves rolling up the New York State Thruway if they're not paying attention. Staten Island Councilman Councilman Vince Ignizio doesn't think Google is dissing his borough like so many others have before, but he hopes the glitch is fixed nonetheless. After all, Staten Island needs all the visitors it can get.

[Photo: Daily News]

Related Stories:
· Software Glitch Sends Staten Island Google Maps Users on a Major Detour [New York Daily News]
· Google Maps Coverage [Jaunted]]]> Victor Ozols 2009-01-25T16:17:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/22/21118/7156

Remember last year and the press buzz around that traveling capsule of brand vanity created by Zaha Hadid and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, called "Mobile Art?" Citing weak financials, the structure was grounded and retired after only making it through half of its worldwide stops, but apparently this has only inflamed rival Prada with more desire to carry out a copycat project.

Currently under construction on the ground of the Gyeonghui Palace in central Seoul, South Korea, is what is being called the Prada "Transformer." A tetrahedron-shaped structure designed by the architect behind their revolutionary Manhattan store, Rem Koolhaas, the temporary building will not be traveling like the Chanel orb, but will instead be firmly grounded in Seoul from March through August. Should the 65-foot tall structure prove popular however, there is rumor that it could be carted to a few more cities badly in need of a luxury goods injection. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-01-22T13:10:53-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/5/102752/3365

Pulitzer Prize-winner, actor, writer and director Sam Shepard was picked up by cops early Saturday morning in Normal, Illinois, 133 miles southwest of Chicago and next door to Bloomington, one of the country's most theatrical cities and host of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

According to police, Shepard was clocking 46 mph in a 30 mph zone at around 2 am after making a stop at Fat Jacks in Bloomington. (Featuring $2.75 Jack Daniel's drinks every Friday night!) From the sound of this review on Citysearch, though, he should've known that calling a cab would've been a better idea than driving:

This is usually the place all the college kids go. Cops are always lurking within the building and around it, waiting for drunks to make a mistake.

Shortly after last call the bouncers are quick to get people out, even if you are trying to close your tab or as a designated driver they will make you wait outside.

The "Right Stuff" and "Assassination of Jesse James" actor posted bond and was released a few hours after his arrest.

Related Stories:
· Fat Jacks [MySpace]
· Sam Shepard Arrested for DUI [Boston Herald]]]> pbb 2009-01-05T10:31:11-05:00 40.4825127 -88.993754 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/24/94327/233

In a moment of weakness, we were convinced to check out the Norad Santa Tracker. And you know what? Despite our suspicions that it'd be super cheesy, it managed to bring some geographic jolly to our Christmas Eve.

Santa, it seems, really does get everywhere, stopping off at places we know and love, like Sydney, Australia and Kobe, Japan, while also bringing presents to kids in spots we've never even heard of. An extra stocking stuffer goes out to anyone who's heard of Onekotan, Russia before today.

To celebrate Santa's globe wandering, we're taking the rest of the day off and hunkering down with eggnog and presents tomorrow. But we'll be back in full force on Friday to swap holiday horror stories and continue our hats-in-airports obsession. See you then, and merry Christmas!

Related Stories:
· Norad Santa Tracker [Official Site]
· Christmas coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-12-24T13:00:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/22/134828/17

So much lake effect snow fell on Upstate New York last night that the Thruway Authority completely closed a 134-mile stretch of I-90 for six hours. It's since reopened, and now that the roads are finally plowed, it's time to take advantage of all that snow by strapping on the cross-country skis and setting out in search of tranquil winter bliss.

A PR firm in the region recently sent us a link to a really cool Google Maps mashup that pinpoints dozens of cross-country skiing spots across the Finger Lakes, complete with photos, prices, trail guides, websites and, obviously, directions. We'd embed it here, but it's so full of info that it's better to view it full screen.

Of course, in Upstate New York this time of year, you may not even need a map to find decent cross country skiing: Just get to the nearest park and go from there. Today's forecast for Syracuse? "Snow squalls" bringing as much as a foot of new powder.

Related Stories:
· Cross-country Skiing in the Finger Lakes [Google Maps]
· Thruway Reopens After 134 Miles Shut Down [Democrat and Chronicle]
· Snow Days coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-12-22T14:00:35-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/