DataMasher Serves up Government Data on a Map [Mashup]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/A1-GNI3OYqI/datamasher-serves-up-government-data-on-a-map

Mashups can be fascinating, layering data over maps to provide insight into trends and patterns. That kind of data manipulation would seem beyond the scope of the merely curious, but thanks to DataMasher you can instantly create a mashup.

DataMasher pulls from the enormous amount of data compiled and released by the U.S. Federal Government—data which often collects dust or makes brief appearances on charts stuffed in newspaper corners.

You can browse through mashups created by other users—like High School Education and Health Care Coverage or Federal Spending per Representative in Congress—or you can create your own mashup from the thousands of data sets available.

DataMasher won't guarantee the statistical validity of your mashups, if the data sets are available for number of toaster owners and number of dog owners nothing is stopping you from creating a mashup of the two, but nonetheless the service provides a simple and fascinating way to access large amounts of data usually too unweildy and tucked away for the average person to bother with.

DataMasher [via MakeUseOf]