'The Door in the Floor'

Remember when you were little, and you dug a hole in your yard figuring that if you kept on digging you'd come out on the other side of the planet, probably somewhere in China?

Well, for some people that might be true — but most likely you aren't one of them.

Until now, though, it was hard to be sure.

Luis Felipe of Brazil wondered about this and, unlike you and me, actually did something about it.

He created a wonderful Google Maps mashup at digtotheotherside that he calls "Another stupid application for Google Maps."

Just a minute, Luis: there are no stupid applications — only stupid appliers.

But I digress.

From the website:

Are you concerned about where you go to arrive if you dig a very deep straight infinitous hole on Earth?

Your problems are solved!

Surf on the map below, find where you will dig your hole and click there.

After this, click on "Dig here!" and you will see the place where, one day, you will (believe me) put your feet.

"Earth: Dig it, but dig it right."

Outstanding.

The heck with Time magazine's predictable choices for persons of the year (Bono and Bill & Melinda Gates); I'm awarding bookfofjoe's Man of the Year title to none other than the supremely modest yet innovative Mr. Luis Felipe of Brazil.

Hey, wait a minute — what's that music I hear in the background...?

[via Jessica E. Vascellaro in today's Wall Street Journal]