The History of the Bison Tube, why is it called a bison tube?

A Bison Capsule?

I was recently asked by one of our GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast viewers a rather interesting question.

"Why is a bison tube called a bison tube?"

Personally I have been using the pinky sized geocaches since for me the very beginning and never really put too much thought into it before. What surprised me when doing my research was the lack of information out on the World Wide Web. Oh sure there are tons of companies out there that sell them but where did they originate? Were they originally geocaches or made for something else? The answers were very difficult to find. In fact, I ended up talking with the company that designed the original bison tubes, though back then they were not known as bison tubes, read on.

When I found out the company that originated the bison tube concept was called "Bison Designs" a bit of the DOH! factor hit me but it was "Pixie" one of Bison Designs employees that filled in all the details.

Apparently back in 2001, the people at Bison Designs created a product known as a "Bison Capsule". It was designed to carry and keep safe different types of heart medicine. It looks very much like the bison tubes of today with a key ring attachment hooked to a cap, an O-ring for a seal and a screw-able base.

It was the ingenuity of a geocacher that realized that it would make a fine container for a geocache that really brought it to the spotlight in popularity. In fact according to Pixie when the orders started piling in for the bison tube they decided to increase the product line with different available sizes.

You can still buy "capsules" from Bison Designs. Just go to www.bisondesigns.com and put the word "capsule" in their search field.  They have quite a selection. I think I am going to try the Hook Capsule. Never seen a design like that before. Cool!

So now you know!

-Andy HeadHardHat Smith

www.geosnippitsreboot.com

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog:
GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Bison Tube Price Notification

I was looking up some information in regards to why bison tubes were called bison tubes and I thought I found a really great price at REI at $4.25. That was until I saw this at Cache-Advance for $2.29.

Check this out.

http://www.cache-advance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=12CAP

UPDATE: Beverly at one of our other sponsors sent me this url. GxProxy.com for $1.99..
http://www.shop.gxproxy.com/20-Capsule-Cache-CC000020.htm

We love all of our sponsors and will be glad to pass on this type of information to all of our geocaching viewers...

-HHH
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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
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Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
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Just Posted: GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast Episode 002: Introduction to Geocaching

Just Posted: GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast Episode 002: Introduction to Geocaching.

The videocast in raw form is shown below.


The audio podcast is available at:
http://geosnippitsreboot.com/grp-episode-002-introduction-to-geocaching-part-1

We are hoping to have iTunes up and running a.s.a.p.

Enjoy the show.

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
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Friend me at Facebook
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Tonight on the GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast, Geocaching Basics Old School Style

Debaere and HeadHardHat

Tonight on the GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast, Dave DeBaeremaeker and Andrew Smith discuss Geocaching Basics old school style and then reboot it into the new. If you ever wondered what Geocaching is and why it is so much fun or want to know what you can do with that new GPSr you received during the holidays; this is the show for you.

We record the show live every Thursday at 8:30pm ET. You can watch the live feed and join in the chat room with other geocachers right on our www.geosnippits.com website. Be sure to not miss out on all the great insights and the chance of possibly winning a prize from our GeoSnippits Cache Stash. That and so much more awaits you tonight. Don't miss it.

Also be sure to visit the geosnippits.com website to learn more about headhardhat and debaere including how to get in touch with us through all of our social media outlets.

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The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast is a brand new tutorial show designed to educate and entertain geocachers of all experience levels. Each Thursday at 8:30PM ET, Co-host +Dave DeBaeremaeker and GeoSnippits founder Andy HeadHardHat Smith discuss interesting aspects of Geocaching in an easy to understand tutorial manner. Giving advice and insights to our game,sport and obsession in ways only they can provide.

GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial videos have over 500,000 views from around the world and have been teaching geocachers since 2008. You can see our live show and dozens of our free archived videos at GeoSnippits.com.

-------------------------------------------------------
Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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

The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast Is Now Audio

Well here it is at last. The very first episode of the GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast. The videocast is available on YouTube and now the audio version is now live. We will hopefully have iTunes up and running soon.
Go to www.geosnippitsreboot.com for all of our audio podcasts.

Enjoy.

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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

Testing The Powerbag by Ful

Powerbag by Ful

I just purchased the Powerbag by Ful this last weekend and took it for a preliminary test. Have to admit, it was very nice having that extra power to recharge my devices on the go.

Went out this last weekend with my iPad2, Nexus 7 tablet and my Samsung Galaxy 3 smartphone in tow. Now depending how my day would go and how far away I was from an electrical outlet determined how long these devices would be in use during my adventures. Though this time I had an advantage. Like Felix the Cat I had a magic bag to rely on.

Okay, maybe it was not magic but it was magical in the way my new Powerbag by Ful kept my devices topped off and usable. To test it out I left a goodly part of my weekend day out and about. Inside the basic backpack was my iPad2 which was connected to the Powerbag battery via usb connection. Also my Nexus 7 tablet which connected to the packs Android connector which switched off with my Galaxy S3 smartphone. There was plenty of room for my laptop computer but I really did not want to lug that around so that was left home for this test.

When I started I connected the iPad2 and my smartphone to the plugins of the bag and then plugged the bag to an electrical outlet to charge both items and the battery to full capacity. My Nexus 7 was charged separately. When I started out everything was topped out.



During the day I kept the bag turned on so it would keep all the devices topped off. It automatically goes into standby when this happens. You can check the level of the battery by pressing a convenient button outside of the bag. A happy four bars told me everything was fully charged. In my adventures I went geocaching and also filmed several segments of a future GeoSnippits Reboot Video. I was utilizing my cell phone for some of the geocaching and navigation functions. That put a drain on the phones battery. When not in use I plugged the cellphone back into the pack and just left the Nexus 7 unplugged. It stayed at 100% because of it being topped off in the first place. When stopped at for some blogging and lunch time I pulled out my iPad2 which also stayed nice and full battery wise. Spent an hour and a half writing some articles and doing some other necessary stuff. Plugged the iPad2 back in and headed over to do some shopping.

By the time I made it over to the mall my smartphone was charged up almost all of the way and I was good to go. Judging by the meter on the bag I had three out of four bars left. More than enough to finish out any other activities if I wanted to. If I had not my phone would have been dead and my iPad2 would have been around 60% or so. Needless to say by the end of the day I would have been hurting.

So overall I am pleased with having the ability of keeping my tablets, iPods and smartphones going much longer than not having the Powerbag. It is comfortable to wear when out in the wild or heading for the coffee shop and now I won't have to fight someone for that one outlet the next time I am a restaurant.

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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

Meeting Bob and Erica From Bob and the Showgram.

It's always amazing when you meet either a radio or TV personality, you never know exactly what they're like in real person. So I am here to say how fun it was meeting Bob and Erica from the radio Q 105 show Bob and the Showgram. They are amazingly fun and just an absolute pleasure to talk with. We also had the pleasure of meeting Bob's daughter Hailie who is about the same age and grade as Amanda. The gang are promoting Bob's really great product Bobby J's Salsa which Bob and his wife invented and are now in the process of mass producing.

Bob invited me to come over to the radio station for one of their Friday free for all shows. I am looking forward to doing just that

Sent from my phone. Please pardon my autocorrect.

Behind The Scenes: GeoSnippits Reboot

www.geosnippits.com

It is difficult to put into words how I would like to express my feelings about getting the very first episode of my brand new videocast/podcast - GeoSnippits Reboot completed. We will start out with overjoyed, thrilled, relieved and the like. No matter how I put it I couldn't be happier being able to once again give insights to the geocaching community. Our first show was simply titled Episode 001: Geocaching Micros we discussed many aspects of those tiny geocaches geocachers love to hate. My new co-host Dave debeare Debaeremaeker and I are just itching to bring you even more great geocaching greatness for you to enjoy. Now if you are a regular  of my blog, you know I am co-host on The Geocaching Podcast, have my own Internet TV show- Geocaching World and created And hosted the GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos Series. Some people have asked me, why another Podcast? The answer is simple, geocachers want it, to be more precise they want more GeoSnippits. I have been so busy with the other shows I took a hietis for about 18 months from making new GeoSnippits videos. Overall they have been doing very well with about half a million views around the world but with the constant changes in the game and technology they are dated and needed, well, a reboot. So it is time to take the bull by the horns and get back on the road again and that makes me extremely happy.

GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast - the Reboot Podcast is going to be a little different than the other geocaching based shows because we are going with the concept of it being tutorial in nature. Gearing much more for the beginning and intermediate geocachers with helpful insights coming from the more experienced geocachers via social media and our live feed Chatroom. With this we can focus on more of the nuts and bolts of the game with great information, how to examples and breaking down all the technology we use. That's just the podcast, we also will be putting out on YouTube the live video version of the show in uncut format. I don't know about you but I do love seeing people as they do the show more than just listening in the car or mobile device. So we are giving that option to you as well. No matter which way you experience our weekly show it will be on your must see list for sure.

GeoSnippits Reboot Videos - judging by the responses we already are getting from our fans and viewers we realize the outcry for new and updated GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos. It is time to get out on the road and bring our tutorials back to you the way you like them. So we are going to take many of the existing GeoSnippits videos and remake them with up to date information. There will be new ones too so there will be no lack of content for sure. We will be start filming production in the next week or so and will keep them coming for as long as you want them.

So how do you catch all the GeoSnippits content? Fist thing is to visit our main web page at www.geosnippits.com and watch our most recent videocast on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe so you are alerted to all the latest and greatest release info. That area is also where everyone gathers for the live broadcasts. If you are a Google+ user be sure to circle  +Andrew Smith for me and +Dave Debaermaeker for debeare. That way you can be in on our almost daily questions and insights as we send them. There is a whole host of social network hook ups as well like twitter @geosnippits and Facebook. All this information and more will be on the Geosnippits.com website in the next couple of days.

Wow this is getting a bit long and I haven't scratched the iceberg yet. You are just going to have to check us out for all the details. Oh and I almost forgot, the GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast will be available on iTunes in the next week or so. Be sure to keep an eye out.


The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcastis recorded each Thursday at 8:30pm ET. You can watch the live feed and join our chat room by visiting www.geosnippits.com.

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Friend me at Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/HeadHardHat/

Google+
http://gplus.to/headhardhat

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

GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast Promo

The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast is a brand new tutorial show designed to educate and entertain geocachers of all experience levels. Each Thursday at 8:30PM ET, Co-host Dave DeBaeremaeker and GeoSnippits founder Andy HeadHardHat Smith discuss interesting aspects of Geocaching in an easy to understand tutorial manner. Giving advice and insights to our game,sport and obsession in ways only they can provide.

GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial videos have over 500,000 views from around the world and have been teaching geocachers since 2008. You can see our live show and dozens of our free archived videos at GeoSnippits.com.-------------------------------------------------------
Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Friend me at Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/HeadHardHat/

Google+
http://gplus.to/headhardhat

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

This week on The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast : We will be discussing Micro Geocache Containers

The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast at www.geosnippits.com

This week on The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast co-host +Dave DeBaeremaeker and I Andy HeadHardHat Smith will be discussing Micro Geocache Containers. We would love to share some of your amazing or frustrating experiences when it comes to micros. Let us know and you may get included in the show!

_______________________________________________

The GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast is a brand new tutorial show designed to educate and entertain geocachers of all experience levels. Each Thursday at 8:30PM ET, Co-host +Dave DeBaeremaeker and GeoSnippits founder Andy HeadHardHat Smith discuss interesting aspects of Geocaching in an easy to understand tutorial manner. Giving advice and insights to our game,sport and obsession in ways only they can provide.

GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial videos have over 500,000 views from around the world and have been teaching geocachers since 2008. You can see our live show and dozens of our free archived videos at GeoSnippits.com.
-------------------------------------------------------
Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Friend me at Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/HeadHardHat/

Google+
http://gplus.to/headhardhat

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

Geocaching For A Better You

Well lessee, the holidays are now behind us and for all the geeks out there CES2013 is a fading memory. If you watch television, the commercials are rampant with advice for your 2013 resolutions including ways for you to get back in shape and ways to loose weight. For me personally I feel that ' round ' is a shape but it really is more healthy for people to do some form of exercise and keep that heart thumping. 

So what is my suggestion to you? Why GEOCACHING of course. What better activity is there than one that takes you on an adventure, gets you outside and if done correctly can provide hours of hiking, biking and walking yourself to a better you? Think about it, depending on where you live, there are oodles of possibilities for you to explore. Note- park and grabs don't count. I'm talking some distance here and not just getting out of your car, walking 50 feet and going back; repeat.

If you want some serious healthy benefits you really need to know your limits and try to get yourself pumped by geocaching and trekking some distance. If you get off your couch and try at the very least you will be getting some good exercise and having fun do it.  The point to all of this is you actually need to do it. For some the hard part is starting.

Fine, I will get off my soap box and let you get back to what you were doing. I feel it is my public duty to sprinkle some helpful insights. Mostly to help you all but also to spark a fire under my own, err, tookus and see if I can stick around for my family longer. If I can be around longer for them by doing something I enjoy like geocaching then that is a win-win for everybody. 

So what say you?

-HHH

Andy HeadHardHat Smith has been a geocacher since 2008. He hosts, and provides content for several Internet TV shows and podcasts. Andy is also the Creator and Host for GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos.

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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

TPN.tv CES2013 Coverage

CES2013 TPN NETWORK LIVE ALL THIS WEEK -------------------------------------------------------
Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
Get our RSS feed for this blog here:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv)
http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/

Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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

Do You Have A Compass In Your Geocaching Pack?

How prepared are you as a Geocacher when going out into the wild?

Last night Darrylw4, The Bad Cop and myself were having our usual good time discussing geocaching. Of course we were doing it while recording The Geocaching Podcast which means the only major difference is the conversation was saved for you fine people to listen to later. Anyways, one portion of the conversation dealt with doing things old school. You know geocaching the way it was back near the beginning. We had printed pieces of paper (if we were lucky) that contained the cache information and the coordinates to find it.
Our GPSr may or may not have much more than an arrow and distance to target. Our logs were usually notebooks hand written with a pen. How primitive that sounds now but it brings up a great point. If you went into a large park, woods or forest and something goes wrong with your GPSr or smartphone. Lets say a few miles into unfamiliar territory. Would you be able to find your way back? Oh sure our ego boasts a hearty "no problem" , but in those circumstances where you are in thick foliage and the sun is behind the clouds and that trail system you are relying on has more twists and turns than an roller coaster ride. You sure you could find your way out?

Hense my suggestion that every Geocache take a note from the Boy Scout Merit Badge requirements and have a good ole standard compass and map of the area if possible as standard issue in your geocaching pack. You may snicker now but a person can get turned around real easy when venturing out. I can remember a couple of times with a GPSr and marking my car but not turning on the tracking function and then wandering off for a mile or so into a thick woods and having a heck of a time trying to refind my original path. All it takes is swamps, hollers and other obsticals to make you zig instead of zag and throw you off course.

Having a compass in your pack will help you find your way back quicker. Especially when your environment turns against you. Storms, nightfall and just being disoriented can get you into a bind really quick. Having the reassurance of a standard compass can give you a great boost right when you need it. We rely on our electronics to get us through which is fine until they fail. Be like the Boy Scouts and for your own sake - Be Prepared!

See you out on the trail!

Andy Headhardhat Smith

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Our award winning, geocaching based blog: GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/ 

Get our RSS feed for this blog here: http://feeds.feedblitz.com/geocacheimnotobsessedright/ 

Watch my Internet TV show Geocaching World (RVNN.tv) http://rvnewsnet.com/category/shows/geocache/ 

Twitter me at @headhardhat
Friend me at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/HeadHardHat/ 
Google+ http://gplus.to/headhardhat

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

What Will Your Geocaching Accomplishments Be In 2013?

Okay, 2012 is now a fading memory and for me personally is not going to be going down as one of my favorites. In fact, shy of having my wonderful daughter with me and being blessed with an amazing girlfriend. The rest of the year pretty much sucked on a massive scale. Because of all this LIFE going on directly impacted my ability to geocache. In fact this was my worst year for Geocaching EVER. If it wasn't for my good friend DeBaere getting me out in the wild I wouldn't have any geocaches at all.

So enough bellyaching. 2013 is now here and it is time to get back in the groove. Time for a new start and look at our favorite game, sport and obsession. This year I am setting goals and posting them on my blog. I will also be letting you know about all the media for your entertainment and instructional needs. Shows like Geocaching World, The Geocaching Podcast and our brand new GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast and tutorial and videos. This and so much more will be coming your way so stay tuned!

Now for you. What are your Geocaching goals for 2013? Are you going to stay in the same old rut or are you going to expand your abilities and enhance your adventures? We want to know. Feel free to comment below and inspire others. Be sure to send in your photos and videos so we can show them off. Email to HeadHardHat@gmail.com.

Let the geo-fun begin.

HHH