+Simply Paul Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 That's right, about 3 months since ordering it at my local library, 'Geocaching For Dummies' (ISBN 0-7645-7571-6) has arrived. So far it's fairly American in flavour (as you'd imagine) and fairly bland. There's a good bit on etiquette that we could all learn from though... Chapter 8 - Hiding Geocaches is calling me, as is the loo. Two birds, one stone. More feedback when I've read some more. SP Quote Link to comment
+ribel Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 ... as is the loo. Two birds, one stone... A little bit too much information... Quote Link to comment
+Chris n Maria Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 as is the loo. Two birds, one stone. I recommend seeing a doctor straight away - thats not normal ! Chris Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted February 22, 2005 Author Share Posted February 22, 2005 (edited) Arf arf arf! Ok, the good news: There's some interesting stuff in there. Some ideas for georace meets at event caches - some things to think about in the summer event season. The bad news: The book assumes every reader is an American male. It's printed on very cheap feeling paper. It's very overpriced at £11.99 when most of the info can be found for free at GC.com. Not much on urban caching techniques. Not much on why you'd place one sort of cache over another. The advanced geocaching section is all about US benchmarks and uses for GPS in education. Yawn! Very dry feel to the material - few photos... makes a fun hobby seem like a dangerous (several pages given to what should be in your first aid pack) and rather dull business. Where are the cachers tales of high adventure? The pictures of the lost city they found in the jungle? Lastly, I find the use of the phrase 'Fanny Pack' rather disturbing! More to follow when I've reread the book at a slower pace SP Edited February 22, 2005 by Simply Paul Quote Link to comment
+The Hokesters Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Just like every other non-computer dummies book then! Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted February 22, 2005 Author Share Posted February 22, 2005 More good news: There's a plaque where the first cache was ever hidden - indeed, the whole history section is interesting. Geocaching was originally called 'Stash Hunting', believe it or not. Some bits about cache-locating are good, like how to triangulate (or biangulate if you're in a hurry) a cache that's under tree cover. More bad news: 'Well padded' sections on how to use a compass and a map. How to predict terrain from contour lines is useful, but hardly core to geocaching. Lots of common sense stuff - like check you're looking for the right size cache for the cover you have around you. Micros can fit where an ammo box can't - that sort of thing. Not enough about how to not be seen - The USA is a big empty country short on muggles it seems! "Talk to your GPS as if it was a mobile" is about all the advice on stealth it gives. SP Quote Link to comment
+Nellies Knackers Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 I'm a bit concerned about you whinging about the feel of the paper considering where you read it!!! Don't think I'll borrow your copy Paul. Quote Link to comment
+Sparrowhawk Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Lastly, I find the use of the phrase 'Fanny Pack' rather disturbing! Hey it gets worse... we in the States have a candy store called "Fanny Farmer"! I refuse to explain to my fellow Americans why that's funny/shocking to our British friends... and it ain't what you are thinking it is! Quote Link to comment
+Cardinal Red Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Simply Paul Posted on Feb 22 2005, 09:20 AM More good news: There's a plaque where the first cache was ever hidden Original Stash Tribute Plaque Quote Link to comment
left at the lights Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 fanny farmer sounds great and what ever they harvest they stick in packs there is a god after all.....!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment
+klaus23 Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 (edited) It gets better... lost in translation or what... click here I wonder what would your bank manager say when you presented that particular business plan. "Erm, are you sure that's the name you've got in mind for your establishment and range of clothing?" Edited February 23, 2005 by klaus23 Quote Link to comment
NickPick Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I'm a bit concerned about you whinging about the feel of the paper considering where you read it!!! Don't think I'll borrow your copy Paul. Hmmm, I was thinking of borrowing it from the library once SP has returned it, but now you mention it.. Quote Link to comment
+Alibags Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 It gets better... lost in translation or what... click here yeah! gotta get me some of that w*nkerwear!! Quote Link to comment
Dave from Glanton Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 'Well padded' sections on how to use a compass and a map. How to predict terrain from contour lines is useful, but hardly core to geocaching. True, I guess, but I think it is important for people venturing to more remote locations to have a map and compass and ot know how to use them properly, rather than relying 100% on GPS. If your luck is bad enough for you to get lost, then it could be bad enough to have your GPSr break or run flat. Maps and compasses are much more resilient. When you read some of the stories of people who get into trouble on the hills and end up calling on Mountain Rescue (often through their own ill-preparedness) then maybe a grounding in basic navigation skills isn't such a bad thing. Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 All true, but the way it's presented in this book looks more like padding than practical information. I mean, does a geocacher really need to know what a map's Neatline or Collar is? There are a few errors in the book too. Here's an example: "If you click the Watch This Cache button at the top of a geocache information page, you'll be notified when someone logs comments about that cache. As a cache placer, this is a great way to keep a virtual eye on your hidden caches. You can watch up to 100 caches (unlimited if you have a premium subscription)." - Of course (listen up newbies!) as a placer you automatically get notification of logs on your caches - there's no need to add it to your watch list. If you do, you'll just get two mails about the same log. SP Quote Link to comment
+John Stead Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Does a geocacher need to know what a map's Neatline or Collar is? Maybe I don't NEED to know - but you've made me curious now! What are they please? Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 Not telling Oh, all right then. The Collar is the white bit around the map, between the Neatline and the edge of the paper. The margin, if you will. The Neatline is the bold line around the map to show where it finishes. Otherwise you might just think all roads and other features just 'stop'. SP Quote Link to comment
+marinor Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 A Neatline is a border around a map? collar is the outer area that usually contains info such as scale etc. ? Quote Link to comment
+ribel Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 - Of course (listen up newbies!) as a placer you automatically get notification of logs on your caches - there's no need to add it to your watch list. If you do, you'll just get two mails about the same log. SP Without wanting to split hairs, you can't watch your own caches. The 'watching' is automatic and trying to watch it again won't work! Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 (edited) That's just what I said Normally the title, scale, legend, compass rose and citation information goes on the Collar. Any other questions? SP Additional: Without wanting to split hairs, you can't watch your own caches. The 'watching' is automatic and trying to watch it again won't work! It always used to - my original schoolboy error was adding my first cache to my watchlist and getting two mails - I guess TPTB have thought about this and stopped it happening. Edited February 23, 2005 by Simply Paul Quote Link to comment
+ribel Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Getting back to the question on everyone's lips... Does the book tell you whether you are a dummy or not? And if so... Quote Link to comment
+John Stead Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Not telling Oh, all right then. The Collar is the white bit around the map, between the Neatline and the edge of the paper. The margin, if you will. The Neatline is the bold line around the map to show where it finishes. Otherwise you might just think all roads and other features just 'stop'. SP Thanks - that's is the most explicit withholding of information I've ever seen! Talk about changing one's mind - must be exposure to the media! Quote Link to comment
+Chips 'n' Ham Posted February 26, 2005 Share Posted February 26, 2005 Interesting......now I bought the book 'The Complete Idiots guide to Geocaching' a few months ago from Amazon (cheaper!). Although there's nothing groundbreaking in it in terms of caching and the information available on this site, I thought it was quite a useful reference book. There's some trivia too - my favourite is: 'The most extreme geo-cache ever placed was by Lord British on 19th July 2002. The inventor of the Ultima Online game series, he placed it using a Russian Mir subersible in the Atlantic Ocean. The cache is more than 1.4 miles underwater, at the bottom of the ocean near a hydrothermal vent. If you ever find it be sure to retrieve travel bug TB31F1' - go look it up!! It's got lots on paperless caching which can be confusing as to which files to use where and I also found it helps with all those questions friends and family have about looking for 'tupperware in the woods - ha ha ha' - I just hand the book over for them to browse through, plus they then realise I'm serious (not sure if that's good or bad ) and they want to join in too! Quote Link to comment
+The Cache Hoppers Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Got our copy of Geocaching for Dummies from Amazon for about £6.99 just before Christmas - big saving on the RRP. Just checked now though and it says £8.39 but there are some used/new ones available for £6.19. They also have a special deal where you can get a discount if you buy this one together with The Geocaching Handbook. Free UK delivery on orders over £19. For more details you will have to check it out www.amazon.co.uk (not a commission link! LOL). And did you know there's an Idiot's Guide to Geocaching circulating as a hitchhiker on a travel bug?! Quote Link to comment
+The Cache Hoppers Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Getting back to the question on everyone's lips... Does the book tell you whether you are a dummy or not? And if so... The title of the book is Geocaching for Dummies, A Reference For The Rest of Us - now who wants to admit to being in the first category!?? Quote Link to comment
Lactodorum Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 'The most extreme geo-cache ever placed was by Lord British on 19th July 2002. The inventor of the Ultima Online game series, he placed it using a Russian Mir subersible in the Atlantic Ocean. The cache is more than 1.4 miles underwater, at the bottom of the ocean near a hydrothermal vent. If you ever find it be sure to retrieve travel bug TB31F1' - go look it up!! If anyone is interested here's the cache Quote Link to comment
+McDeHack Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 The title of the book is Geocaching for Dummies, A Reference For The Rest of Us - now who wants to admit to being in the first category!?? Me! I will own up. I went out a couple of weeks back. arriving at where I was to park my car I realised that I had left my Etrex at home . But then this is when I learnt that I could find caches with my Tomtom go. Quote Link to comment
NickPick Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 'The most extreme geo-cache ever placed was by Lord British on 19th July 2002. The inventor of the Ultima Online game series, he placed it using a Russian Mir subersible in the Atlantic Ocean. The cache is more than 1.4 miles underwater, at the bottom of the ocean near a hydrothermal vent. If you ever find it be sure to retrieve travel bug TB31F1' - go look it up!! If anyone is interested here's the cache But my etrex won't get a sattelite lock under water! Quote Link to comment
+The Cache Hoppers Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 It has 24 people watching it (25 now)! Did you notice the map on the listing .... a pin in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean How often do you reckon Lord British pays a maintenance visit, and does he CITO? Quote Link to comment
mike & jude Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Sorry to be a bit slow - but what does CITO mean. Or perhaps we should get the book for dummies!!!!!! Quote Link to comment
+The Cache Hoppers Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Sorry to be a bit slow - but what does CITO mean Cache In Trash Out - here's the website link http://www.cacheintrashout.org Quote Link to comment
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