User talk:Thomcat/OldTalk

Geohash Goals

Having edited wiki for one quarter of our Three Graticule Tall state, I firmly intend to visit a geohash in each Graticule - eventually. Going to be tough to catch those two coastal ones (Forks and the one south of it).

Update - I've got the whole state as a table on my user page now.--Thomcat 17:15, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

Did you know that the Portland graticule is labelled "Vancouver"? --Jevanyn 14:28, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Aye, and Victoria is labeled "Port Angeles". I basically chose names within the great state of Washington. When visiting those graticules, I won't be satisfied until I've geohashed on my side of the border. --Thomcat 15:14, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

Fair enough, I didn't realize there was a Vancouver, Washington, or that it was close to Portland. -- J

Ribbons

"Earliest" is a good rename. Going to use a sunrise?

The only point the cherry has in favour of the moon landing for Virgin, is that it is clear to see in icon form. I initially uploaded a version with too much whitespace, but I replaced it with a full sized one in a circle. However the original image persists in the ribbon, and I can't find the page (Virgin geohash.PNG) at all. I like the pun, but I also think xkcd art should take precedence, so I won't sic [more] raptors on you if you get it to work with the new art.

Raptors!

Likewise disappointed to have missed you, but we had to get home to Canada before dark because the motorcycle headlight doesn't work properly. We almost certainly passed you on the way back to Granite Falls. I'm glad you saw our message. I often wonder at a hash if I have missed someone, or if someone is about to come along.

I definitely look forward to the next opportunity to meet you. Robyn 05:09, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

P.S. Thanks for the category help on my pictures. I'll try to get that right next time.

Oi!

Sorry I missed you at Cosmo's. One of these next times, though, for sure.--Nukewaste 02:14, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks

Good job on making the Active/Inactive graticule categories! I think it's awesome. Booberfish 05:31, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

Categorization Scheme

(discussion moved to Category_talk:North_America)

Tyler hash

There was one in Tyler? Too bad I don't go to school near there anymore! --BenPop 00:35, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Cape May graticule

I think it's closer to 99.5% water. :-) Since Jan 1st, the geohash has been on land 3 times, and twice it was wetland. On the other hand, a lot of people in the area own boats, so close-to-shore spots are fair game for weekend meet-ups. --Jevanyn 15:34, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Deleting redirects?

Hey there -- why are you deleting redirects? They help people who are searching for shorthand (eg, "San Francisco") find what they're looking for faster. What's the point of deleting them? --Tapin 17:15, 6 July 2008 (UTC)

I can't know which redirects are in active use and which aren't, so I deleted the ones that no longer fit the naming convention of "city name, statename". I expect the ones that are in use will be recreated, which is a simple enough process. The majority of older redirects were created when pages were moved, and (once the references were corrected) were never being used.

A caveat - I hope the ones that are "in use" aren't actually bookmarks or browser cache. Those usages should, IMHO, also be corrected. Why hit the wiki for the extra lookup? It causes a slowdown (small, but not non-zero) for other users. --Thomcat 15:56, 7 July 2008 (UTC)

Reverting spam

Hey, how do you revert several spam attacks at once? Is there a clean copy of the page somewhere, that you can just cut and paste? --Joannac 23:52, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

View the page History, then select the last "clean" revision, then compare differences. Up near the top of the comparison page there is an "undo" link - select that, then save changes. No default "Summary" - I've been using *yawn* because I am really tired of deleting the spam. --Thomcat 04:37, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Virgin Graticule

In answer to your question, I don't quite grasp the difference between Virgin Graticule and first geohasher in a graticule, so I don't think it needs a new ribbon. Robyn 19:41, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Statistics

Wow, thanks a lot for your effort in classifying all the expeditions in the blink of an eye! (or two)

To automate future classification, maybe an expedition template (which contains all the stuff you need anyway to describe your venture; maps, photo gallery, and categories to choose from) could help that people automatically add these categories to their pages. When it comes to updating the numbers, I don't know.. some wiki template function "category size" could be helpful, if it exists, but I'm still just learning the syntax. -- Relet 18:38, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

I was giggling about how the Pacific NW was taking over the wiki, with you and me and Moose Hole making so many edits, and then you go and single-handled classify all the expeditions. Well done. I'm stuck here for a month with no bicycle and hardly any roads, anyway, and I take off at six am so I can't air hash, so I just sit and watch you. -Robyn 20:52, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

I don't think Nevada counts as Pacific NW, and I haven't really made many edits recently. Maybe the Pacific NW really is taking over the wiki, since I'm not making many edits. -- Moose Hole 21:07, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Hey Thomcat, thanks for all your efforts in going through and classifying all the expeditions as completed / failed etc. You must have been reading a lot of interesting stories! --CJ 05:17, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

Heureka! As of Mediawiki 1.13 there should be a variable called {{PAGESINCATEGORY:...}}. This could automage our statistics. Where do we apply for an upgrade? -- Relet 14:18, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Wow, right now as I'm looking it's 200x Coordinates reached vs. 200x Coordinates not reached. -- Relet 18:52, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

401 to 222 actually... that "next 200" link, you see. --Thomcat 19:15, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Doh! Now I see. :D -- Relet 19:21, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Hey, I'm sorry...

I just wanted to apologize for my messy page yesterday. I feel really bad that I didn't spend enough time figuring out what the proper format was, and then forcing you to clean up after me. Please be patient with the newb, I'll do better! -- FlagPoleSitta

Cold Geohash

Do me a favour and bring a thermometer to your next geohash. I'll enter you as coldest and then let the competition begin. :-)

Active and Inactive

CJ is busy removing the Active and Inactive graticule designations from pages. I had for some reason added one,a nd I wondered why, and then I realized that you were putting them on. You might want to get together. -Robyn 04:03, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

The only pages that I have removed them from are pages that were redirect pages (ie both the actual page and the redirect page were showing up in the category list). I figured there was no need for the duplication. --CJ 04:09, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

The only category I could see belonging on a redirect page is state. Somebody (Moose?) made an argument that Vancouver, Washington which redirects to Portland, Oregon should have a Category:Washington, and that makes sense to me. Active/Inactive? I don't think those belong on redirectors... --Thomcat 06:05, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Success/Failure

I'm having difficulty categorizing hashes where I don't have much time left in the day, but ride as far as I can anyway, and then have to give up and go home in order to be in bed at 8:30 to get up at 4:30 and start work at five. Mother nature didn't defeat me: I could have kept riding. The technology is okay, it's just that I have to go home. I see you classed this similar one as mother nature, but I can't blame mother nature for a ten and a half hour work day. Shouldn't there be a Category:Failed - Ran out of time? -Robyn 02:48, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

Hmmm... I classed that one as M.N. from the description of the ravine. Guessing you don't plan the ride that closely, but just ride, and a midnight hash is out of the question - or at least incompatible with employment. My vote is for Category:Failed - Technology (your transportation is lacking), but I'd be fine with inventing a new case also. --Thomcat (remote)

My transportation isn't all that good because it cost $100 at Wal-Mart, but it didn't let me down. And yes, it's illegal for me not to get 8 hours sleep, so midnight is out of the question.-Robyn 10:52, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

Land usage.

You're welcome. ;) Tell me if you think it's correct, and if I have interpreted the Fort Lewis area correctly. Is it military? The script just differentiates between everything white (uncharted land, usually agriculture and wilderness), everything gray (industry, airports, military), everything dark green (natural reserves, parks) and so on... I think I should detail on that on the description page. -- Relet 18:45, 21 August 2008 (UTC)

Heather and 16th

If you have to ask you can't afford to attend. :-)

P.S. What are you doing this weekend? Is the Whidbey Island location doable? -Robyn 16:16, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

Purchases

I wish I'd thought of that straight off. It would be funny to have a running total of the geohashing-related purchases I've made. Pirate hat, ICWB, paddle for my inflatable boat (I already owned the boat), thermometer, $3 Salvation Army knapsack. I'm sure I've forgotten some of the things. I'm going to need a new GPS soon, too, as vertical line syndrome is claiming the eTrex. -Robyn 18:27, 9 October 2008 (UTC)

Meet Tomcat

I was beginning to when you had moved to Munich, when I realized User:Tomcat spelled his screen name slightly differently. -- Jevanyn

Heh heh - was a discussion in early December. The funny thing is, we are on at roughly the same hours. He from Germany, me from Seattle. Somebody is staying up late!

Meet Thomcat

I'd love to come and geohash there, and as you know I almost went to the Whidbey one, but it's a full day's ride to get there, and it's pretty old and icy these days. -Robyn 07:03, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Which graticule is your 42nd celebration to be in? -Robyn 17:26, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

The most active graticule on the planet, of course! ( 2009-01-22 47 -122 ) I'll be there at 4 and can revisit at 5:30. Aftewards a few miles north to my house for games. --Thomcat 18:03, 22 January 2009 (UTC)

I moved

I've just moved to Sweet Home, OR Anniepoo (talk) 14:23, 21 January 2014 (EST)

Is that anywhere near Sweet Home, AL ? --Thomcat (talk) 23:19, 23 January 2014 (EST)

2013-11-03

I'm sorry I didn't make it, sorrier I seem to have spoiled your Time Traveling. :-( Basil (talk) 22:47, 4 November 2013 (EST)

Nay, that did not happen sir! Between the weather and the distance, I decided that a north-south DST transition geohash would be reckless and possibly dangerous. Hoping for a decent east-west geohash for next November. --Thomcat (talk) 15:50, 5 November 2013 (EST)

Jan 27

Great! Monday 6pm I have an event in SF. Sat 4pm I have an event in SF. Today's SJ hash point falls, for what it's worth, right in the middle of the Maverick's world championship surfing competition.

I'm thinking of trying to hit the Saturday hash point in Daly City. If I do that the RV will be in position for a run to the Santa Rosa point sunday. What if I pick you up from the airport and we go straight to the Santa Rosa point? Wear long pants - off road in that area's going to be stickery. If you kick in for gas, we could hit the Antioch point afterwards, but I bet we're too fried. There's been a bit more activity here, would you be willing to do planned expo pages for these? Anniepoo 15:21, 25 January 2013 (EST)

I see the Daly City connection, but I am flying in to the San Jose airport, arriving 2:05 pm. Looks like if I am on time and hustle, I can make it to the Daly City Bart station by 4:44 pm. Sunset tomorrow is 5:27 pm - would have to make that long pants and a flashlight. Better option would be another San Jose hasher who wants to make the drive - will advertise. --Thomcat 10:05, 26 January 2013 (EST)

Turns out the Sant Rosa point is on a horse trail, not a hiking trail. It's a horse trail on a dude ranch that offers riding! We could pay $40 and get there on horses! Anniepoo 15:04, 27 January 2013 (EST)

You want to end up at San Bruno to meet up with me, not Daly City Anniepoo 15:27, 27 January 2013 (EST)

Haaalp

I managed to delete the other expedition on 2013-01-01 from the photos on main page. YOu wouldn't happent to know how to fix it? Anniepoo 02:37, 2 January 2013 (EST)

Jiml covered this, but for future reference, you can use the "history" tab to compare versions, and copy/paste as necessary. --Thomcat 08:41, 4 January 2013 (EST)

Ex-mathematician?

Hi Thomcat! Sometimes I feel like an ex-mathematician -- these days almost all my work is lecturing and grading papers. I get the feeling that this isn't what OtherJack was thinking of, though. Thanks for the note! Swensonj 20:49, 18 September 2012 (EDT)

Garmin iQue

I brought my GPS with me, and the geohash gods have blessed me with two within the lower right quadrant of the Hannover graticule. I also brought a charger, since I usually use this device in my car (with it's 5V plug).

When I plugged the charger transformer into the German outlet (via adapter) and then into the GPS, I heard a Pfzzt. I cannot tell whether the damage is permanent, but the device refuses to power on. Thus, unless the geohash gods further bless me with a geohash close to me AND easily locatable with only a map (Danatar style), I believe my German Geohashing days are done. --Thomcat 12:15, 25 February 2009 (UTC)

Good news! The Pfzzt must have been the transformer. GPS is up and running again. Now where's today's spot??? --Thomcat 14:45, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

Journey to DE

Hey Thomcat! When exactly are you going to travel to Hannover? My next journeys there will be next weekend (Friday and Monday; both only driving through on a trip Berlin-Cologne, but I could of course stop there for a few hours) and then again for CeBIT (the whole week). Hessophanes 23:49, 17 February 2009 (UTC)

Geohashers! I expect to be in Hannover, Germany from Thursday 2/19 through the end of the month. I must hash on the other side of 30W! Feel free to message me here. I *will* bring games. --Thomcat 00:28, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Yay! Another globetrotter! Statistically, you'll get a feasible hashpoint. Good luck! --Ilpadre 09:16, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Hey Thomcat. Nice to see you around. I won't be anywhere close to Hannover unfortunately, but you should find some easy hashes there. Happy hashing! :) -- relet 09:29, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Just get yourself a Niedersachsenticket and there will be something reachable somewhere. If in doubt, stop by at the IRC channel and ask for directions. And enjoy the country along the way :) Too bad Niedersachsen is too far from here to go for a hashtrip. --Ekorren 10:50, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Hi Thomcat, thanks for your message. For us germans distances like those between Niedersachsen and Bavaria are quite far ;-) But aniway, your suggestion of a meetup on a weekend is promising and to visit one of the "northern" graticules (seen from my homegraticule 49 11 Nürnberg) e. g. 50 9 (Fulda), 50 10 (Erfurt) or 50 11 (Gotha) by train should be possible. So, if you could manage to travel south to one of these graticules, i would be ready for a meetup on a weekend. I´ve discussed that already with dawidi and he also agreed in such a meetup. --Tomcat 19:29, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

It's a bit of a stretch (6.5 hours by train one way for us, haven't even looked at the return trip yet) but what about 2009-02-22 51 10, on sunday, in a rural area north of Erfurt, in one of Germany's few remaining virgin graticules? (I'm not sure yet that I can, or want to go, it's just a thought) --dawidi 15:01, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Quite a stretch (5.8 hours here) but it would be nice to have a meetup in that one virgin graticule. I'm considering. If we can fill a car, that's ~3 hours at a justifiable cost. -- relet 15:51, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

I wouldn't mind at all how long I'm on the train, but I could only be there for about one and a half hour at a very specific time. Guess noone else would do exactly that trip and share the ticket. :( --Ekorren 15:59, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

I may come, too, if the group is large enough. It's less than 4 hours for me (Würzburg-Schweinfurt-Erfurt-hashpoint) and I could share a ticket with Ekorren, or even with dawidi from Schweinfurt - Danatar 16:57, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Will consider it more closely when I get back to my hotel room and full internet. I have to work Saturday morning near Hildesheim. Love these German kezboards!!! --194.39.218.10 16:27, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Back in the hotel room and can display the maps AND coordinates. Sunday looks good, and I think I only have to change trains once from here to get there. More planning on 2009-02-22 51 10.

Other Deutsche Plans

Saturday 2000-02-21 in Kassel, Germany - 50 km South of my hotel. Have to work that day, but perhaps my coworker would go with?

Sunday 2009-02-22 in Hannover, Germany - 15 km North of my hotel. Preference given to meetup with German geohashers in 2009-02-22 51 10, however.

Monday 2009-02-23 in Braunschweig, Germany - 21 km NE of my hotel, along Hildeheimstrasse. Perhaps the bus goes that way?

Red links

Well, I missed Valentine's Day, but I saved a page for you. 64,-149. Happy belated Valentine's Day! --joannac 00:57, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

My very own red link, thanks. --Thomcat 14:45, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

Failed --> Thwarted

I've always disliked punching people's expeditions with "failed". How about Category_talk:Expedition_outcomes#.22Failed.22_Should_Be_.22Thwarted.22?

So I'm glad we are doing this now. I've actually, while going through people's pages, found that a new category might be warranted, something like Not Reached - User error or Got lost or something like that. --Virgletati 20:55, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Most active

I think the Atlanteans are itching for an update on the Most active graticules page. -- Jevanyn 19:44, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

Heh, yeah. Give them their glory. You'll probably never have to change the number one spot again. -Robyn 19:57, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

You given up? If you don't want to update it, offer the job to NWoodruff. It's kind of embarrassing not having April's results announced by the end of May. -Robyn 16:48, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Why update this page anyway? There are automatic daily statistics. Or is there a significant difference? -- relet 17:55, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Either update it or officially close it off. And it's good for a human to do things like check that pages have the right caegories. What should be the date at which all expeditions are assumed to be in, and graticules eligible to take their ribbons? The 10th? -Robyn 18:04, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

2009-05-02 48 -122

Coming? -Robyn 19:48, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

xkcd-100

I added an optional distance parameter to the ribbon. -Robyn 20:39, 14 May 2009 (UTC)

Geohashing Calendars

Make sure you check out this page so that we can send you your order. Deadline is December 18th. Thepiguy 18:53, 4 December 2009 (UTC)

You here?

I swear I have a message somewhere saying that you are in town this week, but I can't find it. I'm off work today, probably working tomorrow, but not all day, and can't guarantee I won't be in another province after that. Today's Surrey is probably accessible if you're up for a long drive and a gloomy weather hike. -Robyn 13:34, 20 July 2011 (EDT)

Yes, I am typing from rainy Vancouver at this moment. I passed on yesterday's lengthy drive, hoping today would be better... but of course it isn't. Fingers crossed for Friday! --Thomcat 09:55, 21 July 2011 (EDT)

And it looks as if I may be available Friday. -Robyn

I should have made a stab at Wednesday; today's Surrey is in the woods behind some estate, though nearly on the way south. I might be back in a few weeks, though, for a better spot. --Thomcat 13:49, 22 July 2011 (EDT)

Germany 2012

Hi,

welcome back to Germany (as soon as you arrive) ;) I might consider joining a meetup but probably only if it's not too far from the ~~german~~ Baden-Württemberg - bavarian border. --Ekorren 08:30, 15 February 2012 (EST)

I arrive in the afternoon of February 26, and would be willing to make an evening visit on Sunday. Pulling up the map, I see that Monday Feb 27 has a nice geohash less than 10km from my hotel in Nürnberg. I will edit the discussion there and see what happens next. --Thomcat 10:37, 24 February 2012 (EST)

Thomcat #

There's a ribbon for it?? OtherJack 02:40, 4 April 2012 (EDT)

Not officially... see also Meetup graph, and welcome to the web. --Thomcat 15:01, 6 April 2012 (EDT)

Congrats on the DC success!

I've walked up that trail a ways from Georgetown before, but I don't think I got quite that far. Sounds like it was a good time.

And just to let you know, there is another, spiffier-looking graticule chart thing in existence for Washington (state), which folks actually seem to update. So you don't have to worry about maintaining yours. But of course you can if you want. (I just noticed yours now...)

--OtherJack 02:31, 8 June 2012 (EDT)

Yup, but mine's got *history* baby! :) I'll probably keep it around until I geohash all the missing spaces. --Thomcat 07:30, 8 June 2012 (EDT)

Speaking of which, thanks for updating the spiffy one in Yakima - but are you sure you want to give it to them? I don't dispute that they succeeded at having a good time, but they only got within 300 ft of the hashpoint... --OtherJack 14:05, 13 June 2012 (EDT)

Okay, good point, I should have read that more closely. I want Yakima SO BAD!

(Actually, I want all of Washington, and now Washington D.C. East as well). --Thomcat 14:09, 13 June 2012 (EDT)

Freedomhash

Glad to see you made it out! If you want to avoid the "whoops, forgot to check the website for other expeditions" issue in the future, you should go into your preferences on the wiki and set it so that it emails you when someone modifies a page on your "watchlist", and then add the Seattle page to said watchlist (by clicking "watch" at top.) That way, if someone posts on either the Seattle talk-page or the Seattle main page (almost always expedition planning) you'll get bugged about it. It took me a while to figure that out... -- OtherJack 03:31, 5 July 2012 (EDT)

SF Bay Hashing

I'll be watching the hash points! Let me know as time gets nearer Anniepoo 13:01, 4 January 2013 (EST)

Ping

Hello, and thanks for the ping. Unfortunately I am closer to the top right corner of that graticule and have a two hour commute, Monday thru Friday, 9-5 job, so weekday hashes have to be uber-convenient. Happy hashing! Lucky91xj 19:37, 23 April 2013 (PST)

Automated Geohashing map of hashes

I needed an automated way of creating a map of all my hashes. It was getting very hard to do it manually, and keep track of them all. So, one day I sat down and wrote the program. After I finished I found that it was easy to create a map for other people. I created one for you... [1]

You can copy this link to your main page if you would like. I have the link on my main page and so does Greenslime. It is hosted on my own web server. If you want you can view the source of the map and save it to where ever you would like. --NWoodruff (talk) 13:13, 19 July 2013 (EDT)

Thanks, just looking at this now. Pretty cool, and I appreciate having the source also! --Thomcat (talk) 11:41, 22 July 2013 (EDT)