Outspoken1

I am getting this same error when I try to look at my que of Waymarks to review or when I try to go anywhere in the Waymarking website. I can't review, post or send email thru Waymarking. Huh. Been like this since Sunday (July 12th). Take care, Outspoken1

Hey, I'm scared to death they are just going to dump Waymarking totally. I got so tired of geocaching (caches missing, caches just under a lamp post skirt, caches in dangerous locations) and just love the opportunities for Waymarking. I do pay the $30 in hopes Groundspeak will keep Waymarking going.

I have had to resort to stripping the orientation metadata from photos that I have taken portrait rather than landscape. I use a program to do this, a Exif editor or cleaner will do this. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's only a problem when I am using my Windows 8 machine, and not a problem on the older laptop. That could be or it could be that the new browser is showing it. I know if I look at photos online with an older version of Firefox they will look fine but a newer version of Firefox or Chrome will have them sideways because the browsers now read the orientation of the photos and try to adjust for it. I'm using a Windows 7 machine and the newest version of Firefox and I have no problem with the photo orientation issue. May be a Windows 8 issue.

OK, this may be a resource to find the 'master' coordinates of a people-named location similar to the way U-Haul Supergraphics uses the 50States website for the master coords for each supergraphic. A friend suggested Acme Maps. I just looked up Mount Evans, Colorado, USA, in the Find box (lower right hand corner). When I clicked on the marker (inverted teardrop), it brought up a dialog box with the coords of Mount Evans. The map has many other nearby mountain peaks indicated (not that all are relevant to the proposed category, but that it provides the info). Now we need some N/C/S American, European, Asian, Australian, etc. Waymarkers to look at locations in their area and see if it works for them. Again,this is just a suggestion. Take care, Outspoken1

The LEGO Sculptures category limits the number of LEGO sculptures in an area to 2 so others may post a LEGO Sculpture. So often, LEGO sculptures are clustered so that one Waymarker could post all of them. The Biosphere seem to be the opposite situation - they are potentially so large and diverse, that many Waymarks may be allowed. As always, BruceS is dead on! Take care, Outspoken1

The proposal for the Timelines category is now in Peer Review. We incorporated comments and suggestions from comments from the forum. We hope you will vote 'Yea' and make this a new Waymarking category! Thanks for your support, Outspoken1 and Officers

Just a thought - The Waymark Category Exceptional Tree Growth Ring Displays almost always includes a timeline. Should this be included in the Timeline category or excluded (In other words - tree ring timeline posted in Exceptional Tree Growth Ring Displays category? Personally, I don't care one way or another. Just looking for feedback.

Most wonderful about your recovery. I figured you were doing better since I am seeing more of your tremendous Waymarks come thru for review. Colon Cancer - My uncle died from complications of colon cancer because his pride would not allow him to have a colonoscopy. (He was also a jerk, but that is a whole other story!) Please, a colon cancer screening can now be done in the privacy of your own home and you just mail a small sample to the lab. My 81 year-old father just sent his test in. Took him less than 5 minutes to provide the sample. If you have not done this simple screening (and repeat every 10 years or sooner, depending on family history), get this taken care of. Take care, Outspoken1

Congrats on that huge number - glad I was able to help by reviewing and enjoy all your discoveries!! Outspoken1

Yes, timeline in a museum that required an admission fee would be accepted. Just need to note there is a fee and provide URL where a visitor could find the fee (prices increase over time).

Great insight about variables requiring extra typing, etc. Standard title format you suggest in quite well thought out - it avoids the need for variables. Wonderful!! If the photos are legible, I don't think someone should have to retype that info. I am a poor typist, so I try to be kind to others who may not be great on the keyboard. To my mind, half of Waymarking is about photography, so if a timeline needs 5 photos instead of two, I don't think that is too much of a burden for our members. Digital photography is free-uploading a couple of extra photos is not an undue burden. Especially that would be much less time that retyping all the info on the timeline. I also think many Waymarkers do not realize how often our site is used as a reference site by non-Waymarkers. People check us out for local sights when traveling; for historic info for speeches; or sometimes the only photo documentation of 'something' that may have been vandalized or stolen. Good photography is not hard to accomplish with current digital technology - even on a little $100 point-and-shoot camera. Thanks so much, Outspoken1

Will there be a minimum time period? eg. If there is an 'event that takes a week, or a day, and it is shown in time line, is it acceptable? Would not matter if the event took place in a day, week or thousands of centuries (usually geologic time). When I say three events, I mean that the timeline should denote at least three 'things' that happened relevant to that event. What I am trying to avoid is a submission of a sign that only tells the date of the event and not a 'timeline' to put the various aspects of the events in a chronological reference (er, that is, a timeline). I don't want to say the timeline must be in a traditional horizontal format because educators are clever and may make a circular timeline or tiered or ... At least a minimum of two photos, one overall shot of the timeline, and a second of an example/close-up of a panel. Extra photo an added bonus. (Gives visitors a chance to photograph 'other' panels not shown by the poster) In theory great, in practice probably not. An overwhelming number of Waymarks are never logged, thus the timeline info would never be available to the people who will never get to actually visit that timeline. For instance, a timeline from Australia. I will probably never get to visit that great country, but I would love to learn remotely about its history. Photograph of the location? Example. I once saw a timeline at Stonehenge, placing Stonehenge in the timeline of 'millions' of years ago, and ending at 'Man on the moon'. Would be nice to have a photograph of Stonehenge? Location refers to where the timeline is located - on a sign in a rest area or the entrance of the museum. Just to help understand to location of this information and helps others to find it if they do want to log a visit. I'm English, live in England... But I'm happy for Waymarks to be in a posters 'native' language. BUT. Think English should be included, even if it's a poor 'Google'/on-line translation. (Rather have a proper translation, but so long as I can understand what it's attempting to say, I'm happy.) Real happy with a Google translation - just enough English so the Officers can understand to topic of the timeline. Outspoken1's replies indented... (Didn't know to to quote the responses to the initial quotes - my bad)

So, after having a wonderful evening at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, my mind came up with some possible criteria for the Timeline category. 1. Timeline could either be in a free or admission location. I feel this is important because many timelines are often executed in a delicate (will not stand up to weather) or sometimes electronic (touch screen) format. Variables should be free or admission and URL to get the current fees/hours to visit the timeline. 2. Timeline should have at least three (arbitrary number - just thinking aloud) specific times denoted. Most timelines I have seen have way more than three, but I wanted to be inclusive. Should it be more than three with the provision of a case by case review for special circumstances by the officers? 3. As with the Murals category, good photography is required. Not so much to capture the art, but to provide a legible photo 'story' for the viewer. In other words, the common 'two photo minimum' may not be enough. I just found a stunning timeline that was at least 15 photos (layout was roughly 50 yards (45 m) long). Electronic format (ex. touch screen) timeline may be more difficult to photograph - but it can be done - and you don't need a $2,000 camera. Digital photos are free - it just takes a little more time to upload them (I have DSL, so don't whine - my upload time is very slow! ). 4. The long description should report the time frame of the timeline (or should that be a variable?), what the timeline is illustrating (i.e., events, technology, evolution), although I don't feel the timeline should have to be fully typed out. Good photos take care of that. Also what did you learn or what surprised you or ??? 5. While I am in great respect of foreign (maybe 'all' languages is a better word since foreign is in the mouth of the speaker) languages, the quick and long description must be in English. 6. Any other thoughts. I don't want to make this too complicated. Feedback and suggestions always appreciated. Timeline example (I reduce photo size to fit in post)

Thanks for the support by members who have joined the group. I will rough out some ideas (actually, I have them roughed out in my head, but since telepathy is a poor way to communicate, I need to type it up) this weekend and get them to you. I will also post some thoughts on this topic for membership input. I will also upload some sample photos. Thanks for the interest! Outspoken1

I was not speaking of a 'duplicate' Waymark which would be, technically, someone trying to submit the same Waymark in the same category. I was speaking if a Waymark fits in several categories, why should that be denied? For instance, if someone finds a Waymark for the Holocaust with a statue, that location could both go in Holocaust Memorials and Figurative Public Sculptures. What is the harm in including the Waymark in both categories? It honors and educates both the topic of the memorial and the interpretation of the sculptor. Waymarking should be inclusive - not exclusive. Take care, Outspoken1

I would like to raise a bit of awareness regarding the small increase in Waymarkers that are using a colored background in the long description. I have asked them to not do that or at least use very light colors to help those who are color blind (for more info visit here ). I have worked with many people who are color blind and have a great respect to try to accommodate this issue. People are rarely (fortunately) totally color blind. Instead, there are some colors they the eye cannot interpret so the brain shifts to other colors/cannot represent the color. In addition, having the colored backgrounds while viewing the Waymarking pages on a device in the sunlight can make reading unnecessarily difficult. (Trivia - we also see everything upside down. We just learn to flip the image in our brain at infancy.) If you want to 'see' (no pun intended) how your Waymark looks to a person with various types of color blindness, copy the URL of one of your Waymark pages and visit Colorblind Web Page Filter. The page will load your webpage as each types of color blind person 'sees' it. It does take more time to load the images (there is a radio button where you can turn the images off), but I think it is worth the wait to discover how someone with color deficiency 'sees' the web. Take care, Outspoken1

I glance at the small map in the upper right hand corner to see if the coords 'look' correct. However, there is really no way to 'check' other than personally visiting the location (woo hoo, my excuse for world travel ) . The coords from Google Earth are close - but not dead on. In fact, I've had Waymarks declined saying the coords were off - went to recheck -coords were fine - it was Google Earth (or whatever other program they used to check). Additionally, most Waymarks are large enough that coords that are off be even a few yards/meters are still locatable (is that a word?). Unless someone reports a Waymark coords are waaaay off, I do not verify any further than the small map. Take care, Outspoken1

Perhaps in your area, but I suspect once you really start looking, you may be surprised. I have found as soon as a new Waymarking category is created, I suddenly notice that item in my area. I never much paid attention to manhole covers until I noticed the category; did not even know what a carillon was; never really paid much attention to LEGOs (before my time); did not understand the true purpose of an orientation table; did not know there were so many different types of train cabooses and that the different types mattered; did not know headstones were made of zinc; and had no idea there was a planned nuclear explosion in Colorado (for peaceful purposes - fracking natural gas). I look forward to new categories because they make me more curious to notice things I had not done before. Take care, Outspopken1

Several categories now require that the listing be in English (other languages are fine, but English is required). Initially, I didn't really care because it did not seem to make much difference. As I have become an officer in many categories, it is very frustrating to receive a Waymark with no English translation because I have no clue how to review it. What does the quick/long description state? Am I missing some really cool Waymark (one of the main reasons I enjoy being an officers in many categories - a free guided trip around the world!!) explanation or is it a really poor Waymark or is it missing criteria required by the category. As time goes by, I am more strongly leaning towards there needs to be an English version of the Quick and Long description. Just some input from personal experience. Outspoken1

This could be very frustrating, especially if someone is trying to complete a Lucky 7 which only allows you to use Waymarks YOU have posted. I would hope that reviewers do not deny Waymarks because of saturation. Some historic areas (hmmm... Paris, Prague, New York, Teotihuacan...) could have Waymarks that fit in several categories in a very close area due to the long history of the area. On the flip-side, if I find an obvious series of historic markers, I submit as a group (for example, here ). Again, it is a judgement call. Take care, Outspoken1

Finally having time to catch up with the Forums. This sounds like a category with great potential. A few thoughts: As for the coordinates of the location - if there is a general site that has coordinates (like Wikipedia, State hunting/fishing/hiking location, [a GIS person could probably answer this question)?), those would be the coordinates for the Waymark and then you would submit the second set off coords where you took the photo. This is how we handled U-Haul Supergraphics. As for the 'name'; to avoid places with names that have been lost to history. Credible documentation needs to be provided. As a genealogist, many towns have their history online or other digitized info (search genealogy or [location] to help figure out which ancestors owned property. So Cooper's Meadow would have to be accompanied with documentation as to who was Cooper and why the Meadow was named after him/her. The documentation should both be copy and pasted and the URL provided. Bodies of water could follow the criteria already set in the Natural Lakes and other bodies of water categories (no reason to reinvent the wheel). An English translation is needed since many of the officers are (sadly) not multilingual and the Waymarking membership is primarily English speaking (sorry, not trying to be insensitive - just realistic. As an officer, when I get a Waymark in French or German or Czech, I am just stumped). I would be happy to join this group and help out, if wanted. Take care, Outspoken1

I also contacted them several times over the past several years. I finally have more time to devote to Waymarking again, so I figured I would just try again and see if there is interest. Please join the group if you are interested!

I am an officer in Signs of History and am trying to avoid redundancy by specifying a timeline (even though is may be part of a larger sign - which would be fine to Waymark - it would just count in two categories). Timelines are a unique method to present information that helps to tie the info to other events so the viewer can understand the growth/improvement/loss/whatever else that is being related in conjunction with existing knowledge. It is a fact/learning/organization organization tool. (OK, I am sounding like a teacher again - sorry [grin]).

I use a real camera instead of a phone/tablet and $100 cameras do great in low light without a flash. I rarely use flash anywhere because of the glare. In have also played with the panorama setting to get the entire photo and that does not allow for flash use. However, we are now talking technique - not really location restrictions.