d3.js is getting more and more popular, and journalism isn't getting less data-based. Consider the last time there was an election. Those dynamically updated m

d3.js is getting more and more popular, and journalism isn't getting less data-based. Consider the last time there was an election. Those dynamically updated maps use this kind of file. And without this support, shape files can't be viewed at all in a GitHub project, which is actually kind of ridiculous in 2013. Furthermore, it encourages shape file providers to move their content to GitHub so we don't have the standard scenario of "download this .zip file and compile it to your preferred format to see if it's worth your time". It streamlines the process significantly. It also gives them an edge over BitBucket. :)