You're right, jens, it isn't there any more. The instructions were correct when I found the lat/long for my address some time ago, but it seems they changed their UI.

You can still get the data from mapblast, though. Fill in your address, and get the map, then zoom at least once so all the CGI parameters will get filled in. Then look for the CT parameter in the URL (it's a GET form, so it's easy to read). Mine reads &CT=40.0706471%3A-76.314855%3A20000, which makes my latutide 40.0706471 degrees N, by 76.314855 degrees W. longitude. However, this is decimal degrees, and we want dotted DMS. So, to convert, in each step I read off int() of the current value, then multiply the decimal part by 60. Thus, I'd put <!-- location:latitude=40.04.14,longitude=-76.18.53 -->. And thanks to you I just checked my homenode and noticed I didn't update it when I moved.

However, this, while easy, is hardly trivial. Another place to try, from a quick google search, is geocode.com's Eagle (US-centric)

One place I wouldn't try, BTW, is terraserver.com; not only are they MS, but they don't see to make any useful information without being a "pro user".

To convert a decimal number (dn) to degrees (d), minutes (m) and seconds (s):

d  = int(dn)
mi = frac(dn)*60
m  = int(mi)
s  = frac(mi)*60
[download]

Note that int(n) denotes taking the integer part of a number (i.e. int(49.5125) = 49) and frac its fractional part (i.e. frac(49.5125) = 0.5125). mi is an intermediate result.

Example: To convert 49.5125 decimal degrees to degrees, minutes and seconds:

d  = int(49.5125) = 49
mi = frac(49.5125)*60 = 0.5125*60 = 30.75
m  = int(mi) = int(30.75) = 30
s  = frac(mi)*60 = 0.75*60 = 45
[download]

Many calculators have a built-in function to compute this - it is often called "dms" or "hms". Switch to scientific mode on your calculator. To convert from decimal to degrees, minutes and seconds, enter the number, then hit the dms button.

To convert from degrees, minutes and seconds to decimal degrees, enter the degrees, a decimal point, then the minutes (2 digits) and seconds, then hit the [x]Inv (Inverse) button to get the inverse function and hit the dms button again.

I found that for UK based monks www.streetmap.co.uk will give latitude/longitude for any given postcode or address.

Once you zoom in, the query string changes so that it includes the lat and long.
http://www.mapblast.com/myblast/map.mb?CMD=LFILL&CT=45.3974961%3A-122.727504%3A20000&GAD1=... No need to show it all and expand the node. Anyways, here is some code for conversion, go ahead and optimize away:


#!/usr/local/bin/perl -w
use strict;

sub convert {
    $_ = shift;
    my $a;
    my $b;
    /^([0-9-]+)\.([0-9]+)$/;
    ($a,$_) = ($1,("0." . $2)*60);
    /^([0-9-]+)\.([0-9]+)$/;
    ($b,$_) = ($1, ("0." . $2)*60);
    s/\..*$//;
    return "$a.$b.$_";
}
while(<stdin>){
    my $lat;
    my $lon;
    if(/.*&CT=([0-9.-]+)%3A([0-9.-]+).*/){
        my $lat = $1;
        my $lon = $2;
        print "\n\n<!-- location:latitude=" . convert($lat) . ",longit
+ude=" . convert($lon) . " -->\n";
    }
}
[download]


Perhaps, this could be included on the site, somehow.

Edited, added last idea.
==
Kwyjibo. A big, dumb, balding North American ape. With no chin.

(PS: whatever's generating the maps seems to be having a font problem)

jens neglected to link to the node he was referring to, namely, Put yourself on the Monk Map.

Also relevant: You can't put yourself on the Monk Map with MapBlast anymore (I think)