This is a really nice mashup example: MetaCarta GeoSearch News. It pulls stories from AP, Reuters and so on for the last 24 hours back to this month which are presented in the left hand side of the pane, with a Google Map on the right hand side. Searchers can also search for a place and or subject and link them together. Clicking on the results either in the list pane or in the map takes the searcher to the story. Most recent news story that I've seen was produced in the last 25 minutes or so.
Nice and straightforward, though I'd really have liked to have seen a little more breakdown of the stories on the maps - only one icon is used and it would have been good to have had a few, even basic options such as politics or technology for example. Irritatingly this is almost available, since you can filter stories by various categories. No RSS either.
Worth a look if you're a bit of a news junkie and you want to have a slightly different visual approach.
Hope you're OK Phil - you usually are more prolific in you posting - maybe you're just having a well deserved break. I really enjoy reading your blog. In 2002 or 03 I read a book you wrote about internet searching - you really got me interested in the digital world and I've been reading your site regularly over the years. Your blog keeps me on top of what's important in relation to my Library work. If you are not well, look after yourself.
Posted by: Jenny Luca | March 24, 2008 at 12:25 PM