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Google Street View Now Live in Toronto!

Posted by Jerrold Litwinenko / October 7, 2009

google street view torontoGoogle Street View Toronto in now finally up and running! It's also live for Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Halifax.

We've been waiting for it for a long time for this in Canada. Since back in April, the Google Street View camera cars were seen in and around the GTA, and speculation that the new visual feature would be implemented "soon" remained alive and well. But it's been so long that most of us forgot about it. Until today!

And there are some hilarious moments captured.

To try it:

First go to Toronto on Google Maps, and then drag the little yellow man human icon onto the map. Oh, and be sure to try it in full screen (there's an expand icon at the top right of the street view screen). Looks great!

Have fun exploring, and let us know if you find anything interesting by posting links and/or commenting below! Well post sceencaps too.

Spotted in Toronto:

Twin CN Towers:

Creeeeeepy:

Elephant!

Speed-trapping:

Propane explosion damage:

Garbage strike immortalized! Christie Pits during the summer municipal workers' strike:
google streetview toronto

Kids up to no good at Hillcrest Park:
street view toronto

Pre- hand-held device ban driver on Queen St. West:
google toronto maps

Firefighters eating street meat at Yonge & St.Clair:
20091007_SV_ffhotdogs.jpg

People... err... shopping on Yonge St.:
20091007_SV_shopping.jpg

One-finger waving at College & Shaw:
20091007_sv_midfing.jpg

More bird flipping:
20091007_sv_birdflip2.jpg

Bike police doing their thing:

Kid getting help peeing in a bush:
>>Removed by Google!<<

Teenage girls lining up for a concert:

Van of fire:

Christmas in July?

Shady business on George St.? Not sure what's going on here.

Hollywood North action (at Sherbourne & Dundas):

Sweet ride in Yorkville:

Google Street View car taking self-portrait at "Hooker Harvey's":

Bikini bottom in Kensington park:

Good Samaritan showing plumber's crack?

Skeleton guy on his way to Fort York:

Walking the dog in her PJs:

Straight outta Oshawa:

We see you!

Art blurred:

KFB (Kentucky Fried Blur):

Gentlemen's Club in Mississauga:

Please keep 'em coming! :)

Discussion

143 Comments

Ryan L. / October 7, 2009 at 9:57 AM
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There goes my productivity today. Thanks Jerrold!

me / October 7, 2009 at 10:00 AM
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Kind of a nice snapshot of the summer. My roommate's bike, which was stolen from our front porch, is there in the image they captured when passing by. Too bad the dick who stole it isn't in the shot!

Jenelle / October 7, 2009 at 10:01 AM
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Cool.

But the figure is not a man. It's a representation of a *person*.

(Funny how no one assumes a neutral figure like that could be representation of a woman. (Which it isn't, anyway.))

Ryan L. In replying to a comment from Jenelle / October 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
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I blame curious George and the man with the yellow hat for Jerrold's mistake.

Cam / October 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
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Does anyone else NOT have Street View available to them this morning?

Oliver / October 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
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iPhones are working too!

yitter / October 7, 2009 at 10:16 AM
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Why did the camera car go into the parking lot of the Beer Store at College & Bathurst? haha! You can see a woman with a huge bag of empties.

LINK

Scarberian / October 7, 2009 at 10:32 AM
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Are they still updating it? Because there's huge swaths of the city without Street View. I know, it's the suburbs and nobody downtown cares, but what's the point if you're not going to do the whole thing?

Pat-Ex In replying to a comment from Scarberian / October 7, 2009 at 10:34 AM
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I see what you mean -- some suburban cul-de-sacs are covered while some more major streets aren't (or are only partially Street-Viewed). I'm guessing they'll get to it eventually -- Toronto's a pretty big city. Lot of ground to cover.

Toni / October 7, 2009 at 10:35 AM
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You can see evidence of the garbage strike in some of the downtown shots...

Jacob / October 7, 2009 at 10:44 AM
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Nice! First thing I did was find my house.

Alex / October 7, 2009 at 10:44 AM
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They must have some mad face-recognition software at google to blur out all of those faces.

I really hope craigslist rental ads take advantage of being able to provide clear shots of properties!

Kenny / October 7, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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I've been immortalized!!! Search for the address 602 RATHBURN @ Elmcrest in Etobicoke just near Centennial Park, make sure you're travelling West, swing the camera around and you'll see me on my motorcycle waving at the camera, and as it drives away my rear end!

I recognized the Google car and camera setup so I knew to start waving, and look at that. LOL!

Unfortunately I'm using my iPhone right now so I can't copy the map link. I was wondering why there was a little person icon on my addresses this morning.

EDITOR'S NOTE: here's a LINK.

Monique / October 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM
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This is great but I'm kind of feeling a little creeped out - I just had a quick look at my office address and you can see my boss sitting at his desk through his window.

Carthy / October 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
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yeah - funny how the first thing I look at is my home, which I just saw a couple of hours ago. Next, my office, which I'm currently in...

Jeff / October 7, 2009 at 11:07 AM
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garbage strike immortalized forever!!!!!1 http://bit.ly/D6zWj

Faramarz / October 7, 2009 at 11:08 AM
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Nice!

I know that Realtors have had a similar offering through TREB for a few months now, the end result is very impressive. I'm pretty sure that is provided by Microsoft or through a third party partnership.

Google loves to democratize the shit out of everything -which is great!

Faramarz In replying to a comment from Kenny / October 7, 2009 at 11:10 AM
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Kenny you're my hero! hahahhahahaha

K / October 7, 2009 at 11:10 AM
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This is wicked, but i agree with Monique, it is a little creepy. I looked up my house and was able to zoom in on it. That means other people can too...

J-Dawg / October 7, 2009 at 11:13 AM
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This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life.

hoot / October 7, 2009 at 11:15 AM
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Here's a good one. Google Street View captures
guy on bike pinching his nose and looking at garbage strike heap at Christie Pits.

geg In replying to a comment from Jenelle / October 7, 2009 at 11:18 AM
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Ugh.. this has been going on throughout herstory ...///

Cam / October 7, 2009 at 11:23 AM
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Becky FTW

Myd In replying to a comment from Dale / October 7, 2009 at 11:26 AM
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that's my son - wtf is he doing with the pylon? That's it......

Lex / October 7, 2009 at 11:30 AM
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Awww ... People are so friendly in my neighbourhood! hahah!

Diane / October 7, 2009 at 11:33 AM
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Less sexy/creepy is the news that Gooogle Maps' Live Traffic now works in the GTA.

Sarah / October 7, 2009 at 11:36 AM
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Myd, feed your bony-ass son a sandwich.

Cath / October 7, 2009 at 11:41 AM
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67 Broadcast Lane in Cabbagetown. Toronto oxmen graffiti on the back door to the east!

Jake / October 7, 2009 at 11:42 AM
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I found myself on this. Its kiiiiiiiind of creepy.

joe blowme / October 7, 2009 at 11:43 AM
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so if this is what is available to everyday people, think of what else is out for government use.

big brother is watching you

Andrea / October 7, 2009 at 11:51 AM
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Middle fingers up from the park at College and Shaw:
http://urlkiss.com/17q

Katy McDevitt / October 7, 2009 at 11:52 AM
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Horrible.

Becky / October 7, 2009 at 11:58 AM
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Google knows what you did last summer...

jack / October 7, 2009 at 12:04 PM
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too bad this is not live.. or we can see who is going to strip joint or bathhouse

Mark / October 7, 2009 at 12:07 PM
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Street view a bit off: When I google my house address it shows the house 2 doors down.

Ryan L. In replying to a comment from Mark / October 7, 2009 at 12:18 PM
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You can fix that on the standard map screen. I don't know if it updates the streetview though.

Joey In replying to a comment from jack / October 7, 2009 at 12:56 PM
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According to unnamed sources, strip joint and bathhouse monitoring will be available in version 1.31.

Sheryl / October 7, 2009 at 12:59 PM
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Mississauga is active, too. Found my childhood home on it. :D

Jenny / October 7, 2009 at 1:13 PM
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This has a distinct "big brother" sort of feel to it. It makes me uncomfortable and uneasy, just the same as it did when I heard it was in other cities. One the novelty of "finding your own house" and "That's me in the park!" wears off, this is a lot of people watching a lot of other people, via a massive corporation. No thanks.

Kwil / October 7, 2009 at 1:14 PM
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I just posted about this because I found myself in a snapshot!

Conor / October 7, 2009 at 1:27 PM
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Hrmm... my link-fu seems to be off, lets try that again:
Toronto's finest cracking down on Queen West

Becky In replying to a comment from Ryan / October 7, 2009 at 1:28 PM
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Er, they didn't do a good job fuzzing out the license plate in that one...

George Orwell In replying to a comment from Jenny / October 7, 2009 at 1:30 PM
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Technically, they're looking at a photo snapped many months ago, so I wouldn't call it Big Brother. For that it would have to be real-time feed 24/7

Jonathan In replying to a comment from Kris / October 7, 2009 at 1:52 PM
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The guy beside him is picking his nose. He was probably an E-Health consultant billing $2,750/hour

jack / October 7, 2009 at 1:56 PM
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wow, this is hilarious.. i think blogto should create a daily article on google street view pics.. so we can all have a good laugh..

Booger / October 7, 2009 at 2:09 PM
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VAN FIRE VAN FIRE!

Stevie In replying to a comment from yitter / October 7, 2009 at 2:16 PM
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I see that lady with the empties in my neighbourhood going through recycling bins all the time!

gr1 / October 7, 2009 at 2:22 PM
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van on fire rules. i found my bike parked in front of the social. pretty cool way to waste my afternoon.

Ben / October 7, 2009 at 2:22 PM
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Cool! Jerrold is back, babyy!

Laura / October 7, 2009 at 2:33 PM
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So do they update it?

Kenny / October 7, 2009 at 3:41 PM
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People, ya gotta use TINYURL or OW.LY to shorten those URLs. So much gobbely gook.

Phil / October 7, 2009 at 3:42 PM
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Flashpoint Filming @ Il Gato Nero @ College and Crawford,

http://tiny.cc/LiY4n

G / October 7, 2009 at 3:52 PM
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Beardo:

http://bit.ly/1QbhR8

Teenage Father of the Year:

http://bit.ly/19MwAV

Green / October 7, 2009 at 3:52 PM
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Hahaha I'm the guy flippin the bird! woo woo

Mapper99 / October 7, 2009 at 3:59 PM
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Tons more sightings here:

http://streetviewgallery.corank.com/

Frankly In replying to a comment from Kenny / October 7, 2009 at 4:15 PM
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What difference does having a short url make? Either way, they're clickable. Hopefully, you knew that, and you haven't been typing them out. Then I would understand your preference for shorter urls...

Ryan / October 7, 2009 at 4:48 PM
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Looks like they are starting to take down a few of them. The one I found is gone.

LMD / October 7, 2009 at 4:52 PM
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I don't know if that link worked. But it's at 16 Ossington if someone else wants to try...

Is He Okay? / October 7, 2009 at 5:01 PM
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Now with plumber's crack goodness:

http://tiny.cc/bYmGb

Joe Howell / October 7, 2009 at 5:08 PM
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I'm really sad I never saw the street view car—I carried a sweet homemade sign around in my bag for a while, hoping for my own chance at immortality. And I figured if I didn't have that, I'd secure my e-fame by dropping trou.

John / October 7, 2009 at 5:08 PM
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http://tiny.cc/bYmGb

Green / October 7, 2009 at 5:25 PM
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Those bastards took me down!

HEY! / October 7, 2009 at 5:29 PM
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I see you!

1. http://tiny.cc/RGh64
2. http://tiny.cc/XyNwm

HEY! / October 7, 2009 at 5:35 PM
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This is for you, Google!

http://tiny.cc/FNv9l

dcappe / October 7, 2009 at 5:41 PM
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who's playing at Massey Hall - http://tinyurl.com/y9khj3b

Jerrold / October 7, 2009 at 5:53 PM
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Google has started to remove some of these.

Apparently shots of giving the middle finger, and children in their underwear are not to remain on the site! :P

Mapper99 / October 7, 2009 at 6:00 PM
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You can still see the original images here if you're interested:

http://streetviewgallery.corank.com/

Jimbo25 / October 7, 2009 at 6:14 PM
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There's a few other good ones on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/gsightseeing/

Megan In replying to a comment from Kris / October 7, 2009 at 6:56 PM
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Nope Katy Perry concert :)

dbusguy / October 7, 2009 at 7:02 PM
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First "PIMPED" Caravan I've ever seen. Eglinton West @ Glen Erin in Mississauga

LJ In replying to a comment from Dan / October 8, 2009 at 12:27 AM
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you look hot Dan even if blurry ;)

Cas / October 8, 2009 at 12:52 AM
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So just about anyone with a stange device on top of your car can drive below the airport runways

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=43.666095,-79.634615&panoid=3lXpDrwjQeB_eT9eF0bnCQ&cbp=11,104.65,,0,8.27&ll=43.666102,-79.634614&spn=0.010555,0.055575&t=h&z=15

UnclePhil / October 8, 2009 at 1:06 AM
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Sure enough google may have some issues with privacy concerns. But there are various other websites hosting street views for Toronto that get around this by focusing only on the buildings. Take a look at the following to see an example:

http://www.pixelcity.ca/?segId=295&imgId=61&zoom=3&type=3

PixelCity focuses on a panoramic view rather than a 360 view which avoids privacy issues. On top of that, its much quicker to move up and down a street of interest then Google's 360 street viewer

CobbaCorn / October 8, 2009 at 5:45 AM
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Jenny: "this is a lot of people watching a lot of other people, via a massive corporation. No thanks."

Jenny is out, everyone. She's against watching people via massive corporation. No more photographs! She also deleted her Flickr account.

joe blowme: "so if this is what is available to everyday people, think of what else is out for government use. big brother is watching you"

I don't even know where to begin with this one. Joe, would it make you feel any better to know that Google is better at developing software than every government in the world? Even the mean governments! Secondly, Google Street View... IS A MAP WITH PHOTOS. It's literally a road map, but WITH PHOTOGRAPHS STUCK ONTO IT. It's amazingly implemented and all, but Jesus Christ you crazies, it's not voodoo. Google's cameras didn't steal your summer 2009 souls.

Ryan L. In replying to a comment from UnclePhil / October 8, 2009 at 5:56 AM
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But Streetview doesn't have absolutely awful quality...Hence the appeal.

Nandes / October 8, 2009 at 8:50 AM
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Cue the conspiracy nuts & John Twelve Hawks fans.

dcappe / October 8, 2009 at 9:38 AM
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Any idea what this guy is doing? http://tinyurl.com/yeflxvu

dcappe / October 8, 2009 at 9:50 AM
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at least the construction on St.Clair from Bathurst to Dufferin is well documented - look at all the people not there - it is almost a time capsule of businesses that will have or probably will go under due to this fiasco of poor planning, overspending and mismanagement.

Trevor / October 8, 2009 at 10:28 AM
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How much pollution and carbon do you think is produced in producing the meticulous Street Views images?

Carbon Rod In replying to a comment from Trevor / October 8, 2009 at 10:44 AM
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Who cares?

dcappe In replying to a comment from Trevor / October 8, 2009 at 10:54 AM
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seriously? one truck driving around the city? you are worried about one truck driving around the city taking pictures as if this is going to tip the balance some way? If only that Google truck hadn't driven around Toronto the Earth would be OK today....

Ryan L. In replying to a comment from Trevor / October 8, 2009 at 12:07 PM
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While these images at first glance appear to be only a source of fun and wasting time, they can be invaluable as a directional aid.

Streetview could result in many people getting to their destination in a timely manner who normally would have gotten lost. That means fewer cars on the road driving unecessary distances (taking wrong turns, going too far and having to turn around, etc), and fewer idling cars (while the driver runs into the nearby gas station for directions)

Sound like I'm picking out minor details? Well, so are you, but I would guess that the carbon emissions reduced by the relatively fewer people getting lost is more than enough to cover the Google car's emissions.

Jonny / October 8, 2009 at 1:15 PM
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Check out Yonge and Isabella...right by the House of Lords.

dcappe / October 8, 2009 at 2:56 PM
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Parks are not Dumps! - http://tinyurl.com/yft6f2c

dcappe / October 8, 2009 at 4:17 PM
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The Tower - http://tinyurl.com/yjtzax3

dcappe / October 8, 2009 at 8:04 PM
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spotted.googlecar.com - http://tinyurl.com/yh5f244

Miriam / October 9, 2009 at 12:44 AM
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Hahaha I could look at this all day! Hmm I like dragging the little man on the map, it's funny when he sways his legs. :p

Zed / October 9, 2009 at 11:37 AM
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This totally sux and is 100% Big Brother 1984. WTF? Can't wait for the first court case to challenge this. Start smashing the cameras now

cocoa In replying to a comment from Zed / October 9, 2009 at 12:07 PM
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Great! First we have to find a DeLorean...I saw one at the Shoppers by the Queensway in Etobicoke a little while ago. I think I have a spare flux capacitor in my closet too! Smash smash smash!

dcappe In replying to a comment from cocoa / October 9, 2009 at 12:15 PM
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LOL yes smash those cameras when you see them last summer

dcappe / October 9, 2009 at 1:22 PM
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1 year post Downsview Explosion - house beside site - http://tinyurl.com/ygvj8x5
Actually zoom up and down this street - most houses are boarded up

Explosion site wreckage - http://tinyurl.com/ylahqs9

CobbaCorn In replying to a comment from Zed / October 9, 2009 at 6:23 PM
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I thought I had already seen the stupidest comments about Street View, but then Zed showed up late to deliver the trump comment. The time travel jokes where good though. ^____^

It must be terrible to see amazing inventions and get upset and scared about it.

Jessica / October 11, 2009 at 2:59 PM
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This is so amazing! When the aliens collect archived images of our fallen society, they will truly see us for who we are - in all our nose-picking, van-burning, half-naked glory - thanks to Google Street View.

Kenny / October 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM
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Was the Google car pulled over by the cops on Bloor?
http://ow.ly/u4Ij
http://ow.ly/u4IV

Kenny In replying to a comment from Kenny / October 13, 2009 at 12:13 AM
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This one's better... http://tinyurl.com/yzpov5x

Start clicking forward (east) and you'll see the cop eventually walk out onto the street in front of the Google car.

Kaptain Gonzo In replying to a comment from dcappe / October 13, 2009 at 3:44 PM
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Rotate the photo and you can see the service truck. The fellow(?) is working on the electrical services for the street lights and signals.

Osc / October 19, 2009 at 11:14 AM
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Reflection of the google camera car, on Eglinton East,

Osc In replying to a comment from Osc / October 19, 2009 at 11:15 AM
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Forgot to include the URL: here it is:

http://tinyurl.com/ygk9p7a

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