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I would like to thank those of you who sent well wishes. Unfortunatly, Samantha did not survive what appears to be a sing;e vehicle car accident.

I know I haven't posted to the forum in a while, Nor have I been a very active geocacher but I need help. My Fiancee's cousing is missing. No BS. If you are out and about please keep you eyes open for her car. She frequently drive both 460 and the Blue Ridge Parkway between Bedford and Roanoke. Here is a link to a craigslist post with more details. Thanks, Steve K. http://roanoke.craigslist.org/vnn/441351337.html

A simple "fix" would be to add a hyperlink in the cache description to you profile page.

In closing this thread I would like to say that opinions on locationless caches run the full spectrum. There are those who enjoy them and would be willing to support them financially. There are also those who would have them completely done away because "thats not geocaching". To those people I would like to say that the forward pass was not always a part of football.

I would like to thank those of you who are giving well thought out replies and not just knee-jerk reactions. My intent is to close this thread on Sunday, 28 March. Anyone else with thought and ideas - please share.

I would like to have caches owned by premium members highlighted on the search pages. Very subtle highlight. Just something to distinguish those who help the sport financially. Oh and I'd like to get a GC.com hatpin every year with paid membership.

I think that a micro icon would be a nice but not necessary item. I'd support it though.

I don't have a high-speed internet connection so I am unwilling to test this theory. You should be able to use PLucker Desktop to create a file, directly from the GC.com BM search page for putting "cache" pages on a PDA. With the info above about downloading .loc file you'll be paperless hunting BM's in no time. I went totally paperless for my traditional caches and haven't looked back.

Thank God you didn't get into medicine. Yeah, I had a hard time getting past that second sentence, too. That's one of the worst "rules" I've ever heard of. Out of context it does sound odd. My description was an over-simplification. What that "rule" did was to cut down on B.S. and gripes. It also helped to develop decision making and problem solving skills in junior employees. It wasn't a rule but a sugguestion that encourages the individual to think and colaborate with their peer group instead of just going to the boss and complaining about something. Oh and speaking of medicine is it bad bedside manner for the doctor to say "You have cancer. You're gonna die" or would it be better to say " You have been diagnosed with cancer and these are your treatment options..." THESE ARE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS. PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS THREAD OFF TOPIC AGAIN. (or I'll type in all caps some more)

Can anyone reccomend a book about surveying and benchmarks. I am not looking for technical data but more for general information on the history, modern practices, etc. I have browsed the library (dissapointing) and searched the major online booksellers. I am looking for personal reccomendations. I know that this information is online, but -I'm a traditionalist I like books because it difficult to drag the computer to the toilet or to bed.

Reread FAQ. Thread Deleted

While I was in the Army I worked in an Operations and Planning section. One of our rules was don't identify a problem unless you have a workable solution. I am know that the Locationless cache moratorium has been beaten to death but I am willing to run the risk of receiving wrath of the mods. Lets keep this thread limited to discussing workable solutions - not just gripes and complaints. I've noticed that most threads about this topic begin with "Somebody should fix it" and than list their demands rather than ways to fix the problem. Financing- If people want locationless bad enough they will "pay to play". I recommend a fundraiser. Set up a special paypal account dedicated to raising funds for needed system upgrades to implement locationless. Example: A web page with a thermometer that shows progress. We need to raise $XX,XXX by 31 June 04. If the target goal isn't reached by that date than the money goes into the general coffers for Groundspeak system upgrades. This figure should be based on a new server, hosting and estimated bandwidth charges. Once established regular premium membership dues should cover system maintenance. Server - Locationless caches should have a dedicated or separated server. This would help to reduce bandwidth and stress on the traditional cache pages and if the locationless server crashes only a portion of Groundspeak will be down. Limiting bad caches - Have one reviewer/approver for all locationless caches. This will help to cut down on the proverbial mailbox and manhole covers. Also I would recommend putting a cap on the total number of active locationless caches (i.e. 250 or 500 worldwide). Due to the cap, a system would have to be in place to ensure variety and fairness. My suggestion is that 6 months after a locationless cache is approved it is automatically archived, no late logs and the cache page would be changed to a light format (delete associated pictures). Premium Members - I feel that anyone should be able to hunt and log locationless caches but only premium members may own a locationless cache. Side note to premium membership - What about offering varying levels of membership? i.e., standard membership = free, premium member = $30 you'll get current premium features, sponsoring member = $45 plus current premium features and a nifty Groundspeak hatpin with the year on it and highlighted cache descriptions of sponsor member owned cache on the search pages (like online personal adds). Charter member get sponsor member benefits at $30. User Interface - This is where I have lots of suggestions but am limited but my lack of computer programming skill. Two key points. Point 1: Allow found it logs to be sorted by date found or by location (coordinates). Then users would be able to quickly scan and see if anything has been logged near N37 W080 or wherever. Point 2: Do away with coordinates in the cache description. Limit the short description to 5 keywords. For example Title: Yellow Jeep Fever, Short Description: Yellow Jeep Wranglers, Long Description and requirements as normal. Limit uploaded pictures to two pics per found it log. No notes no DNFs. Pocket Queries - Only one options "All Locationless That I Have Not Found". Pocket query output will only include title, short and long description/requirements, No logs, no coordinates. Set up pocket queries to update bi-weekly or monthly depending on how auto-archive feature is set up. After rereading my post I realized that many of my suggestions would also work for virtuals. Now, things I need to say to prevent getting flamed; IMHO, just my$.02, edit for spelling and grammer, etc.

I have a shepard mix (Chow??) that I took in after she was abandond that looks almost like the mix in these pics. Except she has a slightly fuller frame and only 3 legs.

New post to an old thread. I just has my first 3 caches approved over the weekend. Notice I didn't say I hid them this weekend. Due to the nature of the satelite orbits you may get better reading on diffrent days or at diffrent times. (While I was in the Army our GPSr would automatically calculate and tell you the best time to get an accurate reading at your current location). I checked and rechecked my coords 3 times before submitting the caches. Seems like a lot of "useless" work but I would rather have a reputation of good coords/good hide with my local cache community than to be know as the guy who's stuff is never right. My $.02 Now someone please flame me for not checking and rechecking my spelling and grammer.

Currently I am using a slightly larger than normal backpack but thinking about switching to a fanny pack for most hunts. The backpack is a bit cumbersome at times.

Thankfully, it's not possible to put inline images in cache logs. As for your other question, yes, you can use HTML code to alter the size of an image. It's a really good way to get people to hate you, especially those on dial-up accounts. Thanks - I also got the subtle message. I was able to insert a link so Ill just do it that way. Roanoke Virginia Geocaching Webpage

Seems easy enough for the forums but can you post a tag in a cache log? I've tried several thisng and not having much success. Also Is it possible to scale down the image size in HTML or do I need to resize and than "republish" the image Steve Edited ----In line image removed to prevent a spanking----

I am a squeeky clean cacher...its the rest of my life that may have questionable activities.

How about a 3-legged shepard mix (Not named Lucky!). Edited: Sorry about the size. Can't figure out how to scale in HTML. Just because I use Tux as my avatar dosen't mean I know everything...yet.

I am probably a bit biased but after 9 years in the Army I can't find anything more comfortable that my GI Boots. The trick is to break then in right. DO NOT TRY THIS IN THE WINTER. Take a 20 minute hot shower with you boots on. Put on clothes and walk on flat level ground and just around the house until they are dry. Load them up with saddle soap and you're good to go. This works real well for the all-leather (recruit) boots or leather "jungle boots". With the jungle boots you get what you pay for so spend the bucks for a pair of Altimas not la-cheap-o korean imports. The desert tan boots without the air-holes in the instep are super light and comfortable (and look acceptable with jeans) just dont use saddle soap on the suede leather. My $.02 Worth.

I thought that the purpose of wheresgeorge was to track money in the course of normal circulation. I propably should goback and double-check the website before I post this. Let the flame war commence.

Mom's doctor told her to walk 2 miles everyday to improve here health. That was 2 months ago - we haven't seen her since. Were looking between here and the state line.

Here in South West Virginia (Roanoke actually Franklin County) we are having and event on Leap Day. Heres a link and refrences if anyone is interested. The Amazing Cache Race Support Potluck Lunch Event Waypoint: GCHHFK http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=112148 You may have to copy and paste the link - I am not HTML fluent.

Slightly off topic I found a cache in North Carolina(MT Airy Area) that was a "coffee can" inside of a slightly larger container (maybe a 3 gallon container of sheet rock joint compound". The tricky part was that the exterior of the larger container was covered in self expanding foam ("Great Stuff") and shaped and painted to look like a tree stump. A Container in a container may solve the pipe bomb issue.

I am keeping the unique items, ie. personalized keychains, buttons cards. Not sure what I am going to do with them yet. The everyday nick-nacks I am hording to place in newcaches.