The Inevitability of Change

The old~
Street Address: 101 Front St, Boardman, OR
or the new~ Latitude and Longitude: N45°50.23' W119°42.08'
Both work if you copy and paste them into Google Maps.
Which do you prefer?
A picture is worth a thousand Words!
Accurate GPS coordinates TRUMP all street addresses!
One day the street address will go the way of the old covered wagon shown in the foreground.





"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living."
by: Gail Sheehy (b. 1937)
U.S. journalist and author.

Reason for Lat & Long coordinates on an image

I am attempting a paradigm shift in how the world locates places. This is not necessarily an easy matter since most of us are not given to change too easily, and we are typically map and street address oriented when it comes to finding places. With the increasing popularity of GPS systems I am of the opinion that some pictures are complimented by their coordinate address being placed on the picture. My “Mystery Destination” lounge is just one of millions existing somewhere in our world without the coordinates. But, with the coordinates on the image someone with a GPS can say, “I can find that place! And, it’s close or it’s too far to bother.”
I believe a picture is worth a thousand words and accurate GPS coordinates trump all street address.

Not all pictures lend themselves to be complimented by their coordinate location, a portrait for instance or a rainbow with coordinates would be meaningless. If I go to the location the portrait or rainbow was taken I can’t expect to find them there when I arrive. Also pictures that are an exceptional work of art like your ‘Estuary Reflections VI’ don’t need to be tarnished by the added text. However a shot like my ‘Pawn Shop’ are not particularly artistic and I feel the added coordinates provide extra usefulness for those in need of locating a pawn shop.

I broke the mold slightly with my ‘Mystery Destination’ and ‘Sail Away’ submissions but I did these two with coordinates to bring attention to the coordinates, and if my response makes sense then it was a great opportunity to explain myself. Tomorrow I will show what we enjoyed at this establishment and that picture will be coordinate free, but the day after I will post the entry to the establishment which in my mind is the quintessential reason for matching coordinates with a picture.

Your suggestion for an added border with the text work contained in that is a good idea and the kind of feedback I was looking for when I decided to start posting on treklens. I believe that would be a perfect way to handle a work of art like your ‘Estuary Reflections VI’ shot where coordinates could compliment the picture. I think other shots can have the coordinates blended artfully with the picture, ‘Sail Away’ and others like ‘Pawn Shop’ make no difference regardless of how you slice it.

I like the coordinates on the picture as opposed to only being in a database, because by being placed on the picture it is like a stamp of accuracy by the photography stating these are where this picture was taken. And, if a database entry typo was made the coords on the picture provide a cross check.

Thank you, David, for your critique and inquiry. Both are most appreciated.

Best regards,

David
Founder of ProximityCast.com
A project in its infancy.

Till next time,
ciao my friends!



Original Source of Post

Super Bowl Commercial

A lot of Super Bowl excitement involves watching the million plus dollar commercials that are featured each year. Today I share my commercial to help make ProximityCast a household word. Watch for it! If not this year, maybe next. TTT...Things Take Time...;-)

A young technically savvy Chelsea Clinton is driving her father Bill somewhere in an exotic location in a far corner of our world.
Bill has a conniption fit when a “Big Mac Attack” hits him.
Chelsea tells her dad to calm down because she has ProximityCast on her blackberry and will have her dad in the nearest McDonald's in the quickest possible time.
As Bill calms down a cast net is seen going out over the entire world pulling in the six closest McDonald’s Restaurants as the catch.
The commercial transitions to a very content Bill, just lovin’ it, in the nearest McDonald’s Restaurant.

Till next time,
ciao my friends!

Another non-coding day

I plan on coding tomorrow. I will try to create the regular expression I need.
So, How did I like the book: "Mastering Regular Expressions"?
The author had my captive attention through the 1st chapter and much of chapter 2. He highly recommends that a you read through chapter 6 before trying to use the book as a reference. Somewhere in chapter 3,4,5,&6 I started asking myself: "just how far down the rabbit hole to I really want to go?" "Just how far down the rabbit hole do I really need to go?" Well I did not read the latter chapters with the same enthusiasm as the 1st and most of the 2nd. If I'm successful creating and implementing my regular expression tomorrow, I'll be happy.
Mexican food anyone?
Till next time,
ciao my friends!

Non coding day

Well my new born baby: ProximityCast.com has been kicking for 1 month and 10 days now. And, still has lots of growing and improving to do. I hope I can enjoy the journey and stop wanting the new born to be full grown over night. I have enjoyed all phrases with my human children, although my oldest made me wonder if I would survive the teen years.
I'd rather be coding, but I spent the day reading (and I enjoyed it). Then I reluctantly helped my daughter with her car. I wanted to still be reading.
I'm working through the first six chapters of "Mastering Regular Expressions" by Jeffrey E.F. Friedl So far I am really enjoying it. I'm motivated. I need a regular expression to properly handle my new Latitude and Longitude input box combination street address input.
Geocoding will accept the Lat and Long and regurgitate it, but that is unnecessary usage of the geocoding service, and they give you a limit as to how many can be done in a day.
Boy, right now I'll be amazed and happy if ProximityCast ever starts using their daily quota. I feel like and Edsel Is that good or bad?
Anyhow, I have an inch I have to take care of but I have this yard I have to dig through to get where I can handle the inch properly. Fortunately I enjoy coding as much as I enjoyed flying. I just hope I can get to where I can make some money at it someday and provide something the world likes. Tall order...
ciao my friends!

a Favorite Restaurant ~entry #5

Gaston's Trout Fishing Resort on the White River below the Bull Shoals Dam has a world class fine dining restaurant that is definitely worth experiencing.
Gaston's has a small grass airstrip and many pilots fly in to experience the amazing ambiance of Gaston's.
Depending on your stature in life, the menu may be considered a slight bit expensive, however Gaston's offers a Sunday Brunch that is awesome!
It is a buffet style offering that has fried trout, broiled trout, smoked trout, eggs Benedict, custom omelets cooked while you watch, and much much more.
The dessert selection is always huge. This is an all you can eat buffet you won't want to miss if you're ever in this area.
Gaston's restaurant has huge glass windows that offer scenic views of the river and Ozarks. The ceiling and walls are filled with antiques from yesteryear.
If someone is not satisfied after a Sunday brunch at Gaston's deal, I'd have to wonder if it is possible to satisfy them.
Gaston's is high on my list as a favorite.
So, where is your favorite restaurant?
Perhaps you'd consider uploading it to ProximityCast.com

---

Today I will continue to work on implementing geocoding. There is so much to do.
Dream big Dreams, but never forget that realistic short-term goals are the keys to your success. Mac Anderson - Founder of Successories from his book: The Essence of Leadership
I have big dreams for ProximityCast. I'm hoping that someday it will meet all of your expectations and provide just what you want and need. Oh yes: I wish it were all here already, however it is happening one step at a time. In The Essence of Leadership Mac says, "Remember, it's a cinch by the inch." That saying has helped me to stay the course I'm on. Mac said his grandmother originally told him the saying. She phrased it like this: "Inch by inch life's a cinch, yard by yard life is hard."

---

Like I said, today the inch I am pursuing is geocoding. Here is a peek at the yard ahead. Things I need to get too.

1. Improve my Google Map feature. It does not work that well in Internet Explorer's browser.


2. My category selector needs lots of work.


3. I need to implement the ability of users to write reviews.


4. ...and much, much more.

Amazon.com just delivered two new computer science reference books: Mastering Regular Expressions, and Regular Expression pocket reference. So, I guess I need to get busy with some coding...
ciao my friends!

Short Day ~entry#4

Today was a leisurely day. I had a nice mountain bike ride and didn't do any coding.
I did want to share this link to a gps forum.
gpsreview.net
And here is a ProximityCast picture:

It looks like some of the javascript code I posted yesterday got truncated. I'll try to correct that tomorrow. (Corrected as promised! I set the font for the code at 80%)
Well, nuff said for entry #3. I'm tired. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be ready for some hot coding.
ciao my friends!

Extracting Lat & Long coords from Google Maps

Well it has been a long day. I've worked on adding geocoding ability and it is almost ready.
Geocoding involves entering a street address, town, or zip code into the textbox and a geocoding service determines the Latitude and Longitude of that spot.
Geocoding has a high overhead. Many geocoding services limit how many can be done in a specific time frame.
ProximityCast.com is primarily designed to be used with GPS coordinates and makes street addresses unnecessary. However the world's citizens are so use to street addresses that a transition period is necessary. And you do need the means to acquire the coordinates of a location if you are not on site with a GPS.

Here is a method I use to extract coordinates from Google Maps. You can copy and paste the extracted coordinates into ProximityCast.com with the parenthesis intact to use as a cast initiation point.

1. I open Google Maps to the vicinity of where I would like coordinates.
   
2. I use my right click mouse button and select "center map here" from the drop down button.
   
3. I past this javascript code that I keep saved somewhere convenient on my computer into my browser's URL address window.
   
   Here's the code:

   
   javascript:void(prompt('',gApplication.getMap().getCenter()));
   
   
   
4. I click the "go to the address in the location bar" button usually to the right of the address.
   
5. A popup appears showing the coordinates of the center of the map like this: (43.60336, -110.7362)
   
6. I right click on the coordinates the copy and click either "OK" or "Cancel"
   
7. I then paste the coordinates into google's "search maps" text box, remove the parenthesis and click "Search Maps"
   
8. A popup appears with a marker for the centered spot. The popup has the coordinates in both Decimal Degrees and Degrees, Minutes, Seconds.
   
9. I refine as and if necessary and I have my way point for inserting into my GPS or pasting into ProximityCast for a cast initiation point.

Here is a destination for you. You can find a link to their online menu here.
If you are ever traveling along I40 through central Arkansas this is a worthwhile and pleasant eating stop. My favorite is the "Louisiana Hot Shrimp Plump Shrimp, Sautéed in a Very Spicy Cajun Sauce" for 9.99 or 14.99 depending on whether or not you get it as an appetizer or a meal.
If you are a chocolate lover, you won't want to miss having "A Chocolate Mess
The Messiest Chocolate Sundae You Have Ever Eaten! 6.99 " for dessert."
Enjoy!

Well, nuff said for entry #3. Time to go to bed shortly so I'll be ready for a new day.
ciao my friends!

A Day's Work ~entry #2

I've opened an account with treklens to try and create some visibility for ProximityCast among photographers around the world. "TTT" Things Take Time. Many Americans like their cake and want to eat it too. Usually today is not soon enough, yesterday would have been just fine. So, patience is the order of the day. This quote: "It takes years to make an overnight success." was made by a U.S. entertainer: Eddie Cantor(1892-1964) I think it may apply for some businesses too. Time will tell if it was time well spent... My submission to treklens was for today was an image of a Dutch Bros. Coffee franchise in Monmouth, OR. Participating in sites like this take time, as does doing this blog so hopefully if I sow, so shall I reap, and it will all be time well spent.

I'll start coding after I complete my blog entry and deal with some e-mail. I'm working on an improved coordinate input method and pages that validate. You can try it here: new2u If you use Internet Explorer the castNet page has problems even though it validates. I'll probably try to resolve that issue before making it the active solution. On my faq page you can find a link to download Mozilla's FireFox. It is currently my browser of choice, and so far I've been very satisfied with it.

Anyhow here is a peek at what is on the horizon:

In the OLD you had to select your hemisphere by clicking one of the four corners. This could also be set in preferences if you are primarily always in the same corner of the world. Then you had to tab between Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, and Latitude and Longitude. With the NEW you can simply write your whole coordinate, Latitude and Longitude, with appropriate hemisphere indicators in one text box. It is quicker and easier once you understand the nuances. I'll probably create an educational page for those who need it once I make this the primary method of coordinate input.

I also plan on adding Geocoding capability for those who don't yet know or have access to their Latitude and Longitude, but once people are thoroughly acquainted with Latitude and Longitude I'd bet street addresses will become obsolete.
Well, nuff said for entry #2. Time to see if the coding fires are hot.
ciao my friends!

Raison d'être ~entry #1

Hello World!

This is not the beginning of my journey, but I am still in the early stages although I've climbed a major mountain and have dug out of a deep dark tunnel.
The dénouement is yet to be revealed and there is much to share.

Familiar with "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki? So where was that mind expanding work in my youth? I guess you could say I've arrived at the party late.
Robert splits income production into 4 quadrants: "E" which is for employees, "S" which is for the self employed, "B" which is for businesses able to continue to function with or without you, and "I" is for investors.

I have been in the "E" quadrant the majority of my life with some minor excursions into the "S" quadrant. I've never had enough marbles in my bag to play in the "I" quadrant, and I am currently interested in transitioning into the "B" quadrant. I'm finding that it is easier said than done. The amount of tenacity necessary to stay the course is huge. The one thing all the business books I have read so far have been spot on the mark with is anyone desiring to start a business needs to find that which they have a passion for. Without a passion for what I am attempting, I would have been dead in the water long ago.

This is what I've learned so far. In my previous occupation where I was in the "E" quadrant. I feel like all of my screws were nice and tight and in place.



Now as I attempt to transition to the "B" quadrant, I find that many of my screws are either loose or missing. So, I guess that means my work is cut out for me. Well it is a blessing to have something to put my hand to, and quite a gift for that something to imbue me with passion. Sometimes I wish the ground I have to travel was easier. Sometimes I wish my way was clearer. Sometimes I wish my burden was shared.
Most of all I hope that when all is said and done the world will have received a cherished gift from my hand. It doesn't have to be the biggest and brightest diamond on the block, but to be recognized as a gem of value that is appreciated will make my journey all worth while.


If you are ever in Little Rock and you have a craving for Sushi, you might try: KOBE Steakhouse and Sushi. For those who are GPS savvy now you have the waypoint you need and a picture to allow you to experience déjà vu on arrival!
Well, nuff said for entry #1.
ciao my friends!