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Karma Coal: a micro heist?

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drtaru

drtaru

Moderator

from [REDACTED]
537 posts

NothngUpMySleeve wrote:

The hand in Coal.jpg looks more like Phill than John, no?

no

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December 27, 2008 12:22 am
JPDyson

JPDyson

Moderator

3,573 posts

It looks decidedly caucasian.

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December 27, 2008 12:23 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

Phill is is Dartmouth. At least he was a few days ago.

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December 27, 2008 12:23 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

jpdyson wrote:

It looks decidedly caucasian.

Haha, guess you're right. Still, the locations don't match up. Any idea what's near where Address.jpg was taken?

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December 27, 2008 12:25 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

NothngUpMySleeve wrote:
jpdyson wrote:

It looks decidedly caucasian.

Haha, guess you're right. Still, the locations don't match up. Any idea what's near where Address.jpg was taken?

Between Dells Park and Dartmouth College Road in a cemetery.

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December 27, 2008 12:29 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

mjweb wrote:
NothngUpMySleeve wrote:
jpdyson wrote:

It looks decidedly caucasian.

Haha, guess you're right. Still, the locations don't match up. Any idea what's near where Address.jpg was taken?

Between Dells Park and Dartmouth College Road in a cemetery.

Oops...I meant Coal.jpg. big_smile

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December 27, 2008 12:30 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

Pike Avenue between Union and Beacon. Phill's dorm?

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December 27, 2008 12:33 am
JPDyson

JPDyson

Moderator

3,573 posts

Well, it's not THAT close to Dartmouth. It's an hour away.

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December 27, 2008 12:35 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

Hmm... none of this makes any sense. There's obviously something to this seeing as John hasn't replied to his own thread.

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December 27, 2008 12:36 am
Wyldkrd87

Wyldkrd87

Tinkerer

25 posts

The mystery continues....
I'm thoroughly befuddled by this, especially the fact that two of you came up with very different lat./long. (or maybe i missed something?)

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December 27, 2008 12:39 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

Wyldkrd87 wrote:

The mystery continues....
I'm thoroughly befuddled by this, especially the fact that two of you came up with very different lat./long. (or maybe i missed something?)

Yeah, mjweb, how did you get those coordinates? Mine (along with JPDyson's) are different than yours.

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December 27, 2008 12:41 am
awakebyjava

awakebyjava

Automaton Tech

from Outpost Gallifrey
234 posts

Looks to me like the address under John's name is Pike Avenue

Don't legi con comm bility unica fuse with tion.

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December 27, 2008 12:47 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

I extrapolated with these coords from Adobe Bridge.
lat 44,18.49 N
lon 71,45.65 W

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December 27, 2008 12:48 am
JPDyson

JPDyson

Moderator

3,573 posts

awakebyjava wrote:

Looks to me like the address under John's name is Pike Avenue

Which is compatible w/the GPS locations where the pictures were taken.

Full circle.

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December 27, 2008 12:48 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

jpdyson wrote:
awakebyjava wrote:

Looks to me like the address under John's name is Pike Avenue

Which is compatible w/the GPS locations where the pictures were taken.

Full circle.

What do you mean?

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December 27, 2008 12:51 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

NothngUpMySleeve wrote:
jpdyson wrote:
awakebyjava wrote:

Looks to me like the address under John's name is Pike Avenue

Which is compatible w/the GPS locations where the pictures were taken.

Full circle.

What do you mean?

That the photo was taken where the package was addressed to.

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December 27, 2008 12:54 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

Ah, gotcha.

So now what?

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December 27, 2008 12:55 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

The hardcore are on IRC waiting for the real heist.

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December 27, 2008 1:06 am
newsdork

newsdork

Sky Pirate

from Tennessee
1,476 posts

NothngUpMySleeve wrote:

Coal.jpg - Latitude: 44° 18' 29.4" N   Longitude: 71° 45' 39" W
Address.jpg - Latitude: 44° 18' 40.19" N   Longitude: 71° 47' 37.79" W

Hmm...mjweb, why are yours different than mine?

I've gotten different GPS coordinates too -


coal.jpg - 44,18.49N    71,45.65W
address.jpg - 44,18.67N   71,47.63W


curious? Or is it just the way it's formatted in Photoshop?

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It makes me twitter.

December 27, 2008 1:15 am
JPDyson

JPDyson

Moderator

3,573 posts

i'm not sure the GPS is being interpreted the same across all applications. Like, now the "decimal" GPS formal is being translated into a d-m-s format.

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December 27, 2008 1:25 am
samdale

samdale

Tinkerer

from Australia
23 posts

If you view the images in Preview, the coordinates are available (press Command-I, then click the centre tab), and link directly to the spot on Google maps...

ADDRESS:
Latitude: 44° 18' 40.19" N
Longitude: 71° 47' 37.79" W
Time Stamp: 01:55:17.52

COAL:
Latitude: 44° 18' 29.4" N
Longitude: 71° 45' 39" W

December 27, 2008 1:48 am
Adreitz

Adreitz

Tinkerer

from Noo Yoahk
42 posts

Wait, so Phill lives in Dartmouth, New Hampshire, not Dartmouth, Massachusetts? Had me fooled. tongue

Anyway, it certainly seems suspicious that a package supposedly sent to John would have its photo taken so far away.

I don't know if it matters, but the coordinates are on two sides of the town of Littleton, NH. The one photo is from a cemetary (probably called Dells Park). It's almost exactly at 800' elevation. The other photo seems to have been taken at an important-looking building, in that it's all alone in the middle of a field. Strange place for a post office. It's right near Mildred C. Lakeway School and Faith Bible Church. And Mr. Lee's Restaurant. Right on the Amonoosuc River. A bit higher than 800' elevation.

It's strange that Coal was taken at about 12:40 AM local time and Address was taken just before 2 AM local. Unlikely time to get a package. Also, it is suspicious that two of the photos have these tags, while the third does not -- all three of them had to have been edited. One was cropped, one had the address blacked out, and the last was at least resized. Why only have EXIF tags in two of them? Why two different locations? This does seem like a clue to me.

I suggest considering carefully what the people of the directorate say in this thread, and not getting too sidetracked. John asked who sent the package to him, posted the images, and said "Grrrrrr". (Um, a bear??) And Phill commented that it was a lot of charcoal. (Would that tube really fit in that box?) So, maybe we need to try to go back to figuring out who sent the package.

You guys seem confused about the coordinate systems being used. Some people are using degrees and minutes (and hundredths of a minute), while others are using degrees, minutes, and seconds. One arc-second is 1/60 of a minute, hence how 44˚ 18.49' = 44˚18' 29.4", etc. Think of that example as almost equal to 18.5' = 18' 30".

Rather apathetic member of blue team.

December 27, 2008 2:01 am
bassistboy1619

bassistboy1619

Gearhead

from Wisconsin
86 posts

The fact that John hasn't written anything else yet is also quite suspicious...?

Let It Be.

December 27, 2008 2:06 am
Adreitz

Adreitz

Tinkerer

from Noo Yoahk
42 posts

A couple more things:

The road on the package address is in the Boca Lago Country Club. There are two condos (?) for sale on that road currently, at 21535 and 21556. The listing for the former indicates that it is a "55+ community". There is also a modeling agency (Fox Models International) located at 21559 Suite 44J. Strange place. I also found several other condo sales on this road that took place in 2008.

The house numbers on this road seem to vary between 21300 and 21599. Nothing too comparable to 13500. Incidentally, there is another Cypress Hammock Drive located in Tampa, FL. Its house numbers are in the 8000's, though.

I think the most definitive clue, though is this. John Casasanta? SANTA?? Coincidence? I think not!

[edit]Grammar rocks![/edit]

[edit]On the other hand, John says "who sent me this", not indicating what he means by "this". Maybe he means the photos only, and not the actual package?[/edit]

Rather apathetic member of blue team.

December 27, 2008 2:27 am
rampancy

rampancy

Moderator

from Denial.
3,875 posts

Pardon my ignorance of the iPhone but how do we know the GPS metadata on the photos wasn't tampered with?

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December 27, 2008 2:47 am
mackmgg

mackmgg

Gearhead

60 posts

mjweb wrote:

It's a right handed person
Most likely not American (Americans generally put the city, state, and zip on same the line)
They don't know you well (had to double check the spelling of your name)
Employed and likely skews older ($10 is a lot to drop on an anonymous practical joke)
Had access to your address (they might've once sent you something legit or they know somebody who gave them your address)
Seems related to the Giving Tree

I expect they will eventually reveal their ID. The suspect usually returns to the scene of the crime. Are you sure it wasn't one of your partners? They would be the logical suspect for such a practical joke.

Lastly, did the package actually come from Boca Raton?

most ppl in us (at least by me) use the abbreviation for there own state though (FL not Florida, NY not New York, LA not Louisiana)

December 27, 2008 3:00 am
phillryu

phillryu

Administrator

1,569 posts

Are you sure those aren't coal cookies? I heard they are the tastiest holiday treats in the world, and they look and smell exactly like biscuits of charcoal! The only way to find out is to take a huge bite... report back John!

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December 27, 2008 3:25 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

phillryu wrote:

Are you sure those aren't coal cookies? I heard they are the tastiest holiday treats in the world, and they look and smell exactly like biscuits of charcoal! The only way to find out is to take a huge bite... report back John!

Are you and John smoking mistletoe? wink

www.mjweber.com | Flickr

December 27, 2008 3:28 am
nfreader

nfreader

Moderator

638 posts

phillryu wrote:

Are you sure those aren't coal cookies? I heard they are the tastiest holiday treats in the world, and they look and smell exactly like biscuits of charcoal! The only way to find out is to take a huge bite... report back John!

Bricks. They're called charcoal bricks.

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December 27, 2008 3:38 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups (10 ounces) brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) vanilla extract
Do they taste like?

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup (2 ounces) Dutch-process cocoa
1 1/2 cups (6 1/2 ounces) King Arthur 100% Organic White Whole Wheat Flour or King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips*

*Or a mixture of raisins, chips, and nuts.

www.mjweber.com | Flickr

December 27, 2008 3:42 am
Warbrain

Warbrain

Moderator

from Chicago
6,969 posts

Um...just to burst your bubble on the GPS coordinates...they're legit.  I know this for a fact.

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December 27, 2008 3:48 am
bensor

bensor

Automaton Tech

from Colorado
222 posts

Warbrain wrote:

Um...just to burst your bubble on the GPS coordinates...they're legit.  I know this for a fact.

How do you know? wink

December 27, 2008 3:52 am
Warbrain

Warbrain

Moderator

from Chicago
6,969 posts

bensor wrote:
Warbrain wrote:

Um...just to burst your bubble on the GPS coordinates...they're legit.  I know this for a fact.

How do you know? wink

I've had to look up johnred's phone number before and call him - it involved looking up his address.  Let's just say that, considering iPhone location services, the coordinate discrepancies are within the range of acceptability for him.

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December 27, 2008 3:53 am
JPDyson

JPDyson

Moderator

3,573 posts

Warbrain wrote:
bensor wrote:
Warbrain wrote:

Um...just to burst your bubble on the GPS coordinates...they're legit.  I know this for a fact.

How do you know? wink

I've had to look up johnred's phone number before and call him - it involved looking up his address.  Let's just say that, considering iPhone location services, the coordinate discrepancies are within the range of acceptability for him.

We determined that they were a while ago, based on how close they were to Pike Avenue, the (likely) address on the USPS box. In other words, it's likely that John did in fact take the pictures.

Still, I think there's something to this.

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December 27, 2008 3:57 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

Funny. I always took it for granted that John and Phill lived near Cupertino.

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December 27, 2008 4:12 am
Warbrain

Warbrain

Moderator

from Chicago
6,969 posts

jpdyson wrote:
Warbrain wrote:
bensor wrote:

How do you know? wink

I've had to look up johnred's phone number before and call him - it involved looking up his address.  Let's just say that, considering iPhone location services, the coordinate discrepancies are within the range of acceptability for him.

We determined that they were a while ago, based on how close they were to Pike Avenue, the (likely) address on the USPS box. In other words, it's likely that John did in fact take the pictures.

Still, I think there's something to this.

There could very well be something to it.  Check around - see if any of their cohorts were in Florida of late...

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December 27, 2008 4:19 am
mjweb

mjweb

Sky Pirate

from coast2coast
2,343 posts

Warbrain wrote:

There could very well be something to it.  Check around - see if any of their cohorts were in Florida of late...

Where are you, Bradley? A little fun in the sun?

www.mjweber.com | Flickr

December 27, 2008 4:21 am
dmdzine

dmdzine

Big Game Hunter

from 127.0.0.1
638 posts

hmmmm very interesting

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December 27, 2008 4:27 am
epifany

epifany

Big Game Hunter

from Dallas, Texas
554 posts

December 27, 2008 4:58 am
bassistboy1619

bassistboy1619

Gearhead

from Wisconsin
86 posts

epifany wrote:

Beginning of MH III???

eh, my guess is no, i feel like it will be much bigger
the beginning, that is.

Let It Be.

December 27, 2008 5:21 am
Warbrain

Warbrain

Moderator

from Chicago
6,969 posts

mjweb wrote:
Warbrain wrote:

There could very well be something to it.  Check around - see if any of their cohorts were in Florida of late...

Where are you, Bradley? A little fun in the sun?

Nah...can't afford a trip down there.

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December 27, 2008 5:33 am
Sleeves

Sleeves

Sky Pirate

1,497 posts

jpdyson wrote:

Still, I think there's something to this.

Gotta be. John hasn't replied to his own thread; Phill hasn't said that we shouldn't be wasting our time on this or something like that; and something that may have been overlooked, John posted this in The Front.

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December 27, 2008 6:19 am
xray83

xray83

Urchin

from Berlin, Germany
9 posts

Another thing: For some reason, typing in boca lago country club in google maps returns a link to a Synagoge, just a few miles from the coordinates in Vermont... There is some business listing going back to boca lago under jewishadvocate.com.
I can't tell if there is some connection but it seems odd that the return address on the package and the general area of a search for the country club would be related to the coordinates from the iphone-pics just by coincidence.

Also, there is a St. Johnsbury hospital nearby, but it's quite a long shot to link Johns-"Bury" to John being near a cemetery when taking one of the photos. Or is it?

December 27, 2008 2:01 pm
Warbrain

Warbrain

Moderator

from Chicago
6,969 posts

xray83 wrote:

Another thing: For some reason, typing in boca lago country club in google maps returns a link to a Synagoge, just a few miles from the coordinates in Vermont... There is some business listing going back to boca lago under jewishadvocate.com.
I can't tell if there is some connection but it seems odd that the return address on the package and the general area of a search for the country club would be related to the coordinates from the iphone-pics just by coincidence.

Also, there is a St. Johnsbury hospital nearby, but it's quite a long shot to link Johns-"Bury" to John being near a cemetery when taking one of the photos. Or is it?

You might be over thinking this...

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December 27, 2008 2:15 pm
xray83

xray83

Urchin

from Berlin, Germany
9 posts

Yup... I kinda thought I might have. smile

December 27, 2008 2:55 pm
Loufute

Loufute

Automaton Tech

from Belgium
215 posts

(

Adreitz wrote:

You ate candy that you got anonymously?? You're a brave, brave individual.

I don't have any reason to be suspicious personnaly ^^)

I don't wan't to ennoy you, but i'm really lost... On one hand, i don't have a native speaker level in english, one the other, i'm quite surprised in front of all what you know... I know about the GPS tags, and how to found it... But how can you telle "Phill lives there" Darmount or Cupertino... And how do you know what houses were for rent ? hmm

French speaker trying to improve his english, solve riddles and get free applications wink
...So, correct me wink
And, yeah, I'm orange smile

December 27, 2008 3:42 pm
artist-illustrator.net

artist-illustrator.net

Dirigible Captain

from Manchester, UK
3,027 posts

Man. I turn my back for a few hours and miss all the fun

I'm feeling old

December 27, 2008 3:46 pm
Adreitz

Adreitz

Tinkerer

from Noo Yoahk
42 posts

I found the condos for rent doing simple Google searches for the street name (it's a pretty unusual name). I thought maybe I'd be able to find a 13500 address at a same-named road in some other city, but I couldn't.

Now, I was just taking it for granted when people said that John lived far away from there. Please don't mislead the new guy. tongue Is it common knowledge at least what state he lives in? I mean, I don't think posting his address is cool, but if we know that he at least lives in NH, it'll make things more legit.

If he did take the photos, I'm still kind of confused about the timestamps on the photos. In order for GPS to work, it needs to have very accurate time signals, which is why all cell phones have their clocks automatically set over the network. So I don't get why he would take the photos so early in the morning. I'd expect him to have gotten the package hours earlier, in which case, in the heat of the moment, I'd expect him to immediately whip out his iPhone in frustration. I think I would have cooled down in a few hours and been less likely to post the photos online. tongue

By the way, image editing programs can edit EXIF tags, so I don't know why they couldn't also edit the GPS coordinates.

Rather apathetic member of blue team.

December 27, 2008 4:24 pm
Loufute

Loufute

Automaton Tech

from Belgium
215 posts

Thx a lot Adreitz. It looks more accessible for me now tongue
It's probably right thinking that he has edited informations to be linked... I don't think he lets hasardous informations tongue


"is to bite...report back John!". I've looked after more informations about John.. He has a website :

http://www.taptaptap.com
John's webiste... And "tasty bits for your iPhone"... Maybe there's a link.
Moreover, there is the "exit" apps, "Where To?", about GPS...

The "Classics" app is also presented on Phill's website...

One more thing : the third app available is photofun, like "santasnaps"... it's not without remember the "have an avatar" advice...

Even more, the first gifts were iphone apps... And this site is for iphone owners...

It's too more to be unlinked...i think.

French speaker trying to improve his english, solve riddles and get free applications wink
...So, correct me wink
And, yeah, I'm orange smile

December 27, 2008 4:29 pm
markr

markr

Big Game Hunter

559 posts

Adreitz wrote:

I mean, I don't think posting his address is cool, but if we know that he at least lives in NH, it'll make things more legit.

From the source I checked that is legit.

December 27, 2008 4:31 pm
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