Census GPS-tagging your home's front door

[CompVest]

According to an online Yahoo program, the Global Position System coordinates for the White House, probably one of the best-known publicly-owned buildings in the world, are 38.898590 Latitude and -77.035971 Longitude. And since you know that, it's no big deal for the White House to know the coordinates for your front door, is it?

Some people think it is, and are upset over an army of some 140,000 workers hired in part with a $700 million taxpayer-funded contract to collect those GPS readings for every front door in the nation.

This is the start of the following article. I can think of many reasons as a gun owner besides the few mentioned in the article as to why I am not happy with my taxes going to fund this program. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php? ... geId=97208" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Disclaimer I did not do an exhaustive check to be sure of the veracity of this story.

[dleewo]

At the moment, I can't think of any reason why this is a bad thing. It's not as though they are trying to implant GPS devices in people. The government already know where you live. The majority of the houses already have a house number and a street address so having the actual lattitude and longtitude of your house isn't going to make it any easier to find the house.

Also, armed with an address, you can go to a number of websites, for example: http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html and find the lattitude and longtitude. It wouldn't be right up to your front door, but it'll be close.

[kirock7]

Well, if my house is ever stolen or if I ever lose it... with this new requirement... I'll be able to find it.

[Keith B]

My Brother-in-Law is a retired LEO (one time Chief) and is doing this in his home town as a way to keep from getting bored.

I don't see the big deal either. If I know your address, I can get your latitude/longitude (or close anyway.) I can actually see this helping if they will allow the mapping companies to cross reference it. My In-Laws live on a horseshoe shaped street and any map you go to has the addresses reversed on the streets. If you plug their address it onto a GPS it takes you to the other side of the horseshoe and vice-versa.

[LaserTex]

Unless, of course, your ex has access to GPS guided munitions. That could be bad...

Have a great Wednesday!

Doug

[nitrogen]

If I have your address, I can get decent gps coordinates to your house via many online mapping programs.

This is a waste of money, but not otherwise a big deal.

[Keith B]

Unless, of course, your ex has access to GPS guided munitions. That could be bad...

Have a great Wednesday!

Doug

I've heard the phrase 'This bullet has your name on it' but never 'This bullet has your latitude and longitude on it.'

[solaritx]

Ok, Keith.......I'll go along with that thinking........from now on, I'll make sure the bad guys don't know my name. Now, there can't be my name on the bullet

Garry

[OverEasy]

Several years ago Waller County gave everybody a "street address", so 911 calls could locate you. I've checked my address on MapQuest and the location is way off. My wife got a Tom Tom Gps thing for Christmas. If we put in our address it can't find it. I called Waller Co. to complain. I listened to a big long string of excuses that didn't make sense.
Maybe Obama and the "Federal Goobermint" can fix things.
I would like the fire department to be able to find my house if they need to.

I've got a new UPS driver after about 15 years of the same guy. I got a postcard in the mail from UPS saying they couldn't find my address, please contact them and give them a good address to deliever to. I called and the address on the package was my address. I bet the new driver was using some GPS device. I asked them how they thought the postcard would get to an address they couldn't find. They admitted that the USPS is smarter than they are. I asked UPS to just "mail" my package to me since the USPS does a better job than they do. UPS delievered the package the next day.

I'ld like to receive some service for the taxes I pay, OE

[roberts]

Ok, Keith.......I'll go along with that thinking........from now on, I'll make sure the bad guys don't know my name. Now, there can't be my name on the bullet

Garry

What about the ones addressed to occupant?

[tfrazier]

Run to the hills, it's the Mark of the Beast!!!

Oh, wait...I guess the hills have gps coordinates, too.

Run to outer space!

Seriously, though...
I can't think of any way this is harmful, but something still makes me suspicious. I know the federal government could obtain this information other ways without us even knowing, but still, information is power, and I think the feds have too much power already. I don't like just giving them more information/power just because it seems harmless and convenient to do during the census.

If my local police and fire department wants to keep a database of "this street address equals these coordinates", fine. Might come in real handy one day as others have already stated.

But the feds? Not sure why they need that kind of detail and see no reason we should make it so easy for them to collect it.

[jimlongley]

And it's not just online mapping programs.

Delorme Street Atlas, among others, does a bang up job of providing coordinates from telephone numbers as well, including some "unlisted" numbers that people have been foolish enough to let slip into the system.

BTW, there is no such thing as an "unlisted" number, they are all on lists at the various phone companies, they are just "unpublished."

I have used Delorme products for many years, and find them to be quite accurate in most cases. There was that bridge across the Tennessee river that wasn't there, but at least I had a nice ride in the country.

[tfrazier]

...There was that bridge across the Tennessee river that wasn't there, but at least I had a nice ride in the country.

Instead of..."at least I found out the buoyancy factor for my [year/make/model]."

but I guess that only happens for bridges that are 50% there.

[RECIT]

If you type in an address in google maps then hit street view it will show you a PICTURE of the address. A picture of the front door or whatever was in the driveway. I have seen photos of people's houses and been able to pick out the license plate number and can tell what type of car they drive, tell you what color their brick is and so on. This is a waste of money but it is not nearly the most imposing thing the gubmint does by any means .

[cbr600]

BTW, there is no such thing as an "unlisted" number, they are all on lists at the various phone companies, they are just "unpublished."

That may be true for landlines but my only phone is a mobile and the bill goes to a business address. They have my name but if that concerns someone it's possible to buy prepaid cellular at Target with cash.