There go all those Wally World Caches

[+FunnyNose]

"This partnership will help millions of shoppers across the nation identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to law enforcement authorities.”

 

"If you see something suspicious in the parking lot or in the store, say something immediately," Napolitano said

 

By month's end, 588 stores will participate in 'See Something, Say Something' campaign

[+Coldgears]

This was actually posted in Off Topic.

 

Though I believe the topic would do better here. Mabybe a mod could mere the other one into this?

[+Ecylram]

I'd vote for moving this one to "Off Topic".

[knowschad]

I'd vote for moving this one to "Off Topic".

Doesn't belong in Off Topic, if you ask me. This is information that non PM members could use as well.

[jholly]

Ah, yes, Napolitano, our wonderful home land security Secretary, who proudly proclaimed that the capture of the jockey short bomber shows how wonderful our security system work.

[+SwineFlew]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

[jholly]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

Well we still have Home Depot and Lowe's. With all the aliens standing around who is going to notice someone grabbing a LPC?

[+DragonsWest]

I once saw someone firmly escorted out the door for price comparing... What color threat level is that?

[+EscapeFromFlatland]

Rumor is that somewhere in the vast sprawling wasteland of suburbia there are giant warehouse stores call "WalMart," but somehow I have never found one of these horrible places in my travels.

[+Chrysalides]

I once saw someone firmly escorted out the door for price comparing... What color threat level is that?

Blue light, of course.

[+SwineFlew]

I once saw someone firmly escorted out the door for price comparing... What color threat level is that?

Blue light, of course.

 

Thats K-mart.

[JohnX]

What is frightening is a government agency is now partnering with a private company to encourage citizens, if not to spy on each other, at least report undefined "suspicious" behavior to authorities. The DHS has not limited it's actions to collaborating with Walmart as shown in this article: Copyright Security? Here is a document from the DHS describing it's history: DHS History

 

I will sleep better knowing that The Homeland is secure now that the ever observant Walmart customers will report suspected terrorist behavior to the highly trained Walmart managers.

 

I wonder how many people have actually seen a hand held GPS and know what it is. This turn of events is a sad sign for the US, at least in my opinion.

[+DadOf6Furrballs]

It's comforting to know that these people will be part of making sure that our Walmart parking lots are safe.

[+Indotguy]

And Geocaching will wither and die without wally world parking lot micros?

[+Packanack]

Exactly what do you think the greeters and receipt checkers are doing? They are part of the security function. This company has surveillance cameras everywhere, look along the roof line, next time you go in. Nothing new under the sun.

[+Jeepster++]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

[+Indotguy]

Exactly what do you think the greeters and receipt checkers are doing? They are part of the security function. This company has surveillance cameras everywhere, look along the roof line, next time you go in. Nothing new under the sun.

 

Surveillance cameras are everywhere, not just WalMart.

[Mr.Yuck]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

 

We already had the party even before you joined, when Cracker Barrell banned caches on their property. Of course that one was for all us old-fashioned washing machine haters.

[+hzoi]

...Cracker Barrell banned caches on their property....

Apparently all of the owners of "Off Your Rocker" caches didn't get that memo. There are still a plethora of Cracker Barrel caches around the South.

 

We tried for one once and will never do so again, way too many eyes on us to feel comfortable rooting around the old machinery.

Edited December 8, 2010 by hzoi

[+Castle Mischief]

...Cracker Barrell banned caches on their property....

Apparently all of the owners of "Off Your Rocker" caches didn't get that memo. There are still a plethora of Cracker Barrel caches around the South.

 

We tried for one once and will never do so again, way too many eyes on us to feel comfortable rooting around the old machinery.

 

From what I remember, the memo from Cracker Barrell disallowed any new caches. I don't think they told anybody to remove existing caches. I could be wrong.

[+J the Goat]

Exactly what do you think the greeters and receipt checkers are doing? They are part of the security function. This company has surveillance cameras everywhere, look along the roof line, next time you go in. Nothing new under the sun.

 

 

The receipt checkers are making sure you're not stealing anything, although they only give it about a 9% effort. And the greeters? Part of the security effort? Have you been to a Walmart?

 

Whilest I'm not of the "big brother" mindset, I think this is totally ridiculous. I've said it a thousand times, and I'll say it again. Terrorists are not going to attack a small town Walmart. It's not gonna happen. We're far too paranoid after 9/11 and the two or three high profile "explosive" incidents since then. A hightened sense of "awareness" isn't going to stop anything, it's just going to make people more suspicious of other people. That's just what we need

[Mr.Yuck]

...Cracker Barrell banned caches on their property....

Apparently all of the owners of "Off Your Rocker" caches didn't get that memo. There are still a plethora of Cracker Barrel caches around the South.

 

We tried for one once and will never do so again, way too many eyes on us to feel comfortable rooting around the old machinery.

 

My bad. They banned new placements. If you click on the bookmark list of Off Your Rocker caches that surely appears on almost all of their cache pages, the list owner documents that they are no longer allowed, and the date of the change in policy.

[+kimgh]

Rumor is that somewhere in the vast sprawling wasteland of suburbia there are giant warehouse stores call "WalMart," but somehow I have never found one of these horrible places in my travels.

 

Consider yourself fortunate.

[+DadOf6Furrballs]

Here in Rapid City, we have not just one, but TWO (2) LPC skirt lifters at the single Walmart in town. Each at opposite ends of the parking lot.

[+Taoiseach]

And Geocaching will wither and die without wally world parking lot micros?

 

Oh no... The containers can just be amassed and made into another hideous power trail

 

Maybe we can get rid of the proximity rule and just move them all into a single Canadian Tire parking lot

[+wimseyguy]

My biggest Walmart/Samsclub chuckle comes at the door when the checker actually counts the carts that have under 10 items in them, but does the matador wave at the large flatbeds with 50+ items.

 

Yes, they are pretty advanced with their cameras and scanners, but the human factor leaves something to be desired.

 

And I agree, the definition of suspicious is somewhat compromised when you consider that this is probably the only retailer in the world that has a website set up to make fun of the more unusually clad patrons.

 

I'm glad someone already posted a link, but it's worth a second look. Bring your own mental bleach.

Edited December 8, 2010 by wimseyguy

[Clan Riffster]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

I think, for those folks who get all atwitter every time a 1/1 P&G gets published, there are plenty of other parking lots.

Your ability to hide/find lame caches should not be impinged too much by this.

[+popokiiti]

We found a cache recently at a busy intersection near home. Great hide, and this thread reminds me of what else is there....cameras that cover the area where we were! I hope they got my good side.....

[+Sithlock Holmes]

Maybe we can get rid of the proximity rule and just move them all into a single Canadian Tire parking lot

 

I second this. We can then team up with the Old-Car Show folks in the summer.

[+power69]

And Geocaching will wither and die without wally world parking lot micros?

theres plenty of other parking lots for those film cannisters.

[+nanncyan]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them. In Michigan during the winter they are a welcome diversion. Sometimes they are buried under four feet of plowed snow. Try that you fair weather cachers.

[Mr.Yuck]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them. In Michigan during the winter they are a welcome diversion. Sometimes they are buried under four feet of plowed snow. Try that you fair weather cachers.

 

It's very, very simple. The people that have disdain don't do them. At least not me, I can't speak for all those radii clearers out there who lift every skirt in town, all while complaining about it.

[+Castle Mischief]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them. In Michigan during the winter they are a welcome diversion. Sometimes they are buried under four feet of plowed snow. Try that you fair weather cachers.

 

There are many reasons to not like LPCs. I can still not like them without hunting them. I can still express my dislike without hunting them. I'm not feeling forced to hunt them at all- I just don't like them.

 

Crazy.

[4wheelin_fool]

"This partnership will help millions of shoppers across the nation identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to law enforcement authorities.”

 

"If you see something suspicious in the parking lot or in the store, say something immediately," Napolitano said

 

By month's end, 588 stores will participate in 'See Something, Say Something' campaign

 

 

 

The Walmart strategy is to flood the market with foreign goods to drain manufacturing jobs out of the country, while at the same time closing local businesses that cannot compete with people earning slave wages overseas. Now they are using Homeland Security to advertise and promote themselves, while the real threat is elsewhere. I wonder how much federal money was sent to the 588 stores to aid in the promotion?

 

Primitive wars are fought with weapons, while ecomonic ones use psychology. Over 80% of all of the items sold there are manufactured from the same country which happens to be allied with North Korea.

Edited December 10, 2010 by 4wheelin_fool

[+sbell111]

My guess is 'none', which is also the impact on caching that I expect from this 'partnership'.

[vagabond]

Exactly what do you think the greeters and receipt checkers are doing? They are part of the security function. This company has surveillance cameras everywhere, look along the roof line, next time you go in. Nothing new under the sun.

 

Alot of those bubbles are dummies (no cameras)

[+JesandTodd]

Ah, yes, Napolitano, our wonderful home land security Secretary, who proudly proclaimed that the capture of the jockey short bomber shows how wonderful our security system work.

 

Yes, she did a fantastic job of securing our border here in Az while governor...

 

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them. In Michigan during the winter they are a welcome diversion. Sometimes they are buried under four feet of plowed snow. Try that you fair weather cachers.

 

I loathe LPCs. And I don't do them either. I hate walking though a park on a multi can finding out one of the stages is a LPC. Grr. I hate walking away from a cache, but I will.

 

And I live in Az, so no snow. Winter is my fair weather caching This is the time where we can finally hike!

[+sbell111]

So go take a hike.

[+JesandTodd]

That's the best ya got, huh?

[+sbell111]

That's the best ya got, huh?

I considered suggesting that you take your political carp to off topic.

[4wheelin_fool]

Dangerous people at Walmart typically are not terrorists.

 

 

Bomb squad evacuates Walmart for fart spray

 

Man plays baseball with 29 TVs at Walmart

 

Junkie arrested buying supplies at Walmart

 

Man arrested for not pulling his pants up at Walmart

 

Salvation Army kettle theif from Walmart caught

 

100 year old racist Walmart greeter gets into trouble

 

Baby squeeze toy triggers woman to flip out at Walmart

 

Line cutter arrested at Walmart

 

Man arrested for defiling a Star Wars light sabre at Walmart

 

Man arrested for teaching an 8 year old to steal at Walmart

 

Man arrested carrying a 40-caliber Glock handgun with a 30-round magazine as well as two concealed knives and a pepper grenade at Walmart for protection

[Clan Riffster]

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them.

Because they suck... a lot.

(according to my highly biased caching aesthetics)

 

They are the poster child of lame caches. They don't get any more pathetic.

 

They are caches for those who prefer quantity over quality.

 

(from Websters)

Lame: [leym] adjective

 

1. pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

3. weak; inadequate; unsatisfactory;

 

Because geocachers hail from such diversity, it is really difficult to quantify "Lameness" as related to caches. There really isn't any one characteristic that can guarantee that a cache is lame, (other than hiding a film canister in a lamp post at Wally World, which is ALWAYS Lame), however a cache's Lameness Quotient can still be measured, given sufficient consideration, as follows:

 

Location

The motto for Groundspeak is "The Language of Location". This, more than anything, should be your first clue in determining if your cache is a stinker. Ask yourself, "Why am I bringing people to this spot?" If the only answer you can come up with is yet another mindless smiley, perhaps it's time to rethink ground zero. A waterfall is good. 500 acres of sweltering, exhaust laden blacktop filled with soccer moms in SUV's is bad.

 

Container Selection

The purpose of a cache is to protect its contents. Whether those contents are a slip of paper covered with the initials of a bunch of geo-nerds, or the contents are high dollar, really kewl swag, is really immaterial. If the container won't protect what's inside, it is lame. Quality containers include ammo cans, Lock & Locks, decon kits, waterproof match containers and bison tubes. Inadequate containers include Gladware, black & gray film canisters, hide-a-keys, Altoid tins and duct tape covered baggies. These may work great indoors, but they simply will not repel moisture once subjected to the whims of Mother Nature.

 

Hide Style

If a hide style gets copied too often, it automatically becomes lame. Hide-a-keys on guard rails and film canisters under lamp posts require absolutely no imagination to hide or to find, and therefor earn pretty high LQ points. Any hide style that encourages vandalism or otherwise violate Groundspeak's guidelines, (graffiti coords/affixing electrical boxes to structures/buried caches/etc), are bad for the game, and should be avoided like the plague. Some of the best hides utilize subtle misdirection, getting folks to look everywhere but where their GPSr's tell them to look. I consider that a good thing, as it forces me to fire up the ol' grey matter. That is not the case with LPCs.

 

Results

If you see a high percentage of single sentence find logs on your cache page, that is a fairly reasonable indicator that your cache may be suffering from a lack of ingenuity. This trend becomes more pronounced if you see a lot of "TNLNSL" entries. At that point, your cache has reached a lameness critical mass, and should probably be put out of its misery.

 

Again, these intemperate thoughts are merely a reflection of my personal preferences.

If playing games in a parking lot is your cup of tea, by all means, have at it.

You won't be alone.

[+tozainamboku]

I can hear all those LPC haters out there are having a party.

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them. In Michigan during the winter they are a welcome diversion. Sometimes they are buried under four feet of plowed snow. Try that you fair weather cachers.

 

There are many reasons to not like LPCs. I can still not like them without hunting them. I can still express my dislike without hunting them. I'm not feeling forced to hunt them at all- I just don't like them.

 

Crazy.

Sure, just as you may dislike butter pecan ice cream (or whatever flavors you dislike).

 

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them.

Because they suck... a lot.

(according to my highly biased caching aesthetics)

 

They are the poster child of lame caches. They don't get any more pathetic.

 

They are caches for those who prefer quantity over quality.

 

(from Websters)

Lame: [leym] adjective

 

1. pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

3. weak; inadequate; unsatisfactory;

 

Because geocachers hail from such diversity, it is really difficult to quantify "Lameness" as related to caches. There really isn't any one characteristic that can guarantee that a cache is lame, (other than hiding a film canister in a lamp post at Wally World, which is ALWAYS Lame), however a cache's Lameness Quotient can still be measured, given sufficient consideration, as follows:

 

Location

The motto for Groundspeak is "The Language of Location". This, more than anything, should be your first clue in determining if your cache is a stinker. Ask yourself, "Why am I bringing people to this spot?" If the only answer you can come up with is yet another mindless smiley, perhaps it's time to rethink ground zero. A waterfall is good. 500 acres of sweltering, exhaust laden blacktop filled with soccer moms in SUV's is bad.

 

Container Selection

The purpose of a cache is to protect its contents. Whether those contents are a slip of paper covered with the initials of a bunch of geo-nerds, or the contents are high dollar, really kewl swag, is really immaterial. If the container won't protect what's inside, it is lame. Quality containers include ammo cans, Lock & Locks, decon kits, waterproof match containers and bison tubes. Inadequate containers include Gladware, black & gray film canisters, hide-a-keys, Altoid tins and duct tape covered baggies. These may work great indoors, but they simply will not repel moisture once subjected to the whims of Mother Nature.

 

Hide Style

If a hide style gets copied too often, it automatically becomes lame. Hide-a-keys on guard rails and film canisters under lamp posts require absolutely no imagination to hide or to find, and therefor earn pretty high LQ points. Any hide style that encourages vandalism or otherwise violate Groundspeak's guidelines, (graffiti coords/affixing electrical boxes to structures/buried caches/etc), are bad for the game, and should be avoided like the plague. Some of the best hides utilize subtle misdirection, getting folks to look everywhere but where their GPSr's tell them to look. I consider that a good thing, as it forces me to fire up the ol' grey matter. That is not the case with LPCs.

 

Results

If you see a high percentage of single sentence find logs on your cache page, that is a fairly reasonable indicator that your cache may be suffering from a lack of ingenuity. This trend becomes more pronounced if you see a lot of "TNLNSL" entries. At that point, your cache has reached a lameness critical mass, and should probably be put out of its misery.

 

Again, these intemperate thoughts are merely a reflection of my personal preferences.

If playing games in a parking lot is your cup of tea, by all means, have at it.

You won't be alone.

Who do you think you are post a long post explaining exactly the reasons why LPCs are lame cache?

 

Location

LPCs in parking lots are often chosen as a location for hiding caches because these are plentiful and easy to get to. Many are even places where you could conceivably get adequate permission from a store owner or manager. Though I will admit that most are probably placed with the weak excuse that since the public is allowed in the parking lot you can hide a cache there. While some people like going on a hike and seeing a nice waterfall or being taken to an historic location, there are many other people who prefer to shop. A mall or a big box location is just as important to them as the waterfall is to someone who likes nature or the old cemetery is to someone interested in history.

 

Container Selection

The LPC skirt provides added protection. A cheaper less waterproof container may be satisfactory for this type of hide.

 

Hide Style

The optimum hide style would be one where muggles are unlikely to find the geocache and where geocachers will be able to find it with a reasonable effort. For difficulty one caches, the cache location should be pretty obvious to the cacher and still not be a place where a muggle might accidentally come across the cache. The LPC hiding style is widely copied because it may be as close to optimum as you can get.

 

Results

People enjoy quick and easy finds. The may not have much to write though about finding a cache. Certainly a high terrain or high difficulty cache is likely to have longer logs. But that doesn't mean they aren't enjoyed just as much. In addition, people who do urban cache are often putting together runs to find many caches. They may not spend the time logging each cache with a long story of their experience with the cache. I have see some blogs from these cachers that describe their whole day and they seem to have as much fun as I have when I go on a 10 mile hike. They may even post pictures of the unusual sign or public art that was exhibited near the LPC.

[+nanncyan]

I have never been able to understand people's distain for LPC's. No one forces anyone to do them.

Because they suck... a lot.

(according to my highly biased caching aesthetics)

 

They are the poster child of lame caches. They don't get any more pathetic.

 

They are caches for those who prefer quantity over quality.

 

(from Websters)

Lame: [leym] adjective

 

1. pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

3. weak; inadequate; unsatisfactory;

 

Because geocachers hail from such diversity, it is really difficult to quantify "Lameness" as related to caches. There really isn't any one characteristic that can guarantee that a cache is lame, (other than hiding a film canister in a lamp post at Wally World, which is ALWAYS Lame), however a cache's Lameness Quotient can still be measured, given sufficient consideration, as follows:

 

Location

The motto for Groundspeak is "The Language of Location". This, more than anything, should be your first clue in determining if your cache is a stinker. Ask yourself, "Why am I bringing people to this spot?" If the only answer you can come up with is yet another mindless smiley, perhaps it's time to rethink ground zero. A waterfall is good. 500 acres of sweltering, exhaust laden blacktop filled with soccer moms in SUV's is bad.

 

Container Selection

The purpose of a cache is to protect its contents. Whether those contents are a slip of paper covered with the initials of a bunch of geo-nerds, or the contents are high dollar, really kewl swag, is really immaterial. If the container won't protect what's inside, it is lame. Quality containers include ammo cans, Lock & Locks, decon kits, waterproof match containers and bison tubes. Inadequate containers include Gladware, black & gray film canisters, hide-a-keys, Altoid tins and duct tape covered baggies. These may work great indoors, but they simply will not repel moisture once subjected to the whims of Mother Nature.

 

Hide Style

If a hide style gets copied too often, it automatically becomes lame. Hide-a-keys on guard rails and film canisters under lamp posts require absolutely no imagination to hide or to find, and therefor earn pretty high LQ points. Any hide style that encourages vandalism or otherwise violate Groundspeak's guidelines, (graffiti coords/affixing electrical boxes to structures/buried caches/etc), are bad for the game, and should be avoided like the plague. Some of the best hides utilize subtle misdirection, getting folks to look everywhere but where their GPSr's tell them to look. I consider that a good thing, as it forces me to fire up the ol' grey matter. That is not the case with LPCs.

 

Results

If you see a high percentage of single sentence find logs on your cache page, that is a fairly reasonable indicator that your cache may be suffering from a lack of ingenuity. This trend becomes more pronounced if you see a lot of "TNLNSL" entries. At that point, your cache has reached a lameness critical mass, and should probably be put out of its misery.

 

Again, these intemperate thoughts are merely a reflection of my personal preferences.

If playing games in a parking lot is your cup of tea, by all means, have at it.

You won't be alone.

 

We have been to over thirty Meet 'n' Greets and met many different cachers. Some hate LPCs and some love them. I personally do not care for them. Not only are they not challenging but they are subject to bee infestation and I am allergic to their sting. One of the more prominent cachers in this area told me over 90% on his finds were one and one's. I told him we had over 500 multi and puzzle finds. He answered he won't do multis. Now, that does not make me better than him, it just means we have different preferences. Some cachers are not physically able to do caches involving long hikes over rough terrain. LPCs are a way for them to participate in geocaching which they otherwise could not. So, I say cache and let cache.

[+sbell111]

I've found many LPCs in several states. I've never come across a bee, wasp, or hornet while finding them. Just saying...

[Clan Riffster]

Who do you think you are post a long post explaining exactly the reasons why LPCs are lame cache?

Is that a rhetorical question?

I think I'm Sean Brewer, whose caching nickname is Clan Riffster

I think my other identity is The ole fat crippled guy with a smelly hat.

I think I posted that as an answer to a question.

 

Some cachers are not physically able to do caches involving long hikes over rough terrain.

LPCs are a way for them to participate in geocaching which they otherwise could not.

As noted above, I am one of those cachers who is physically unable to do long hikes.

Creating an LPC so us cripples have something to do is pretty condescending.

Just because my knees don't work anymore, doesn't mean my brain has quit working.

I appreciate creativity as much as the next guy.

LPCs are utterly devoid of creativity.

[knowschad]

Who do you think you are post a long post explaining exactly the reasons why LPCs are lame cache?

The King of Epic Posts Explaining His Opinion questions somebody else's right to do the same?

 

You were just kidding, right?

[+tozainamboku]

Who do you think you are post a long post explaining exactly the reasons why LPCs are lame cache?

The King of Epic Posts Explaining His Opinion questions somebody else's right to do the same?

 

You were just kidding, right?

It was late at night and I forgot the smiley

[+M 5]

I've done plenty of easy caches that those that don't/can't do harder caches can do and aren't LPC caches. Lame or not isn't even the real issue. People keep saying that if you don't like them, don't do them on one side and that they are in the way of better caches on the other(rarely true). Neither of those is really the issue. It's that they, along with power trails and other urban micro hides, are/have been exploding in the last couple of years, and are going be the biggest contributor of problems that will result in regulations/restrictions that will hinder geocachings future. Other people won't agree with this, obviously, but that is what I think. More and more and more geocaches is not necessarily a good thing.

[+sbell111]

I've done plenty of easy caches that those that don't/can't do harder caches can do and aren't LPC caches. Lame or not isn't even the real issue. People keep saying that if you don't like them, don't do them on one side and that they are in the way of better caches on the other(rarely true). Neither of those is really the issue. It's that they, along with power trails and other urban micro hides, are/have been exploding in the last couple of years, and are going be the biggest contributor of problems that will result in regulations/restrictions that will hinder geocachings future. Other people won't agree with this, obviously, but that is what I think. More and more and more geocaches is not necessarily a good thing.

Whatever. I don't believe that the amount of LPCs and other urban micros have dramatically increased since before you started playing the game. Therefore, I have to believe that your argument really just boils down to this: You don't like them so you think they should not exist.

 

If you don't like urban micros, don't search for micros in urban environments.