Thursday, January 27, 2011

Become A Sponsor For GeoSnippits : GeoSurvivalGear.com Success Story

 I was listening to the GeoCraze Podcast which is all about geocaching with Gianster98, LugiLugia, and Austin305.

You can listen to them off of the TalkShoe website by going here: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=91519&cmd=tc



Anyways if you click on EPISODE 15- Interview: GeoSurvivalGear.com you can listen to the guys talking with the owner of GeoSurvivalGear.com Robert Harwell (Caching Name: Harwell5).

What I found interesting about the interview was 1) How Gianster98 found out about GeoSurvivalGear.com through GeoSnippits and my Blog (Geocache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?).

then 2) How they discussed our sponsorship program with them and how well it was going and finally 3) How 25 - 30 percent of their traffic comes directly from our sites!!! 


So my whole point is this. GeoSurvivalGear.com is getting a huge amount of traffic by being a web sponsor on our sites. Imagine also being able to promote not only on our web sites but IN our GeoSnippits Videos which are seen around the world on YouTube and in all 50 states on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network). Then top it all off by being an official sponsor of GeoSnippits on Michigan Magazine TV itself. That's three different ways of getting your product or company seen in front of thousands of viewers each and every week.

If you are interested in becoming a Sponsor of GeoSnippits in any of the ways described above please send an email to headhardhat@gmail.com and we will send you a media package presentation right back to you. 

Become a sponsor to GeoSnippits and show what you are made of to thousands of viewers weekly!


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

GeoSurvialGear.com Contest Number Three - Who's Who GeoSnippits Crew

Really Cool Full Sized Lanyard
Welcome to the GeoSurvivalGear.com Contest Number Three.  We have a really great contest and a really fine prize. Speaking of prizes here it is for this contest: A full sized para-cord lanyard.

This para-cord lanyard is perfect for attending geocaching events and holding your name tag or while geocaching holding your favorite pen. It is full length and especially useful for emergency situations when you have to have cord right here and now.

So you have to have it right?  Want to win this amazing prize?

Here's how you can qualify for it:

First:  You have to correctly answer the following question.
Currently there are over 50 GeoSnippits geocaching videos on You Tube seen all around the world. There are also an additional 52 GeoSnippits segments seen on Michigan Magazine TV on the RFDTV Network (shown in all 50 states!). The usual filming crew consists of HeadHardHat and Geoness. On several episodes of GeoSnippits there was another film crew member not mentioned here. To qualify to win this amazing lanyard email us WHO IS THE UNMENTIONED FILM CREW MEMBER?

Of course all laws and restrictions from where you live applies. One email answer per person please.

Next: Email the correct answer to hhhcontest@gmail.com with the subject of GeoSurvivalGear.com Contest Number Three

Finally: Include in your email your name and email address so we can contact you if you are selected as the winner.

All entries must be in by Saturday February 5th, 2011. The winner will be chosen by random from all the correctly answered entries. Odds of winning is based off of the number of correctly answered entries at the time of the drawing.

HINT: You can see all of our GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos for You Tube at www.geosnippits.com


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Show #1604 Fritz's Family Restaurant & Geocaching in Frankenmuth

Michigan Magazine is the home
of GeoSnippits
Recorded on 1/26/2011 Join us as we discover Fritz's Family Restaurant of Richville, Michigan. The restaurant has been serving the Saginaw Valley for over 125 years. We talk with the Deidrich family who takes us on a personal tour and prepare fresh pan fried perch to the Mi. Mag Crew...then we head a bit south for some Geocaching fun with Andy, Head Hard Hat, Smith and his Geosnippits!






If you cannot see the viewer above please use this link here to see the entire Michigan Magazine episode:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12256631




You can see GeoSnippits each and every week on Michigan Magazine (RFDTV Network). Seen in all 50 states.


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

This Week On Michigan Magazine - Show 1603 Movie Making in Michigan & Geocaching Types w/HHH

Michigan Magazine TV

This week on Michigan Magazine (RFDTV Network).

Recorded on 1/19/2011 Our guest is Rocky Larson of the Northern Michigan Film Group. We discuss Hollywood coming to Michigan and what types of jobs are available in the growing business in Michigan. Then Andy Smith (HHH) discuss the many different types of Geocaches in this week's Geosnippits.



If the viewer is not displayed above, you can see the entire episode by clicking the link below.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12110413

You can see GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos each and every week on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network). Seen in all 50 states!

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

And The Winner of the GeoSurvivalGear.com Contest Number Two Is...






This really was a great contest and it looks like a whole lot of people wanted that GeoSurvivalGear.com wristband. We received hundreds of correct answers to the contest question which was "Who is the host of Michigan Magazine TV?". Our geocaching segment GeoSnippits is seen each and every week on Michigan Magazine so I thought it was a fitting question to ask. Boy did you know the answer :)







The answer of course is Barry Stutesman 

Barry Stutesman host of Michigan Magazine











So the random winning entry for the GeoSurvivalGear.com Contest Number Two IS....

Joe Jackson

Congratulations Joe, we will be emailing you shortly so we can send you your prize!

Don't give up hope if you didn't win. We have a bunch of other free prizes provided by GeoSurvivalGear.com coming up in our next contest next week. Stay tuned!


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at

Monday, January 17, 2011

Out Geocaching in a Four Foot Concrete Tube

This is so sweet the geocache is half way into a tube that is under a busy highway. Now this is some fun geocaching. You will see all my recent adventures on GeoSnippits and Michigan Magazine Tv.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

You Can't Win'em All

We searched for over an hour for the coordinates to a multi geocache. You are looking underneath a bridge where we were exploring. Unfortunately we couldn't find the coords and had to move on to another geocache.

Out Having Fun Geocaching Today - Meet One Here

Had a really good time geocaching today. Here's an example of one I found.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Read HeadHardHat's Geocaching Blog On Your Smart Phone

Our Obsessed Blog Now Formatted
For Smart Phones
Yes our award winning geocaching blog is now automatically formatted to be viewed on your smart phones. Blogger just started the functionality which I have tried and it is so cool.  If you are using a standard internet browser you won't see any difference but if you hook in via a smart phone browser it will automatically reformat our blog accordingly.

All you have to do is set your smart phone browser to our standard URL.
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/

That's all there is to it. We know we have many viewers who already read our blog but now it's just that much better.

Enjoy.




GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Geocaching and Photography

When it comes to the activity of geocaching there are so many side aspects that people can enjoy. In other words there is more to this amazing obsession than just finding Tupperware in the woods, for example photography.

Geocachers love to take photos. Either of themselves at the geocache site, points of interest around the geocache, etc. You would be amazed at all the fun, weird and exciting things you run into. Being in the age of digital everything it is so easy to capture our adventures. Remember the good Ole days when we had 24 shots of film and that was it? There was no "delete" and redo. You took your shots and hoped for the best. Those rolls of film were expensive too. Now with SD cards you can take literally thousands of photos and not even break a sweat. Remember when we had to turn in our film and wait over a week to get them developed? How things have changed.

The casual geocacher usually has a phone with a camera built in. This is extremely convenient to have with you at all times. Many of the smart phones have high end mega-pixel cameras that can rival standard digital cameras. I have found I personally use my phone camera much more now just because it is right there with me. Even beyond that the video camera on a smart phone gives you that option as well.

Digital cameras still have their place but I would hazard a guess that you will see them change in ways to make  them more competitive with the smart phones. I still use my digital camera because it can easily be placed on a tripod or on one of those cool bendable tripods so you can put your camera on a tree branch or hiking pole.  Let's face it, you can only extend your arm so far for a shot and being able to put a camera on a platform with a timer does give you more options. They are still very handy and can fit in a pocket or pouch while geocaching. A definite plus to have with you.

SLR cameras rock but you really need to be a photographer who wants to put some investment into the hobby. The rewards though are quite simply breathtaking. The main difference is the interchangeable lens. There is just something more crisp and clear with a glass lens as opposed to one you would have with a digital camera or smart phone. You also have complete control of what goes into a picture, light, speed, focus. It does really make all the difference in the world and it usually takes experience to make a photo pop. The nice thing again is you are able to save your shots digitally and can take loads of them. If there is one thing about taking photos no matter what camera you use is to take A LOT of photos. It costs you nothing and the difference between photo number one and number two can be huge. Take tons of shots! As you go through your photos you will see what worked and what didn't, that is how you become a more effective photographer.

So there you go. Geocaching and photography go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you haven't tried taking pix while you are looking for that micro or ammo box, give it a try. You will be amazed how many places you experience or things you will see and when you say to yourself, "Wish I brought the camera". It will be right there in your pocket. Have Fun.

-HHH


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

This Week On Michigan Magazine TV - Show 1602: Gregory Madden/Carver & Andy Smith Geo-Travelers

You can see MMTV on the RFDTV Network

Recorded on 1/12/2011 Join Michigan Magazine's Barry Stutesman for visit with Alger, Michigan backwoods carver Gregory Madden as he shares his love of carving, wood, bone, antler and horns, into keepsake masterpieces.

Then we review the Michigan Book: LADIES OF THE LIGHTS. A book documenting the Lady Lighthouse keepers on the Great Lakes.

Then Andy Smith discusses Geo-travelers on today's GEOSNIPPITS



If you cannot see the viewer above please click the link below to see the entire episode:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11968733

You can see Michigan Magazine Television twice each week on the RFDTV Network. We are seen in all 50 states!

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

GeoSurvivalGear.com Contest Number Two

It's mid January 2011 and time for a contest. The kind folks at GeosurvivalGear.com have donated a bunch of para-cord wearables and we are giving them away in a host of creative contests. This one is pretty easy so we are expecting a bunch of entries.

Here Goes:
If you are a regular viewer you know that Andy "HeadHardHat" Smith hosts a geocaching video series known as "GeoSnippits" which is seen all around the world on YouTube. If you frequent Twitter, Facebook or my blog you also know that each and every week GeoSnippits is featured on the Michigan Magazine Television show on the RFDTV network.

To qualify to win the GeoSurvival Para-cord Wrist Band answer the following question:


Who is the host of Michigan Magazine TV?

Email your Name, email address and the correct answer to hhhcontest@gmail.com with the subject of GeoSurvivalGear.com Contest Number Two as the subject.

Get your answers in no later than Friday January 14th, 2011. The winner will be picked randomly from all the correct entries. One correct entry per person please.








The prize is this very cool wristband compliments of GeoSurvivalGear.com. It adjusts to up to an 8 1/2 inch wrist.














GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Friday, January 7, 2011

HeadHardHat in January 2011 Cachers of the Round Table : Listing Services










If you don't know what the Cachers of the Round Table Podcast is please allow me explain. Think of this particular podcast as a group of geocachers sitting around discussing different geocaching topics that come to mind. You as the listener get to eavesdrop in on that conversation. The CRT podcast is hosted by none other than Darrylw4.

Darryl, Headhardhat, Drei
Darryl is one of the most hardest working individuals I know in the geocaching/media biz. Not only does he host CRT but also the Cache-A-Maniacs Podcast and co-host with Xpunkx and the Geocaching Podcast. He is a media wiz which means he knows his stuff in the television and video world as well as audio. You can see him featured on any number of other programs all over the internet. So be sure to check Darryl out on any of the links I am providing in this post.



That being said January's Cachers of the Round Table podcast is now available and ready to be enjoyed by you. The panel discusses many of the different geocaching listing services that are available and is a very good show.
You can hear it by clicking this link:
http://www.cachersroundtable.com/crt-ep-33-listing-services-january-2011-

Enjoy.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

HeadHardHat Featured In Storm Sector Geocaching Article






Not too long ago I had an interview with the people at StormSector.com. Storm Sector has a really nice site and specializes in anything weather/technology related subjects. What did they want to know about from me? Well geocaching of course.

Below is a link to the article which I think turned out rather well. Let me know what you think.

The article name is:

Serious Tech Hobbies: Taking Geocaching To The Next Level
http://stormsector.com/blog_hobby/hs_1005.php

See you out on the trails...

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

This Week On Michigan Magazine TV : Munising Bakery U.P. KRINGLES & Winter time Geocaching



Recorded on 1/5/2011 Join Michigan Magazine's Dell Vaughan and Barry Stutesman for an early morning visit to the Munising Bakery to witness the creation of wonderful blue berry KRINGLES and some delicious Pastys! Then bundle up as Andy Smith (HHH) takes us geocaching in the snow!






If the viewer does not appear above you can see the entire episode here:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11830391

GeoSnippits is seen on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network) twice each week and is seen in all 50 states.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Where In The World Is Pete The Parrot? North Island, New Zealand

I received a status on Pete The Parrot one of my well traveled travel bugs. Pete is a party animal and apparently has whooped it up pretty good in the North Island, New Zealand area. Currently on the move in the hands of a geocacher named The Toffeez. Pete had quite the new year already. One of the things I also thought really cool were all the photos taken of him while he has been in NZ. Here is one of the more recent shots.

Pete The Parrot enjoying some NZ foliage
I am so glad on how well Pete has been taken care of on his adventures and really want to thank everyone involved. 

Currently Pete has over 23,000 miles under his wing with much more to come. You can check out his page here:
http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?guid=e4e943e3-ea67-405b-96c5-eaa278109f82 and his public ID tag is TB21KST.

Party on Pete!





GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Android Apps Used For Geocaching

It is amazing how the smart phones have become so much a part of our lives. Believe it or not there was a time in the not too distant past when people actually went from coast to coast with nothing more than a road map and sometimes not even that. Now for many of us if we forget our phone at home we turn around and go back and get it before venturing out. We are that attached to our technologies.

I personally have taken the leap from my Blackberry phone recently and purchased an HTC Incredible. An android phone that quite frankly has completely assimilated me. Included in that assimilation are an entire host of useful tools to help while geocaching. I am not talking about the standard geocaching apps themselves. I will be doing several articles about them soon enough. No I am talking about all the other helpful apps out there for Android phones you may not have thought of.

Below are two lists. The first is a list of favorites that I have on my phone right now that I use for geocaching. The second is a list that was provided by fellow geocachers. I hope you find these items useful in your geocaching en devours.

These are in no particular order:

HeadHardHat's Favorites:
Android Flashlight App - No more trying to use your phone for a weak flashlight. This app which comes standard on many androids uses the high powered camera LEDs for a very powerful beam.

Voice Recorder - Sometimes it is just too clumsy to try and type your information while geocaching. Here you have a digital recorder you can just say what you want and it is right there at your fingertips.

Evernotes - For those times you need to type in what you want Evernotes rocks. Not only can you access all sorts of documents on your phone but on your PC as well. Since it is synced in the cloud you always have your documents available.

Loopt - Want to tell where you are via GPS? Loopt is a great application that allows you to check in where you are. Either at a restaurant, watering hole or out in the woods a gps record can show where you at when you want that information to be noted. Sends to twitter, facebook, etc.

Car Locator - You may have seen this application in a car commercial recently. I personally love it. Mark where your car is and then use the application radar to find it when needed.

From The Geocaching Forums:
Android Browser - (Default Installed)
- Connection to Internet information and websites
- Can download .gpx files
- Boulters Geocaching Basecamp - http://boulter.com/geocaching/ - a toolkit of utilities for calculating coordinates, distance, etc.

GPS Status and Toolshttp://eclipsim.com/gpsstatus/
Display your GPS and sensor data: Shows the position, number and signal strength of GPS satellites. Check your position, GPS accuracy, speed, acceleration and bearing. A magnetic compass is included which displays both magnetic and true north. Use it as a leveling tool or detect magnetic anomalies in your area.

Plain and simple ROT13 encoder/decoder. Friendly copy/paste buttons. Useful e.g. to decrypt geocaching hints. No ads, requires no permissions.

Browse, open, rename, manage, copy, move, delete or even email files found on your phone. Aware of 100+ registered file extensions.

Create and share your work online and access your documents from anywhere. Managedocuments, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys, and more all in one easy place.

An advanced calculator useful for those tricky puzzle geocaches.

Android client for Wherigo Geocaching game! Core based on OpenWig client (well tested). Enjoy Wherigo hunt.

ScanLife turns your camera phone into a all-in-one bar code reader - one of the only apps that can scan QR Codes and UPC Codes found on products.
Scan regular UPC/EAN barcodes from most products like DVDs, books, and food to see comparison pricing, reviews, accessories local prices (US only) and nutritional information (US only). You can even buy the product right from Amazon or over 25 other retailers.
Also scan any 2D barcode (QR Code, Datamatrix, EZcode) that you find in print, packaging, or business cards to launch specific websites, videos, or contact information.

Camera - Gallery Apps - Adobe Photoshop Express For Android - http://mobile.photoshop.com/android/
Perfect your pictures with Photoshop Express on your Android phone. Simply drag your finger to crop, adjust color, apply effects — you name it.

Navigation Apps - 3D Google Maps - http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/3d/
Get Google Maps on your mobile phone for free, and never carry a paper map again. Use your mobile phone to search for local businesses, and then get driving. 
Use it to save the location of your house, work, car, finshing, or hunting spot and see how far you are from the waypoint or find your way back. Also serves as a speedometer. 3 waypoints allowed in free. Accuracy depends on your GPS signal and your device.

Fast and useful Online/Offline map viewer. 

Allows to save GPS location much more precisely. Great geocaching tool for placing new geocaches. Can be used to precisely pinpoint any location. Altitude support, GPX export.

My Tracks is an application for your AndroidTM phone that enables you to record GPS tracks and view live statistics – such as time, speed, distance, and elevation – while hiking, biking, running or participating in other outdoor activities. Once recorded, you can share your tracks, upload them to Google Spreadsheets and visualize them on Google My Maps.

Calculates sunrise, sunset, twilight, golden hours, length of day, moonrise & moonset times for anywhere in the world. Handy for photography, hunting, outdoor activities, planning holidays and astronomy. Four widgets are included so the information is at your fingertips when you need it.

Look up animal/plant species by scientific or common name, accompanied with pictures, or explore the scientific classification system.



GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
http://www.geosnippits.com