Snap-a-Snooper in Edinburgh with Google Street View: Coming Later to Streets Near You!

As Google Street View is invading the UK, and more specifically Scotland, the Scotsman reports that the Google camera operatives have come under fire amid claims they are invading privacy by photographing everything in sight. But it seems those behind the Google Streetmap project are less than keen on being pictured themselves, apparently fearing reprisals from angry locals.

And for those who don’t know; Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps and Google Earth that provides 360° panoramic street-level views and allows users to view parts of selected cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas at ground level. Google Street View was first introduced in the United States on May 25, 2007, and only covered areas of the United States until July 2, 2008. As of today, images can be seen in five countries. Introductions have generally occurred every 1-3 months, with a group of cities marked by camera icons being added each time.
In some of the later introductions, other cities without such a marking have been added too.[source]

Apparently many people are deliberately taking snaps of the Google mobile-camera operatives, in a snap-a-snooper game.

These pictures of Google snoopers are courtesy of this man here.


These cameras have not been spotted in Glasgow yet, but they should be on their way real soon. How would you react in your own street? I would get my camera ready, and treat them to an-eye-for-an-eye response!

Scottish Built Heritage: Who Has The Last Say?

While the Scots are struggling hard in attempting to rescue their political freedom from its virtual reality, or in trying to have the last say on their political destiny - it seems that they still to claim many of decision making and control privileges as well. It looks like the course of true freedom will never run smooth for Scotland.

Sadly, major developmental schemes in Edinburgh were called to a halt last week as Koïchiro Matsuura (Director-General of Unesco) called for an investigation into the city’s world heritage status to be carried out.[source]

According to Unesco, the major schemes in the city; such as the £300 million Caltongate project masterplanned by Allan Murray and the £200 million Haymarket project by Richard Murphy, could damage Edinburgh’s skyline. Unesco claims that Edinburgh should be placed on its “at risk” list of “endangered sites”.

Apparently, the Scottish architects are enraged – and who can blame them! Imagine someone coming to interfere with the way you decorate your own living room!
If Scottish architects and designers are not to trust with the decisions they take in transforming the urban environment they inhabit, how can some decision makers behind their desks in Unesco - who probably never been to Edinburgh before - be trusted?!

Caltongate development - Allan Murray’s masterplan


Haymarket tower - Richard Murphy’s 17-storey hotel

The fact that Edinburgh was made a World Heritage Site by the organisation in 1995, allows its inspectors to investigate and may consequently issue a critical report, which means that the city could lose its status.
The real sad part in all this controversy is not the fact that these schemes might affect the historic skyline of Edinburgh, or the risk of it loosing its heritage status; or the credibility of Scottish architects per se, but the big lobbying campaigns that start behind doors for the mere purpose of pocketing more money by labour or the nationalists or others!