carolnbarney

Something I never thought about, until the other day when I found my last cache, is a portable/emergency source of power for your cell phone. I pulled out my cell phone to take a picture and it promptly shut down because of a low battery. I know I should have checked it before I left. I actually did and "thought" I had enough charge to do that "short" cache trip. I was wrong. As usual........

Maybe doing it is a system of sorts of "checks and balances" in that it would conceivably be possible to sit at your computer and log finds that in fact were never made. While signing the log won't change that, if the log in the cache is signed it provides some measure of proof that you, or somebody signing your name, was actually at the cache. ??

Let me know if it's a book worth buying. OK??

I bought a 60cx before these new jobs came out and while I don't claim to be any kind of expert, I'm satisfied so far with mine. It does way more than my feeble brain can comprehend. Of course, it's not all that hard to be smarter than me.

You mean to tell me they aren't?? Just wait and see, the next thing you're going to tell me is about a rabbit with long ears that comes once a year and ...............

What age are you limiting "kids" to? I haven't been caching all that much, but do enjoy the SWAG! Sort of like Christmas morning in a way.

Could this be filtering by someone's ISP?? I just recently got my premium membership and signed up for instant publishing notices, but haven't gotten any yet. Don't know how frequently to expect them as it depends, I know, on whether or not there are any new caches in my defined area. It seems my other emails of logs on watched sites have been coming.

Don't know about SC, but here in NC a person has to have been told not to be on someone's property before they can be charged with trespassing. Unless, t's "posted" which opens up a whole other all of wax. That involves filing certain papers with the Clerk of Court's office and actually putting signs up. Unless again, the property has been so arranged as it beng obvious the property owner doesn't want you there as in a fence or such. In NC, there are "degrees" of trespass... In one county, there is a charge specific to that county of 4th degree trespass which requires you to actually have written permission on your person if you are on that property. That law was passed to address a specific problem of people with 4 wheelers and trucks "mudding" or driving through river beds when the water was down and "coming out" over someone's land making a mess, but it's been extended to all types of activities. Geocaching would fit those other uses. Find a friendly, local law enforcement officer and ask what is generally accepted.

I've been thinking about obtaining a good used PDA to use while caching and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to which is good, not good, sorta good, etc. Tried to search for this before posting, but forum won't let you search using PDA because it's too short and if you search using any of the words spelled out you get more mess than you'd believe. So I'm asking and hoping to get some good info. Thanks

Yea, there is a lot of "stuff" in caches that doesn't rank real high on the list of desirable. But why not buck that trend and put something "decent" in each cache you visit. Say put in a "good" something or two and take out a "not so good" item. Sort of a take on the cito concept, but with better swag being left. You know "good in trash out" or GITO. Doesn't have to be very expensive to be something good or desirable. A positive attempt at somthing trumps growling and complaining any day!!

Just out of curiosity, how did you manage to dig out this fossil thread? The OP had posted in another thread looking for a speaker at a local event, with only three posts, I thought it might be worthwhile to see the other posts. I should have looked at the dates, but things were a little more hectic earlier. Don't reckon it's the end of the world! I can't imagine you are the first, or will be the last, to do something like that! Ya think??

I can live with this either way I guess! Whatever is done, somebody is going to think it's great and some are going to say it's akin to spoiled milk! If there's one thing I'm learning about the forums here it's that the opinions vary as widely as I've ever seen anywhere. But, like opinions on everything else on here, the "appropriate" rating for terrain and difficulty is open to interpretation. There is no clearly defined criteria for what constitutes a "1" nor is there one for a "5." Maybe then the log is the best place for differences of opinions, but then again an option to rate it and have that rating tabulated and shown prominently with the coordinates, etc. would enable a person to get a good idea of other's opinions of a particular cache without reading through a myriad of old log entries. Would be a lot quicker for folks who have no other reason to read those old logs.

Danged if this hasn't gotten to be one of the biggest mud slinging contests ever. Is this a geocaching forum, or the national political conventions? There are a lot of pretty strong opinions on here from both sides of the debate. Very well may be some basis for all of them. Don't know....... One suggestion though if I may?? Let's all of us, pro cop and anti cop and cop, make an effort to, when confronted by the other side, make a serious, concious attempt to take a deep breath and try to see where the other person is coming from before we blow up. Most cachers, I'm sure, are just trying to have a good time without causing problems and most cops are just trying to do a generally thankless job for not the best money in the world. Most cops don't eat donuts any more than anybody else just as most cachers aren't planting bombs. Take a breath and remember it's "supposed" to be fun.

AMEN!!!

Bugs never die, they can always be re-released. Re-released as in either using the number on something or preferably using the companion/buddy/extra tag even though the original TB is MIA??

That's a thought! I have a large number of fluorescent colored key fobs that I got a number of years back when I was teaching drug abuse classes in elementary schools. Something like orange, lime green, pink, and another color I can't remember. They are plastic and would lend themselves to "engraving" over the printed, written message on them. They stand out enough that a friend used them to make their bags stand out when they went on a cruise. So GS is fine with you buying a TB and using the number on something else??

Yes they were! Unfortunately, justice, or the pursuit of it, does not come without costs or bumps in the road. It's not a perfect process by any means. But would you prefer some other system like that practiced in other parts of the world? Does that mean this person has no recourse? No! Any number of things exist as possible means of recourse. One would be to pursue a civil suit for damages if the person feels strongly enough that they've been wronged. Is that again free, or without cost? Again no, nor should it be. That's one of the checks and balances built into the system. But then again, it's not all that expensive unless an attorney is hired which frequently is not required.

Yes LEO's need to be rational, level headed, etc....... But you know, that extends to the cachers too! You MUST take into consideration here the general climate and mindset of the world today before being too quick to criticize and condemn. People today do place bombs in public places. It's not something that's restricted to the Middle East anymore. We have plenty of local, home-grown types among us that have in the past, and probably will in the future, place and detonate explosive devices. Think Eric Rudolph, Timothy McVeigh, and the UnaBomber to name a few. Now the police are charged with protecting us from these folks and they have to do things to accomplish that job. One of those things very well has, and will continue to be, detaining those people that have been specified as having possibly committed an offense. The officer works on what's called "probable cause" or "PC." And that is nothing more than something that would cause a reasonable and prudent person to believe a crime had possibly been commited. That's what happened in this person's case. Could the officer have had an atttude? Of course!! Could this cacher have had an attitude? Of course!! Is it possible to tell from the letter the cacher posted? Not for sure. We only get one side of the story that way. There are two sides to every story and the teller of any side usually tells only that part of the story that tends to make them look the best. Did that happen here? Again, no way to know. We only heard one side. Mention was made of educating the officers about geocaching. Not a bad idea. But let's extend that to educating the caching public about what an officer's job is all about. Let's get rid of this "us against them" attitude that some seem to have. There is no "us" beyond being cachers just as there is no "them" beyond being officers. All are people trying to do a job and/or have fun all of which both sides do on a regular basis. Level headedness and understanding is needed and paramount on both sides of the fence. There'll be a lot less problems that way!

Not a false arrest here! The officer was going forwad based on the facts at hand which were this person had potentially placed a device. The officer is allowed to detain for clarification and safety based on the facts at hand that would lead a reasonable and prudent person to believe a crime had occurred, or had potentially occurred. The system worked just as it's suppoed to. The allegation was made, the potential suspect was detained, the facts were surveyed, and a determination as to further action was made. In this case, it was to go no further.

1/2, 2/3, 80%........ Darned if that isn't discouraging! Must be some kind of perverse thrill a person gets by subverting something as harmless as a TB/Geocoin, etc. There are some sick puppies in this world!! Is there such a thing as a "home-made" type of thing that's used/can be used as a trackable item like this? It'd be fun/interesting to come up with and/or make something like if it could as well as probably more economical???

Any place selling mechanic's tools such as Sears, auto parts store, Snap-On/Mac/SK/etc. tool reps to name a few.

PLB ?? Personal Locator Beacon ??

I can only imagine what it would be like to have this happen. How often does this happen would you say?? Ballpark estimate is fine. TBs are one thing I've thought I'd try one day, but just haven't as of yet. Would still try it even though.

But think..... You're in NY doing that. Not East Okie...... Different definition of weird/suspiciious/etc.

I think I know somewhat where folks stand on this and I appreciate your time and effort. That being said, I think that when I do this, I very well just make it a cache only on my property. The place I thought about putting it affords me the opportunity to keep a visual check on it pretty much day and/or night. Nothing would preclude doing a little freshening "if" the owner wanted it done. Never did intend to do something without the owner's consent and knowledge. Hope all of you have a great day and wonderful luck.