FriendlyFolks

What about Street updates? I go into new developments 30% of the time.

How about a PDA???? The laptop would be a used one scrounged from my former career as an IT guy. It's still worth $250 but i wont pay that for it. Most of the time I take exterior pictures so stashing it wont be a big deal. I still have my legend to hike with. The GPS V sound like a good option too. I had the III and liked it.

Looks like CompUSA has Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 with a USB GPS unit for $89.

I do have both a new and old laptop. I also have a BE-300 casio pocket PC but it doesn't look like it would support auto route. I'll check into your sugestion, thanks.

I love my etrex legend but my new job has me traveling to many different houses around the city. It's time to find an auto route option. Please provide any opinions you may have about my options. TIA 1) 3ghz laptop with GPS receiver (what software and what receiver) 2) Pentium 133mhz tablet PC running win98 with 13" screen mounted on the dash and GPS receiver. (Is this possible? what software?) 3) Same options as above using my legend as the GPS receiver 4) Buy Pocket PC with receiver etc. 5) Spend $1000 on a fancy full featured car GPS (Is it worth the extra $$$$) 6) Buy a Garmin quest or equiv from eBay for around $300 Am I missing options? I figure I'm losing 1-3 hours a week driving around neighborhoods looking for houses. The laptop options are bulky but I would have a full sized keyboard. I would like it to talk to me if possible. Am I missing anything? Thanks for the help oh great collective of GPS knowledge. Tim in MN

First choice is to get one of the non-comercial groups to agree to host the cache. I plan to hit up the DNR folks and the State Fair Info Booth or maybe the campground office Maybe one of the ticket booths or the bike corral so you could bike up to it without having to pay to get in. I'm sure there are other options but I'd need to get permision from Jeremy, then the Fair. Second option is a virtual cache. I have four kids that like to find the "treasure" and plunder the booty(yes, we add more than we take) so I'd prefer a normal cache. Adding up the number of cars on the ferris wheel, divided by the number of Porta Potties by the horse barn, added to the number of windows on the FHA building sounds like fun too. I may approach these folks and get shut down. My first step is this group, then Jeremy grants/denies perrmision, then I hit up the fair. "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, ca. 1755

HJS Wrote: "Thought about it, a cache at the State Fair, 'hidden' in a booth, with a 10 day lifespan. Heck NO. On top of that, I believe any publicity such a cache might generate will only tell half the story, the wrong half at that." The Cache would be hidden under the counter of the DNR information booth or at the State Fair Information Center. (Something non-commercial or NON-evenue generating place.) Regarding the Media pointing at the booth, I would look for an interview to promote caching and state there was a cache hidden on the grounds. I wouldn't consider hiding anything due to 9/11 security issues etc. The opportunity for promotion and discussion regarding caching to occur between cachers and the DNR group could be hugely beneficial and since the MN State Fair is tagged as the "Great MN Get Together" and a "Family Event", the news would pick up on it take the family theme to another level. Just trying to clarify the details. Friendlyfolks "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, ca. 1755

That is an alternative. My logic was more related to the positive media coverage if it's in the Fair. All of the local new stations broadcast the 5,6, and 10pm news on the grounds for 10 days so they all clamer for unique stories related to the fair. "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, ca. 1755

Here is the context of an email sent to Jeremy, the Cache-master. My question involved gaining permision to place a cache in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds during the Fair. Here is my justification to bend the "comercial" event rule. 1. It would bring some good media attention to our sport. There has been some issues regarding our State Parks. So my first attempt would be to ask the DNR to host the cache. Here is their current stance. "Geocaching prohibited in the Minnesota State Park system.... Due to concerns related to natural resource protection, visitor safety, staff workloads and liability, geocaches are not permitted on lands administered by the Minnesota State Park System. Caches that were placed in state parks without permission must be removed by July 1, 2002. After that time, they will be considered abandoned property." 2. Many people come to the Twin Cities only to attend the Fair. Sometimes in bus groups, car pools etc. This would provide a way for them to pick up a far away cache. Jeremy has left the decision to the colective group. I have included the entire text of our corespondance below. Thanks in advance for your input. Tim, Sandy, Brooke, Shane, Jake, and Sammy Folkenson ********** *************** Unfortunately as it is a commercial event it would most likely not be approved. My suggestion is to post your idea to the forums and see what people think. If a majority rules for it, I’ll post it to the site. Jeremy -----Original Message----- From: Folkenson, Tim [mailto:tfolkenson@healtheast.org] Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 6:13 AM To: contact@Groundspeak.com Cc: Chad.Towle@ecolab.com Subject: [GEN-020812.17936] Placing a cache at a State Fair Good Morning, FriendlyFolks here. Towlebooth and I were talking about placing a cache at the Minnesota State Fair. He was concerned that it would be rejected because it would technically be a temporary site. Would you allow us to post a cache in the State Fair temporarily? After the Fair, we would move it about 1/4 mile away to a small park near the Fairgrounds. The theme would be based on the State Fair http://www.mnstatefair.org/ and it would be placed in a booth to avoid vandalism. Thanks for your consideration, Tim Folkenson, MCP, CNA IT System Administrator HealthEast, Midway Campus 651-232-1289 "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, ca. 1755