Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » GMC Blacklist Map
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214656 is a reply to message #214648] |
Tue, 16 July 2013 19:53   |
 |
Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I don't see the close-enough-fer-a-cigar Black List map as being a detriment unless you're trying to replace your contact book. The main function is to find the closest help, right? The fact that the list is now entering into precise geo-location territory doesn't supplant that as it's main function.
Even if the zip code is 20 miles across, knowing the names and numbers of some of the closest people, not necessarily the closest, is a huge boon. Whether you're broke down or popping in for a visit, it's polite to call first to make sure someone is home, receptive and able to help. That closest person might very well, say, "The guy you really want lives five miles East of me. He's got way more experience, the right tools and space to work."
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214658 is a reply to message #214648] |
Tue, 16 July 2013 20:00 |
|
Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
|
Senior Member |
|
|
[quote title=A Hamilto wrote on Tue, 16 July 2013 17:25]| Quote: |
Some zip codes are 20 miles or more from end to end. And if two or more members have the same zip code, one dot gets piled on top of another, and the one(s) underneath are not accessible. So you might try the dot on top, and then end up calling someone another 60 miles away, when the guy who's dot was underneath was ready, willing and able to help.
In Phoenix, John Washington and Christopher Choffat have the same zip code. One might be home and the other not, and the one not home might be the one with the top dot. Not the best example maybe, since there are a dozen people scattered around Phoenix. But either John, or Christopher, would be left out of the game.
|
As far as the dot thing, it's not really an issue. It would just make sense to click on the "Cards" tab as a matter of routine as that has more complete information in a more readily digestible form, and then nobody gets buried under the dots.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214774 is a reply to message #214660] |
Wed, 17 July 2013 21:56 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
|
Senior Member |
|
|
A couple of days ago I sent Bdub a heavily scrubbed Excel copy of the Blacklist (the one I sent to Dan for the Google map thing).
I have subsequently split the USA and Canada entries into two seperate files, eliminated excess data, and changed the address info for the lines that would not import into MS Streets and Trips, trying for the actual location of the members (and not always succeeding). Some addresses ended up being random business addresses from the correct zip code, but that's the best I can do.
IMHO, it looks as cool in MS Streets and Trips as it does on Dan's Google project, and when dots are piled on top of each other, MS Streets and Trips lets you pick which one you want from the ones in the stack.
If there is enough interest, I will send the files to Bdub so he can put them somewhere where folks can download them.
FWIW, the current online Excel list will import into MS Streets and Trips, but only about 560 of more than 700 lines can be resolved by the program. You can "help" the program figure out some of them, but it is really time consuming, and you will not get very many right.
[Updated on: Wed, 17 July 2013 22:06] Report message to a moderator |
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214780 is a reply to message #214660] |
Wed, 17 July 2013 22:37 |
|
Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| A Hamilto wrote on Tue, 16 July 2013 18:51 |
| Richard V. wrote on Tue, 16 July 2013 20:00 |
As far as the dot thing, it's not really an issue. It would just make sense to click on the "Cards" tab as a matter of routine as that has more complete information in a more readily digestible form, and then nobody gets buried under the dots.
Richard
|
That is just too funny. I have no use whatsoever for the cards part. If I am on the road and break down, I am going to look for the closest dot. If no help there, the next closest dot, and so on. Stacked dots hiding potential assistors doesn't work for me, and cards don't depict distance from where I am. I never checked, but I thought the info that pops up when you click on a dot is the same as what's in the cards.
Dan's solution works for a pretty wide audience.
|
The operative phrase was "in a more readily digestible form". It's easier to scan cards, which can be filtered, than to hover over a dot to read the info, then another, then another...
The stacked dot thing doesn't seem to me to be a real issue. How many stacked dots would there be? Two? That's a fifty percent chance of being the right one. Or, if you're a pessimist, the wrong one. 
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214781 is a reply to message #214774] |
Wed, 17 July 2013 22:43 |
|
Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| A Hamilto wrote on Wed, 17 July 2013 19:56 |
A couple of days ago I sent Bdub a heavily scrubbed Excel copy of the Blacklist (the one I sent to Dan for the Google map thing).
I have subsequently split the USA and Canada entries into two seperate files, eliminated excess data, and changed the address info for the lines that would not import into MS Streets and Trips, trying for the actual location of the members (and not always succeeding). Some addresses ended up being random business addresses from the correct zip code, but that's the best I can do.
IMHO, it looks as cool in MS Streets and Trips as it does on Dan's Google project, and when dots are piled on top of each other, MS Streets and Trips lets you pick which one you want from the ones in the stack.
|
Is Streets and Trips freeware? If not, you're putting work into something where people have to buy a program to get the benefit of the assist list? It seems to me that's assisting Microsoft more than the the people on the side of the road. What about if someone's computer dies or gets lost or stolen and they don't have Streets and Trips? An online assist list freely accessible from a phone, computer, somebody else's computer would cover more break down scenarios, no?
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214793 is a reply to message #214781] |
Wed, 17 July 2013 23:48 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Richard V. wrote on Wed, 17 July 2013 22:43 |
Is Streets and Trips freeware? If not, you're putting work into something where people have to buy a program to get the benefit of the assist list? It seems to me that's assisting Microsoft more than the the people on the side of the road. What about if someone's computer dies or gets lost or stolen and they don't have Streets and Trips? An online assist list freely accessible from a phone, computer, somebody else's computer would cover more break down scenarios, no?
Richard
|
All the "old" processes are still in place. We just made MAPS of the CURRENT data available. Nobody has to buy anything if they don't want to. Use the data we provide, or not, but don't dismiss the value of it because you don't understand the concept.
MSS&T is not freeware, but if you have it, the spreadsheet is free. There is a free trial version, but I never tried it to see if it was time limited, or feature disabled.
If Dan leaves his Google thing up for all of us, then there's your free online map from phone, computer, etc.
All the work I did was cleaning up the Excel version of the Blacklist. The mapping stuff was a "free" spinoff - both Dan's Google thing and learning how to import it into MS S&T.
I don't have mobile internet access, so I was looking for something I could take with me. Before Dan started this, all I had was the PDF or a paper copy of the Blacklist. We ALL now have options for SEEING the CLOSEST source(s) of help, instead of having to peruse a volume of text.
Yes, the text based stuff is sufficient. But whether I use Dan's google map or Blacklist-enabled MS-S&T, I can find all the nearest people on the list to any location in North America in seconds with the map tools. How much fun is that with text-based stuff when you are flustered on the side of a busy interstate?
Bdub has offered me a copy of DeLorme Street Atlas 2013 so I can figure out how to import the spreadsheet into it. I haven't taken him up on it yet.
If anybody out there has DeLorme Street Atlas 2013 and wants to try importing the scrubbed spreadsheet, PM me your email address and I will send the Excel files (one for USA, one for Canada).
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214797 is a reply to message #214783] |
Thu, 18 July 2013 00:25 |
|
Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| A Hamilto wrote on Wed, 17 July 2013 20:54 |
| Richard V. wrote on Wed, 17 July 2013 22:37 |
The operative phrase was "in a more readily digestible form". ...
|
Yep. And people are visually oriented. The map is "more readily digestible" for some of us.
Tell me this isn't sexy:
|
Personally I like the Google Maps color palette, but that might be just me.
The only real difference between your pay-to-view assist list, and Dan's is the potential problem for stacked dots. Dan mentioned that he'd only put in a couple or three hours, so there may be a tweak he is unaware of, but the stacked dots are a symptom and not the cause.
The cause of the stacked dots is a Black Lister having only a city/town/zip code instead of an address. I can fully understand someone not wanting to broadcast their address until actually needed - it's their privacy after all. But in the very few instances where stacked dots occur, would it be that difficult to request a Black List stacked dot to provide a nearby intersection or road name? That would unstack the dots. List updated with improved accuracy and problem solved, no?
Google Fusion is freely accessible and on any device and for those reasons would seem to be a more compelling solution than a pay-to-play-and-I-must-have-my-computer list.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214798 is a reply to message #214793] |
Thu, 18 July 2013 00:46 |
|
Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
|
Senior Member |
|
|
AH,
I did not realize you did not have mobile internet access. Obviously what works for me won't work for you. From what you wrote it appeared that a handful of stacked dots was your main objection to the Google Fusion map/chart. I did not understand your limitations. My apologies.
You raised a point about being by the side of the road and being too flustered to deal with reading words instead of reading a map. When I've broken down I've called, txted or emailed people I know hundreds of miles away to ask for advice. They've posted on this forum for me, called people they knew in the general area, or simply looked up the Black List on their computer for me. Other times I take a stab at who might be closest on the Black List and they'll let me know who in the community is best situated to assist. It has yet to fail me.
I do appreciate what you and Dan are doing and have done to update the Black List. Thank you.
R
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214835 is a reply to message #214797] |
Thu, 18 July 2013 11:45 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Richard V. wrote on Thu, 18 July 2013 00:25 |
Personally I like the Google Maps color palette, but that might be just me.
The only real difference between your pay-to-view assist list, and Dan's is the potential problem for stacked dots. Dan mentioned that he'd only put in a couple or three hours, so there may be a tweak he is unaware of, but the stacked dots are a symptom and not the cause.
The cause of the stacked dots is a Black Lister having only a city/town/zip code instead of an address. I can fully understand someone not wanting to broadcast their address until actually needed - it's their privacy after all. But in the very few instances where stacked dots occur, would it be that difficult to request a Black List stacked dot to provide a nearby intersection or road name? That would unstack the dots. List updated with improved accuracy and problem solved, no?
Google Fusion is freely accessible and on any device and for those reasons would seem to be a more compelling solution than a pay-to-play-and-I-must-have-my-computer list.
Richard
|
Yes, it is easy to modify the data to unstack dots. And for those that don't want the association of their names and addresses displayed on a map on the internet, any address could be substituted (and I did in some cases). Folks that strived for privacy can look for themselves on the list to see how successful they have been. With a few exceptions, I found their actual or old street addresses easily (the ones I didn't will find the address of a business associated with the number, or the local police department, or city hall or whatever). I just did a google search on the primary phone number they provided, or looked them up on whitepages.com. I am not a professional bounty hunter.
For everyone: Don't just go to a street address you find on this Blacklist. It might very well be an entity that has never heard of the person you are trying to surprise. Always call first and verify.
As far as "pay-to-view" goes, I am not trying to sell any applications, I just made a version of the Blackilist that can be imported by people that have trip planning programs, which I am sure some GMCers do.
I hope there is some benefit to, and no hard feelings over, the effort Dan and I put into adding geolocating capability to the existing list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #214855 is a reply to message #214852] |
Thu, 18 July 2013 13:41 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Richard V. wrote on Thu, 18 July 2013 13:23 |
Simply stated, it's a huge benefit you and Dan have provided. It's using current technology to update a millenial list, and makes it far more useful for everyone. Thanks again.
There's a lot of updating and winnowing necessary for a fair bit of the GMC information out there, so if you're looking for another project...
Richard
|
When I am ready to forget to blink for hours at a time again, I will most likely take up Bdub's offer of a copy of DeLorme Street Atlas 2013 to evaluate the possibility of importing the list into it.
If it imports Excel data, I would expect it to be trivially simple, after I get the program itself installed.
Until Bdub posts the files I sent him, anybody out there that has a trip planning program should try the current online Excel version of the Blacklist to see if/how it works. In MSS&T, if you don't like the results, you just delete the dataset. I suspect the other products have similar features.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Blacklist Map [message #216497 is a reply to message #216480] |
Thu, 01 August 2013 06:52 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Awesome effort, even if I seen to be lost. Now for an POI file that will go in the GPS. Having several different brands of GPSs, it is frustrating to not have a common POI file base. Anyone have suggestions on inputting POIs into a Magellan unit, I'm all ears. TomTom is easier, and I have heard from a different list, Garmins are the easiest.
Downfall of POI, it is just location, not a total data base.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Tue Oct 01 07:08:32 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.11016 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
