Mr.Yuck

Ever heard of say a School Teacher with Tenure? What, you didn't think I was going to let the thread turn into a reviewer love fest, did you? I've seen some drama in my almost 12 years, and this ranks right up there near the top. As a matter of fact, much of the other drama I have seen was also in Keystone's review area. I don't think I've ever seen a "cooling off period", but I think it's a very good policy.

I was joking. HOWEVER, new cache placements were down 23% in the United States in 2014 vs. 2013, and now they are down 16% from 2014's already "bad" numbers (so far up to February 9th, of course). The number of active caches in some States is actually dropping. Active caches in the world as shown on the main page continue to rise, but only by about 9,000 a month. I've only been observing this stuff since around Thanksgiving though. Some say it's saturation, some say it's apathy on the part of old timers, a combination of both, who knows? I know I haven't placed a cache since 2012.

Hmm. I have a round one, "bowl of soup sized" which has 3 latches. All I can tell you is, it's been used hundreds of times, and still works great. I don't go out of my way to look at these things at Wegmans, but I haven't noticed any that were lacking in the latch department.

It might be that someone contacted the reviewer because they want to hide a cache on the accessible side of the trail but this inaccessible abandoned cache is blocking the placement. That's the conspiracy theory. Occam's razor would say that it was the result of a PQ for a DNF and no finds in 2 years. Wait a minute. Which one's the conspiracy theory here?

From the FTF log (hey, can you delete that one for excessive use of smileys? ) and those DNF's, I am leaning towards the cache being a blinky nano in an alley. I guess we'll have to wait until the OP comes back though.

Just wait it out. Once the number of active caches in the world on the main page starts dropping, and Geocaching is contracting rather than expanding, they're going to lower it to 300 feet. You heard it here first. Seriously though, have we heard from the OP on the email to the reviewer and/or asking the nearby cache owner if they'd like to move 25 feet?

An off-the-logs, behind the scenes scenario is the very definition of conspiracy. Good one. And don't forget, all cache pages that contain blatant admissions of guideline violations, or "take one leave one" Travel Bug Prison rules, were all "changed after publication". Not being disabled with a threat of archival in the latest case is most definitely a positive development.

Thanks! I found it on a different board (? or whatever it is called on pinterest) uploaded by someone who runs a geocaching online store, which was why I wasn't sure if it is official. That would be a "repin". You need to educate yourself on Pinterest, man. No. I don't. I use three social media sites. Yes, I have a Facebook account and it's mostly because of a few closed groups that I follow and to follow some extended family members and a few close friends. I use Twitter, mostly because all the local sports teams live tweet the games and it's an easy way to follow the game. Twitter is also commonly used for communication for various technical conferences I attend or want to follow using a conference hashtag. A few years ago I was at one where the computer and facility support team suggested using a conference hashtag to report any issues. Someone posted that it was cold in one of the rooms or that the wireless was down and in a couple of minutes someone came in to turn up the thermostat or reset a router. I also have an account on LinkedIn only because it feels a bit more professional. I'll add a contact now and then but otherwise never log into the site. I suppose Youtube might be considered a social media site and I'll watch videos occasionally but don't post any comments. That's all I need. Using all the social media sites, including Pinterest, which traditionally has a reputation as a "chick site" (Fashion boards, Hair boards, nail boards, etc..) is a necessary evil for a webmaster. You think Mr.Yuck has a personal Pinterest account? I'd rather douse myself in gasoline, and light myself on fire. Wait a minute, I'm on topic here. The OP, who bumped their own thread, interpreted a pin on Pinterest as an "official endorsement" of replacing logs. That's certainly not the first time we've seen Geocaching.com social media endorse something, so to speak. The first thing that pops into my mind is a video posted to the official blog, which showed someone finding paint marker coordinates on the bottom of a wooden footbridge as the first leg of a multi. Don't make me look that up, but I probably could if I wanted to.

Thanks! I found it on a different board (? or whatever it is called on pinterest) uploaded by someone who runs a geocaching online store, which was why I wasn't sure if it is official. That would be a "repin". You need to educate yourself on Pinterest, man.

The little checkmark next to the url www.geocaching.com on Pinterest means it's a verified account. Like if it was Lady Gaga's Pinterest account or something. I've done it myself, if I recall, I had to put a little code snippet in the head section of my main page or something. Vehemence? I don't think carrying a few extra log sheets with you is the same as the so-called "Delaware Commission" (see my last post) telling people there should be no DNF's on their power trail, and take along extra containers and logsheets.

I noticed that some volunteer cache reviewers allow language like this on the cache listings for "power trails." So, when someone placed "please help maintain my caches" language on a group of power trail caches in my review territory, I sought guidance from Groundspeak. Geocaching HQ confirmed the accuracy of what I stated in Post #2. Your cache listings should not encourage others to perform your cache maintenance duties on your behalf. Hmm. I missed this thread last year. Maybe I don't spend so much time here. So, in other words, this is "grandfathered"?

I never meant to exclude this kind of thing. Silly. But the hard and fast rules you have suggested would exclude it if followed to the letter, and we all know that if those rules were adopted there would be COs out there who would apply them rigourously and disallow such a find. I've stayed out of this thread, but I read the OP, I think even before anyone replied. And yes, a situation such as TriciaG mentions is one of the first things that popped into my head. I'm going to guesstimate about half of my finds have been while group caching. I will then go on to further guesstimate I haven't personally signed my name in about 700 logbooks.

Well, there's no threat of archival after 30 days, that's a good thing, at least. I still can't figure out why there are only reports in this thread of 2 reviewers in the United States going on cleansing missions. Like I say, we could cleanse half or more of the caches in the world if we'd like to.

I have never heard a discouraging word about this guy or his magazine, and he has succeeded where many others have failed in the past (and don't even go there with "Geocacher Magazine" ) I've never subscribed, as I already get too many magazines at home I never even look at. Just give him some time, and I'm sure you'll be very happy.

OK, I believe 15 years! Events with a souvenir would be a big hit. We could run the numbers, and I'll bet the numbers would show well over half of accounts were created after May 3rd, 2010, and those people never got a chance to attend a celebratory event, and receive a coveted souvie.

I knew this would go all wrong. Best to wait for the 15th anniversary of Beverly instead.

The throwdown was placed 6/16/2012 and commented on 2 months later, and what apparently caused the problem. It appears to be a tube wrapped in black electrical tape. Nope. Because the log you mention as commenting on it two months later says that the last signature in the small, not a micro, was October 2011. And I have already posted a link to a log from 2010 that says "found both, very confusing". Bottom line? This cache owner did not place a pipe bomb looking small at this location. The only picture of a geocache in the entire gallery is one of those black film canisters with the lid attached to the body.

The OP mentions Wegmans, which is only in 6 States, with over half the stores in New York. I could be wrong, but that is the ONLY place I've ever seen them in the U.S., although I would imagine they are going to be, or already are more widely distributed over here. I have not placed a cache since 2012, but I have bought several of these things for home use. They are by far the thickest plastic of any food storage container I have ever seen. They are gasketed, and the locking mechanism is well engineered and fabricated, and I'd say it's way better than the standard lock-n-lock mechanism. I'm sure they would make outstanding cache containers. P.S. Despite their availability in my area, I can't recall seeing one in the field. Of course we've only had like 10 new caches published in the last year.

Yes, and how about that??? Appears to be owned by Geocaching.com. Who knew? I'll have to look at some of your cache pages, I don't know that I've ever seen it used! EDIT: Nope, never seen anyone use it. Until today, that is. I've used it a few times - usually for older puzzles. Owner (according to the "contact" page) is Goldenhawk. Not sure what relationship he has with Groundspeak, why Groundspeak is the owner of the domain, etc. OK, they must have "acquired" his website, not unlike they "acquired" itsnotaboutthenumbers.com (not to be confused with the New Zealand based blog). Makes sense, it's a pretty basic website, design wise. No offense to Mr. Goldenhawk, but I'd expect Geocaching.com would come up with something much more snazzy if they got into the Geochecker business. EDIT: almost forgot. Here's a WHOIS lookup to prove I'm not crazy.

Yes, and how about that??? Appears to be owned by Geocaching.com. Who knew? I'll have to look at some of your cache pages, I don't know that I've ever seen it used! EDIT: Nope, never seen anyone use it. Until today, that is.

Is that multi a PMO multi? Maybe the intro app doesn't show multis, but then allows all PMO caches. See if the intro app will show PMO multis but not show regular multis. Nope, never has been PMO, probably never will. Placed July 2005. However, what Bear and Ragged says makes sense. I could see TPTB wanting to let premium members see multi's on the intro app. I doubt there are very many premium members using the intro app, but I've been wrong before. I maintain I would find it "hard to believe" if they showed multi's to a basic member intro app user.

Chill. Actually, There's a "found both" log from way back in 2010. Here it is. My theory? The pipe bomb is a letterbox. Which probably actually gets found more than the cache, seeing as it's not a micro. I have seen a letterbox 10 feet from a Geocache that was signed by almost 50 Geocachers at the time of my visit.

So Intro App is no longer traditional only. Well, all I can tell you is that there is a cache about 15 miles from my house in a relatively small park. There have been a couple traditionals in there over the years (long since archived), and a still existing multi-cache that was placed in 2005. A couple months ago, a newer Geocacher put a traditional in this park, all while pontificating on the cache page they "couldn't believe there wasn't a cache in that park". Translation: intro app user, can't "see" the multi. I'm not calling crazy pig a liar, but I find it very hard to believe they're showing multis on the the intro app. If he sees this, are you positive it was the intro app you were in?

I think Hitler would have shared puzzle cache coordinates.

237 people have found it so far, and I don't see any reports of cachers being questioned. The cache page also states "Cache has been placed with permission of the business owners." I suspect you'll be just fine. Look at the gallery if you want some giveaway spoilers (I wish people wouldn't DO that!). BTW, that cache is the poster child for bad logs! There are the "Yayy"s, the "TFTC"s, the ":;" and even at least one "F". I actually WILL find a cache such as that, when there is a clear indication on the cache page that there is permission. Especially when my kids were younger, and weren't too much into hiking in the woods for a cache and stuff. But at the end of the day, I'm one of those "if you feel uncomfortable, just leave guys.