“Under the table” pools may be the catalyst of the next technology revolution in government. During last February’s economic collapse in Greece, the normally technophobic Greek government used Google Maps and Google Earth to find people who had craftily evaded taxes by failing to declare a pool.

Now Google Earth-enabled law enforcement has come to the USA. The town of Riverhead, Long Island, taking a lesson from the Greeks, is also using Google Earth to track down about 250 “unpermitted” pools. And using the satellite imaging service has proved profitable, Riverhead officials have collected over $75,000 in fines from pool owners who never filled out the required paperwork.

Read the original post here: http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/02/google-earth-used-to-fine-people-with-pools-again/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Techcrunch+(TechCrunch)

Here's a number worth putting in your cell phone, or your home phone speed dial: 1-800-goog411 or 1-800-466-4411.  

This is a great service from Google, and it's free -- great when you are on the road.  Don't waste your money on information calls and don't waste your time manually dialing the number.  

I am driving along in my car and I need to call the computer store and I don't know the number.  I hit the speed dial for information that I have programmed (1-800-466-4411).  The voice at the other end says, "Say the name of the business and the City & State."  I say, "Tri State Computer, Matamoras PA”.  He says, "Connecting" and Tri State Computer answers the phone. 

How great is that?  This is nationwide, US & Canada, and it is absolutely free!  Works on cell and landline phones, all you have to remember is 1-800-466-4411. Give it a try.

Click on the link below and watch the short clip for a quick demonstration.

http://www.google.com/goog411/

PS; I will also be giving some other features of this in the next print issue's Gadget Corner...