bk11

I understand, toe. I just prefer to spend time with a project that facilitates data movement. Look other places on the web and it's all about xml/rss feeds. With popularity, I don't feel that the geocaching.com site can give the localized attention. It's just not possible - the info needs to be filtered at a lower level. In my opinion, not offering this will encourage local cache database efforts. With the cheesy poofs, I agree. =) My point is... with the benchmark project, geocaching.com showed me that they find data access beneficial and one can make something really cool with it. Just as long as it's not *their* data. uncle alaska, the build a better mousetrap thing... yeah, I know. I don't want to build another one, I think they're doing a great job. =) I just wish there was more fun for geeks. Data is fun.

Thank you for your response. =) Oh, I just don't know... yes, I'd say the shine is gone. I found benchmarking through geocaching so when "geocaching.com got involved with it" isn't really what I meant, sorry about that. I'm talking about when the benchmarking subsite was made. They basically put a front end on somebody else's database. Which is all fine and dandy... this is, afterall, what the Internet is about (to me) - making information available to others. But this is exactly opposite of geocaching.com's position with "their" cache data. If the benchmark database people had the same attitude, there would be no benchmarking subsite at geocaching.com. It goes against my grain just enough to bug me and in turn, tarnish it.

My enthusiasm for benchmarking waned once geocaching.com got involved with it. I mean, the geocaching gods (heh) have an iron grip on "their" cache data, but it's okay for them to use the benchmark database. It just never jived right with me, seems a bit hypocritical.

quote:Gee, I wish I lived in MN so I could join your group... you sound like a bunch of winners to me. You don't have to live here, silly. Anybody that's interested in geocaching in Minnesota is welcome. ooga, I realize some people aren't pleased with it, and I'm sorry about that. You can't make everybody happy all the time and we all know that. I bought a pack of travel bugs last year: missing & missing. so after that, what was the point of sending out the others sitting in my junk drawer & ditto weeee, fun! honestly, I finally feel like I'm getting my money's worth with the WWW.MNGEO.COM bug. Geocachers Exploring Minnesota

quote:The spirit of Geocaching is sharing not finding ways around things to overshadow others true accomplishments. Which, "overshadowing" is exactly what ya'll are doing. Our true accomplishment is our community and sharing it is what we're doing. I'm sorry that you believe your true accomplishment is that number after your name. Geocachers Exploring Minnesota

quote:Not only does this make him look like a jerk to many folks out here, but it also manages to give MNGEO a black eye in the process. Lame, lame, lame. I feel bad for the folks that run this site in times like this. What in the WORLD are you talking about? I own mngeo.com. I didn't make the travel bug, but I think it's a fabulous idea! This isn't about hits, I already go over on bandwidth every month! I *pay* to keep the site going. It's about community and fun. The "jerks" are all you whiners... lighten up, sheesh! If you don't like it, there's that fancy little back button that came with your browser, use it! [this is a perfect example of the reason I don't frequent these forums any more... whine whine whine whine WHINE!] Geocachers Exploring Minnesota

Thanks Arol, for posting on the cache logs that they were picked up. We knew Trout Trot's fate because you emailed me when it was confiscated, but there were a few in the area that that we didn't hear anything about at all! I had wondered about our Charity Cache in John Latsch State Park. I was unable to make it up the bluff before the deadline to retrieve it. Turns out that they picked them up before the July 1st deadline anyway. (hehe to whoever had to go get Charity, it isn't exactly a quick dash from the parking lot! jk) I knew it was gone now, but didn't know who had it. So thank you, I'll be picking it up! And thanks too for being so nice about everything. We missed you when we went down to F/MC to pick up our cache, we really had a great talk with your boss and the other folks down there. The sad part about all this is we didn't take our annual weekend-after-labor day camping trip to F/MC this year even though we had planned to after enjoying ourselves so much there last year. And my state park sticker expired in September and I'm not getting another one. We used to spend most of our time wandering around in Whitewater. I really hope that something good comes out of this some day. Until then, it just makes me sad. Geocachers Exploring Minnesota

We found one of The Lil Otter's micro caches. Really fun, I think I'm going to hide some little ones. Challenging! Geocachers Exploring Minnesota

Oh my! What cute doggy-woggies! This one right above me here (Chi) with the grasses hanging off him is just priceless! If dogs are not allowed, I would definitely like to have that noted on the cache page. We've turned around and went home before. Here's Honey! My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

Oh my! What cute doggy-woggies! This one right above me here (Chi) with the grasses hanging off him is just priceless! If dogs are not allowed, I would definitely like to have that noted on the cache page. We've turned around and went home before. Here's Honey! My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

For images I use GIMP. It's free, folks, and it does a lot of the stuff Photoshop does. There's a windows version available now: http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/ You're crazy if you need image editing software and don't give this a go. I'm about a hundred pics behind , but here's my geocaching photolog. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

For images I use GIMP. It's free, folks, and it does a lot of the stuff Photoshop does. There's a windows version available now: http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/ You're crazy if you need image editing software and don't give this a go. I'm about a hundred pics behind , but here's my geocaching photolog. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

Of course post it, it'll be fun!!! My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

From the article: quote:That time was spent running along trails, pushing through thick vegetation, wading along streambeds, humping up some steep slopes and butt-sliding down others. quote:...it has a lot in common with the fast-growing sport of adventure racing, in which teams trek, bike or paddle for hours or sometimes days over a wilderness course. Both activities usually involve a lot of bashing through the woods, off trail and up and down hills, getting wet, dirty, cold, hot, hungry or thirsty. ( emphasis mine. sounds kinda fun... except for the bashing part ) Thanks for the link, Team VE, 'tis very interesting indeed. Nice job, MN state parks, you really have it together. Our confiscated cache Trout Trot from F/MC State Park was hidden on September 8, 2001. It was found THREE times between then and May 7, 2002 when it was removed! THREE!! I am going to forward this story to the head ranger that I spoke with there (we had a great conversation, btw) just as an FYI. Butt-Sliding. *shakes head*

From the article: quote:That time was spent running along trails, pushing through thick vegetation, wading along streambeds, humping up some steep slopes and butt-sliding down others. quote:...it has a lot in common with the fast-growing sport of adventure racing, in which teams trek, bike or paddle for hours or sometimes days over a wilderness course. Both activities usually involve a lot of bashing through the woods, off trail and up and down hills, getting wet, dirty, cold, hot, hungry or thirsty. ( emphasis mine. sounds kinda fun... except for the bashing part ) Thanks for the link, Team VE, 'tis very interesting indeed. Nice job, MN state parks, you really have it together. Our confiscated cache Trout Trot from F/MC State Park was hidden on September 8, 2001. It was found THREE times between then and May 7, 2002 when it was removed! THREE!! I am going to forward this story to the head ranger that I spoke with there (we had a great conversation, btw) just as an FYI. Butt-Sliding. *shakes head*

Jay Cooke Staff: please help us in discouraging people from posting the same exact message in multiple threads. Topic: Geocaches In MN State Parks - Illegal Topic: Bad News for Geocachers using Minnesota State Parks Gah! That's not the way it's done. If you don't like it, tough. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

I really like the logs you left on the cache pages, Jay Cooke Staff. Ash Ridge Trail Grand Portage 4 Sisters quote:July 28 by Jaycookestaff (3 found)Hello I work at the park and this cache has been found and removed. It is illegal to place cache's in the park and any found will be removed. If you don't like it tough it is a safety as well as environmental issue. We can't have people wandering through the woods off of trails looking for these things. Looks like you deleted/changed them now I guess. Why won't you answer the email I sent you? You're a representative of the park and you tell us "If you don't like it tough"?? And this? quote:"If you are caught placing them you will be arrested for tresspassing just to be forwarned. We have rules in place to protect our natural resources so if you want to litter place your crap somewhere else." no class. *shrug* My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

jhwf4: Didn't you believe me? I suggest that we stop bothering them about it, lest they decide to change the policy to disallow caching in more areas. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

jhwf4: Didn't you believe me? I suggest that we stop bothering them about it, lest they decide to change the policy to disallow caching in more areas. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

State Parks are State Parks. Not state forests. We talked to the head park ranger at a state park near us and this was confirmed. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

We've had comments about skeeters in our cache logs too. State bird is right! Yeah, they're just out in full force now, I wouldn't move it. They'll go away in, oh, November. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

We've had comments about skeeters in our cache logs too. State bird is right! Yeah, they're just out in full force now, I wouldn't move it. They'll go away in, oh, November. My Geojournal: Bump On A Log **NEW: MN Geocaching Group GEM

Also, I encourage everyone to take pictures of the trash you pick up. I'm starting a collection of local efforts, please contact me if you would like to be involved! My Geojournal: Bump On A Log MN Geocaching Group: GEM

Also, I encourage everyone to take pictures of the trash you pick up. I'm starting a collection of local efforts, please contact me if you would like to be involved! My Geojournal: Bump On A Log MN Geocaching Group: GEM

Yeah, our Trout Trot was confiscated. However, we went down to the park to retrieve the cache and had a great talk with the park manager. It's all about education, folks. Topic: "Illegal" caches in Minnesota Geocaches In MN State Parks - Illegal Topic: Geocaching in Minnesota! Will it be allowed to continue?? quote:How do we go about getting organized to present to the DNR? We are working on this, visit GEM for more info! The picnic is July 27th if you haven't heard! My geojournal: Bump On A Log