For some reason I have run across a lot of Google Maps mashups in the last 24 hours ago dealing with the less happy side of life. In fact, they (almost) all show recent or event real time events. Some examples:

• Public911.com plots 911 calls in Seattle as they happen.
• Alarmeringen.nl shows emergency calls throughout the Netherlands.
• Misdaadkaart.nl shows reported crimes throughout the Netherlands.
• Live Piracy Map shows acts of piracy throughout the world.

Not in real time but along the same lines (and admittedly quite controversial), there have been several maps made of membership in the far-right BNP in the UK in the last day as the party’s membership list was leaked online.

On a lighter note, the US Office of National Drug Control Policy made a map of medical marijuana dispensories and Starbucks cafés in San Francisco, eliciting predictable responses.

As you can see, a website mapping important events or locations can be a very powerful way to make a political or business point.