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geoaware

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Everything posted by geoaware

  1. Folks The field still exisits and we are working on ways it can be populated using the new system. There was a big push by people in these forums and elsewhere to have the system of submitting EarthCaches return to the gc.com process and we managed to do that. However, part of that process is that we no longer have a way for people to select a category...and so that data is no longer captured. The only way we can do that is for someone to go read every one of the existing EarthCaches (well over 10,000) and classify them...and we do not have the human power to do that! We are looking at options...one being to abandon the category type (but not one we want to do). Gary Geoaware
  2. The EarthCache Masters geocoins are available from the www.earthcache.org site. (The EarthTrek coin is available from the www.earthtrek.come site.) You do not need to have reached any levels to purchase the coins or pins.
  3. I thank you all for your comments. However, I want to point out that the issue was based on the huge number of submissions that we received where the photograph was the main logging task and only a passing attempt was made to provide a task related to the earth science lesson at the site. Reviewers spent huge amounts of time going back to the CO asking them to provide a logging task that met the guidelines. It seemed that we needed to provide clearer directions. We have never asked for logging tasks that were difficult - just tasks that made the visit educational. In the vast majority of cases taking a photograph does not do that. We asked (pleaded) that people be creative with their logging tasks...and we found that the vast majority could not do that over the last twelve months So the guideline has been changed. I am sorry that it seems to have upset people, but the change was needed to maintain the quality of EarthCaches being developed so everyone had a great experience.
  4. So, would it be acceptable to ask a cacher to take a picture of a certain phenomena such as fossils in situ with, say, their GPSr for scale? No. The example you give is NOT recording a phenomenon that can't be measured in some other way (like asking people to measure the size of the fossil for example). Bottom line is that it will require a exceptional circumstance (like the example I gave) to allow a photograph to be taken as a logging task. That said, you are more than welcome to ask cachers to provide a photograph, but the request must be optional and that you can't delete a log if a person does not provide a photograph.
  5. An example and an acceptable photograph logging task: To log this EarthCache you need to take a photo of the arrival of the tidal bore up the river at this point. Holding a watch in the photograph to record the time would be perfect.
  6. A great point! The guideline changes will be announced in a future Groundspeak weekly newsletter emailed to all cacher accounts.
  7. It has now been about a year since we updated the EarthCache guidelines. After listening to EarthCachers, reading forums and processing thousands of submissions, we felt we needed to make some adjustments. In summary, we have made some changes to the text to make it more clear for all and adjusted the logging requirements/request for photograph guidelines. You can find the new guidelines here and they come into use on 1 January 2011. Cheers Geoaware
  8. As a person who has seen EarthCaching grow from the very first one placed through to the 10,000+ now active, I am super proud of all the amazing experiences that over 1.3 million people have had by visiting EarthCaches. However, I am not proud of the level of discussion in the forums of late - the snide comments, the personal attacks, the rudeness. It has to stop! People, this is a game. People come into the forums to find friendly advice and banter. Over the last few weeks these forums have been dominated by bitterness and negativity which has helped not one person. It makes me so sad to see good people reduced to such stupid bickering and name calling. Threads start and and are dragged down to petty bickering and off topic within minutes. I am sure you are all fine people who would not behave this way in person....so why do so in the forums??? I think it's time for many of you to take a deep breath and remember why you are involved in the game....and if it is just to attack others in forums, then maybe you should take up some other hobby. It is time to lift the level of the discussion in these forums to help each other and discuss issues in a mature and positive manner. You don't have to agree with others opinions...but then you don't have to attack them for it either. Think this before you post "Am I adding to the discussion? Am I keeping on topic? Am I being respectful to my fellow cachers?" If you say no to any of these...then change your words or don't post! If you have a personal issue with a cache or a cacher, deal with those through the correct channels via contact@Groundspeak.com or earthcache@geosociety.org. The Groundspeak team, the volunteer reviewers and moderators et al work hard to keep the game moving, friendly and fun. Lets try to operate in the forums with the same ideals in mind! Please all have a safe and fun-filled 2011.
  9. I would support the locking of all archived EarthCaches so people can't log them.
  10. I believe that the last person to find an EarthCache has had just a rich of an experience as the first to find it
  11. Happy Holidays - Merry Christmas and many thanks for all the fun this year. Now go celebrate and find an EarthCache or three!
  12. They are 45 mm X 45 mm. You are correct about the 3D - it is in reverse then covered in clear enamel. And why not join EarthTrek...we could use more people to come and collect data
  13. The EarthTrek citizen science program has released its geocoin. It's front is 3D and back 2D and designed by the good people at LandSharkz! It is only available through the EarthTrek Shop. It is US$14.95 with US$5.00 shipping anywhere on the planet! See the EarthTrek Shop page for more details (including holiday season orders)
  14. After a competition in the forums and over 600 EarthCachers voting, we now have a winner. The Official EarthCache Banner was created by jokergil and he will be sent a boxed set of EarthCache Master Geocoins. You can get the banner here Second place went to MJSDB and third place went to Fermentum. They will both receive a set of EarthCache masters coins. Second place Third Place All other entrants will be sent a White EarthCache Pin. Thank you so much for being part of the fun!
  15. You must have visited the site in the last month and be prepared to check a site for safety aspects while it is active (if appropriate). There is currently NO restriction on you developing an EC anywhere on the planet as long as you meet all the guidelines. www.earthcache.org
  16. The forums are NOT the place to make complaints about individual caches or cachers. In the case of EarthCches, you can contact the EarthCache team via www.earthcache.org. Thanks
  17. Over 550 people have voted so far.....we will close the voting early next week
  18. You can't place an EC at the exact same coordinates as a traditional cache, as that effectively puts a container at your EC which is against the guidelines.
  19. You now have an opportunity to vote for which of the submitted banners you would like to see as the "Official EarthCache Banner". You can only vote once....and only vote for one of the banners. We will take this poll and the EC reviewers poll and made the final decision. The poll closes 1 December 2010. Click here to cast your vote
  20. We are working on a way that you all can vote on them.....to share the fun! We will announce something soon
  21. If you have heard nothing...then just wait as they are in the queue that we are working through. If you have been asked to make changes, you need to re-activate your submission (enable) so it gets back into the review queue. Some of the review team have been traveling, away for family issues and even helping the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. Please be patient with us as we are catching up!
  22. Yes they are saying just that; it's in the rules. ...also Geoaware (representing the GSA) and other companies must make protective statements or the courts will consider their claim to the icons as not strictly prohibitive and thus the owners lose the strength of their claim over their intellectual properties...so expect this type of response from most any business entity which has a logo. Trust me if you try selling hundreds of Ground Speak's logos on t shirts you will get a kind letter from their lawyers...that GS allows us to have limited use of their logo is very generous on their part. You didn't understand my post or I didn't communicate well enough. I know it's the rules and that is no defense! The rules are exactly what I am challenging! Secondly, just where did I suggest anyone sell hundreds of anyone's t shirts? Beside, Marge can't make that many! Remember, I quoted Groundspeak's non-commercial rules and as generous as they are, I agree with you that selling "hundreds of t shirts may cross the line! For the record, GSA isn't a company! Now if your want to avoid the comparison between GS's, generous use of their logo and a small reminder that they are a for profit business (big difference) to GSA's over-protective approach, that's fine but it doesn't address the problem. Yes, I know all about logos. I worked under a lot of fine ones all my business life! Now to the point that this "is not related to the topic at hand." Well, I didn't post the rules and certainly the rules are in play because they are indeed an intricate part of the contest and after all, the "contest" is the topic! That's isn't much of a defense either, just avoidance. An honest question was posed and there is no way it is off topic. The rules are as much as part of the contest as the entries and the contest winnings! As a non-profit, there's no reason why the rules cannot be relaxed. Oh, did I mention Groundspeak? Sorry, I not only think the rules are pertinant and should be discussed, there was no need for threats! "We enforce the correct use of our trademarks to the full extent of the law." Thanks. I am sorry you feel so strongly - but in this case, the rules are the rules and not open to debate. Like all competitions when an organization is putting up a prize, it is their right to set the rules. If you are unhappy about the rules for this competition, then please don't participate in the competition. GSA has the right, like any organization, to protect its intellectual property.
  23. I know you don't mean too but why take a lot of the fun out of the contest? Are you saying that although these banners are being created by earthcachers and the earthcache globe and GSA logo must be on them, you then own the banner? Why are your use rules so stringent, especially compared to GroundSpeaks? Here is what GS expects: (non-commercial) "We are also willing to make allowances for those of you who have creative ideas and want to do something fun for your friends and fellow Geocachers. The Groundspeak Geocaching Logo may be used only on non-commercial items. These items may include, but are not limited to shirts, hats, coins, logbooks, stickers and cache containers." Why are you so protective of the icons? Question: If Marge got delirious and wanted to make me a tee-shirt sticker/iron-on out of the winning banner, you would take her to court? How about if she wanted to surprise me (hint, hint) with 100 pathtags with the banner used? Suggestion: loosen up and follow GroundSpeaks lead. Thanks. This is a discussion to be had in another thread....and not related to the topic at hand.
  24. PLEASE NOTE : The use of the EarthCache globe and the GSA logo is limited only to the creation of these banners. Having this access does not give anyone the right to use those logos, both the trademarks of the Geological Society of America, for any other purpose unless the you seek and receive written permission. This includes their use FOR ANY purpose such as trinkets, geocoins, T shirts,display on websites etc. We enforce the correct use of our trademarks to the full extent of the law.
  25. Again...as stated in posts before...the answer is very simple. You can't ask for a photograph of a person unless that is optional. You can't ask for a photograph of the persons kids, or car or their dog unless it is optional. Basically you can't ask for photographs that contain items that could be used to identify the person. (its a privacy issue!) Photographs of the site are fine. Photographs of the persons GPS at the site are also fine. However.....you CAN"T use a photograph to replace a strong logging task. Your logging task should be that it can only be done by visiting the site and any photograph should be a secondary issue. Each EarthCache reviewer looks as all these things and makes the decision of what is or is not appropriate. We are only human however, and sometimes mistakes are made. However, in this case, I think the decision was the correct one.
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