Outspoken1

Please don't shoot the messenger. As has already been mentioned, Waymarking was developed to replace Virtual Geocaches. I would add that there are many other websites that could provide the 'information' to log a virtual. You will never get rid of people who wish to 'cheat' or think the 'win' by having the most numbers. I always tend to look at quality versus quantity. And most of us (either Waymarkers or Geocachers or both) 'know' who is cheating or creating junky Waymarks and just laugh at them. Best solution, I think!! Take care, Outspoken1

I find Waymarking a very enjoyable hobby that is well worth it to me. The benefits I have received include ... - Noticing things I have walked past for decades!! - Learning about things our ancestors did to give us this wonderful lifestyle - Seeing new art that challenges me; seeing old art that inspires me - Having people ask to use my Waymark photos and or reference in their books, speeches, legislation - Giving my customers a CD of my most interesting Waymark photos last year for the holidays and having them ask if I was going to do that again this year!! (well, sure!!) - Seeing the world though other's eyes - Reading the newspaper or seeing something on television and thinking, "I need to go Waymark that!!" - Meeting people all over the world with this shared interest - Having a hobby that can occupy a brief hour or a full day for the cost of gasoline, batteries - Having over 1,000 Waymarks sitting on my computer to be uploaded during bitter cold, snowy days - Helping local, state and national agencies (such as Smithsonian Art or NRHP or the Deutsche Denkmallisten [German Monument Registers0) maintain their databases about various art and historical items Yep, I'm hooked and I hope, if you enjoy this hobby, will join us in our shared Waymarking hobby! Take care, Ooutspoken1

I think perhaps the easiest way to 'see' what is Waymarking is to put your location in on the main Waymarking page and hit 'search.' Hopefully, you will see Waymarks done by others that you can go visit. If you enjoy the 'visit' part, then take a look at the Categories pages (show all categories) and see if there is anything that raises your interest. Art? History? Sports? Click on that category, read how to post a Waymark (show additional information) and go for it. Easy to find Waymarkable items include public sculpture, murals, wi-fi hotspots, historical markers, cemeteries. These can be found at almost any location. Then all you need is some way to take GPS coordinates (GPS receiver or newer smartphones) and a camera (newer smartphones have a camera but you will soon find the desire for a good zoom on your camera!). Voila! You are becoming addicted to Waymarking!! There are many experienced Waymarkers who are always happy to help. Take care and enjoy, Outspoken1

You have also noted that it takes a long time to upload photos. Most digital camera manufacturers sell their camera set at the default highest quality photo (most megapixels) which creates the largest files. I have dialed back my digital camera to take 1200 by 1600 at 180 dpi which makes nice photos to upload and are only 600-900 kb. Much easier than a huge 2 or 4 MB file for each photo. I hope you continue to enjoy and contribute to Waymarking! Take care, Outspoken1

Interesting story about Waymarks being edited. I do occasionally edit Waymarks in categories where I am either a Leader or Officer if I notice a typo or dead link (and know a valid link) or to correct a title, but I did not realize that there is no way to determine who made the edit. I always 'assumed (scary word)' that my name would be attached to the email about the edit so if there was a problem, someone could contact me. To anyone whose Waymark I have edited -- no harm was intended, I was just trying to keep our Waymarks high quality. I consider myself the 'Queen of Typos,' [why do typos only appear after you have hit the 'Submit' button!?!?!] and just correct them in other Waymarks if I notice. It don't really want to bother someone by either declining or sending an email about a small problem that I can fix quickly. Most people put a ton of work into they submissions (especially folks to whom English is not their native language!). If the edit was incorrect, I 'assume' you could just go back and fix it to the proper info/form. Take care, Outspoken1

I found this stone on a synagogue I am Waymarking. Could someone please post the translation of this stone? Isaac Solomon Synagogue stone Thanks so much, Outspoken1

The exhibits would have to be established (at least in their second or third year) and have supporting documentation of the scope and time frame which the pieces are available (though the pieces themselves do not actually matter since they will rotate). The pieces are generally on display for a year - it is an inexpensive way for communities to have public art at minimal coast and for artists to display their work. To differentiate this from an weekend or weekly festival - the sculptures would need to be on display for the season (for the northern climes!) to all year. Maybe instead of saying 'Annual' it should be 'Year-long' or 'On-Loan'? Here are some examples of established Annual Outdoor Art Exhibits: Urban Trees (San Diego, CA) (this is the one that has many Waymarks which began this whole discussion in the forums; ex. WMA2TC ) Art on Parade (Northglenn, CO) (this project has been going one for many years - the public votes on the pieces and the winner is purchased by the city) Art on the Corner (Grand Junction, CO) Park City Art on Loan (Park City, UT) Avenue of the Arts (Boynton Beach, FL) (I am pulling these examples from memory from pieces I have had to decline because they are temporary.) Again, the goal is to Waymark an annual sculpture event - not the actual pieces. Often, the communities do purchase one of the pieces - then that piece would become Waymarkable since it would be part of their permanent collection. Thanks for the interest, Outspoken1

Hi, everyone: I have spent a good deal of time this morning reviewing edits to archive to a series of sculpture Waymarks that were part of a annual art exhibit. This problem has arisen many times before where Waymarkers try to Waymark a piece that is on display for only a year or so. That makes the piece temporary (as evidenced by my work today to edit the 8-10 Waymarks to denote they are 'Gone.'). I have suggested many times that a category be created for Annual Outdoor Art Exhibits that would allow to Waymarking of the event (similar to Festivals), but not be dependent upon individual art pieces (which are usually only on display for that year). So I have created a group called 'Art Walks' with the goal to see if there is interest in developing a category that would allow for Waymarking annual outdoor art exhibitions. Many communities engage in these type of annual art displays since it is an inexpensive way to have public art in the community without the city having to purchase and for the artist to have his/her work on display for sale (hey, even artists have to eat!). I am thinking along the lines of established annual outdoor art exhibits (in other words, the annual outdoor art exhibit being two or more years in existence); that the pieces are usually situated along several blocks in part of the city or on a dock (so where should coords be taken?); the exhibit be free and open to the public; the exhibit be outdoors (well, duh!); etc. If there is interest, I would appreciate any suggestions, members to the group, etc., who would like to help out. Take care, Outspoken1

I would like to offer up my name as an Officer for the Uncategorized Waymark category to have some ability to clean out the crap some confused Waymarkers have posted. There is no way to 'decline' an Uncategorized Waymark to get it out of the category when it plainly is not what the category is to be used for. For instance: Run Boy Run Kapfbrunnen Mall Rocks Then there is the 100 Little Minnesota which again are posted as if they are Virtual Geocaches ("This series of waymarks is tuned to getting people to visit these wonderful small communities before they disappear completely. To validate your ‘find’, please post a photo of you with your GPS at the coordinates and please relate a little tidbit about what you learned about the town and its people that is not in this narrative or the book. You can learn more about ‘LITTLE MINNESOTA’ by logging on to [Facebook link - I don't do Facebook]. These are not meant to be Waymarks to be categorized - just posted in hopes someone will visit and log and Uncategorized. Huh!?!?!?! A majority of these Uncategorized Waymarks were posted by newbie Waymarkers who don't seem to understand Waymarking or, for instance, by the Hayden, Colorado guest (I've emailed him several times explaining we can't categorize a Waymark without photos. He lives in Hayden, but won't put up photos because someone may violate copyright. Sheesh!). I am raising this issue because I have helped several people with Waymarks they did not know where to place them or some very kind people put Waymarks in the category so others could 'score' a Waymark in either a new category or location. In other words, they were being generous! The Uncategorized category has become sorta of a landfill of incomplete or non-Waymarks with no way to remove the debris. Just food for thought and discussion. Take care, Outspoken1

Dear Ian:L This is actually an easy one. One of your coordinates has been corrupted (I can't think of a better word). THis happens to me at least 3-4 times a session when I am submitting Waymarks. Example: I type in: N39 45.314 W105 36.521 I enter all the text and other variables and click 'Save and continue' Then I get the huge yellow-background error message. If you just click the back button in your browser to go back to the 'Add a new Waymark page; you might notice that your coords are something like: N39 45.000.00' W105 36.521 That weird 45.000.00' is what causes the error message. Just retype in the correct coords and save and all will be fine. I figured this out about 6 months ago. Thought it was just me poor typing! Take care, Outspoken1

Welcome to Waymarking!! Here are some 'rules of thumb' that I use. As you have discovered, look at what each category requires to get those 'things' when you go Waymarking. Murals (of which I am a reviewer) requires great photography. We are looking for photos that really 'show off' the mural. We are also looking for close-ups of the details of the mural. Then you need to 'describe the mural as if the viewer could not see it' in the long description. Mosaics requires a close-up of the tile and flow (grout). Almost all Waymarks require at least two distinct photos (not a crop of the one photo and think the reviewer can't tell it is the same photo). For the most part, the Waymark has to be a permanent thing. It can't be a sculpture/painting that will only be on display for a year. A good digital camera is really helpful. You don't need a $5000 camera set up, but zoom lenses (optical zoom, not digital) really do help get the photos needed for a good Waymark. I don't mean a camera that uses individual lenses-a point-and-shoot will work well. If the camera cost you $100-$200, you are probably OK. My Canon SX40 HC has a 35x optical zoom on one lens that just zooms in and out. More photos are always better than less. I am old enough to remember when it cost 50 cents to $2 to have each photo developed (that thing called 'film'), so with this digital photography that each photo is basically 'free' - take lots of photos. I think of 'show and tell' because most likely, many people will not be able to visit your Waymark, so you are showing off your find. Those who know me know that as a reviewer, I always appreciate more photos. Take the coordinates as close to the 'thing' you are photographing as you can. Most of the time, this is what a category calls for. Now in Picture Perfect Postcards and Photos Now and Then, you do take the coords from where you took the photo to recreate the postcard/photo. As a newbie, I think the easiest thing to photograph is public art and memorials. Almost every town has sculptures, murals, memorials, and a unique 'thing' that the town is proud of. Waymarking makes you more observant. Suddenly you will start noticing time capsules, sundials, 3D advertising, etc. What I did was just make a list of all the categories in Wordperfect (see, I told you I am older!!) and keep that printout in my truck. When I am bored at work, I can scan the list and 'discover' new categories I did not know about. Once you have your photos and coordinates, I copy all the photos into separate folders that I name first by location, then the item. So everything I found in Como [Colorado] is in a folder Como Roundhouse; Como Fire Bell; etc. Then I make a quick text document (Notepad) and type the coordinates from my GPSr. That way, I can post the Waymark in a day, a month or a year. Save your photos and coordinates as you will find Waymarks that will fit in more than one category. If you are declined - breathe. A decline is not a comment about your character. You probably just missed something that is required. Most reviewers are about quality posts for their category. We tend to review in categories that we have an interest, so we want well researched and photographed Waymarks. I would rather have two great posts than ten one-sentence wonders. Do remember that all of us are volunteers and enjoy Waymarking. Work with the reviewer and things will probably be OK. Always carry spare batteries for your camera and GPSr, water and snacks, paper and pencil to transcribe in case a critical bit of info does not come out in the photograph, good shoes, a hat with a wide brim (to block the sun for your photos!!), and a cell phone to let people know you are going to be late because you just found a wonderful sculpture garden!!! Have fun, Outspoken1

Hi everyone: To make life easier, I am just going to expand Silhouette to include art pieces where the piece is just words (in any language) or initials. We are getting a few (and I mean very few) Waymarks that are of this type. Instead of going through the process to create a new category, I am allowing that into the Silhouette category. Seems to just make life simpler. Take care, Outspoken1

Hi everyone: I am increasingly reviewing art pieces that are using only words as the format. I have been approving them in either the Abstract or the Silhouette category (since the actual medium tends to be a flat or 'thin' letters). These pieces are not suitable for Etched in Stone. Examples include: R U N As To Be In Plain Sight Would there be support for a category for this art form? Should Silhouette be expanded to include this type of art? I would appreciate some suggestions. Thanks, Outspoken1

I believe the 'wrench' icon means that Bootron (or whoever) has not yet designed an icon for the category. The Millstone category has the same logo. Artists need time and we want cool icons!! Thanks for designing those cool icons! Outspoken1

Thank you sooo much for approving our category. We have incorporated many of the suggestions from the members who voted. To repeat - we are not 'parsing' a category. Exact Replicas category does not accept landform models - they only want man-made items. I have no complaint about that restriction, but that is why we created this category. We look forward to your wonderful submissions! Thanks, Outspoken1, N!TR0 and Lord Abercrombie

I am keeping a list of suggestions for category improvement that we will utilize should the category pass Peer Review. Thanks for the input. To clarify why the model of the castle is not acceptable - it would fit in Exact Replicas as a man-made item. The castle model does not really 'ahow-off' the geography of the castle location. The purpose of a 3D map Model is to show how geography/hydrology/etc., influenced the location of an area and/or the development of a town. (We will clarify this on the category page if the category is approved). Exact Replicas will not accept replicas of landscapes/geography/hydrology. No criticism of Exact Replicas - this is just a limitation of their category (one of my favorite categories!). Yes, cross-posting is allowed (item that fits in other categories). Thanks for your support, Outspoken1

Hi everyone! The Officers have created and approved the category, so we have just been sent to Peer Vote. I would like to ask for you kind 'Yea' and any other comments you may have after seeing the final category. Thanks in advance for your support, Outspoken1

To answer several of the questions: Indoor Buildings - Yes, I agree that these are often indoors, but most often found in a visitor center or museum; both of which have generous visiting hours and many other items that are Waymarked are mainly found indoors. Maps for the vision-impaired: How cool is that!! I've never seen such a thing. Yes, they would go into this category. As I mentioned before, the Exact Replica category will not accept anything that is not a replica of something human fashioned (OK, man-made!). I think these land form/land use 3D maps are a great item to Waymark as they are a wonderful teaching tool of many items we commonly Waymark that are found on land (or the ocean). For instance, rivers, canyons, parks, volcanoes, other natural landmarks, etc. Thanks for the interest!! The Raised Relief Maps group is accepting members. Outspoken1

Here is an example of a map found on a local shopping mall: The various mountains and foothills are abstracted into seating for visitors. Take care, Outspoken1

As a Leader/Officer in many categories, I almost always (can't say 'always' because sometimes I am sleepy - I review Waymarks first thing in the morning!!) I look to see if the town or general area looks 'OK.' Can't say I always magnify the map since 'most' of the time the coordinates seem accurate and I am reviewing many Waymarks each day. There is a time constraint before I have to go to work (I review while eating breakfast - it is a great way to start the day!). A 'red flag' is usually a blue map which means incorrect or incomplete coordinates were used (I've done that one myself several times!). Or for our European/Asian Waymarkers, the default North or West skewed their coordinates. It is good to know of Waymarkers that may need more coaching to become proficient (now, was that Politically Correct?!?!?). While Waymarking is not an expensive hobby (camera, GPSr and Internet connection), it does ask for a modicum of care and responsibility to get accurate coordinates, good photos and have actually tried to create a good Waymark. Take care, Outspoken1

Hi everyone: I have started a group currently called Raised Relief Maps to possibly create a category for 3D Topographical Maps. These 3D maps help us to understand and visualize land areas to understand the unique geography and/or hydrology and/or geology of the area. (See photos below) I envision the category to encourage the discovery of these 3D topo maps that reveal the Earth's land areas (both land as well as the ocean's topography) and maps from planets in the galaxy. The maps would have to be a unique item and not mass-produced at a map factory (there are commercial plastic 'vaccu-form' type 3D maps available for purchase). While the maps are most often horizontal and made of plaster-covered Styrofoam or cardboard, I have also seen vertically mounted ones made of clay or ceramic. Some of the maps I have seen include interactive functions of lights to demonstrate unique geographic features. The maps are usually found in visitor centers, museums, or parks. Most are about 4' by 6', but I have seen larger ones in parks. The reason for this category is that Exact Replicas will not accept these replicas of topography. The category only accepts human fashioned items (I am not complaining; it is just a restriction of their category). In essence, this is an Exact Replica of Land proposal! These photos are of a 3D Topographical Map of the Grand Mesa in Colorado.

It would be great to be able to sort our 'Visited' Waymarks by the date we visited them. The current sort features make it very difficult to find a Waymark one may have logged recently. The sort features are based on the creation of the Waymark - not on the visit (logged) data. Not a major issue, but would be very helpful. Thanks, Outspoken1

We would like to thank everyone for voting to make this a new category. Per discussion from the Peer vote, we have added the following: "Please limit submissions to two (2) creations per person at each location (most commonly a LEGOLand), meaning multiple Waymarkers can each submit two pieces at the same location." (paraphrased from the Woodmen of the World Markers category - thanks!!) Now go find those LEGO pieces!!! Outspoken1

Hey, everyone - we are in Peer Review!!!!!! As you know, we have had this category in the Forums (both the old Waymarking and the new Geocaching location) for discussion for several months. I created this category to give a home to the elaborate LEGO sculptures that currently do not have a place to be posted. They do not meet the Figurative criteria, thus this category proposal. I hope we may have your support and 'Yea' vote! Thanks, Outspoken1

The question has been raised about limiting the number of LEGO sculptures in a LEGOland Park that a specific Waymarker may submit so that others may have a chance to submit some original Waymarks. We would like to ask for feedback on this. Personally, I understand the desire to be able to submit Waymarks instead of just a visit - but in reality, every Waymark can only be submitted once (maybe in a variety of categories; but still only once). After that, it is a visit. Further, I cannot think of any reasonable way for the officers to manage this. The issue of limiting the number of Waymarks allowed by a Waymarker came up a looong time ago for the Figurative category. It was resoundingly thought to be a detrimental and unenforceable requirement. I want to raise this issue of limiting the number of Waymarks allowed to a Waymarker at a LEGOland to the membership in case there is a concern by the overall membership that needs to be addressed. Thanks so much for your constructive feedback! Take care, Outspoken1