Web

Track web page changes

Try this service: http://www.changedetection.com

Short URL

There are a couple of ways to convert long URLs to short ones: bitly, Google URL Shortener, TinyURL, Goo.gl.

How to create large google map images

You can look at this wonderful youtube howto.

All you need is to use the embeded link from google maps, adjust the size, use firefox addon screengrap to get the image. You can then use the image, create a pdf of the image, etc.