tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6010810.post2062198454078928374..comments2023-07-02T01:33:20.308-07:00Comments on The Abbot of Unreason: Life is a HighwayAbbotOfUnreasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08484573287776114988noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6010810.post-72194074376674613642012-01-11T09:49:51.898-08:002012-01-11T09:49:51.898-08:00Who's talking 'bout me?Who's talking 'bout me?Highwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12727734882387823418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6010810.post-28817499100917610112012-01-10T18:56:22.371-08:002012-01-10T18:56:22.371-08:00Apparently, some map companies admit it and others...Apparently, some map companies admit it and others do not. But the conspiracy theory is that there are "trap streets," put onto maps to trap people who were copying the maps illegally.<br /><br />I think the idea is that theoretically anybody could go out and survey all the roads of Nevada City and make a map. The fact of the layout of the roads can't be owned. However, if you put a lot of money into doing that, you don't want someone else to sell a map that they made just by tracing yours and adding pretty colors. So you stick in a non-existent road (or maybe if you're good, you just make it wiggle weirdly in a place that doesn't affect intersections for directions or something) and then if someone else makes a map with the same fake street, you've trapped them.<br /><br />Most companies seem to just claim they're errors, which is why it falls under "conspiracy theories" in my mind. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1058/do-maps-have-copyright-traps-to-permit-detection-of-unauthorized-copies" rel="nofollow">An article I found</a><br /><br />I wonder, though, if the layout of places like Lake Wildwood can be owned...AbbotOfUnreasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08484573287776114988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6010810.post-48129579152103824282012-01-10T16:11:38.610-08:002012-01-10T16:11:38.610-08:00Abbot, can you please explain the map/lies thing? ...Abbot, can you please explain the map/lies thing? I've never heard that.Dixie Redfearnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6010810.post-15126414974249058462012-01-10T08:37:12.241-08:002012-01-10T08:37:12.241-08:00Oh, for sure. GPS is particularly bad in these hi...Oh, for sure. GPS is particularly bad in these hills. And all proprietary maps are anti-gospel: having lies in them is how they maintain their copyright.AbbotOfUnreasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08484573287776114988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6010810.post-7918712279089961052012-01-09T17:05:49.166-08:002012-01-09T17:05:49.166-08:00We got a bad route from Google maps a couple of ye...We got a bad route from Google maps a couple of years ago when we asked it to direct us from Rattlesnake Road (near Alta Sierra) over to Highway 49. When we tried to follow it, it led us to a dirt trail through a field. Needless to say, we gave that up. Google maps also has a bad GPS longitude and latitude spec for our house. Bottom line: Don't use Google maps as if it's gospel.Don Peltonhttp://sierravoices.comnoreply@blogger.com