LakeGeoBen

Is that from Stuey's Ipod commercial? Boy that was a mistake. Where can I buy a GPS attachment for my Ipod computer? Does it have to be USB or can it be a parallel port? Can it run on the power of the potato or is the government putting an end to that?

Who am I supposedly flaming? Is my every post a pretext for someone to warn me or seek to get me banned?

AC, can I sign your letter? Regards.

This topic does absolutely nothing to serve as such an example. If you want to rally a large group of people to geocaching, you have to get them to know what geocaching is. I'm sure that the piece on the news with the cacher and the news reporter did this amply. Going off on a crying jag and sending off angry emails or letters to the editor tends to reflect an emotional response that is not listened to, let alone an effective tool for persuasion. Throw the book at me if you will. I really don't think that will be an effective way to support geocaching when it is attacked or criticized either. Implied threats and intimidation on internet message boards don't cause me any lost sleep.

I have a teenaged nephew who would prove to you in short order that voicing an opinion is not always a good thing.

A word of clarfification, I don't mean to say everyone that writes a letter to the editor is a jackass. I mean, I can pretty honestly say about myself that I'm probably a jackass, but I don't mean to impugn everyone who has written in. Instead, I mean to say that this particular forum -- the op-ed page in its entirety really, is a vehicle for people to just bludgeon people with their opinions. I can't go a day in my local paper without seeing a Letter along the lines of "Bible Proves Honosexuality Is Evil" or "10 Reasons Why Bush Is Satan" or some other such topic where noone is being educated and noone's opinion is going to be influenced one whit. If you are using this milieu, you should be aware that people reading the responses aren't going to read it as totally unbiased, dispassionate testimony, but more chatter from the peanut gallery. I realize that many of you are passionate on this issue because a friend has been slighted. I think that is noble, but your methods of righting the wrong are Quixotic at best. Also, I am from Earth. As far as has been proven, there is no extraterrestial life (X-Files and Men in Black notwithstanding), so I don't think it really should be an issue.

The people that write letters to companies like that are the same jackasses that write the letters to the editor voicing their opinions on things such as politics, their opinion on sexuality as they have deciphered (with copious quotes) to their various scripture studies and the like. In other words, cranks. Feel free to waste your time and be scoffed or ignored because that is exactly what you merit and will get.

None of the people/firms you mentioned were showing ill-effects from a nerd email campaign. But feel free to expand your nerd email campaign to nerd email crusade status. Just don't count all geocachers as willing and like-minded combatants. Some of us have a sense of humor and the irony necessary to laugh at ourselves (or failing that, we could at least laugh at you and your ilk).

What clever repartee! Allow me to respond in kind: I know you are but what am I?

It's truly amazing how hyper-sensitive and needy you people are. Why on earth does everyone have to endorse and understand all the activities that you are interested in? Jeez, grow a thicker skin. Enjoy life with a modicum of irony. You know, I can fully appreciate that geocaching is not a mainstream activity. GPS receivers are a geeky, techno gadget. So is my laptop. So are wireless routers. So are good stereo components. A majority of the people in this world are intimidated in one way or another by technology. Is there anything in his innocuous comment that you don't experience day-to-day by the blinking 12:00 VCR public? Instead of being hypersensitive taking event the most harmless comment as a personal attack, just shrug it off and live your life. Even in the most desperate lives, there is something to enjoy. Perhaps Mr. Turner was right in suggesting someone could get a life afterall.

You sound like George Costanza looking for an apology because someone wouldn't loan you a sweater. Are you calling him a step-skipper? Last time I checked, conforming to the tenets of Christianity or recovery from addiction didn't require you to resign yourself to never express an opinion.

Clearly from your avatar, you have just completed wringing out your panties and are anjoying the reticent smell on your figures. I accuse you of shenanigans.

When I first read the comments, I though, what an arrogant prick (which is pretty much the requirement for being a local news anchor in the first place), but efter reading all the hand-wringing, and panties-twisting that people are going through over a stupid joke, I think maybe Turner has a point. I mean. I'm sure he's a complete a**, but that just doesnt justify all the bile and energy being wasted on him. Move on. it really isn't a big deal. I'm quite sure that most if not all of you wouldn't want to spend your weekend or off-work hours walking through the woods with a guy like this anyway. If he doesn't want to go, if he doesn't like the sound of the sport, fine. Who needs him? It was an inoccuous comment from someone who people make a habit of tuning out. Stop trying to make it into something meaningful.

To answer The DEC does not allow the placement of physical geocaches on Forest Preserve lands (Forest Preserve lands are those state lands within the Adirondack and Catskill Parks), but does allow it on State Forests (State Forests are DEC lands outside the parks) and Wildlife Management Areas under a permit from the Department. State Parks are not managed by DEC, but are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). I do not know whether or not OPRHP allows geocaching. To me it sounds like geocaching is forbidden in both forest preserve (see bold above) and wilderness areas within Catskill and Adirondack Park areas. I don't know whether there is an entity similar to the Adirondack Park Agency for the Catskills, but it seems like the DEC policy with regard to both areas is due to an edict of the Adirondack Park Agency from 1972. DEC says it is not in a position to interpret, but only enforce it. I have a query to OPRHP, but have so far heard nothing back.

Ohhhhhh, Roger Whittaker? It could be Roger Waters. If so be careful of the barbed wire!!!

now that's trail rated!

Does this look like a good deal? http://www.eshop.msn.com/eshopframe.aspx?m...prod%3d14470827

What is everyone toting around anyway? I usually just have my GPSr and some water. I guess I should be taking a trash bag with me too as I usually end up carrying some amount of trash out with me. What's everyone hauling that requires a day pack?

AC just doesn't like that daypack because it isn't trail rated. Slap a Jeep logo on it and he'll be all over it.

Disgruntled office worker who often prtrays himself as a professional writer as he posts on internet forums (i.e. writing) while at work (i.e. employed).

you should give the coords for your smurf balloon.

I also have an email out to NYS Parks to clarify their policies. There's a link to their maps here http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/maps/

The permit system has been in place long before geocaching for things like camping, trapping, recreation etc. (where you bring in private property into public lands). I'm not sure what the process is, but I am attempting to set a cache legally within the blueline on public lands perhaps because I feel a strong need to bang my head against a wall. When talking with the forester in Warrensburg, he directed me to maps on the website. For me, on the southern edge of the Adirondack Park, there is one state forest in Warren County (Lake Luzerne) and 5 in Saratoga County. He pointed me to them to scout a suitable location and then come back for the permit. I found the maps here --> http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/map/recmaps.html

Thanks! I also posted this on a local (Albany area) geocaching discussion forum.

First, let me thank you for inquiring about the permissibility of geocaching on state lands. We appreciate your taking the time to make this inquiry before setting caches. The DEC does not allow the placement of physical geocaches on Forest Preserve lands, but does allow it on State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas under a permit from the Department. DEC Forest Rangers have been instructed to remove geocaches that they find on state lands that are not covered by a valid permit. In case you are not familiar with our state land classifications, Forest Preserve lands are those state lands within the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, while State Forests are DEC lands outside the parks. To confuse the matter just a little bit more, you should be aware that State Parks are not managed by DEC, but are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). I do not know whether or not OPRHP allows geocaching. Living in Queensbury near the blue line, I would advise you to check with our Warrensburg office if there is a parcel of state land on which you'd like to place a cache. The number there is 623-1200. I'd recommend you speak with Mike Curley. If there are other areas of the state in which you are interested in setting caches, please contact the Regional DEC Forestry office for that area. Contact information for our offices can be found online at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/about/abtrull3.html. Virtual geocaches, by virtue of the fact that they do not involve leaving personal property on state lands for extended periods of time, are not prohibited. However, we do encourage people to take into account the impacts that could result from increased numbers of people visiting the area. For instance, we would discourage geocachers from posting a virtual geocache that directed people to an area where sensitive or endangered plants are known to grow, since the increased visitation to the area could have significant negative effects on those plants. Thank you again for your inquiry. I hope that you enjoy the time you spend on your New York State forest lands. Regards, Rob Messenger Supervising Forester NYSDEC - Bureau of Forest Preserve Mgmt. 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-4254 Just one point of clarification. DEC may allow the placement of geocaches on State Forests depending upon the ecological sensitivity of the land that is desired to be used for this activity.