Motrin faces a backlash from Moms

(cross posted from mibazaar.com)

Motrin came out with a ad targeting babywearing moms with something like "We feel your pain". This did not go well with Moms. Makes you wonder who they consulted before coming up with this ad.

Moms are angry with MOTRIN and they have taken to Twitter and YouTube to express their displeasure. Result: As of this writing Motrin's website was down. They might be taking their ad down.

I quickly put together a page which shows "Mom/Motrin Chatter" on Twitter. In addition I pull in videos related to "Motrin Moms" from YouTube. All this is shown on Google Maps.

Now Motrin is "Feeling the Pain"

How much are you paying for a cup of coffee?

Do you feel that you pay too much for a cup of coffee!. Don't...take a look at this Google Maps Mashup of average price of a cup of coffee around the world. It is unbelievable!!. In Moscow, Russia it costs a whopping $10.19 for a cup of coffee. (Source Forbes).

There are 6 locations (and I have added 1 more) shown on this map. You don't have to click anything. Sit back and enjoy your cup of coffee!!

Gas Prices too high? Consider Walking for short distances!!

Google realizes that considering the current Gas Prices it might not be a bad idea to go walking for short distances. It would be lighter on your wallet and might make some of us lighter too.

So what has Google Maps done? They have introduced a brand new feature on Google Maps. Now you can get "Walking Directions" in addition to "Driving Directions". For example you are enjoying a meal at Ashoka Indian Cusine in Canton, MI. For whatever reason you decide that next you want to visit the Canton Hindu Temple. So instead of driving you might want to consider walking. And if your geographically challenged then head over to Google Maps for walking directions. Key in "2100 N Haggerty Rd, Canton, MI 48187 (Ashoka Indian Cuisine)" as your start location and for destination type in "44955 Cherry Hill Rd, Canton, MI 48188 (Hindu Temple)". You can now either pick "Driving Directions" or "Walking Directions". Here's what it looks like: (information on this feature found at Google LatLong Blog)

Who in United States is searching for your favorite Bollywood Stars

Ever wondered who is GOOGLING for your favorite Bollywood Stars or Cricketers in United States? I have put together a Google Maps Mashup which shows you which city tops the list in Google Search for a given keyword. You can filter the result by country and by date (from last 30 days to January 2004).

So for United States

• Amitabh Bachchan - Piscataaway, NJ and Pleasanton, CA are top 2 cities.
• Shahrukh Khan - Piscataaway, NJ and Brooklyn, NY are top 2 cities
• Aishwarya Rai - Pleasonton, CA and Newark, NJ are top 2 cities
• Sachin Tendulkar - Quincy, MA and Jersey City, NJ are top 2 cities

Google's Election '08 Map Gallery

Google Maps has put out a "Election '08 Map Gallery" for you to

Browse through these political maps to learn about this year's race for the Presidency and show off your favorites by embedding them around the web for the world to see

(Read more on this in Google's Blog)

Two of the maps you see their are maps created by me. They are Barack OBama and John McCain's Journey from their birthplaces to possibly the White House (atleast for one of them). Feel real happy and proud that my maps were included in Google's Election '08 Map Gallery.

Snippets of Reviews of Indian Restaurants in your Area

Google Maps has added a new feature where you can see snippets of reviews of any local search you are doing on Google Maps. In addition you can write your own review by clicking "write a review".

Check this link and also the image below of search I did on "Indian Restaurants near 48170" or you can also type "Indian Restaurants near Plymouth, MI". I have circled reviews and "write a review".

John McCain and Barack Obama's Journey of Life

It will be either Barack Obama or John McCain who will occupy the White House on January 20th, 2009. Both are well traveled, so I decided to Google Map their journey from their birth place to possibly the White House. Check it out at mibazaar at

• Barack Obama
• John McCain

Both my Google Maps Mashup mentioned above got great coverage at Google Maps Mania today.

(BTW: if you want to check out my journey of life - click here)

Fortune 1000 Companies in Michigan

Fortune is out with its annual list of "Fortune 1000 Companies". There are 33 companies in Michigan which made it to Fortune 1000 list. General Motors leads the list in Michigan (4th in Fortune 1000 list). Here's a Google Maps View of Michigan's Fortune 1000 list.

What's in your Drinking Water?

CNN was reporting yesterday that researchers have found prescription drugs in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas which includes Detroit, MI where researchers had found "Unspecified Drugs".

Even though quantities found are far below the levels of medical dose, scientists are worried of long-term consequences to human health.

I have mapped out the metropolitan areas affected on Google Maps along with prescription drug info. (Note: Information window pop up after every 8 seconds. However you can click on "Disable/Pause" button if you need more time to read thru the text in the information window.

Here's a screen shot of Drugs found in drinking water around Columbus, OH.

More Valentine's Day Options

Yesterday I blogged about Local Indian Restaurants serving special Dinner for you and your sweetheart this Valentine's Day.

But what if you have other plans like buying that special gift for your sweetheart or taking her out to movies. I have put together a nice little useful Google Maps Mashup which shows you for the Zip Code you have keyed in (US Locations Only), (Hmm! how do I describe this - let's say that you are looking for that special clothing for her), florist locations. This in addition to Movie Theater locations along with Movie Show times.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

No Address required to find Tandoori Chicken Location on Google Maps

Google LatLong Blog is reporting that

Now you can type in any location where you want to go -- whether it's a specific street address, a business name like Fuzzy Buddy's Dog Daycare, or even something more general like "florist" -- and we'll help you get directions. We'll even automatically try to find the closest results for you.

Say for example, its lunch time and couple of desis working at General Motors Headquarters (downtown Detroit) are craving for Tandoori Chicken. Now they don't have to look up the address of that Indian Restaurant to get the directions. All they have to do is type in "300 Renaissance Center, Detroit to tandoori chicken" in the Search Maps Box. Here's what the results look like: (Sizz'l-N-Spice is the 1st restaurant in the list) (you are provided with options from which you can choose to get directions)

University of Michigan and Michigan State - Best Values in Public Colleges

Kiplinger.Com has come out with their list of 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. Michigan has just 2 colleges in the list - Michigan State University and University of Michigan

I have mashed up the list at Kiplinger's with Google Maps. For a look at the entire list of 100 Colleges click here.

Click here to look at the methodology used in coming up with the rankings.

Happy Thanksgiving

UPDATE: This Google Maps Mashup featured in Mike Pegg's GOOGLE MAPS MANIA and John Musser's ProgrammableWeb
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from all of us here at MIBAZAAR. On this occasion I have put together some interesting facts on Google Maps showing:

• Cities and Towns in USA called "TURKEY"
• Cities and Towns in USA which claim to be "TURKEY CAPITAL OF USA/WORLD"
• Cities and Towns in USA named "PLYMOUTH"
• Cities and Towns in USA named "CRANBERRY"

Quicken Loans to move headquarters from Livonia to Detroit

Detroit gets a boost. Quicken Loans announced today that it is moving its headquarters from Livonia to Detroit. The move involving approximately 4000 employees will take 3-4 years. Dan Gilbert Chairman and CEO of Quicken Loans has (via Detroit FreePress)

contractually promised the city that he will make a final decision within the next 12 months between two possible sites for the new Quicken headquarters – a 2-acre parcel above the Premier Garage on the site of the former J.L. Hudson’s store, and a site off Grand Circus Park that once housed the now-
demolished Statler and Tuller hotels and vacant United Artists Theater.

Fly to Premier Garage Location, Detroit in Google Earth or view in Google Maps.

Fly to Statler Hotel site (now demolished), Detroit in Google Earth or view in Google Maps.

Bobby Jindal wins Louisiana Governor's Race

Bobby Jindal has become the First Indian American to be elected as a governor of a US State. Bobby Jindal (36) son of Indian immigrants will become Louisiana's first nonwhite governor since Reconstruction and the youngest U.S. governor in office.

Bobby Jindal received 54% of the votes. In his victory speech Bobby Jindal repeated his election pledge to fight corruption in the state of Louisiana.

"They can either go quietly or they can go loudly, but either way they will go," he said, referring to people who were "feeding at the public trough".

This is where Bobby Jindal will now get to stay (Google Maps View of Louisiana Governor's Mansion - Baton Rouge)

Indian Businesses in Chicago on Google Maps

Next time before traveling to Chicago check out a new feature on Google Maps called "Street View". In maps.google.com do the following:

• Type in 2576 W. Devon Avenue, Chicago and click on "Search Maps Button". The map will center on W. Devon Avenue, Chicago.
• Zoom in enough and click on "Street View" Button.
• Then click on the street with blue border or the human icon.
• Now you have a Street View
• Have fun - Pan around, Zoom in, Explore
• Then using the arrow keys start heading east or west and you will see tons of Indian owned businesses like "Taj Sari Palace" shown below.

Michigan has 26.8% of its population who are obese

Michigan has 26.8% of its adult population (Body mass index of 30 or higher) who are obese. (Source TIME Magazine dated September 10th, 2007).

See how Michigan compares with the rest of the states in this Google Maps View.

University of Michigan Hospitals and William Beaumont Hospital in Top 50 Best Hospitals

University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, MI and William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI are in the list of America's Best Hospitals for Cancer Treatment as mentioned in US News.

Here's a look at America's Best Hospitals for Cancer Treatment on Google Maps.

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan to wed on April 20th, 2007

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are all set to get married on April 20th at Amitabh Bachchan's House in Mumbai, India (Google Maps View). (more at Rediff)



Google Maps View of Amitabh's House