latlong data to maybe 5 or 6 decimal places. Could it
be used by (say) a new plugged-in generation of postal
service trucks?

It could be used, yes, quite easily I'd assume.

Seems like a logical extension; of course, what would the
postal person do if the address pointed to a vacant lot or
swamp or something like that.

That system reminds me of the Maidenhead grid square system that we amateur radio operators have been using for decades now. http://www.arrl.org/grid-squares

Also interesting. The Google system seems to have the
advantage of the letters being case-insensitive. In my
estimation, greatest efficiency would be gotten by a full
alphanumeric system with the 23 or so letters (j and u
being duplicates of i and v, plus a lot of systems don't
have a use for letters such as w) and 8 digits (1 and 0
being too easily confused with i and o). In such a system
a 4-character code would be able to describe an area of
15x15 miles, and 8 characters could identify every 1/2 acre
lot in the world, if my rough calculations are an indication.

"An instrument of the Maidenhead Locator System (named after the town

outside

London where it was first conceived by a meeting of European VHF

managers in

1980), a grid square measures 10 latitude by 20 longitude and measures approximately 70 W 100 miles in the continental US. A grid square is

indicated

by two letters (the field) and two numbers (the square), as in FN31,

the grid

square within which W1AW, ARRL's Maxim Memorial Station, resides."

Reminding me of the difference between latitude (constant
interval) and longitude (ever-changing, going to zero at
the poles).

For example, my Maidenhead grid square is EM86qf. The last two letters

specify

a more atomic location within the grid square EM86qf.
Wikipedia has a good article about the MLS at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidenhead_Locator_System

Most interesting.

An exchange of grid square locations is very common in an on-air exchange between hams though these days, we can use websites that have large

databases

of information, such as qrz.com, to look up that information about a

fellow ham

if it's not given.

There doesn't seem to be that much utility in the information
except in cases of catastrophe; so is it mostly a question of
satisfying one's curiosity and facilitating contests (which
a reading of the Wikiarticle suggests)?

Sorry about going a bit off-topic in here with all of this but physical geography, topography, and mapmaking are interests of mine. :D

No need to apologize, note my message in the last packet.
We all wax enthusiastic about our own realms.

Glazed beef-and-scallion rolls
categories: main, beef, Japanese
servings: 4

1/2 c soy sauce
1/4 c orange marmalade
2 Tb light brown sugar
2 Tb grated garlic
2 Tb Asian sesame oil
1 1/2 Tb white sesame seeds
1/2 Tb black pepper
1/2 Tb cayenne pepper
24 thin scallions, tops and bottoms trimmed
24 thin asparagus spears, bottoms trimmed
1 lb shaved beefsteak
canola oil

1. In a large shallow baking dish, whisk the
soy sauce with the marmalade, brown sugar,
garlic, sesame oil, sesame seeds, pepper and
cayenne powder.

2. Bring a large skillet of water to a boil.
Add the scallions and cook until bright green,
about 30 sec. Transfer to a plate and pat dry.
Add the asparagus and cook until bright green,
about 1 min; transfer to plate and pat dry.

3. Lay a slice of beef on a work surface.
Arrange a scallion and an asparagus spear
crosswise at a short end and roll up. Add to
soy sauce glaze and turn to coat. Repeat with
remaining beef rolls.

4. Brush a grill pan with canola oil and heat
over high heat until smoking. Working in batches,
cook beef rolls until nicely charred all over,
about 15 sec per side. Transfer to a platter or
plates.

Adapted from Takashi Inoue, Takashi restaurant, Manhattan
Jane Sigal, New York Times
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