Just dropped and smashed my much-used globe of the world. It was
usually suitable as a reference but not entirely up to date with the
now swift geo-political changes that make the purchase of an atlas or
globe something that should be contemplated each year or two nowdays.

 For the short term at least I am thinking there must be a good web
site that encompasses the world and it areas, regions, states and
countries politically, (if not geologically as well).  I am hoping
such a site or sites exist that also allow one the scope to zoom in on
a larger area covering perhaps several states or regions and zoom out
again to the wider view; well something like that at least. For
instance and in regards recent events I would like to look at the
wider area around the caucases covering Chechnya, North and South
Osettia and the area around that then zoom in and see parts of that
area and the borders.

 Is there something available that fits the bill??

Hello John - - - Good to hear from you again.  I guess you need a map
to find where all the good international restaurants are.  If not,
I'll still pretend that's the case anyway.

Not too many people can do it much better than the National Geographic
Society.  So here goes:

Here is the main page:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/

This page gives you the world with great zoom in capability as well as
directional click-and-drag - it is the "map Machine" from the National
Geographic atlas Online.  It includes the standard projection as well
as the world from the North and South Poles.
http://mapmachine.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/viewandcustomize.html?task=getMap&themeId=p2

It also has a good "find the place" feature for countries, regions,
even counties and cities.

If that second link does not work because it is too long for the post,
go to the main page and scroll down to "Atlas of the World Online."

Search - none really.  I have used this resource many times.

Cheers
Digs

P.S. - they sell globes, too.

Hello Digs, looks like you scored a whole in one again; and good to
hear from you again also. Are not you up a little late today, or is it
early??  I should have thought of NG I suppose. It is clearly what I
am after.
 Not out to many restauants of late with workload I have but did just
visit new one just opened up almost directly across the street and
only a minutes walk away being Melbourne's first and only Colombian
restuarant, somewhat of an oddity in supposedly one of the worlds
great restauarnt cities with around 3000 representing every corner of
the globe in the metropolitan confines of a city of 4,000,000  I would
hazard a guess you have not been to a Colombian cafe before?? Coffee
is great and they serve bananas fried as part of main meal. I also
note, as a mere aside, that Colombian women  are easy on the eye.

 John From Melbourne

How about a greater view? 
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html

..........and thanks very much for that too anonaboy, much appreciated.

   JFM