Stephen Von Worley created this map that highlights all the Golden Arches in the country. And it looks a little like America has been tossed on the grill next to all those Big Macs.

The effort was inspired by a recent drive through the countryside that was rudely interrupted by a strip mall. Von Worley began to wonder "just how far away can you get from our world of generic convenience? And how would you figure that out."  

You can read the full ode to open space on Von Worley's blog, weathersealed.com.

But here's a bit: "I’ve got nothing against Petco, Starbucks, OfficeMax, et al. When overcome by the desire for a cubic yard of kitty litter, a carafe of pre-Columbian frappasmoochino, or fifty gross of pink highlighter pens, I’m there in a jiffy! But, Mr. Real Estate Tycoon, did you have to plop your shopping center smack dab in the middle of what was previously nowhere?" 

He reports to B'More Green that he's gotten a much larger response that he was expecting. "People seem pretty passionate about Micky Dee's," he said.

Indeed. According to a recent story by fellow Sun writer Jill Rosen about upscale restaurants suffering in this economy, the Maryland Restaruant Association reports that there are 300 McDonald's within 50 miles of Baltimore and they all seem to be doing just fine.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Von Worley