To summarize the article (in my words):

• The understanding of location differs based on cultural norms, so no global standard can be used for cartography. Instead of standardizing, the way the audience interprets data needs to be understood.
• Linking icons to the signs used in the real-world assists with wayfinding: “This combination of global and local icons helps to make the map feel relevant and familiar to locals while being approachable and usable for tourists—allowing Google Maps to be internationally legible and approachable”
• The design process focuses on helping people to do the things they need to do (task completion). All design decisions go through this filter.
• The Google look-and-feel isn’t anything specific. Instead, “Googleyness” is based on the focus on the end-user’s tasks, and clarity of style.

Full Article:
http://www.core77.com/blog/case_study/google_maps_designing_the_modern_atlas_21486.asp

Source: Flowing Data

He comments on Wedding Favors:

Apparently the point of the wedding favors is to avoid embarrassing ourselves in front of the Pope or Martha Stewart or whoever else we invited. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any of my friends or family that would judge us by the quality of the wedding favors, as in “I kind of liked them until the whole bottle-opener-with-a-bow incident.”

And on Wedding Registries:

One of the curses of wedding planning is the whole gift-giving dilemma. This is especially acute for people like my fiancée and me because for us, all material goods fall into one of these categories.

1. Already have it
2. Don’t need it
3. Too expensive for a gift
4. What the hell is it?