Sparrowhawk

Interesting. Theoretically I could set up the group, then either have a "sock" account adopt it... and I own the sock account. Then I can just kinda communicate with the Portland crowd from 2 states away about what should happen with the cache... I can still be the final authority of the cache itself, yet trusting the group to do what is right for the cache. Hmmm... that could work. I don't have to give up stewardship of that cache completely when I move. Best of both worlds. I like Kiwi's approach... and can adapt it for this particular unique situation. I'm glad I have a bunch of months to figure this one out with other's help.

Yaquina, you would be an honored member, as you designed the site and got permission for the site in the first place. Sheesh... I should put a big credit to you right on the cache page... errr... AND I shoulda thunk THAT idea up a long awhile back! It's gonna be a bunch of months before I go... might as well start brainstorming early for best results. I should find out how the group for the Original Plaque works... does one get email and alerts the others? Or is it a group email thing? Hmmm...

Hey all... I am the owner of the sort-of-famous and definitely popular The PDX Airport Travel Bug Embassy cache. And I have an interesting question. The group Original Stash Plaque has group of around 20 people who take care of it. I have noticed that there are a few cachers who also have consistently and repeatedly taken upon themselves to take care of the Embassy cache whenever I post a note that I can't be there for emergency maintenance. I love those folks. I will be moving away from Portland around November. No more Sparrowhawk ownership of the PDX Embassy cache after that. But I don't want just an ordinary cache adoption after I'm gone. What I want to do is this: over this coming year, organize the current individual "unofficial volunteer Embassy maintainers" into some sort of semi-official PDX Cache Maintenance Committee. (...or association, club, whatever. I actually don't like the word committee, but I'll use the word here as a placeholder.) The PDX Embassy Cache Maintenance Committee would take ownership of my cache when I leave Portland around November this year. Im other words, not just one person, but a whole small group gets to be in charge of maintaining this cache. That way, if one cacher can't do maintenance, another one in the group can keep the cache alive. With a group in charge, this very popular cache would last a pretty darn long time! One may ask: well, why don't you ask the same people who are in charge of the Original Plaque? Well, because I want to honor the current, consistent unofficial maintainers of the Embassy cache who have stepped in more than once to help out. These are not all the same names as the folks in charge of the Plaque. For the Embassy cache, I'd rather invite the current unofficial maintainers of this cache into their own cool, separate, semi-official, semi-organized association to start ownership this coming autumn. Maybe the PDX Maintenance Committee could have a Sunday Breakfast every 3 months, one for each season, just to hang out and discuss any minor maintenance issues that may come up and just have fun keeping in touch with each other. Heh... THERE ya go... kinda like the Sunday morning "Geomunch" brunch gatherings I used to have. That would be up to them to decide. But I digress... If the Plaque can have it's own committee, is it possible that the PDX Embassy cache can have it's own whole group of cachers in charge as well? Also... who gets the official emails for Plaque concerns anyway... one person or the whole group at once? I want to know how this whole group cache ownership thing works. Thanks everyone for any advice. (edit: should say there's a 90% chance of me leaving Portland... I may still be stuck here by a 10 percent chance by then. Wish me luck...)

"Show all logs..." Duh. Sorry. NOW I see it! HAHAHAHAHA! My busiest cache shows 666 finds right now! OOOOOOO! Scary! That's fun.

http://gmscripts.locusprime.net/Totals_By_Log_Type.html COOL! Whoops... sorry... this is a British forum... I mean "BRILLIANT"! Then it says: "Greasemonkey 0.6.4 (Firefox 1.5) Compatible!" OH. I have Firefox 2.0. And this does NOT work in Firefox 2.0. When will these scripts be updated?

OK... I thought I would have time to deal with this bug... turns out a whole lotta life stuff is getting in the way. If anyone wants to take over the investigation, I am willing to mail the bug directly to them. Just send me your snail-mail address in email.

We would love to adopt this cache! It's a neat one. Sorry I have not checked in recently... my laptop has died and I've been borrowing other people's computers. I hereby approve this cacher adopting this cache of mine. What do we do?

If the attributes are clearly defined, caches will not settle at/near the middle. Caches that fit the attribute will have higher scores, caches that don't fit the attribute will have lower scores, caches that are neutral with respect to the attribute will average out close to the middle. I probably wouldn't go with 1-10 but with a scale of strongly disagree, somewhat disagree, neither agree or disagree, somewhat argee, and strongly agree. And instead of averaging I would use a median score. Hmmmm... Y'know, I kinda like this MUCH better than the original 1-10 idea. That's what I wanted... a chance to refine it with other people's good ideas. So modifying my original list: - This is a speedy cache grab - This cache location makes you feel "wow, didn't know THIS was here!" - Trying to figure out how to find this cache was a great brain challenge - This was a great wild area to enjoy - This was a an enjoyable long hike - This was a great way urban area to enjoy - This cache is for those who enjoy CITO - This cache would be greatly accessible for those who are physically challenged (more ideas here... and/or modify the current list.) The key here would be to phrase each aspect in a positive way, so the agree-disagree would be consistent. Basically, look at all the main aspects that people like about geocaching, and boil it down to a few good main aspects that folks are free to like and not like, and be able to search accordingly. I for one, would go for caches rated best for the "wow, didn't know THIS was here!" aspect. Speedy cache grabs bore me to tears. But because I have these tastes, it does not mean that others should have the same tastes. I want to be able to search for "my" type of cache and have a better cache experience that way. It could also put a damper to the lame posts on these forms saying "I hate X type of caches! Thus they should be banned!" Everybody could answer: "Then just use the agree-disagree cache rating system to find the kind of cache you like and ignore the X type of caches you hate!" I like the fact that this kind of system, implemented well, would really help folks visit just the kind of caches they like. It respects everyone's tastes, if implimented well. There just can't be anything wrong with that.

I skimmed the cache rating thread, and decided just to toss this idea. Apologies if it repeats anything: Multifacted Cache Rating System: Please rate this cache from 1-10 based on how interesting it was in these categories: - "Wouldn't have known this cool location was here" factor [1-10] - Fast cache grab for those who love high stats [1-10] - Uniqueness of puzzle to solve [1-10] - Good for those who love wilderness [1-10] - Good for those who love urban locations [1-10] (This is all I can think of in short notice) Just add and refine the list of positives which would appeal to some people and not others. That way you have a cache rating system that works for all. If it is a favorite, you know WHY it is a favorite to some cachers and not others... then you can refine your search for caches that really appeal to your taste. Does anyone have some interesting positive categories to add? How would this be fair or not fair? How to make it more fair to those who like one kind of cache experience over another? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Sorry that I have not been back to this thread recently. The keys were lost near Denver CO. Things I am thinking of doing: - Go find a Ford dealer and see if they have any ideas - Post a note on Denver's craigslist.com site - Contact a Denver newspaper reporter

Check this out Talk about your road to nowhere! They WERE supposed to join these roads together. But due to some really dumb bureaucracy, what ya get is two dead ends looking at each other. What would you call this cache, if you were to put one here?

Whoops! My first post has been re-edited to add the link to the page. Annoying news: I just found out that I can't get out to the Ford dealership until around Wednesday or Thursday. When I get there, explaining this whole thing to the Ford people is gonna be really... well... either interesting or embarrassing... thinking about explaining to them how I got these keys in the first place...!

Oh, that's almost too easy! Sure, OK, I can do that this afternoon. I'll be back tomorrow and post a report.

Hey all. A few days ago, these keys landed in my hands as a travel bug: This is the "Guanella Pass Keys (Ford)" travel bug. The TB's mission is: "It would be nice to get these keys back to their owner" These keys have been bouncing around the USA among various geocachers for about 2 years. I agree with the TB tag owner. It's time for these car keys to come back to the ORIGINAL original owner. Now... I know after 2 years, whoever lost these keys have probably gotten replacements and life has gone on for them. However I think it would be just a hoot to honestly find the original (car) owner - and let them know what kind of adventure their Ford keys have been on for the last several months. What I need are good brainstorming ideas on how to track down the first owner of these keys. I will post the progress of this mystery as it unfolds. Please post your ideas here, and together we may track down the very unsuspecting original owner! How fun is that? The keys were lost somewhere in Colorado. I'm in Oregon. I'll do whatever I can from Oregon to help locate the owner... what I need are you guy's brainpower for ideas to do just that. (re-edit to add link to bug) This TB's page The fun commences... (3...2...1...) now.

How about this appropriate name for the next rediculously extreme cache that anyone puts out there: call it "Nucking Futs!"

I hereby offer GCNCQP "The Family Who Rescued A Covered Bridge" up for adoption. The problem is that it is 60 miles away from me and I don't have the means to take care of any maintenance issues if one ever comes up. Fortunately it is a low-maintenance cache to begin with. Not to mention a definite "Wow, didn't know this was here!" kind of cache. Anyone in the Lincoln City, Oregon area up for a good adoption?

I know nothing... I see nothing... nope, not saying A DARN THING... (Tries hard to hold it in, stay all polite... then reads the more posts that fit that description...) AUGGGHH!!! I can't stand it... Aw man... I don't want to sound like making fun of anyone, but the overuse so many goofy exclamation points, AND this trying to make this TB tempest in a teapot look like Mt. Saint Helens... I mean, all that sky-is-falling energy over TRAVEL BUGS... I'm sorry to tell you this... but normally one goes into THAT much extreme argument energy and panic and !!! marks over truly scary things. You know, things like wars, threats to family, friends, or fires, extreme loss of life, terrorists, solders dying, killer epidemics, serial killers... as in, REAL CRISES. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'm sorry, but yes, for the record, you ARE reaching here. I know you mean well, but... well... (how to put this?) It's kinda like watching some character standing on a kitchen chair freaking out and screaming panic bloody murder over seeing a mouse. Nothing against you, but I'm sorry... that's just what it honestly looks like. (as much as even I don't want to see it that way!) The truth of the matter is... a mouse on the floor is not a terrorist-threat-level crisis, it's an annoyance. Similarly, a joke travel bug making fun of the whole idea of "prisons" and "jails" ain't no crisis either, especially not worth THAT much panic-energy writing style and exclamation points. Treating this mouse-level subject with that kind of "crisis" (ANARCHY!!! KIDS MAY SEE IT!!! OH MY GOD!!!) writing style makes for unintentional comedy, because you do end up shooting yourself in the foot in the process, just trying to get your point accross. Just wondering... has it ever happened that you wished you knew why you may have felt like no one takes you seriously, or why others may cross to the point of rude in responding to you? It's all in one's chosen communication approach. Please quit doing that to yourself... there are more gentle, philosophical methods one can use to express any subject, communication-wise, that can make any person's concern be taken much more seriously by their peers and not inspire lack of courtesy from others. Please consider researching that before making yourself look more (errr.... I won't say it) here in these forums, or perhaps other places. Realize that sometimes deliberately explaining things with a reasoned, gentle sense of perspective - rather than histronic emotion - can be more effective to change the opinions of a whole lotta people. I have good faith that you can accomplish that and I offer positive thoughts to you in that direction. Moderatiors, I respectfully request this topic be closed... thanks.

Another vote for the Panasonic Toughbook. You could drop those things from a cliff into a mountain river with rocks in it and it will still reboot nicely. Just TRY to kill it! I am saving my pennies for one someday.

I would say a wooden door stop... stick the door open so people travel bugs can come and more more easily I like it. Now you got me thinking. I would say more like a small flat rasp file. How about a small crowbar? Actually... I think the best would require the skills of someone who does Sculpey clay... a rasp sticking out of a little cake, as if someone was trying to hide it in there.

If a child watches 3 to 4 hours of noneducational TV per day, he will have seen about 8000 murders on TV by the time he or she finishes grade school. That does not include the violent lyrics kids these days listen to in rap music, or the bloody scenes many routinely play with in video games. And you are actually worried about the very remote possible influence of a TRAVEL BUG? Oh man, that is just GREAT! You actually had me there for a moment.

Hmmmm... Several emails in my personal email box thanking me for this TB template... 59 watchers on the original "Get Out of (TB) Jail Free" TB... Note after note on the "Get Out of (TB) Jail Free" praising the idea to start with... "...possibly get the TB stolen" has NEVER happened to this bug in the year and a half it's been out... 2 VERY popular bookmark lists highlighting the restrictive TB hotels that the majority of geocachers object to... Verrrrry interesting.

In my first year of geocaching, there was a TB hotel cache with a "minimum number of bugs" rule. I didn't know that according to Groundspeak, that just does not fly, so I obeyed the rule, to my regret. There were bugs in that cache that were stuck for MONTHS. A plush bear actually rotted in there... I am not kidding. I ended up taking that one and trying my best to rescue and repair it. Not a positive situation. If I meet a restrictive TB hotel, I am SO setting free all the bugs from now on. Period. I learned from this experience. Jeremy Irish himself once said: "The idea is to help move the Travel Bug faster. Artificial rules just make the bugs sit in a cache for far too long. Remember folks - the first part of Travel Bug is Travel - not Trade." I have 2 TB hotels with ZERO restrictive rules. One has existed for over 2 years and has had a total of 1033 bugs (as of this writing) pass through it in that time. It's got good placement and great camo. No bug is stuck in my cache for too long. I am proud of that. If a TB cache has restrictive rules, they risk having a bug stuck so long that it make it risky for the bugs. Remembering what happened to that plush bear, I believe that if you care about TBs, you set them free to travel. That should come first. By the way... for anyone using the above template I offered, be sure to post these two "List of Restrictive TB Hotels" on your bug's page. Bookmarks list #1 Bookmarks list #2

That's been done already - The Hermit Crabs already came up with that idea. I took that inspiration and took it a bit further, customizing the card for the rest of us geocachers.

Make her food dish an ammo can and her water dish a Tupperware container. Have her find cache-like containers around the yard and give her treats if she finds one. The first time she finds a REAL cache, praise her like crazy and give her extra treats. THEN you get to have a geodog, rather than just a regular dog.

As inspired by the geocaching team "The Hermit Crabs" with their "Get Out Of (TB) Jail Free" travel bug: Introducing the new Make your own "Get out of (TB) Jail Free" PDF template! The text on the template: "This TB's mission to liberate all Travel Bugs held hostage in TB Hotels which have swap policies of 1 to 1 or more - or to keep a certain minimum number of Travel Bugs in the cache. If you are holding this bug, please take it to a restrictive-rule TB cache. Then swap all of the bugs inside for this one. (This TB was inspired by TB# “TBJQ2F” which pioneered the concept.) If the cache-owner gives you trouble for breaking his/her rules, tell him that it's not your fault: the rules for THIS bug says you MUST do that. Feel free to blame this TB's owner." Take a look at the PDF and let me know what you think.