1. If you’re working with undocumented lat/long coordinate data and, when plotted, everything’s coming out sort of in the right place but a little way off, check to see whether or not what looks like decimal lat long data is actually traditional DMS data.

    For example, I recently had to parse and plot a bunch of coordinates which looked like this: 6359550-2154605. I initially thought it was decimal lat/long data missing decimal points for some reason, so I plotted it as 63.59550, -21.54605. All of the coordinates were in the right place relative to each other, but about 1/3rd of a degree off. Turns out the data actually needed to be plotted as 63˚ 59' 55.0", -21˚ 54' 60.5".

    Here’s the python I wrote to clumsily convert the strange original form into decimal:

    def dms_to_decimal(old):
        if old[0] == '-':
            old = old[1:]
            multiplier = -1
        else:
            multiplier = 1
    
        return (int(old[0:2])+int(old[2:4])/60.0+int(old[4:6])/3600.0) * multiplier
  2. Terrible copy in KEF:

    Sign reading: One of the few airports in the world which is both tax and duty free, meaning up to 50% off city prices. Experience Iceland. This is Iceland at it’s purest. Come and Experience Iceland.

    Duty free shopping is Iceland at it’s purest? Seriously? May as well jump back on the plane without leaving the airport then.

    Banner above checkouts reading: Worth The Experience

    Apparently the experience of buying aforementioned duty free goods is so bad that signs are required to reassure you that the goods are worth it.

  3. From now on I am framing all web standards-type discussions with the question “what is it reasonable to demand that authors do”

    For example, it’s not reasonable to demand authors publish content in more than one format. It’s not reasonable to demand that authors learn how RDF works. It is reasonable to require authors to publish HTML. It is reasonable to require authors to add some simple microformats like rel-author, h-entry or h-card.

  4. Wow, I think I just got my first recruiter spam. They asked me to check out their website but gave no link. This is a tech industry rite of passage, right?