O-Mega

I can understand the desire to keep the guidelines simple. No one would read the guidelines if they contained all the rationale, clarifications, and example cases that get discussed in Groundspeak meetings, the reviewers forums, and this forum. I understand that some of the discussion in the reviewers forum is tied to specific caches and might have to be restricted to Groundspeak and the reviewers due to privacy issues. I would expect that Groundspeak would issue clarifications from time to time, as Miss Jenn did here. It would be nice to have this information consolidated in one place, but for now I'm sure that people who are interested can ask in the forums and someone will Markwell the appropriate posts. I disagree, I would rather have everything in the guidelines. Why can't they do like a wiki where links are provided with clarifications to certain areas. That way the "main" guidelines are simple but those who want a more detailed explanation can go to the links. I think it would be a win-win situation that way.

I know with GSAK you can write in and they will resend your key, not sure about cmconverter but I bet its the same way. Most keep good records and will resend your key upon request.

It depends on what kind of backup you did. But most times all that is saved are the user files because the install files would be distributed on your hard drive and most times are to big to fit on anything except another hard drive like a portable. The best thing to do is reinstall everything anyway, I have never had a lot of success transferring things from one hard drive to another with out quirks.

Here are my recommendations: Screen protector GSAK Free Maps or Free Maps The OPs of those two threads have posted quite a few free maps, maybe they have your area. Otherwise I would get a streets and topo map as money allows. And Like someone already posted, queries help but GSAK will also do the .loc files. The card inside your GPS holds quite a bit but a 1gb card will hold the max amount of maps but the 2gb cards are cheap enough that I would go for one of those instead. Once you install mapsource, let it update the software and the GPS to the newest one. v/r O-Mega

Welcome to the madness. If you are having trouble getting some of these, you may want to look for 1/1 or 1.5/1.5 caches until you get to know some of the tricks of the trade. Your sister recently joined us at KTAG and I am sure she can get you to a few good caches around her caching area. Some of the Virtuals and Earthcaches in Nashville are pretty nice too.

You say that as though you think it would be a bad thing? One of the causes of the current angst is because Groundspeak has failed - not once but many times - to recognise that there are cultural differences in this international hobby. Every major company knows that it has to handle its operations in different countries in different ways: Groundspeak has yet to learn this. The Scouts have been mentioned elsewhere as a model, but there are many others. Every international hobby has a hierarchical organisation where local needs are managed locally, consistent with regional guidelines which flow from, and contribute to, a common international philosphy. So yes, Groundspeak should be touting regional guidelines. It's the only way to prevent a fracturing of the hobby into separate country-specific groups. Some of this has already happened, of course, but it can be prevented from becoming worse. Not at all, I just think that if a post with the title like this one "What is and what is not a commercial cache?" it will draw many cachers to it. Recently there have been a few threads related to what is and what isn't allowed on the cache and event listings, so any info I can gather is a bonus. We are in a community that is world-wide so some regional common sense must be used but overall it must stay within the 'spirit' of the guidelines. So I would just like to see something from GC that makes it a bit more clear.

My input would be that everyone in the UK should ignore your post at this time since it represents your personal opinion and is not applicable to the questions in this topic. Considering your derogatory comments, it should be painfully obvious that they are not representative opinions from Groundspeak. Geocachers of the UK have collectively lobbied for and received permission to have the names of pubs on event cache pages. They asked for permission. This is within the guidelines and there are no "unwritten" guidelines being applied here. I would ask that you stay out of the topic and let the local cachers discuss the issues. Ok, now I am confused! It seems that he surmissed the current interpretation of the guidelines quite well, even mentioning the fact that you CAN name the place of the event once. Though I realize that this is a regional forum and they have their own views about what is happpening out there, it effects us all. Or is GC now touting REGIONAL guidelines?

I have also seen lots of caches published in illegal locations. I sure hope you reported them, I would hate to see any more news stories like all those we have seen here lately, just doesn't look good for geocaching.

Last time I looked into it it meant crappy caches could be archived by popular vote. Only the fittest caches survived. My opinion is that it's an alternate site that works hard to have a slightly different spin. That spin being quality over quantity. I have the impression they are more active than Navicache but haven't cheked into that to see if it's true. Navicache is getting a few more listings recently, in my area it has gone from about 4-5 to over twenty and more to follow. The thing I like about the other two sites is that the caches that have been grandfathered here are still available there and more importantly they don't mind the "Support our Troops" links.

Same here, it seem to happen about 0100 Central (last few days).

I don't believe they cross the line, not even close. They are not dangerous, sharp or family unfriendly, so go for it. That is great, with mine I taught them to use knives and other items responsibly and safely so they didn't learn bad habits somewhere else. I even took them to the firing range when they were less than 10 years old to get the curiousity out of them and teach them the safe way to handle firearms. So placing firestarters of this type in caches may 'sound' like a bad idea but when you know its proper use and handling it's no more dangerous than a sharp pencil.

I would leave them in, during SERE school that was one of the harder things to start a fire with. Magnesium in a block is difficult to light so it's not dangerous in its present form. Now once you get it going...

GSAK will export into many formats and I believe you can modify which fields to export. That will allow you to import just the fields you need.

Some of the stats pages have a "find dupes" page that helps solve this. I recently used Logic Weave's to find one that I had a double "found it log" by accident. That is why I had the GSAK issue that the OP has.

I had the same thing happen, delete the entire listing from GSAK and let your my finds query (or download the single gpx) add it again, problem solved. The problem is that GSAK remembers BOTH your found it logs and thinks it's two finds so adds an extra one.

How about: Bad, Bad "Leroy" Brown by Jim Croce And its bad, bad leroy brown The baddest dog in the whole darn town Badder than old king kong And meaner than a junkyard dog

I feel for the OP, but : That seems to be the answer most times.

Of course I knew that would be the answer given. That's a nice peice of work, and allows Groundspeak a great deal of room to do what they want, however it doesn't answer the question. I ask the question to point out to Groundspeak that there may be a spot where they need to add further protection for themselves. Example. As the photographer, I post a picture(in a non commercial capacity) and Groundspeak is allowed to use it for any commercial purpose they like without paying me. This is understood, and no different from any other website. No big deal. If I post a picture of Cacher X from an event (in a non commercial capacity) I don't think a model release is required, as I am not making any money from the image. However if Groundspeak then uses that image in a commercial caracity to generate income, do THEY need to secure a model release from the persons portrayed in the image. That is the question, and is not covered in section 6. I ask this in order that Groundspeak might look into it and protect themselved if that is needed. This is probabaly something that should be checked by their lawers if nobody has thought of the issue yet. Would that be like someone posting a picture of Signal on my website and then me taking that picture and using it for an ad?

Personnaly, I have crosslisted all my caches now. I like to have a bit more control over what to have on my page and I see GC like I see the yellow pages, they just list the place I would like to have cachers visit. While I wouldn't get all graphic on the yellow pages, I may throw a few more pics on say yahoo.com. Afterall the more people that visit my cache the better, no matter how they got the listing. Heck, the first cache was off of usenet wasn't it?

That could be a good thing. If I seen one of those in my area I would avoid dropping any TBs there, though I don't know what else can be done.

That would be cool, but you would get a better response at the website forum as a feature request.

On most browsers, you can just press Ctrl-F, then enter the string you want to search for (the cacher's name, for example). You're computer can search faster that you can. Let it. Sure, that will work; but what is wrong with just being able to click on a link to get to a persons log? When they begin with "last month I was at a cache" and you go to that persons cache finds; now you have to first click the caches tab link to get the list of caches, then click the cache that most sounds like the one (notice it doesn't even list when the cacher found it, only a last found on date) then click on "view them all" to then have your computer search for it. That is a painful way of doing it when some simple code can just have you click the cache link and see his log for that cache or trackable.

There have been plenty of examples already given, but I suggest we refrain from doing a hit list here. We would not want to cause another cache to be reevaluated.

So giving a history of an organization in 2-3 sentences is promoting that organization? Giving a description of the area a cache is in is promoting that area? Giving a description of the chemical my chem-caches are named after are promoting that chemical? Giving a description of a historical marker is promoting that marker, or that historical event or person? Guess we had better go to "Cache here." and leave it as that for every cache out there. Otherwise, every cache is promoting something. Every cache has an agenda. And therefore, every cache is in violation of the guidelines and should be archived. Minimalist, yes. But without clear guidelines, I think that is far preferable to having random people randomly complaining, and random caches randomly archived based on 1-2 people's interpretation of a very unclear rule. PLEASE! Let's see...the cache owner PLACED the cache AT the org, names the org more than once (NOT ALLOWED under new guidelines...once maybe, but twice...nope), gives background of the org, suggests everyone there should honor the troops, and even admitted to having "Support Our Troops" on the original cache description... Let me do it another way...see if you like this: Cache is placed at McDonald's in Hudson, we LOVE McD's. I think everyone who stops here should take a moment and honor the Filet o' Fish, it's a great sandwich that's been around since the start of McDonalds in the year xxxx. McDonald's was first started in xxxxx where xxxxx grew up and longed for a quick and easy meal etc etc... Do you see any agendas here?? Now just insert the org in question and there you have it! Did I miss something here? I don't recall the PUBLISHED cache asking anyone to do anything! Now about your Micky D's cache how about: Cache is placed at McDonald's in Hudson, we would like to thank the management of McDonalds for allowing us to place this cache on their property. This McDonald's was first started in 1970ish (old otherwise why mention it) where xxxxx grew up and longed for a quick and easy meal etc etc... Now that may be misconstrued as an agenda to solicit business for McDs but I have seen some of the original McDs and would appreciate someone placing a cache there. Who knows for sure, but this may pass

Check the cache listing and see if there is a link to it on the page. If so, write the owner to see if he wants to send the copy tag or just place a replacement number on it.