How to Use MyTracks to Help Editing Roads in MapMaker

I came about using MyTracks for Android when my friend Kevin shared his post about motorbiking. After a while, we came to ask, "How can we use our MyTracks information to edit roads in MapMaker?" We both knew that most provincial roads have not been mapped yet, or mapped incorrectly, in Google Maps. The outright answer at the time was to open the MyTracks information in Google Maps on one window, and edit the same location in Google MapMaker on another window. Just Alt-Tab to switch back and forth while editing. Doable, but good luck with that.

Just dawned on me today. I could use the KML information uploaded by MyTracks as an overlay on MapMaker. Then it will be my guide on editing road features on the map. That was easy!

Get the KML link on Google Maps

Add the KML as an overlay in MapMaker

Edit!

I can't wait to go to San Juan, Batangas and do it!

Blast from the past... Single-Letter Deficiencies

UP Diliman Commonwe(A)lth gate circa 2008



Jeepney plying the Ayala - Washin(G)ton route








Aguinaldo Shrine - Kawit, Cavite

Experimenting with panorama camera mode on my android phone.

However You Look At It

Early today, I was on a jeepney travelling along Buendia, bound for Guadalupe. As we were crossing Makati Ave., a passenger called to stop the jeepney and get off. The driver didn't stop and continued on for a few more meters past the intersection, despite the passenger's repeated "Para" (Stop, from the Spanish parar). The jeep pulled over to the side of the road to let her off, but not without getting the passenger's stern look. The driver explained, "Bawal po dun, baka mahuli tayo." (We may get apprehended if we stop there.) What I was surprised about was another passenger, seeing another jeepney loading right at the corner of the intersection, butt in, "E pwede ngang magsakay dun, o." (It seems loading [passengers] is ok there.) The only thing I can think about was, "Kaya hindi umuunlad ang Pilipinas e." (That's why the Philippines' condition doesn't improve.)

Why would people insist on doing the wrong thing, just because others are doing them? There was clearly a sign on that intersection prohibiting loading AND unloading, but seeing violators not being apprehended, people think it's ok anyway. The reason I correlate this to our country not getting out of the mud is that, apparently, some, if not most people, lack integrity. Integrity in my definition is "doing the right thing everytime, even when no one is looking." It doesn't have to be in a grand scale, like corruption in the government, or crimes in the street. Integrity also applies to small things, such as a storekeeper gives you more than your change, browsing through your professor's notes for quiz answers, etc. Doing things right in the small scale builds you up when you are presented with the big decisions.

It takes a lot for one to be able to make the right decisions. We need to live it everyday, even if we are only by ourselves. Probably if everyone thinks this way, our country will have lesser problems than it faces today.

To Go Up, Or Not To Go Up? That Is The Question

image from carlodimaandal.com

For some time I have pondered on an observation I had about pedestrians, including myself: Why is it hard for people to use footbridges when crossing streets, when supposedly it is there for their safety?

Most of us would say that it is a great bother having to climb up the stairs. It's too tiring. Some would say it's too far. A hassle.

Many have tried their luck crossing busy highways like Commonwealth and EDSA and some have failed.

Comparing my experience with overpasses, people tend to think against going up the stairs so they won't even attempt to. It's that negative psyche that outweighs safety for some. Looking for solutions, I turned my attention to pedestrian underpasses. I find it more appealing compared to overpasses, mainly because the main approach is a set of stairs going DOWN. Even if both an overpass and an underpass have stairs, it would be considerably less tiring if you are going down the stairs. This lets us overcome the hesitation of using a safe way to cross busy streets.

When you're down, there's no way but up. Already inside the underpass, there really is no other way to surface but to climb the stairs on the other end. Even if you hate climbing up the stairs, you do not have any other choice, do you? What I like about Ayala Avenue underpasses is that they give you a choice between burning calories while climbing up the stairs, or ride the escalator and arrive at the office without a sweat.

Whenever possible, choose to cross the street in the safest way. Either above the street or under, even through street-level pedestrian crossings, just make sure to look to your left and to your right, and cross with full awareness.

Oddly Out of Place

Things really present themselves when you least expect it.

I always take the bus from Baclaran to Ayala via Gil Puyat Ave aka Buendia whenever I go to work. It so happened that this particular day, I cannot remember when, traffic was moderately slow. Just as the bus was passing Edison St. along Buendia,  I looked outside of my window and noticed something on the sidewalk. I can't believe what I was seeing: a toilet bowl. I didn't know how long it has been there; I haven't seen it in that place before. I found it amusing that anyone would think of putting a toilet bowl outside in the streets. Someone else noticed it as well, I think, because days after that, I didn't see the toilet bowl there anymore. Probably they thought urinating in public wasn't nice at all.

No Ticket, No Pay

Hi! Welcome to the rantings of a metro commuter. Here I will be posting my thoughts about travel, commuting, places, and observations as I course through my daily commute.

I like to use Google Maps looking for places I have been to and those I've never been to. It's my handy guide to where I would like to go, what transit to use, what best route to take whenever I need to go somewhere. My dream? An android phone with GPS, Google Maps on browser, and I go anywhere I want. (Time and budget permitting of course.)

So ready your fare, be sure of your destination, and be careful stepping out on the road.