* Guitartricks Convention: Please Read! *

Greetings my fellow guitartricksters. Have you ever thought about how cool it'd be if we could all get together somewhere in person and have a convention? No? Okay, so it's just me and I'm a weirdo. I realize the likelihood of this ever happening is very, very small. It costs alot to travel abroad and people love their anonymity. I can certainly respect that.

But still, wouldn't it be cool to know where we should have our convention if it were to ever happen? I have taken care of that with a program I created called gtgtg, which stands for "guitartricks get together". It works by taking the latitude/longitude information of a given person's location, aggregates that data in with all the other users, then returns the latitude/longitude coordinates of where the most central location would be. Kinda like everyone gets 1 vote in determining where the convention would be.

I've taken the liberty of compiling data from some of the users on this site by scouring the member directory and looking for location information on the biggest posters. Here's who/what I have so far...


[FONT=Courier New]
40.901
-80.857
Leedogg
Salem
Ohio
USA

38.811
-89.953
Pantallica
Edwardsville
Illinois
USA

44.552
-69.632
Jolly McJollyson
Waterville
Maine
USA

51.083
-114.083
Lordathestrings
Calgary
N/A
Canada

30.224
-92.02
Raskolnikov
Lafayette
Louisiana
USA

34.052
-118.243
PonyOne
Los Angeles
California
USA

44.98
-93.264
TheDirt
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA

33.769
-89.808
PRSplaya
Grenada
Mississippi
USA

43.667
-79.417
Polera
Toronto
N/A
Canada

39.924
-83.809
sambob
Springfield
Ohio
USA

41.85
-87.65
jake sommers
Chicago
Illinois
USA

49.25
-123.133
finger_cruncher
Vancouver
N/A
Canada[/FONT]

Assuming the above information is correct, the guitartricks convention location would be located at (N 41.088593 W 93.489112), which is a town called Norwood, Iowa. Yeehaw! We'd be partying in a cornfield. Here's an actual picture of the location:


This is only the North American list. My program will also work for people in the eastern hemisphere. However, when I tried to put all the users on a master list to run through my program, our meeting location is inevitably somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! So I'll keep things simple and have two lists, one for western hemisphere folks, and one for eastern.

What you can do:
First off, you can check the official gtgtg webpage on my site here. You will find out all sorts of information about the program, as well as be able to download it and try it out for yourself. There's some neat features on there.

Second: I urge you guys to simply post your location on this thread. Just write your city, county(if applicable), state (if applicable), and country. I'll look up your latitude/longitude information on my database, and add ya to the list. Every response has the potential to move the location of the meeting site hundreds of miles in any given direction. Don't lose out!

Also, for the member's I have listed above, if there's been a mistake or a change in your location, just give an update on this thread. You can also confirm if you want that way I know I got it right.

I may be alone here, but obviously I think this is a cool idea if I put 20+ hours into making this program, please don't let my time be wasted in vain. You don't have to give up any information beside the city,state,country you live in. That's not so intrusive is it? No, I didn't think so! :D

Click here to visit the gtgtg site.

I think its an awesome idea! since im a kid i probly wouldnt be able to get my parents to go to far , but could you add me to the list? I live in Farmington Hills , Michigan and also Saginaw, Michigan

Originally Posted by: guitarfreak141but could you add me to the list?[/QUOTE]

You bet dude, the more the merrier!


[QUOTE=guitarfreak141]I live in Farmington Hills , Michigan and also Saginaw, Michigan

Which one would you say you're at the most? It wouldn't be fair for you to get two votes :p :cool:

probly Farmington Hills

Originally Posted by: Leedogg... Assuming the above information is correct, the guitartricks convention location would be located at (N 41.088593 W 93.489112), which is a town called Norwood, Iowa. Yeehaw!

[font=trebuchet ms]Looks like we'll all be dropping in on Dr_simon[/font] :D

Or everyone could come to Waterville...because...it's...so nice???

maine.......far.......btw, wat would the new location be with my location added?

Man, this is such a great idea. Sadly I don't have the means to go, but I may be able to think of somehow I could make it to Illinois.

Originally Posted by: guitarfreak141maine.......far.......btw, wat would the new location be with my location added?

42.485
-83.377
guitarfreak141
Farmington Hills
Michigan
USA

That is how I have you entered into my database. You were originally 529.452 miles away from the cornfield pictured above (our first location). When I factored you into the mix, It moved the new location of our gtgtg to a new cornfield 40 miles in your direction. So now you are 489.092 miles away from our new cornfield in Eddyville, Iowa. Ain't she purdy?



That looks like a farmhouse there at the top. Maybe we can break-in and drink all of farmer john's whiskey. :mad: HAHA j/k.

And now for a summary for everyone in my database.
[FONT=Courier New]
The coordinates of the gtg are: (41.1743, -92.7185)
Pantallica is the closest at 219.264 miles.
finger_cruncher is the furthest at 1569.06 miles.
The average distance of each user from our target location is 752.13 miles.

**********************************
* User: guitarfreak141
* Latitude: 42.485
* Longitude: -83.377
* City: Farmington Hills
* State: Michigan
* Country: USA
* Distance: 489.092 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Leedogg
* Latitude: 40.619
* Longitude: -80.951
* City: Mechanicstown
* State: Ohio
* Country: USA
* Distance: 615.276 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Pantallica
* Latitude: 38.811
* Longitude: -89.953
* City: Edwardsville
* State: Illinois
* Country: USA
* Distance: 219.264 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Jolly McJollyson
* Latitude: 44.552
* Longitude: -69.632
* City: Waterville
* State: Maine
* Country: USA
* Distance: 1187.99 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Lordathestrings
* Latitude: 51.083
* Longitude: -114.083
* City: Calgary
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 1223.83 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Raskolnikov
* Latitude: 30.224
* Longitude: -92.02
* City: Lafayette
* State: Louisiana
* Country: USA
* Distance: 757.563 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: PonyOne
* Latitude: 34.052
* Longitude: -118.243
* City: Los Angeles
* State: California
* Country: USA
* Distance: 1474.61 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: TheDirt
* Latitude: 44.98
* Longitude: -93.264
* City: Minneapolis
* State: Minnesota
* Country: USA
* Distance: 264.371 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: PRSplaya
* Latitude: 33.769
* Longitude: -89.808
* City: Grenada
* State: Mississippi
* Country: USA
* Distance: 535.852 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Polera
* Latitude: 43.667
* Longitude: -79.417
* City: Toronto
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 699.078 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: sambob
* Latitude: 39.924
* Longitude: -83.809
* City: Springfield
* State: Ohio
* Country: USA
* Distance: 475.413 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: jake sommers
* Latitude: 41.85
* Longitude: -87.65
* City: Chicago
* State: Illinois
* Country: USA
* Distance: 266.301 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: finger_cruncher
* Latitude: 49.25
* Longitude: -123.133
* City: Vancouver
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 1569.06 miles
**********************************
[/FONT]

The distance parameter is distance from our new cornfield (41.1743, -92.7185).

If we get some more people in on this, I'll be sure to give an update. I've also messed around with the program a little bit so check the official gtgtg site for version 1.1. I'll try and have it up tomorrow (November 2nd) sometime.

Until next time, enjoy

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonMan, this is such a great idea. Sadly I don't have the means to go, but I may be able to think of somehow I could make it to Illinois.

You mean Iowa?

I don't think jake sommers should qualify-- his last post was Dec. 3/03, and his last trick was July 2/01!

His profile is pretty funny though... under interests, he lists "construction worker". That is pretty darned hilarious.


Well, looks like I'm gonna skew this miles to the north-east. I'm also in Toronto, Canada, like Polera.

Originally Posted by: Lordathestrings[font=trebuchet ms]Looks like we'll all be dropping in on Dr_simon[/font] :D

Cool, time to get the home-brew going !!

Sounds cool Leedog. But 1569.06 miles???!!!! :eek: :eek: LOL. How 'bout y'all just come to Vancouver? B.C is beautiful and you can legally drink at 19 (for those who are minors). :cool:

Originally Posted by: Dr_simonCool, time to get the home-brew going !!

Since you're English, I might even try it.


I'm in Chelsea, VT.

Here are the new results based on the following:

1) Changed Raskolnikov from Lafayette, Louisiana to Chelsea, Vermont
2) Removed jake sommers
3) Added eggman

Summary:
[FONT=Courier New]
The coordinates of the gtg are: (42.373, -90.5796)
TheDirt is the closest at 224.548 miles.
finger_cruncher is the furthest at 1623.81 miles.
The average distance of each user from our target location is 764.393 miles.

**********************************
* User: iamthe_eggman
* Latitude: 43.667
* Longitude: -79.417
* City: Toronto
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 570.445 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Raskolnikov
* Latitude: 43.99
* Longitude: -72.448
* City: Chelsea
* State: Vermont
* Country: USA
* Distance: 918.382 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: guitarfreak141
* Latitude: 42.485
* Longitude: -83.377
* City: Farmington Hills
* State: Michigan
* Country: USA
* Distance: 367.278 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Leedogg
* Latitude: 40.619
* Longitude: -80.951
* City: Mechanicstown
* State: Ohio
* Country: USA
* Distance: 512.478 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Pantallica
* Latitude: 38.811
* Longitude: -89.953
* City: Edwardsville
* State: Illinois
* Country: USA
* Distance: 248.282 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Jolly McJollyson
* Latitude: 44.552
* Longitude: -69.632
* City: Waterville
* State: Maine
* Country: USA
* Distance: 1058.21 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Lordathestrings
* Latitude: 51.083
* Longitude: -114.083
* City: Calgary
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 1257.53 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: PonyOne
* Latitude: 34.052
* Longitude: -118.243
* City: Los Angeles
* State: California
* Country: USA
* Distance: 1599.17 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: TheDirt
* Latitude: 44.98
* Longitude: -93.264
* City: Minneapolis
* State: Minnesota
* Country: USA
* Distance: 224.548 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: PRSplaya
* Latitude: 33.769
* Longitude: -89.808
* City: Grenada
* State: Mississippi
* Country: USA
* Distance: 595.922 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: Polera
* Latitude: 43.667
* Longitude: -79.417
* City: Toronto
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 570.445 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: sambob
* Latitude: 39.924
* Longitude: -83.809
* City: Springfield
* State: Ohio
* Country: USA
* Distance: 390.614 miles
**********************************

**********************************
* User: finger_cruncher
* Latitude: 49.25
* Longitude: -123.133
* City: Vancouver
* State: N/A
* Country: Canada
* Distance: 1623.81 miles
**********************************
[/FONT]

So the new location, (42.373, -90.5796) is (surprise, surprise) a new cornfield in St. Donatus, Iowa that is 137.851 miles Northeast of our last (eddyville) cornfield. Here's our new gtgtg spot:


Boy wasn't that update fun?

It's my understanding from a few of these posts that Dr. Simon resides in Iowa. If you work for Iowa University, that means you live in Iowa City, correct? Let me know and I'll add you.

Finally, who else from the list do you think we should get rid of. I used to talk to sambob and Pantallica in the chat room almost daily, but they've been awol for a long time, (as well as others, iiholly, etc...) If anyone from the list is still sticking out (TheDirt, Polera <--- have these guys been active lately), just let me know and I'll take 'em off the list. Look for the new program to be on the gtgtg page sometime tomorrow evening. I'll work on it after I get done voting. Catch y'all later..

Originally Posted by: LeedoggYou mean Iowa?

Yeah. But this is a damn good idea...I'm liking it more and more.

ooh I that is so very far away.

hey do you think you would be able to find an aerial shot of my house because that would be cool. We could give you our state, city and suburb information and then we can all guess what house someone lives in with the good old hotter/colder system.

Yep 52246 Iowa City

Is this gonna be like a Star Trek convention except everybody is called a 'Trickie' and wears Steve Vai costumes?