Texas-Gal

My signature item combines elements of personalization, with elements of a travel bug, and even a geocacher card. I created business card-sized signature cards, with a link to my home page. Each card also has an individualized tracking number, which the finder can log on my webpage, and let me know where they found it. The finder can either keep it for themselves, or pass it along in another cache. Finally, I laminate the cards, punch holes in them, and attach them to one of three signature kinds of keychains (globes, flashlights, rabbit's feet). the-cache.com | Texas-Gal's geocaching site

I loved this show - and was dead wrong with my guess on the first Mole. This time, I was determined to do more reconnaissance, and figure out who the Mole was. I think I ended up doing too much of that, because then the "clues" ended up sticking out at me like a sore thumb. I'm not sure if I'll do as much investigating on the Mole 3 - it sure was fun last year when I was surprised at the result. FYI - some of the best boards around, about all kinds of TV shows (not just the Mole) are at Television Without Pity (formerly MightyBigTV).

I loved this show - and was dead wrong with my guess on the first Mole. This time, I was determined to do more reconnaissance, and figure out who the Mole was. I think I ended up doing too much of that, because then the "clues" ended up sticking out at me like a sore thumb. I'm not sure if I'll do as much investigating on the Mole 3 - it sure was fun last year when I was surprised at the result. FYI - some of the best boards around, about all kinds of TV shows (not just the Mole) are at Television Without Pity (formerly MightyBigTV).

Although I'm still very new at this, I only log it as a "not-found" if I began the actual hunt, and my own inability/lack of stamina/impatience/whatever prevented me from logging a cache - if my car ran out of gas on the way, I wouldn't log anything because I wouldn't want that held against the cache in any way. Plus, as J&F noted, nobody cares about that kind of info. I confess I have had 9 finds out of 11 true attempts - and it was humbling to have to log in those not founds. Plus, I was worried that the not-found would somehow hurt the cache owners feelings - but in reality, I guess, it's a sign of a successful cache. My not-founds allow others (those who choose to read them) to see where there might be potential pitfalls. And I figure everyone will take my logs with a grain of salt anyway, since I'm so new. [This message was edited by Texas-Gal on August 07, 2002 at 10:53 AM.]

quote:I'd be pretty careful of this from a constitutional rights/invasion of privacy standpoint. My guess is, as unfair as it may be, it's more legal for someone to trash your cache then it is for you to publicize their picture! quote:From my limited knowledge of law, I believe you can take a picture of anyone and publish it, as long as you don't profit from that person's likeness. I'm an attorney, albeit with only one year's experience out of law school - but Jeremy's notion is pretty much on target. There is no law against taking someone's picture and publishing it on the internet, with a few caveats: (1) As Jeremy noted, that proposition gets trickier if you make some kind of profit off using someone else's likeness. Of course, usually successful challenges using this as an argument happen when it is a famous person's likeness being used (e.g. Fred Astaire in the vaccuum cleaner commercials); (2) The proposition above also gets trickier when the camera is placed on private property. If you take a picture of a person in the public domain, and publish it, not only is there no privacy problem - but your photograph is also automatically copyrighted to you! On the other hand, stealing items out of a cache without permission (either explicit or implicit) is exactly that - stealing (the taking and carrying away the property of another, without permission). One would be hard-pressed to argue that when the cache-owner gives permission to take an item from the cache in exchange for another item/log entry, that the cache owner also somehow impliedly gave permission to take the entire cache. I doubt that argument would fly. What argument would fly would be an abandonment argument - the time periods vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but if an item is abandoned for a certain length of time, it cannot be "stolen" because it no longer belongs to the original owner. (Of course, if the cache owner makes regular checkups on the cache, I'd argue it hasn't been abandoned...) Disclaimer: This is with absolutely no caselaw research in your particular jurisdiction, so caveat emptor! (or, rather, non-buyer beware! ) [This message was edited by Texas-Gal on August 06, 2002 at 06:59 PM.]

quote:I'd be pretty careful of this from a constitutional rights/invasion of privacy standpoint. My guess is, as unfair as it may be, it's more legal for someone to trash your cache then it is for you to publicize their picture! quote:From my limited knowledge of law, I believe you can take a picture of anyone and publish it, as long as you don't profit from that person's likeness. I'm an attorney, albeit with only one year's experience out of law school - but Jeremy's notion is pretty much on target. There is no law against taking someone's picture and publishing it on the internet, with a few caveats: (1) As Jeremy noted, that proposition gets trickier if you make some kind of profit off using someone else's likeness. Of course, usually successful challenges using this as an argument happen when it is a famous person's likeness being used (e.g. Fred Astaire in the vaccuum cleaner commercials); (2) The proposition above also gets trickier when the camera is placed on private property. If you take a picture of a person in the public domain, and publish it, not only is there no privacy problem - but your photograph is also automatically copyrighted to you! On the other hand, stealing items out of a cache without permission (either explicit or implicit) is exactly that - stealing (the taking and carrying away the property of another, without permission). One would be hard-pressed to argue that when the cache-owner gives permission to take an item from the cache in exchange for another item/log entry, that the cache owner also somehow impliedly gave permission to take the entire cache. I doubt that argument would fly. What argument would fly would be an abandonment argument - the time periods vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but if an item is abandoned for a certain length of time, it cannot be "stolen" because it no longer belongs to the original owner. (Of course, if the cache owner makes regular checkups on the cache, I'd argue it hasn't been abandoned...) Disclaimer: This is with absolutely no caselaw research in your particular jurisdiction, so caveat emptor! (or, rather, non-buyer beware! ) [This message was edited by Texas-Gal on August 06, 2002 at 06:59 PM.]

May I just take this quick opportunity, and do something very unladylike - and GLOAT!!! Bill WAS the Mole - and I was right! (Hey, I have to get excited about being right when I can - it doesn't happen often! )

May I just take this quick opportunity, and do something very unladylike - and GLOAT!!! Bill WAS the Mole - and I was right! (Hey, I have to get excited about being right when I can - it doesn't happen often! )

I've been keeping a personal written log, as well as my online geolog, but even in my short time geocaching keeping both running has become tedious. I love your idea of snapping a picture of my cache log entry... is it OK if I steal it?

I've been keeping a personal written log, as well as my online geolog, but even in my short time geocaching keeping both running has become tedious. I love your idea of snapping a picture of my cache log entry... is it OK if I steal it?

Yes, but the reason behind that was that Dorothy was the only one who had chain-locked her door - so Anderson couldn't open it and walk in. Also, last year's mole (Kathryn) was instructed to make sure more money got added to the pot at the very end of the game, because the producers wanted it built up more for the winner. SPOILER ALERT: In the third episode, the one with the telegram - the "phone number" at the bottom of the telegram spelled out "Bill is the mole" (when using a phone keypad). Also, in last week's episode, during the opening credits, the moving letters again spelled out "Bill is the mole." There is also a "lights out" theory I've heard, that correctly predicted the exit of Bribs, then Al, which says that Dorothy will win and Bill is the mole. Also, the proliferation of dollar bills during the game, Anderson saying "William is a scoundrel" during the Romeo/Juliet challenge, boating/admiral references (to Bill's stint in the Navy), etc. Seriously, if Bill is the mole (which he is), I think ABC overloaded with clues this year. The first Mole's clues were awful, and sparse - so I think they overcompensated this time around.

Yes, but the reason behind that was that Dorothy was the only one who had chain-locked her door - so Anderson couldn't open it and walk in. Also, last year's mole (Kathryn) was instructed to make sure more money got added to the pot at the very end of the game, because the producers wanted it built up more for the winner. SPOILER ALERT: In the third episode, the one with the telegram - the "phone number" at the bottom of the telegram spelled out "Bill is the mole" (when using a phone keypad). Also, in last week's episode, during the opening credits, the moving letters again spelled out "Bill is the mole." There is also a "lights out" theory I've heard, that correctly predicted the exit of Bribs, then Al, which says that Dorothy will win and Bill is the mole. Also, the proliferation of dollar bills during the game, Anderson saying "William is a scoundrel" during the Romeo/Juliet challenge, boating/admiral references (to Bill's stint in the Navy), etc. Seriously, if Bill is the mole (which he is), I think ABC overloaded with clues this year. The first Mole's clues were awful, and sparse - so I think they overcompensated this time around.

Only 3 episodes of The Mole 2 aired last fall, before it was pulled from ABC's lineup. ABC then re-aired the first three episodes at the beginning of the summer, and then has continued to air the remainder of the episodes since then. The winner has not been revealed yet. I think you might be getting confused with the first Mole - Kathryn was the mole then, and is also a slim, petite brunette like Heather. This year's final episode of the Mole 2 has absolutely, positively not been aired anywhere yet. But that doesn't mean I don't know who the Mole is... it's Bill, I tell you!

Only 3 episodes of The Mole 2 aired last fall, before it was pulled from ABC's lineup. ABC then re-aired the first three episodes at the beginning of the summer, and then has continued to air the remainder of the episodes since then. The winner has not been revealed yet. I think you might be getting confused with the first Mole - Kathryn was the mole then, and is also a slim, petite brunette like Heather. This year's final episode of the Mole 2 has absolutely, positively not been aired anywhere yet. But that doesn't mean I don't know who the Mole is... it's Bill, I tell you!

Alright, then HamsterMom & Hamsters of War and Dan Edwards - it sounds like we have ourselves a wager! HamsterMom & Hamsters of War says Dorothy. Dan Edwards says Heather. I say Bill. We shall convene here again next Wednesday morning to discover who wins! (But I can almost guarantee the Mole is Bill - ABC gave it away on the third episode of the season...)

Alright, then HamsterMom & Hamsters of War and Dan Edwards - it sounds like we have ourselves a wager! HamsterMom & Hamsters of War says Dorothy. Dan Edwards says Heather. I say Bill. We shall convene here again next Wednesday morning to discover who wins! (But I can almost guarantee the Mole is Bill - ABC gave it away on the third episode of the season...)

Bill.

Bill.

As a former weblogger, creating a log of my new geocaching adventures seemed like a fun thing to do. As habitual website designers know, it is a hard habit to break - and very fun to design and tinker with a new website. So, The Cache was born. (I'm still thinking of a niftier title for the site) I guess if an online journal and link collection is a "weblog", this could be called a "geolog." Even though no one other than myself may ever look at it, it sure has been fun dreaming up ideas for it! It was first inspired by Mr. Snazz's photolog of his caching hunts. I'm going to do something similar on mine - a page for each cache I find (and hide), with tons of pictures, journaling, etc. Another HUGE inspiration was Bump On A Log - which has more of a traditional weblog feel, with an photolog added on. In fact, this post is making me itch to get home and get my first three cache logs up! I also keep a written log of my own - so I can letterbox as well. I write the main data stats of each cache I visit, the date, a narrative of the cache hunt, and what I took and left. I plan to add in photos, too.

As a former weblogger, creating a log of my new geocaching adventures seemed like a fun thing to do. As habitual website designers know, it is a hard habit to break - and very fun to design and tinker with a new website. So, The Cache was born. (I'm still thinking of a niftier title for the site) I guess if an online journal and link collection is a "weblog", this could be called a "geolog." Even though no one other than myself may ever look at it, it sure has been fun dreaming up ideas for it! It was first inspired by Mr. Snazz's photolog of his caching hunts. I'm going to do something similar on mine - a page for each cache I find (and hide), with tons of pictures, journaling, etc. Another HUGE inspiration was Bump On A Log - which has more of a traditional weblog feel, with an photolog added on. In fact, this post is making me itch to get home and get my first three cache logs up! I also keep a written log of my own - so I can letterbox as well. I write the main data stats of each cache I visit, the date, a narrative of the cache hunt, and what I took and left. I plan to add in photos, too.

As a newbie geocacher, I was thrilled tonight to see the final 3 contestants on "The Mole 2" (on ABC) using GPS units to navigate during their final challenge... If only that challenge could have been finding a cache!

As a newbie geocacher, I was thrilled tonight to see the final 3 contestants on "The Mole 2" (on ABC) using GPS units to navigate during their final challenge... If only that challenge could have been finding a cache!

I created little signature cards, with my ID and website address on the front (and geocaching.com info on the back). Each card has space to write in a "tracking number" - which the finder can enter into my website and track, or just let me know they found it. (an informal kind of travelling bug, with the travelling part not necessarily required). I then laminated the cards, punched a hole in them, and attached them to keychains of 3 types - flashlight, rabbit's foot, and little metal globe - which I'll leave in caches as my signature item. The item finder can then visit my website, learn a little about me, and let me know a little about them. I thought about just leaving the cards - but figured they'd be more likely to be picked up if they were attached to something, and even signature card collectors could use a cute little keychain...

Once again, I love the idea of the ACTUAL cache cards as much (if not more) than the virtual cache cards. I'm already planning a cache of my own, just so I can get in on the action! I know others have created cache cards - but I think organizing it so that a bunch of different caches have similar cards (and thus, creating a "series" of cards, much like for baseball) is cool. I can guarantee I would work extra card to collect any of these in my area...

These aren't my regional groups or anything, but here are the additional ones I have on my links page on my fledgling geocaching page: Florida New England Maryland and beginnings of one for: Utah ETA: Oh, and Markwell - I dug your website, so I already have you linked, too...