This self-post was originally posted to /r/geocaching. See more things from Dan's Reddit account.
Hi, Founditt!
Next month, I expect to launch a multicache with a twist: it requires two people to go to two different waypoints at the same time in order to determine the coordinates of
the final stage – it’s not physically possible for one person to do it alone (even if they go to one waypoint and then to the other).
I’ll be saying all of this on the cache page, of course. But I’m worried that some people might try to do it alone, and then get frustrated when they realise the reason that
it’s not possible to do it alone. I’m considering explaining on the cache page exactly how I’ve made it impossible to do by yourself, but I’d rather not do this if I don’t have to: I
think that the cache will be more interesting and exciting if you don’t know why you need two people until you’re in-the-field.
What do you think? If you saw a cache with a description like that in the first paragraph, explaining that you needed you and a friend to simultaneously visit two waypoints
(and explicitly stating that there was no way to solve it by yourself), would you believe it? Or would you set out by yourself anyway?
tl;dr: a multicache description says that you need to go to a waypoint and send a friend to a different waypoint, at the same time, but doesn’t tell you why until you get
there – do you believe it?
EDIT: Wow; this has gotten popular. Once the cache is in place and people have begun finding it, I’d be happy to make a post here explaining how I did it. In the
meantime, if you’re outside of the UK and want a few more teaser details, drop me a PM. If you’re inside the UK, or travel here often, then keep an eye out for the
launch of GC591VV – “You Can’t Do It Alone!”.
This review originally appeared on Amazon. See more reviews by Dan.
Wishy-washy pseudoscientific nonsense, wrapped up in unengaging writing
I can’t imagine the person to whom this book would actually provide value. It’s full of wishy-washy, unscientific, and unverifiable ideas, all wrapped up in an unengaging and
badly-written package. There are a handful of good ideas, but they’re few and far between.
This review originally appeared on Amazon. See more reviews by Dan.
A super-hardy, bulletproof lock with few downsides
This lock is pretty-much bulletproof. If you’re looking for the strongest possible lock for your bike, this is the one to go for (perhaps coupled with a flyout cable so that you can tie
your wheels together and to the lock). Note that this is a “short” D-lock, which is far safer, because a would-be thief can’t do the usual D-lock-breaking technique of using a car jack
on it, very easily, but it also means that you’ll sometimes find it difficult to fit it around both your frame and the thing you want to lock your bike to. Also note that it’s very
heavy, and that the mounting bracket doesn’t fit around the thickest of frames.
All in all, though, this is an ultra-hardy lock that should discourage all but the most-determined of criminals.
This review originally appeared on Amazon. See more reviews by Dan.
Good, but a little fragile: be gentle!
The table clamp portion doesn’t open very far, and if you accidentally try (even gently) to open it further than its full extent, the foot pops off and never re-attaches quite as firmly
again. It’s a good little vice otherwise and it gets the job done.
This review originally appeared on Amazon. See more reviews by Dan.
Works as a hub, but confuses my motherboard
On the upside, it works: once I’m booted, I can plug in devices (USB2 or USB3) and they’re detected by the computer. The charging ports behave as expected. The package is attractive and
functional. So there’s that.
But unfortunately I can’t boot my computer with it plugged in! I have to unplug it, boot, and THEN connect it. It’s possibly something to do with my motherboard (Asus Z87 MAXIMUS VI
FORMULA), or it’s possibly something to do with the way that the device identifies itself as a hub, but my computer just “hangs” at the POST screen if I’ve left it connected when I
press the power button: more than a little irritating!
This review originally appeared on Amazon. See more reviews by Dan.
It’s a bit of plastic, and it “just works”
It’s a piece of plastic that you put a nano (or micro) SIM into in order to make it behave as if it were a larger size. It “just works”; used it to put a nano-SIM into the micro-SIM
port of a Samsung Galaxy S III; slightly fiddly, but that’s only because the thing is of course pretty small, but “just worked” and continues to work perfectly.