Talk:Couch Potato Geohash

Apparently the xkcd wiki doesn't support <math> tags, or I would use them in the chance formula, domicile footprint/( \cos lattitude * 1.23648758e10 m^2). </math> Test: does <latex>m^2</latex> work? --75.71.95.184 08:10, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Wouldn't your chances actually be higher since there are quadrangle regions and not the entire surface area of the Earth. So assuming you're in Denver, your chances are more like 1 in 10,604 if you live in a 1000 square foot apartment. See unprojected surface area for more information. I went ahead and changed the page to reflect this. Kroot 06:22, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

I make it 1 in 10,604,000. Converting from km² to m² is a factor of 1,000,000. I've replaced the formula with a simpler version derived from the link above (though I don't have the tools to make it look like a proper formula). --Osmie 18:57, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

It's correct. Denver Graticule is 9,561 km² which equals 9,561,000,000 m². So assuming 100 m² living area. It's 1 in 95,610,000 --130.236.218.9 14:52, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I later figured out that I was still out by a factor of 10, but didn't update the talk page! Thanks for double-checking. To get the 106,000,000 and 46,000,000 figures I used a 90m² apartment. --Osmie 00:52, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

It looks like that stick figure is giving me the finger.

He is. He's saying "Duck you I got the Couch Potato achievement". And he's saying it to you. PhilHibbs 19:32, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

I'm going to claim this one if the point falls in the hotel at which I'm staying. I promise to supply proof that I was checked into said hotel before the Dow opening. Robyn 15:24, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Heck, if I found that the day's local geohash point fell within a hotel? I'd scramble over there and see if I couldn't reserve the room in which it fell for hastily-assembled-partying purposes. Whether that "counted" or not, it'd be awesome all the same! :D --Youhas 19:04, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

The hash for Terre Haute last week was ~10km from my dorm, so I must ask: Do you get a couch potato geohash if it falls in a temporary residence? 76.74.76.74 19:26, 23 June 2008 (UTC)

A dorm is typically lived in for 9 months, not as temporary as some residences. And really all residences are temporary to some degree. I think as long as you lived there at the time of the hash, it works (though 10km is a bit far for this one). -- Moose Hole 17:38, 24 June 2008 (UTC)

Hey everyone, does 1.2km count? That's how far today's is from my house. I'm so excited as I live near the water (graticule 34,-76) so >70% of the days, the location is miles offshore. Thanks. Benjammn 13:41, 10 August 2008 (UTC)

Nope. August 29 is 1.2139 km from my house, via direct flight. Cubicle Geohash has an Almost Honorable Mention category (1km < distance <= 3km), but then there are no honorable mentions there like there are here. --Thomcat 15:58, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

The Geohash for the St. Louis, MO area on August 29th, 2008 has landed on someone's house in St. Ann. Does that qualify for an Couch Potato honorable mention for an unknowing person? How should we handle this? I was thinking of going to their house to present them with an award, but it may not be a very friendly neighborhood. --Marsupial Vomit 18:38, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

It's only a couch potato award if the resident is a geohasher. If you can convince them that it would be a fun sport, then they can laim the award, but if it isn't a friendly neighbourhood, you have to decide. -Robyn 19:34, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

So today I decided I am going to start geohashing, I spent a couple of minutes flipping back through previous spots, the 2009-01-31 is 4 block from my apartment building, can I retroactively count it as an honourable mention? I'm about 95% sure I was there on that day, though I have no proof. --Aaron 2:22 AM 28-feb-09

I don't think so, because you have not been aware of the hash at that time, so you cannot claim that you have been geohashing. If you had reached the hash itself unknowingly, there's the Curse_of_Unawareness consolation prize, but there is no reward for being unaware of having been at some distance of a hash. Don't worry, there will be better chances. :) -- relet 12:34, 28 February 2009 (UTC)

Oh man, a friend of mine, unfortunately uninitiated, could have had this one on 4-18-09.

Shouldn't this include the garden (yard, grounds, etc.)? I was just thinking, "couch potato" means you can sit on the couch and win. But there are places in many houses where the GPS (if it worked indoors) would read differently. In theory, one would have to get up from the couch to stand in those places, so if they count as Couch Potato award, arguably the grounds of the house might qualify too. I only ask because I have 300 acres. No, just kidding :) But has anyone else thought about this? After all, if we are supposed to party at the hash point, an outdoor BBQ sounds like an excellent idea to me... --macronencer 23:44, 29 July 2009 (UTC)

It does... --joannac 00:18, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

put the couch infront of the BBQ, and cook from there? (and cook potatoes!)--mykaDragonBlue [- i have no sig -] 00:22, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Yes, people with massive estates have an advantage for the Couch Potato. If you have 300 acres I think you should be obligated to haul a couch out to the geohash, though. -Robyn 00:31, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Just wondering...

When the point is inside a house, has no one ever knocked on the house and told the owner? The chance of the couch potato award happening to *you* are slim, but the chance of it happening to *someone* is extremely high...Stevage 09:40, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Google Maps vs. GPS`

Do the points on the "official" tool match the WGS84 co-ordinate system? I know there can be a couple of hundred meters discrepancy between different co-ordinate systems. This would mean that you could easily get the wrong house if you rely on any given map. PhilHibbs 17:48, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

Also, do I get a ribbon if I go to a house that the hash falls on, and get them to sign up for the wiki and get the achievement? PhilHibbs 18:06, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

You get the Ambassador achievement for that. They get the Couch Potato. Alternatively, they may answer the door and come out yelling that you are a lesbian. No one gets a ribbon for that. Unless you get permission to prove you aren't, at the geohash. But that's a different ribbon. -Robyn 23:11, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

I am actually a little surprised that this hasn't been done already. Someone must live in a friendly neighbourhood where people don't shoot first. PhilHibbs 11:48, 24 July 2009 (UTC)

Caravan

does parking a caravan at the hash point count? does it make a difference if the caravan was rented for that purpose? are there bonus points for blowing it out at the hash point afterwards? Norill (talk) 18:06, 20 April 2014 (EDT)

I would say this is pretty similar to Robyn's hotel scenario in the first section...if you were already parked there, then you can claim it but not if you get there after the given point was published. Couch Potato implies you don't have to do anything but sit on your couch to get there so moving your home to the point would invalidate this. Pedalpusher (talk) 13:49, 3 December 2014 (EST)