LeatherKnight

Briansnat wrote: Hehe, I always delete the "Please do not vandalize it" statement also. I can just see some muggle saying, "Oh, so now you're telling me what to do huh? Mr. Smart Member-of-some-exclusive-treasure-club, what're your buddies gonna think when they see this!?!" *Crash, boom, smash, bang* I wonder if anyone's done any research on the effectiveness of the geocaching note on your average a**hole. If I can get a grant for the study, I can test each note out and we can decide on the best wording.

Harrald wrote: That's too lenient. Why don't we boil him in oil? Draw and quarter the dog! Put him on the rack!! There's no place on geocaching.com for standing up for oneself, and Team 360 needs to learn that.

Rather than do my own research, let me ask this question. How often do these things make a full orbit around the earth? Every 90 minutes or so is my guess, I guess. Anyone have an idea?

What a romantic tale! It sounds like a very fun event and Congratulations!! Why oh why does everyone but me find love? Will I die alone and friendless like Weird Al Yankovich???

Mudfrog wrote: I found a film container right in front of a likely hiding spot in a small area where the hider left no hints, since they considered the Central Park microcache find would be a snap. I logged a DNF and sent an E-mail to the owner, who responded that, "It doesn't sound good. The cache was a film container." I have yet to hear whether it was gone or not though. Hehe, ironically, I found this log, marked as a find, as I perused the gallery. Jayhawker wrote: Makes you wonder just how many "finds" like this are logged, huh? However, I support the practice of handing out finds to the "First to Find Cache Missing" finders, such as in the case of this Tenino multicache In my opinion, perhaps a find should be awarded for those more difficult hunts that end fruitlessly, due to a missing cache. Then again, my finding an empty film container in the middle of a small park in the center of town doesn't deserve a find. People who take snapshots of the general area in which the cache was supposed to be hidden and claim it as a find should have nipple clips applied to them, with snapshots taken of that little amusement and posted as a warning on the homepage of geocaching.com I don't care who's cheating who in some of these preposterous excuses for "finds." It's bastardization of the sport, publicly declared. It is the same as a televised sport where suddenly the players start making up their own rules and applying them: "I pinned him for two seconds the first time, and two the second. That counts as a pin!" "Sure, it hit the wall, but I think it is a homerun." "Yeah, it hit the goalpost, but so what? Goal!" Maybe players of these sports would only be cheating themselves too, but it'd still irk me to be faced with such absurd logic, and have to watch undeserved points being awarded to the undeserving. And I would have to watch, whether I cared or not, and that's the problem with these "finds." We all have to watch them. Fake finds and "almost" finds should be kept as private, and as far from the public eye as the insertion of suppositories, as they are both similarly unpleasant, and both give the viewer an irrestistable urge to turn their head and vomit into their ammo can (which the fake finder took a picture of, or at least took a picture of the "Welcome to" sign in the same town as the cache).

Hehe, cool idea. For a moment, I thought you were referring to Johan Hedburg, the backup goalie for the Vancouver Canucks. I figured it was a joke about the possibility of him being traded or something. I like the idea of a human celebrity travel bug. If you can get a picture of yourself with a certain celebrity, that makes the human celebrity bug "yours" until someone else gets a picture with him/her. Is that a good idea?

SuzyKayaker reminded me of my promise to post more poison ivy information, though it seems that IvyBlock is a commonly-used preventative among geocachers. Here's some info on Ivyblock and PI: Only IvyBlock® CAN PREVENT POISON IVY RASH. Only IvyBlock is FDA approved. IvyBlock® is the only Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac protectant that contains the active ingredient bentoquatam. When applied prior to exposure, IvyBlock will actually protect the skin against the contraction of the rashes associated with Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac. No prescription required . . . clinically tested for safety and effectiveness. For maximum protection follow our Poison Ivy Protection Program: -Recognize and avoid poisonous plants. -Wear protective clothing. -Use IvyBlock® lotion as directed. Buy IvyBlock® In These Stores: CVS Drug Emporium Kinney Drugs Longs Drugs Snyders Drug Stores Stop-n-Shop SuperValu Wegmans Food Markets Your local pharmacist can order it for you too . . . just ask. Order IvyBlock® Online: Amazon.com Consumer Link CVS.com Dermadoctor.com Dermstore.com Drugstore.com Northern Mountain Supply Poison Oak & Ivy Safety-products.com Summit Hut Travel Country USA Drugs Frequently Asked Questions about IvyBlock® Lotion. How does IvyBlock® lotion protect me from poison ivy, oak, and sumac? Easily. When applied to the skin prior to contact, the active ingredient in IvyBlock®, bentoquatam, serves as a barrier that blocks the allergenic oil (urushiol) in these poisonous plants from reaching the skin and starting the development of the rash. Does IvyBlock® lotion require a prescription? No, IvyBlock® is an over-the-counter (OTC) product and requires no prescription. It is available at drug stores nationwide and safety departments in select companies across the country. How do you use IvyBlock® lotion and when should it be applied? Easily. IvyBlock® is applied to the skin before risk of exposure. It should be applied to clean, dry skin at least 15 minutes before exposure risk. Re-application is recommended after 4 hours to maintain the maximum level of protection. Emergency workers who do not wash off IvyBlock do not need to reapply if it is inconvenient. Is IvyBlock® lotion safe? Will it irritate the skin? IvyBlock® is very safe and should not irritate the skin. Tests show IvyBlock® is non-irritating and non-sensitizing (non-allergenic). As with any product, individuals should read the directions and ingredients before use. Do not use if you react to any of the ingredients. Is IvyBlock® lotion a seasonal product? No, because poison ivy rash is not seasonal. Urushiol, the allergenic substance that causes poison ivy, oak, and sumac rashes, is a very stable chemical and can cause a reaction even during the cold weather months. Poison plants contain urushiol throughout the year and the oil is potent in all seasons. Use of IvyBlock® can be beneficial all year long, especially for very sensitive individuals. If I wear gloves or protective clothing, do I still need to apply IvyBlock® lotion? Yes, absolutely. Apply IvyBlock® to skin areas at risk of exposure. This includes secondary contact areas, which can result from transfer of the oil from contaminated clothing, shoes/boots, tools, and pets. For maximize protection, apply IvyBlock® to arms, hands, and legs even when protective clothing is worn. How frequently should IvyBlock® lotion be reapplied? IvyBlock® should be applied every four hours to maintain the maximum level of protection. Emergency workers who do not wash off IvyBlock® do not need to reapply if it is inconvenient. How does the skin feel once IvyBlock® lotion has been applied? After IvyBlock® lotion dries, the skin will feel natural. The lotion is non-greasy and will not adversely affect the normal skin properties. A faint white coating on the skin will be observed on some people when the lotion dries. Here's the Facts! What Is & What Causes Poison Ivy Rash? Poison ivy, oak and sumac plants are the single most common cause of allergic skin reactions in the United States. They are caused by contact with urushiol (you-Roo-shee-ol), which is found in the sap of the plants. It is a colorless or pale yellow oil that oozes from any cut or crushed part of the plant, including the roots, stems and leaves. Contact with urushiol can occur in three ways: direct, indirect and airborne particles. Direct contact is touching the sap of the toxic plant, while indirect contact involves touching something which has urushiol on it, such as the animal fur, clothes, garden tools or any items that have come in contact with the plant (including your hands). Airborne urushiol particles, such as burning plants or spray from a weed whacker, may also contact the skin or be inhaled, causing internal inflammation. Urushiol penetrates the skin within minutes. A reaction appears as a line or streak of a rash, within 12 to 48 hours. Redness and swelling occur, often followed by blisters and severe itching. On an average, the rash takes between 10 days to three weeks to heal. The rash caused by urushiol can affect almost any part of the body, especially where the skin is thin, such as the face. The rash does not spread, although it may seem to when it breaks out in new areas. Actually, what happens is the urushiol absorbs more slowly into thicker skin, such as forearms, legs and trunk. IvyBlock® is the only product that can prevent poison ivy, oak or sumac rash. No other product can make that claim. IvyBlock®, is the only product approved by the FDA to prevent the rash caused by poison ivy, oak and sumac. Who Gets A Rash From Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac? Each year 10 to 50 million Americans develop an allergic reaction to poison ivy, oak and sumac. Between 75 to 95% of people exposed to urushiol will have an allergic reaction at some point in life. As a group, poison ivy, oak and sumac are the most common cause of allergic rashes in the United States.. In many areas of the country, poison ivy, oak and sumac are the second leading cause of occupational dermatitis for outdoor workers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. • Poison oak is responsible for more than 50% of worker’s compensation cases in California alone. • In California, Oregon and Washington, approximately one-third of United States Forest Service fire fighters are forced to leave during a fire because of rashes caused by poison oak. According to the National Safety Council, other outdoor occupations severely impacted by poison ivy, oak and sumac include surveyors, park and highway maintenance workers, utility workers and farmers. Where & When Are Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Plants Found? Poison ivy, oak and sumac grow almost everywhere in the United States, except Hawaii, Alaska and dessert areas. • Poison ivy usually grows east of the Rocky Mountains and in Canada. • Poison oak grows in the Western and Southeastern United States, Canada and Mexico. • Poison sumac grows in the eastern states and Southern Canada. How Do Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Plants Appear? Poison ivy usually grows as a vine twining on tree trunks or straggling over the ground, while poison oak and sumac are both shrubs. In the early fall, the poison ivy leaves can turn colors such as yellow or red when other plants are still green. The berry-like fruit on the mature female plants also changes color in fall, from green to off-white, and in the winter the plants lose their leaves. In the spring, poison ivy has yellow-green flowers. While poison ivy has three leaves per cluster, poison oak has five leaves and sumac has seven to thirteen leaves on a branch. Why You Need To Be Careful? Once urushiol touches the skin, it begins to penetrate in as little as 10 minutes. In those who are sensitive, a reaction appears usually within 12 to 48 hours. The rash, which takes 10 days or longer to heal, can affect almost any part of the body, especially where skin is thin, such as the face. A person cannot receive a rash upon their first exposure to poison ivy. The first contact, which can occur without a person knowing, may create hypersensitivity to the allergen without causing a rash. Therefore, if a person has been around poison ivy before and has not contracted a rash, that does not mean he or she will be immune later. Exposure to burning ivy is dangerous because it can cause a rash and urushiol droplets can stick to dust or smoke particles and be carried in the wind, causing a sensitive person to develop an internal inflammation from inhaling urushiol. Footnote: Once, I was accosted by a know-it-all cacher near a cache surrounded by poison sumac. He said, "Did you know sugar and sumac are the only 2 words in the English language spelled "su" and pronounced "shu?" I said, "Sure!"

logscaler wrote: I would have loved to see your face after that, logscaler! A similar thing happened to me back in my high school days. We used to paint this big rock that was right alongside a moderately busy highway. We weren't the only school that did it, and the rock changed colors at least once a month. Anyway, we were all geared up to paint it, arrived late at night, as was our custom, and it was GONE! This rock was the size of a Volkswagon Bus, and it was gone. We looked around for a minute (like it could really have rolled off) looked at each other and went home. I still don't know where it went. Perhaps an enthusiastic, and titanically strong highway litter crew took it away. I've heard stories of whole buildings being moved down the block and so forth, multi-story buildings. So, anything that you think might conceivably be moved, check up on it!

LETaylor wrote: Heehee, I'm busted! I am jealous! Those belts are classic accessories.

And, now mounting the runway at this first annual geocachers modeling event, is LETaylor!! He's sporting a propeller beanie with the optional rearview mirror, for spotting those caches you just walked past! His pants are pulled tastefully up to his ribs, and in the belt you can see his pager and a waterbottle in a quickdraw holster, just to the right of his fanny pack full of McToys! His boots are made by Haute Hiker, with double traction tread, fully waterproof and also available in powder blue and hot pink! Wait, now here's the topper! In his hand is a Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS handheld, and strapped to the back is a Geocaching badge that he made himself!!! *Thunderous Applause* Heehee, that website is great fun, but lest the silly vision I described above come true, please nobody succumb to buying a geocacher's badge, even if it's just a roleplaying item to use in the bedroom with the wife. After all, where would it end?? With a pair of lavender Haute Hiker double treads (though mine are broken in perfectly, and soooo comfortable!)?

Ferreter5 wrote: Thanks, Ferreter5. It's good to get the straight stuff right from a moonshiner. sTeamTraen wrote: You always take the lighters and eat the candy, but the most important question: Do you use the condoms? Or just wear them.

JMBella wrote: Oh yeah, I bet!! The Costco-sized battery prize! I'll take that any day and whoop all the way home.

The Golden Rule is what prompted me to subscribe to be a premium member. I realized how much work and money must have went into this website and figured if I'd done that, I would like it if people chipped in. So I chipped in my 10 quarters a month, though I've yet to take advantage of a single amenity reserved for members, including MOCs. I'm sure every premium member has a decent reason for wanting to be a member. I'm sure ever non-member has a decent reason. Maybe you think the price is too high. Maybe you only cache once a month. Whatever your reason, you're entitled to it. The differences between members and non-members is almost truly negligible, as far as its impact on the sport. If a member was asked if the benefits of being a member were removed or granted to everyone, if he'd still be a member, I think 99% of them would say "Yes." I realize that nobody wants to be kept out of anything. For those that are deeply disturbed by it, I suggest getting a 1 month membership for $3, printing out and logging all the nearby MOCs and then cancelling the membership. You can take advantage of all the members only options for awhile, then give them up, and pay just 10% of what everyone else does.

Sparky-Watts wrote: And Ltljon gets nervous about eating out of a catheter bag. I'd wear one like a horse's oat bag before I'd eat food recovered at an autopsy. BTW, Sparky-Watts, were all the questions as hard as that one?

Ltljon wrote: Ah, come on, Ltljon! Live dangerously!! Just imagine finding a cache, and sealed inside is a catheter bag full of yellow liquid with, "Country Time Lemonade" written on the bag with black marker. You're parched, it was a long hike and a longer search to find the cache. Wouldn't that be refreshing? And wouldn't you be so thankful that such a consciencious and thoughtful cacher had visited before you?

First aid kits and mini-radios sound first-rate to me. Personally, I leave AA batteries, which are perfect for someone who finds their GPS juice is almost gone by the time they find the cache. I leave keychains on occasion, and am working on having special geocacher keychains made up, so come to my neck of the woods if you want to find one of them! Unless someone knows where to buy them. I haven't seen them anywhere on the site yet.

I've learned a few things about odor. My girlfriend told me I stink!!! Wahahaha! Actually, I've read about quite a few containers and Stunod was correct when he said that waterproof containers still allow odor to escape. The most coherent bit of information I found was on a review of a bearproof container that was completely waterproof, but: I deduce that the easiest thing to do would be to follow the rules and not put scented items in a cache. However, if you can't resist doing so, despite the rules and the fact that nobody would want to trade for a handful of tootsie rolls of indeterminate age, put them in a catheter bag!!!

Sam Lowery wrote: I am kind of with Sam on this one. Not that I haven't enjoyed my share of urban caches, but I always end up feeling like I do when my girlfriend sends me into town to run errands. I'm here, I'm there, I'll get this while I'm on the way to get that. Robert wrote: Heehee, now that's a great point too!! As Renegade Knight...And Mtn_mn....And Emmanuel Lewis all say, "Different Strokes for Different Folks." It makes you wonder why pirates bothered to bury their treasure on deserted islands and make mysterious maps to lead them back to it. Just put it in some tupperware, shove it into a stump and put a little moss over it. Nobody would find it. Caches in busy areas just emphasize the fact that people are oblivious to what could be right there. It was a real shock to me when I began geocaching and realized that I had walked by a dozen geocaches many, many times in the past year and never had a clue. I really felt left out then, and I'm so glad I'm a cacher now!

Quadcache wrote: Thanks for the tip, Quadcache. I'm going to try some and see if it works. Hehe, it'd be a dirty trick, but instead of a "TNLN" is can say, "Took nothing, left cat litter."

Stunod wrote: You're sure about that? Say I put a dash of perfume in a waterproof container and submerged it in the bathtub. If the scent was escaping, how long before it would be gone completely? Where would it go, into the water? Water molecules are pretty darned small, after all, just one oxygen and two hydrogens. I'm off to do some research, Stunod. You make a very good common sense point. I'll see if it can be backed up by science.

Yes, what everyone else said. I have a question. If a container is truly waterproof, doesn't that mean it is odorproof also? I know the main reason for having a "No Food" rule is to prevent animals tracking down and destroying caches. Another reason might be the old "Halloween Weirdo" theory.... You know, the idea that some people get a huge kick out of poisoning a complete stranger. And may use a cache for that purpose. However, I've run across several caches with air fresheners in them. When you open the container it smells like Strawberry Fields Forever and whatnot. Yet, I'm sure that waterproof containers hold in all the fragrance. That raises the need for another rule. What if you put things that smell like food in the cache? Shouldn't that be a violation of the rules also?

Harleycache wrote: GPSKitty wrote: NFA wrote: Hehe, I have a friend who is a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas. He says that 90% of the people that play at his table, if they introduce themselves, say they're from, "God's Country, ________." Of course, everyone's from someplace different, but they all think it's God's Country. You optimists!! You can be hard to understand. Me, I want things so good I can take them for granted or I'm not happy.

In my case, it's more situational. If I'm searching a two-foot-tall bush in the middle of a cow pasture and I don't find the cache in 15 minutes, I think I'd quit. However, when I did Skookumchuck Luck I looked for almost an hour and didn't even dream of giving up, because I knew it was somewhere in that maze. Hehe, you should have seen my track log. It looked like a whirlpool filled with debris (from where I stopped and really paced around looking). I did have to leave one as a DNF, which I didn't log because I returned soon afterward. I should have logged it but it was time constraints (and Leatherlass) more than anything that resulted in my giving up. I've learned so many strategies from the more experienced members of this website that it takes me at least an hour to try them all.

Kerry wrote: Great point on this, Kerry. I ran into a problem yesterday. My batteries were getting just a tad low. Anyway, I lost my signal and backtracked to reacquire it. When I did, it said I was 400 miles away, in British Columbia, rather than Southwest Washington State. Yet, it claimed the accuracy was within 40 feet. After giving the matter some thought, however, I realized that there was no way I could have been teleported by aliens to British Columbia. After all, everything still looked the same. Still, if I was a less savvy GPSr I might have spent days looking for the American Embassy, instead of just finding my truck and going home.

Briansnat wrote: That is now being referred to as being "degoratory," after Spiderman719 made a simple mispelling and Riddlers and I jumped all over it. I think Riddlers put it in the glossary. If the term fits, use it! I love your summary of the rules, and appropriate punishments for breaking them. Cave Troll and Joan wrote: My puppy gave me one while I cleaned under my sink yesterday. Just normal, not atomic, but let me tell you, they're no more fun now than they were as a freshman in high school. I was small in high school, and got picked on so much I learned to sew breakaway waistbands on my Fruit of the Looms. I tried to get that company to buy the idea from me, but they thought it was "nerdy" and said it was no wonder I got wedgies at school. Just a small slice of my childhood for everyone's amusement!