posted Nov 22, 2012, 1:57 PM by Greg Jewett
The Question
From Mike Detlefsen (jmd65)
I've been roaming around to find some places for new caches the last
few weeks, and I have seen more than a few gravel roads branching off
paved routes that are marked as County Roads on my maps (phone/tablet
apps from several sources), but they have gates that are closed and
padlocked. I would have thought that county roads would have public
access. Granted that the maps I'm using could be in error on some of
these, but some have physical signs posted identifying them.
Answers
Huggy Bear Fbg (Luther)I live Gillespie County where all the county roads are paved. County roads are identified with a green background and white letters sign (meaning go). Private roads are identified with a red background and white letters sign.
From: dirich92A friend of a friend lives out in Mason county. There are a few gates on their road, even though it's a public road. That's to keep the cows in. The gates to their house are not locked. But they also told me of neighbors on other roads who do lock their gates, even though it's a public road.
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posted Nov 22, 2012, 9:09 AM by Greg Jewett
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updated Nov 22, 2012, 11:00 AM
]
Geocaching has shown up in many Hollywood movies. Some movies are based around Geocaching, or have Geocaching scenes. There are some listed on the Geocaching.com forums. The list below is what they came up with. I have linked each title with a page on IMDB and movies pages (if found). There is a ton of discussion. Read it all here: http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=242811 |
posted Sep 28, 2012, 3:16 PM by Greg Jewett
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updated Sep 28, 2012, 3:18 PM
]
information from Jay Bingham
Greasemonkey is an extension for the Firefox web browser that allows users to customize the way webpages look and function by using JavaScript.
Thousands of scripts, for a wide variety of popular sites, are available at http://userscripts.org. If you're the tinkerer sort, you can also write your own, see http://wiki.greasespot.net/ to get started.
While Greasemonkey is specific to the Firefox browser, other browsers offer equivalent functionality, some are even capable of running the JavaScripts written for Greasemonkey, and some Greasemonkey scripts are written to run in other browsers as well. Many other browsers (Opera, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc..)
I would like to recommend a great greasemonkey script for the geocaching.com website that I recently came across.
It is GC little helper ( http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/81052) by Torsten Amshove
It has long list of capabilities which enhance the cache pages and other pages at gc.com. I have seen requests for many of these capabilities in the
feedback forum. Here a few the capabilities:
- Create your own Navigation Linklist
- Hide Social Links
- Hide superfluous line breaks
- Show "n/81" in cache matrix on the statistics page (this capability is not configurable)
- Hide Avatars (Groundspeak has already implemented this capability, however this script is not cognizant of that, so if you have that already enabled in your profile you will have to enable it in the script configuration as well)
- Mail-Link beside Username (Cache- and TB-Listings) - also adds
- Cache-/TB-Name and GCcode to mail
- Hide Disclaimer
- Hide spoiler warning
- Hide hint behind a link
- Show percentage of favorite points in listing (while the percentage of favorite points is already available by clicking on the dropdown in the 'favorites' box, this script displays it in the 'favorites' box below the number of favorites, so no clicking is required)
- Adds Map this Location and Route to this Location links to the coordinates box. (The Map this Location link performs a function similar to the View Map link and Route to this Location links performs a function similar to the Driving Directions link, so these seem redundant to me, but there is no way to disable them).
- Displays Decimal and DMS conversions as well as the UTM conversion in the coordinates box.
- Create a VIP-List which the script uses to show if they have already found the cache displayed on the page.
- Search in Logs
- Show day of week on event caches
- Default-Log-Type for caches and TBs
- Cache- & TB-Log-Signature
There are many other features/capabilities that this script provides and although it says that they are all configurable I have found that some are not.
I highly recommend this script even if you are not yet a greasemonkey user. |
posted Sep 26, 2012, 6:30 PM by Greg Jewett
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updated Sep 27, 2012, 10:54 AM
]
posted Jul 1, 2012, 4:03 PM by Greg Jewett
contributed by Semper QuestioIt came to my attention recently that some folks around here don't know how to clear the Needs Maintenance (NM) icon from their caches, so I thought I'd come on here and address this for others who may not know about it. Just to be clear on what I am talking about, the NM icon is that little icon that shows up on lists and your cache page attributes that is a white cross on a red background. It is placed there when someone posts a "Needs Maintenance" log on your cache. When one of these logs is posted, the attribute is added to the cache listing and, of course, the posting is emailed to the cache owner (CO) and anyone watching hte cache either via the watchlist or bookmark features. The email is not sent to Groundspeak or a reviewer unless, of course, the reviewer is watching the cache. OK. So why does this matter? Very simply, because many folks filter out caches that have this NM attribute. I have seen many cases where a problem has been fixed, but the NM attribute has never been cleared so the cache will still not be seen by those that do this. So if you want you cache to get maximum visibility, you need to clear this attribute as soon as you address whatever problem the cache may have. Fortunately, clearing the attribute is VERY easy. All you, the CO, must do is go to your cache listing and write an "Owner Maintenance" log. You do this just like any other log. Go to the "Log you visit" link at the top of the right sidebar, click that, and post your log. This will remove the attribute. Just to be clear, there is no other way to clear it. Writing a note, deleting the any NM logs, etc. will not get it done. You MUST post an OM log to clear the attribute. That's all there is to it. | contributed by ZionZR2Great Tip!!! I'd like to offer a second way to clear it as well you can click on "Edit Attributes" and remove the "Needs Maintenance" Icon.
More Information regarding this topic @ Geocaching.com |
posted May 29, 2012, 9:08 AM by Greg Jewett
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updated Jul 1, 2012, 3:29 PM
]
Before you go out Geocaching this summer in Texas, you should definitely check the UV Index. Somedays it is lower or higher than others and can really affect you both in the need to protect your skin, energy drain that some people experience during high UV exposure, and hydration! http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html(Click the image to see a larger version) |
posted Apr 25, 2012, 1:52 PM by Greg Jewett
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updated Apr 25, 2012, 2:02 PM
]
If you have ever attended a CITO event, then you know that you really do not ever want to pick up trash with your hands. Some wear gloves, and others use a "grabber" to reduce the amount of contact you would have with the trash and also to save the up, down, and bend-all-around movements!
Here are some "grabbers" that have been found and some PROs and CONs of each.
Product Name
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Where you can find it
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Typical Cost
|
URL or website
|
PRO(s)
|
CON(s)
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Norpro 10200 Long Arm Grabber
(aka Gopher Grabber)
|
Walmart
Online (see URL)
|
$5 - $9 ($16)
|
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=grabbers&cid=14083356680551102851
|
Cheap
|
has suction cups that sometime come off, but can be re-secured with a threaded screw.
|
Unger 92134 36-Inch Nifty Nabber Pick-Up Tool with Aluminum Handle
|
Home Depot
Online
|
$15 - $20
|
http://www.amazon.com/Unger-92134-36-Inch-Pick-Up-Aluminum/dp/B0000V0AGS/ref=pd_sim_lg_2 |
Sturdy and also has a magnet in the claw to help with metal objects.
|
|
Harbor Freight 24" 2-in-1 Pickup Tool
|
Harbor Freight Tools
South Austin (N 30 14.125 W 97 47.494)
North Austin (30.420737,-97.700779)
|
$2 - $4
|
http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch-2-in-1-pickup-tool-94162.html |
Cheap
|
|
32 In. PikStik Pro Grabber
|
Home Depot
|
$25
|
http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/202341966/32-in-pikstik-pro-grabber-reviews/reviews.htm
|
Strong and built to last.
|
|
Carex 32" Ultra Grabber Reacher
|
Walmart
Online (see URL)
|
$16-$30 |
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=grabbers&cid=10637823714306785193
|
|
has suction cups that sometime come off, but can be re-secured with a threaded screw. |
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posted Feb 19, 2012, 6:07 PM by Greg Jewett
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updated Feb 19, 2012, 6:08 PM
]
Reported by MoosieGirl!Did you know that TXDOT has a webpage to report potholes and other road damage? Report a pothole HERE. To report a pothole or other pavement conditions on the TEXAS State Highway System,
complete the form below. Please provide as much information as possible
to help our crews locate and repair the issue quickly. For maintenance
issues other than potholes, click here.
Note: For potholes or pavement issues on county or city roads, please contact your local government officials.
ZionZR2 also reports that you can report potholes in the Austin, TX area from your cell phones by dialing 311.
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posted Feb 18, 2012, 4:11 PM by Greg Jewett
[
updated Feb 26, 2012, 7:41 PM
]
Information from: Gary Eckhardt, passed along by Jay / Bing-GTX
For those who are not pleased with the loss of the Google maps on GC.com the following may be of interest.
There is a user script called “GC little helper” (available from http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/81052) that runs via the Firefox add-on, Greasemonkey (available at: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/?src=ss).
The latest update to this script (just released today) adds three maps to the list of maps available when you click the map icon in the upper right of a map on GC.com. The maps added are: Google Maps, Google Maps (Satellite), and Google Maps (Hybrid) (unfortunately no Google Maps (Terrain), bummer). The script also allows you to configure the default map to use when you display a map on GC.com.
I f you decide you want to check it out and you have not already installed the Greasemonkey add-on you will need to do that first. I believe that Greasemonkey is available for other browsers as well.
I just installed the script and it is almost like having all the old Google maps back. I did not set my default to be Google Maps but I can at least get to them when I want to with all of the caches displayed on them not just the one that I select with “Map This”. Although “Map This” does have the advantage of displaying more of the area around the cache because it uses an arrow to show the location rather than a cache icon.
Although Groundspeak’s maps were good, especially with the new version, they still were never what I needed. I found a Firefox add-on that will let you select any text (coordinates, addresses, etc) on your browser screen, right click and select “Map This” and it will go fire up Google Maps. If anyone is interested, the add-on is at: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/map-this/
Neglected to provide the configuration information, unfortunately the help on the GClh website is a little obscure. Once the script is installed there are two ways to get at the configuration settings. The first way:When your Quick View profile is displayed (Geocaching > Your Profile appears on the tab) on the right side of the page in the block that is titled Hello username right above the blocks that show your find and hide counts are some links the last one should be GClh Config. Click that once and the configuration page will be displayed.
The second way:
The method can be used on any page where the script is active. On the Firefox Navigation Bar (the one with the address field) at the right end (unless you have customized this bar) you will see a Greasemonkey Icon with a drop down arrow. Click the drop down arrow and hover your mouse pointer over the entry User Script Commands (which should not be grayed out, if it is grayed out the script is not active on the page). A box will pop up which says: “little helper config”. Click this box and the configuration page will be displayed.
Once you have made you changes scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Save button.
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posted Jan 26, 2012, 12:22 PM by Greg Jewett
[
updated Jan 26, 2012, 4:33 PM
]
I grew up with purple paint being a common item to let others know of your property lines and trespassing. Texas put this into law back in 1997, so is nothing new, but apparently new to people that don't own land. I've attached a photo of both a sign about the law and the purple paint. Usually you will not see the sign, just the paint. There are rules about how high this paint is to be on the tree or fence, how wide it is and how tall. Texas Law (Penal Code)The Texas Law is HB 793, under Texas Penal Code 30.05, Criminal
Trespass, section 1, subsection D.
The law requires the following regarding the use of purple paint:
-
Markings must be:
- vertical
- at least 8 inches long
- at least 1 inch wide
- bottom of the mark should be between 3-5 feet above the ground.
- Markings can be no more than 100 feet apart in timberland
- Markings can be no more than 1,000 feet apart on open land,
- They must be in a place visible by those approaching the property.
Trespassing is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, unless the intruder is
carrying a firearm, which is a Class A misdemeanor. Click here for more details and the full text of the Texas Law.
Of course, not all land owners apply the paint the same. I run across the purple paint all over Texas, both on pine trees in the east and on fence posts in Central and west. Purple was chosen due to the fact that even people who are color blind will see it, only will see it as being darker and more visible, which is a good thing. Also, for those that travel, where there are at least five states that
also use purple that are more than 10 that use orange or lime green. Posting Requirements Many states require the property owner to post a notice to stay off the property. Posted notices must be in purple paint in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Kansas. Posted notices in other specific colors are required in Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Read more: Criminal Trespassing Laws | eHow.com |
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