Team Flashncache

<<<A whole bunch of red flags going up here>>> I find the whole situation very disturbing, and I hope it was "just" a case of Frat hazing or some such... If you haven't already, you might want to contact your local law enforcement as well. You may have stumbled on to a "predator's" lair. God, I hope not, but you never know.

I KNOW Dr. Painter, and even interviewed with him for a job several years ago, but I didn't take it. He also called me earlier this year to see if I would be interested in working for him on a regular basis, but I wasn't interested, so I didn't. Why? How do you know him? My wife and I used to live in NW Ohio. We lived in Van Wert, Convoy and Rockford for a total of about 9 years. I was looking at your profile and you looked somewhat familiar. Dr Painter was our dentist while we lived in Convoy. I guess I was just wondering if you'd ever cleaned my teeth!

Sorry going OT for a sec... Pip, You didn't by any chance happen to work with Dr Painter at some time, did you? Okay, back to the topic...

Acubecrew, Some time ago, the Team FlashnCache crew received a mysterious phone call from some alleged "creditor" of ours saying we owed them $XXX; and right now! Then the usual stuff: "Give us a credit card number to put in on." "What's your checking account number?" Yeah, right! I didn't just fall off the turnip truck! Using what little information I could find on the web; and from good folks such as yourselves, I soon found that it must have been some kind of a scam! Anyway, long story short... I traced the so-called company back to a post office box in Kingsport. No company of said name has an establishment of any kind in Kingsport, soooooooo..... It didn't take long to figure out. But it does send some chills up my spine to have been so randomly targeted for this kind of scam. Anyway, thanks to everyone for the emails. 'Cachers are the best! (edit: I'm going to go ahead and close this topic, I've never gotten to do that before!!!)

Me, too! That's a great idea!

Another cautionary tale here: There is always the possibility that a screw-top container could be re-sealed by a cacher that doesn't know his/her own strength, rendering it impossible to open by the next finder. The online log might read something like: "I found your @&%$ Bison tube, but couldn't open it due to the fact that the previous finder must have been the incredible freakin' Hulk! Bashed it between two rocks for 10 minutes, still couldn't open. Sorry about your tube...Next finder: please sign my name in the logbook, should you manage to get it open."

Hey, Pip! Keep up the good work! Feel free to post often. I'm enjoying reading your travelogue and find list! Enjoy your trip!

The topic lines pretty much say it all. I need someone local to this area to answer a question about a business that may or may not really be there. Reply here or better yet, email me. Thanks

I wouldn't think that for a "community interest" type of class you would need to go into great detail about how GPS works or cover the designs and features of different makes and models of GPSr's. I think a brief description of how the satellites and receivers work would be sufficient. ("It works; and here's why." -keep it simple!) Then you could have small groups work together to find a few caches that you planted specifically for the occasion. Finish up with some handouts listing some websites; GC.com, of course and maybe Clayjar's site and Cybret's site. You could even include a list of local retailers that sell GPSr's and what makes and models they typically carry. If you play this angle right, you may even get the local retailers to donate some trinkets and doodads to put in the caches in exchange for helping to steer potential customers their way. Couldn't hurt to try, anyway. I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor, and hope you bring some new cachers to the hobby.

Quite possibly because she's drop-dead gorgeous!!! Just an objective opinion... (edit: Midwestern chivalry requires me to amend this post to state that Ambrosia appears to be quite attractive also, no offense to either party intended...)

Hmmmm. This is a tough one. I have some training in Bloodborne Pathogens and Universal Precautions, but I can't think of anyone (short of on-duty EMS) who would have access to sharps containers while out caching. I think you did the responsible thing by noting their presence in your log. Anything further than that would have placed you at risk. Besides, from a "public safety" standpoint, throwing them in a nearby trash container IS NOT AN OPTION! I would think that the best thing to do in this case is to gently recommend to the cache owner that it's time to relocate the cache to an area that "users" don't frequent.

There are several Palm PDA's that would be adequate for paperless caching. The IIIxe, the Vx, and the VII would all work. You can also find good deals on older Zires. Just keep in mind that you need at least 8MB of memory to run Cachemate. (If that's what you choose to use...)

A few months ago, I bought a refurbished Palm IIIxe from MicroCenter.com. I forget what I paid for it, but it was CHEAP! I have found the IIIxe to be more than adequate for paperless caching, so you might try looking around on eBay, Overstock.com, etc. to find one. When I get a few minutes, I'll try to do a bit more research and post my results (or lack thereof) here. GSAK (on my PC) and Cachemate (on the handheld) are what I use for my paperless endeavors. Both work very well. Good luck and happy caching! Dave (edit: Just got through looking at Overstock.com. They have quite a few to choose from, mostly in the $50 - $70 range. Prior to my purchase, I heard that 8MB of memory is the minimum required to run the Cachemate application on the handheld, so you will want to keep that in mind as you shop. If paperless caching is all you need one for, go as cheap as you can, because it would suck to drop a high-end model in the creek, over the cliff, down in the "holler", and so on...)

Now, THAT sounds elitist! (but not exclusionary...) Oops, sorry! Wrong thread!

Greetings and welcome! As JMBella pointed out, your life will never be the same! I think that if it were me, I would want to find a real, physical cache as my "first". (And that's what I did.) That way you would have the experience of trading swag, and THAT (IMHO) is the true nature of caching. You mention that you are single, you may want to get in touch with GeoHo. (Don't let the handle throw you...) She's one of our "Geo-Dating" success stories! Proof that you can find a lot more than golf balls and broken McToys while caching! {Note: Tongue firmly in cheek during that last bit.} (edit: added missing information.)

If this is an olive branch, I will accept it. I didn't get involved with this hobby, etc to make lifelong enemies out of people I'll likely never meet! I've had time to cool down, have a couple of drinks and re-evaluate what I was trying to accomplish, which was: Use the forums in general as a sounding board for the possible approval of a virtual cache. I apologize for adding to the controversy surrounding the "VIRTUAL CACHE SITUATION". (insert ominous music here) Move along, move along. There's nothing to see here... My thanks to everyone for their input.

Clearly I didn't! You just chose to leave the previous part of my quote out of your quote in an effort to make yourself look clever. And I will graciously accept your apology, should my cache be approved! Look, I know it's a long shot, but unless any or all of you are local approvers for the area in question, then I have more of a chance than you would lead me to believe. Now I'm going to drop it.

Harrald, Upon re-reading your post, I realize that I misunderstood what you were saying. You were trying to help, but I read it wrong. My apologies. The point that I had hoped to make was that I HAVE read the guidelines! I did not include the posted guidelines for "Virtual Cache Maintenance", but they state that (I'm paraphrasing here...) pretty much all the owner has to do is maintain the cache page and verify the emails, photos or whatever other information is necessary to claim the virtual as a "find". So, I'm going to do everyone a favor and drop this. I can probably con my sister into checking on the location should anything appear to be amiss, that will most likely remove that particular stumbling block. Beyond that, it is up to the local approver.

Once again, not trying to be argumentative. Believe me when I say that I have read the guidelines. Here's what they have to say about vacation caches. Note that it says "may not" and not "will not". I'm guessing that it is up to the local reviewer. Further guidelines: I feel that the virtual I am proposing can easily meet these guidelines. Look: As I said before, I know that you are all trying to be helpful. But we have crossed the "helpful" line and we're well on our way to a full-on p*ssing match. Please refrain from any further replies unless you have something constructive to say. Thanks,

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but the cache that you used to illustrate your point illustrates one of mine as well. You clearly live well outside the DC area, yet you have a virtual cache on the mall! So, proximity to the cache and the ability of the "owner" to maintain the cache must not be a deal breaker. As for my vacation destination, you are correct. I'm not going for the caches, but to visit my sister. There are only three (!) caches listed on GC.com within 30 miles of her place, and none of them are virtuals. So I don't see any conflicts with the 528' rule. In addition, I understand that I can't feasibly maintain a physical cache at this location, that is why I'm proposing a virtual that won't require maintenance. I realize that you are trying to be helpful, but believe me, you're going about it the wrong way! Instead of raining on my harmless little parade; how about offering some suggestions that would help to insure that my proposed virtual gets approved with a minimum of fuss? Leaving Saturday morning-God, it can't get here soon enough!

It is very unlikely that the US government will move or destroy what I have in mind. As for maintenance, I trust that the US government will take care of both the landmark itself and the surrounding area. Furthermore, I won't be surprised, disappointed, or PO'd if said cache is not approved. It will just affirm my belief that the more we narrow the guidelines as to what is considered "acceptable", the more our sport/hobby/addiction will suffer. ***Personal Opinion Warning*** I would much rather be led to a place of natural beauty, a scenic vista or a superlative panorama; than down just another cement canyon in search of a bloody Altoids breath strip container that may or may not still be there! Cities I see every day! Show me something else! Give me a reason to go out of my way! ***End Personal Opinion Warning*** Anyway, still going on vacation, etc... Have a good one!

What with all the talk about menus and steaks and such, I'm now thoroughly confused! But in order to continue the train of thought, I will say this: Virtual Caches are among the choices that we have on the "menu". I don't want to get drawn into the T-bone vs Tenderloin debate, but when we go to the "restaurant" (GC.com) we look at the menu (available caches). You pretty much have to order from the menu. That is to say, it won't do much good to order a T-bone if it isn't on the menu. But if I look at the menu and T-bone is one of my options, and I want a T-bone, I'll order it. But what happens if the restaurant is temporarily out of T-bones? Here is where the comparison ends... I understand the various situations; "vacation caches", lame-o virtuals, etc. What I don't understand is punishing Cachers today for the transgressions of years gone by. I personally don't like urban micros, but I'm not leading a crusade to have them banned or made nearly impossible to get approved. When selecting the caches that I'd like to try to find, I simply avoid urban micros! And all of us have that same choice! If you don't like virtuals, don't look for them. I also understand that the GC.com website is privately owned. I know that it takes a lot of time and money to keep something like this running, and that the owner has the right to decide what gets approved and what doesn't. With that said, I would like to suggest that the WWW is big enough for all of us. At any rate, I'm still going on vacation. I'm still going to get the coordinates for the site I have in mind and I will still submit my proposed virtual for approval. Who knows, there may be enough "wow" (and a reasonable approver) to get it listed. Wish me luck,

I have a question regarding Virtuals. I have gotten the impression that new virtuals, while not actually frowned upon, are less and less likely to be approved. Is this true? If not, are there any criteria (beyond what is listed in the 'hide a cache' guidelines) that a virtual has to meet in order to gain approval? Here's the situation: My family and I will be going on vacation next week to a somewhat remote location. I have already searched for the available caches in the area, (we plan on getting them all) but there are no virtuals within 20 miles. I found this to be somewhat surprising, as there are two choice locations in the area. I will not be able to maintain a "real" cache in the area, as this is a vacation spot and not someplace that we are likely to go more than once a year. The spot(s) I have in mind are noteworthy; not only for their scenic beauty, but also for their historical value. So, should I give it a shot? Looking forward to your replies, especially those of the site moderators and area approvers. Thanks,

Ouch!!! That looks like it was pretty high on the old "Suck-o-Meter"; I take it you're alright, though. Yep, it pays to be careful out there!

I just got through checking out the features, etc. Wow! What a piece of hardware! When "Ol' Yeller" goes south on me, I'm going to get one! Thanks for the heads-up.