Find it and win a prize!
But before we get into that, some background. Early this year a Geocaching game player planted a harmless object in a store parking lot, and a suspicious store employee called the cops. Before you knew it, the MPD, MFD, EMS, FBI and ICE swarmed the place, sealed off the area and forced the store occupants to shelter in place to keep them from being blown to smithereens by that mysterious object.
A robot was sent in to check it out, and the authorities determined the device was a harmless Geocaching game object. Everyone took a deep breath and relaxed, everyone that is but the fellow who planted the device. He got stuck with a bill for the whole shebang. Kathleen Thurber tells the story.
Since then the city of Midland has issued some suggestions for Geocachers, as follows:
1. Before placing a geocache on private property seek permission of the property owner.
2. Before placing a geocache on public property, seek out the property manager, or the government agency responsible for the property, and determine if there are any rules that apply to leaving the object there.
3. Do not put leave a geocache that looks suspicious, looks like an explosive device, or in any way could cause public alarm.
4. Be thoughtful in your actions. When depositing a geocache, consider whether or not you might appear suspicious.
5. Never place geocaches near dams, airports, railroads, or other areas that would be considered sensitive targets for terrorist activities.
Say the secret word and win a prize!
So let's play that game. And yes, terrorist watchers, Sleepless in Midland follows the rules.
Modern Geocaching games typically involve GPS devices, and some GPS manufacturers promote these games. But this one will be the old fashioned kind -- after all, it wasn't too awfully long ago that dead reckoning was the way to get there. Or maybe we can call it a futurist Geocaching game -- a time when all the GPS satellites have been neutralized by space junk, satellite killers, meteors, solar flares, or what have you.
It's going to be a series of clues which will lead you to the object. If you find it, you'll find a secret word. Email that word to me -- see link in upper left corner -- and include your name and mailing address. I'll announce your name as the winner and snail mail the prize.
So what's the prize? It's a pre-paid American Express card worth a cool $25. Who says reading blogs doesn't pay off? Well okay, you have to do a little bit more than just read, but not much.
First clue: A river doesn't run through it. But an airplane flies over it.
Email me the secret word to win! More clues to come if necessary. Good luck!
Oh yeah, some rules. Since I had to tell the police, I have to exclude them and all other city employees and their families from eligibility for the prize. And the contest will end in about a week if it hasn't been found.
Updated 5/2/10 -- Second Clue: Earth day 1992.