Geocaching World with Andy 'HeadHardHat' Smith: Special LIVE Taping Date/Time This Week

Hey Gang tell everybody you know,

I just wanted to let everyone know how much we appreciated all the geocachers that showed up in our UStream Chat room last week for the premier recording of Geocaching World on the RVNN.tv Network.

Normally we tape on Thursday evenings at 6:30PM EST. Unfortunately this week only we are taping Wednesday instead of Thursday. So if you want to watch and participate in the show. Show up tomorrow Wednesday 4/27/11 at 6:30PM EST and let all your fellow geocachers know.

Here is the link to go to the live taping:
http://www.rvnewsnet.com/live

Also we saw a bunch of viewers logged in to the chat room as guests, please be sure to sign up at Ustream so we can see your actual names.. We mention them during the show! Also bring lots of questions to ask because we also bring them up during the taping as well and you might get mentioned.

We had a great discussion last week and hope to see you back again tomorrow 4/27/11

Again this is for this week only. Then it's back to Thursday nights as usual...

See you there!

-HHH

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Very Cool Geocaching Tool - GCC - Geocaching Calculator

GCC - Geocaching Calculator

I always love hearing about useful and fun applications that can be used in the field while geocaching. I was given privey about this one from some of our fellow geocachers in the NCGO. I suggest you check out this Android phone app known as GCC - Geocaching Calculator.

What is so cool about this app? Glad you asked. What would you say to a utility that you can have in your hand at any time which allows you to encode and decode pretty much any encryption known on the planet? No kidding it has over 80 features and growing. You name the encryption and it does it.. Things like Morse code, ROT anything, Resister color codes, tons of stuff you may not have ever considered. For example, how about a code that comes from phone key pads, whoda thunk? Tons of converters as well like temps, coordinates, projectiles, etc.

You can get all the information about this amazing geocaching application including some really nice screen shots and feature definitions on their main web page.
http://gcc.eisbehr.de/

I highly recommend this to be a "must have".

Enjoy.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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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?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Placing A Geocache - Would It Be Too Much To Ask?

A Poor Geocache Placement Can Be Upsetting

I obviously can't speak for everybody but for me a poorly placed geocache can really tick me off. I'm not talking how the geocache is placed. Everybody has the right to place a geocache the way they see fit. No, I am talking about where they place a geocache especially when it comes to areas that the hider either did not get permission to place or when they are placed on no trespassing property.

In today's case the hider only had twenty finds under their belt and placed two new geocaches on a privately owned hunting reserve land.. The sign to the left was .15 of a mile from the geocache. The geocache itself was about 50 feet from a tree hunting blind. This simply could be a case of not doing your homework before placing but I am really thinking there should be a geocaching guideline stating you should not place a geocache until you reach a certain amount of geocaching finds first. Call me crazy but after say 100 geocaching finds you gain a good geocache sense. Knowing the difference between a good or poor placement.

Would it be too much to ask for a guideline such as this?

What do you think?




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Taking A Look At The Joy Of Geocaching

There are books that deal with the subject of geocaching which will give you a good basic understanding. Yet I have found them lacking of the human element. With the book The Joy Of Geocaching by Paul & Dana Gillin you get all the information you need about our amazing activity from actual geocachers. Who knows better then the fine folks that are out geocaching and gaining amazing insights then sharing it with you.

The Joy Of Geocaching is a well rounded reference book that gets you out into the field quickly by giving solid examples from registering with geocaching.com, meeting up with other geocachers and all those amazing examples of geocaching adventures. Anybody can just define what a travel bug is this book gives real life examples for you to enjoy.


If you are new to geocaching and want to learn many of the tips, tricks and techniques from actual experienced geocachers while being regaled with geocaching recollections. The Joy of Geocaching is the book for you.

You can pick up The Joy of Geocaching at their website: http://joyofgeocaching.com/.


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

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The Stickpic: Better Photos When You Are Alone

I get asked all the time to review different types of products. From GPSr units, software applications to items you may want to use whilest geocaching. Today's product can be very useful when you are in the situation of being somewhere scenic, you want to take that killer photograph of yourself somewhere but you are by yourself. The best you are going to be able to get is a closeup of your face and not a whole lot behind you. Now what?

One handy solution is the Stickpic. You may have heard me mention it on the Cachers of the Round Table podcast back in June. You can here the entire CRT podcast here: http://cachersroundtable.com/ (go to June 2010).

This little gizmo is about the size of a finger ring and fits in your pocket for just this situation. If you are travelling light while on a hike the size of the Stickpic is a plus.

You simply attach it to the end of your hiking pole until snug and then hook on your camera via the tripod connector to the Stickpic adapter.

Extend your hiking pole out, set your 10 second timer on your camera and take the shot.

Not only are you able to have perfectly taken scenic photos but you can do them without having to ask a stranger.

Keep in mind that you should always have your camera safety strap attached to your hiking pole when doing this. The Stickpic can slip on occasion and you don't want to take the chance of your camera falling.

If you would like to find out more about the StickPic go to their main website here:

http://www.thestickpic.com/

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Geocoin Proxies: Some Things Need To Be The Real Thing

What I really enjoy about geocaching in general is the creativity of our fellow geocachers. The way many of us strive to make the game, sport and obsession better through subtle adaptations. I heartily agree with most of them but not necessarily about this. I am talking about Proxy Geocoins. What are those you may ask? Geocoin proxies are cheap representations of an original geocoin that is sent out into the wild to represent the geocoin itself. A carbon copy if you will, except many times not even that good.

You have to understand this is my opinion and I place a high reverence in regards to geocoins. I am massing a fair collection of which I have purchased over the years and I have sent a handful out into the wild. Geocoins was one of the reasons geocaching appealed to be so very much. The look, heft and feel of a geocoin always brings the pirate out of me. Yes, yes, it's the shiny things that get me going.

Then it happened. If you look at the photo above you notice what looks like three travel bugs, yet in fact the bottom one is a proxy geocoin. Someone took a wooden circle and laminated a wheel on both sides and put the id code onto the side of the wheel itself. I actually went to the geocoin page to investigate further since I had not heard of proxies before. There it showed what I really wanted to see which was some very nice shots of the actual geocoin and then some lame excuse that they did not want to send the real geocoin out for fear of losing it. Wha-wha-wha... Somehow I felt cheated from the experience. I really wanted to see the real thing and some geocoin wanna-be is not going to swing it.

Yeah it's only a geocoin yet more recently I have seen other proxies and they weren't even as good as the one shown above. More like a hand written blurb laminated with the id number. Cheap, cheap, cheap... I have lost some of my geocoins that I placed in the wild and that unfortunately is part of the game. Yet I will put more because I love the connections they make with other geocachers and with the feeling when I find them. Finding a piece of laminate or some other fakery is just not going to cut it. we want the real deal.

That's my opinion, what do you think?

-HHH

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Kebi100's Version of my Main Valve PVC Geocache

Photogropher and fellow geocacher Kebi100 sent in his version of one of my PVC geocaches. Check it out.

You can see all the step by step instructions by watching my GeoSnippits Video here:

If the viewer above does not work go directly to You Tube by clicking here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za2JgZnjI_Q

Enjoy!

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Treasure Cache TV Mini Pilot Released

Here we go! The wait is over and the Treasure Cache TV Mini Pilot has been released on our TCTV website. I know you have heard it before but it is true. I am so geeked about this and things are starting to really come together.

Be sure to stop by and take a look. It is a little over six minutes long and will give you just a taste of all the things that we will be having on the show itself. A teaser as it were.

So head on over to our website and by all means let me know what you think about it.

Treasure Cache TV

http://www.treasurecachetv.com

-Enjoy

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Treasure Cache Mini Pilot Almost Ready For Release

Well folks I am so sorry for not getting nearly enough posts out this week. I have been concentrating on only the Treasure Cache TV show and that's about it. The mini pilot which we will be showing from our website http://www.treasurecachetv.com is pretty much done and I am waiting for final approval before letting it go live. The reason why I call it a mini pilot is because it will be about 6 1/2 minutes long. Just enough to give you a taste of what is going to be on the show. The actual pilot will be the full 30 minutes.

To help curb your waiting for a few more hours here is the finished title sequence which leads into the show itself. I hope you enjoy it.

So much more to come so keep checking the sites frequently for the latest information.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

HHH's Lunchtime GotD - Second To Find Ain't Shabby

Ahh, there is nothing like the thrill of a geocaching FTF hunt.

The adrenaline gets a pump'in and you do everything that you can from driving recklessly on the road as you move toward those clean sheetz. Which is exactly what happened today as I left my office for today's Lunchtime Geocache of the Day. My email sounded and I noticed a new published find only 3.4 miles from where I was. Tally Ho!

Off I drove, my palms sweaty on the wheel and as I drove up to ground zero I knew I missed it by a few seconds because there was Moncure Bee Dude signing the log on the hood of his truck.

So I drive up and yelled, "Missed it by that much".

He looked up and smiled.

After a brief conversation I asked if he wouldn't mind standing in for a photo which you can see he did quite nicely. It was great to see him again. Which is why the geocaching community is so very special. You never know who you are going to bump into or when but whoever it is there is always a smile and a handshake waiting.

Now for a hot ham and cheese sandwich. Num.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?

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GeoSnippits: Geocaching Numbers Run

Ah number runs. Many geocachers feel that geocaching is not about the numbers and for me I agree on the most part. With that being said there is also a huge rush when it comes to trying to beat your highest amount of finds for the day. Let alone blowing it out of the water by three or four fold.

This GeoSnippits was actually shown on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network) and modified a bit for this episode. Come and learn how you too can go out and have a numbers run kind of day. After the video be sure to check out the full posting telling more details at the bottom of this post.

If the viewer is not above you can see the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgaMcHNNuss

You can read the entire article here:

http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-geocaching-record-breaking-day.html

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?

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

HHH's Lunchtime GotD - Rescue Me

Every once in a while you come across a geocache that is in desperate need of assistance. In the case of this lunchtime geocache the lid was partially off and moisture was free to roam. Sure you can sign the log (if you can) or you can do the right thing and clean it up if you can. I chose the latter.

The log book was in pretty good shape thanks to the bag it was in but the rest was in bad shape. So I took the container back to my car and dried then cleaned it out including the bugs that were living inside. Next the swag from inside was also cleaned or replaced with new. I tossed in a new first aid kit and it was ready to go.

So why do it? It's not my geocache. The answer is because of the love of the game and keeping the overall quality a tad higher for the effort. I have had other geocachers replace or repair my geocaches in the past so it is only right to do for others as well. Besides, who wants to open a container of goo?

I see a cheese burger in my near future. Time to get some.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Keeping A Geocache Alive By Adopting It - Three Really Great Posts

Earlier in the week on Twitter a discussion was brought up about adopting a geocache and then ultimately going out and doing maintenance on them. A request was made to go over my experiences with them and to put it on my blog (thanks sirtomcat1).

That year I adopted about 60 geocaches and it just so happens that I have three really good posts of just that. Check them out!

Mission: Geocache Adoption Cleanup - Durham, NC

http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post.html

Adopted Cache Found! Durham, NC

http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2008/08/adopted-cache-found-durham-nc.html

Help Keep The Spirit Alive By Adopting A Cache

http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2008/08/help-keep-spirit-alive-by-adopting.html

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Black Berry Phones Powering Down - My Findings

I have worked in computer support for a combined 15 years so I am putting in the disclaimer here. My situation may not be the exact same as yours so you will have to do a little research to see if this will indeed work for you. When in doubt check with your carrier for more details... yadda.. yadda... yadda...

So here's the situation. I own a BlackBerry 8310 also known as a Curve. It has worked fairly well for me for over two years now, until recently. The issue I was having would be the unit powering itself off regardless of what the visual indicater stated was left of battery life.

• Pressing the power button did nothing
• Using a power adapter or charger would restart the phone when connected
• The battery indicator would usually show a significant drain when the phone reinitialized.

What to do? It literally was at the point that if you pulled the battery and put it back in the phone would again power down a moment or two after booting yet the indicator still stated there was at least 1/4 of battery life left.

This was very frustrating. Nothing like being 100' from a geocache only to have the phone die and no way of getting it back up. That is also why I am mentioning this on my blog because it easily can be geocaching related. To The Internet!!!

The Internet gave many ways of potentially resolving the problem. Everything from reseating the battery to wiping your operating system and restoring. The problem is very common and you can find example after example all over the net. I had no problem doing a wipe of my phone but if there were any workable solutions before going through all of that I wanted to give a shot. So I did do the remove the battery for several minutes trick. It actually seemed to work for about 30 minutes before going back to bad habits. Then I read that you should replace your battery. Hmmmm, I thought. If I am going to spend the $50 for a new battery I better be able to return it if the phone insists on being uncooperative. So I made sure I kept the receipt before proceeding.

Needless to say I replaced the old battery with the new one and for the last week or so it has been working flawlessly. Well as much as a Black Berry can anyways. So if you are having troubles similar to mine I suggest you trade with a friend that has a new battery to see if it goes back to working correctly or go buy a new one like I did. For me it was the best solution and this time I did not have to reinstall all the software.

I hope this information proves useful to you.

-HHH

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

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

Numbers Run Today

Going for 100, we will see.

If you would like to see our entire day of geocaching goodness and if we hit 100 or not. Please check out this post. You will be glad you did. http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-geocaching-record-breaking-day.html

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

HeadHardHat Appearing at Cachercon 2010 Metro Detroit

HeadHardHat is heading to Troy, Michigan for the Cachercon 2010 Metro Detroit on Saturday, February 6th, 2010!

That's right the host of GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos seen on You Tube and weekly on Michigan Magazine TV (RFDTV Network) will be discussing Geocaching in the Media: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Besides HHH there are no less than eight other geocaching speakers sharing their passion and wisdom about the game, sport, okay obsession known as geocaching.

This is going to be held at the Detroit Holiday Inn in Troy, Michigan. We really want to see a great turn out so set your calendars and above all be there for the fun!

Check out http://www.motorcitycachemachine.com/cachercon-2010 and/or GC2158P at geocaching.com for all the details.

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving To All

Wanted to take a few moments and wish all my American readers a Happy Thanksgiving. It is always a bit awkward when talking about holidays because this blog is read all around the world. So for those of you that do not have a reason to celebrate we wish you the best anyway.

For those of us who are eating way too much turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie. Take a moment to give thanks for our blessings. Especially when times are tough, it is even more important to reflect that of which is important to us.

I want to thank the Big Guy Upstairs who has watched over my family and me. He has always watched my back through the good times and bad. Do not even want to think of a world without him. Thank You Lord!

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

GeoSnippits Heading For Television on Michigan Magazine TV

Yes it's true, spread the word. Geocaching is going to have air time on the television airways.

GeoSnippits is a very popular series of geocaching tutorials and useful information that can be found on You Tube and the GeoSnippits website http://www.geosnippits.com. This geocaching phenom hosted by Andy Smith a.k.a. HeadHardHat has grown greatly in popularity over the past year and has been featured on GPS company websites like Trimble Outdoors and to help teach movie goers for the geocaching film FIND ME.

Now the GeoSnippits series is heading for the networks, the RFD Network to be specific and Michigan Magazine TV. Dell and Barry have been hosts of Michigan Magazine since 1989 and even with Dell in semi-retirement Barry continues to bring the amazing aspects of the Great Lakes State to viewers in all 50 states.

GeoSnippits will bring an adventure filled perspective to Michigan Magazine TV by showing it's audience the treasure seeking fun of Geocaching. Geocaching is an outside activity that utilizes GPS units with the help of satellites in space to find well hidden caches placed all around the world. GeoSnippits will feature areas around Michigan itself and other parts of the country as well.

Michigan Magazine TV can be seen twice weekly on the RFD-TV Network. Click Here to see show times and channels for your area.

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

Why Do I Let These Things Get To Me?

This scenario has happened to me twice now and I wonder to myself why I let the situation itself get to me? The first time was up in Oxford, NC a few months back. I was at a local fast food parking lot heading for my car when I was approached by a guy in his upper 50s or so. He was driving a beat up old truck and asked if I had any money so he could get home to Virginia because he was almost out of gas. I didn't have any money and said I couldn't help. He drove off with out a word and for a moment it dawned on me that I could have offered to fill up his gas tank at the gas station across the street. I actually felt terrible that I could have helped someone and failed to think fast enough for a solution. I really felt bad and the situation haunted me for some reason.

Then yesterday while geocaching a couple of guys in their young 40s drove up to me in another beat up truck. The one guy gave a similar story that they ran out of cash and needed some money to make it about an hour or so from where we were in Rocky Mount, NC. I again did not have any cash but offered to do the fill up at the gas station about 500 feet behind us. They did not say a word and drove up the road. I was surprised that they did not turn around to go to the station but just kept up driving. What the heck? I actually went to the station for about 10 minutes thinking they would just turn around and come back- nothing?

So long story short am I fool hardy enough to believe that people needed help and I failed to do the right thing or are there just a host of drive by begging going on and that is the latest ploy?

I don't want to give up on people because there ARE people out there that get into situations they need help but then again there are those who wish to make a quick buck. I will continue to wait for those in need but also keep an eye out for the others as well. Lessons learned.

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