[Texascavers] a travel trip - border crossing related

2016-10-28 Thread David via Texascavers
>From David Locklear
dlocklea...@gmail.com

hit delete button now

This post is very long-winded hotel review.   I am only posting it here on
CaveTex because
cavers sometimes have to spend the night in Nuevo Laredo on their
way to caves further south. Plus with all the negative attention about
Nuevo Laredo in the news, I thought I would try to post something more
accurate and more current.


I needed to get out of Houston for psychological reasons on Tuesday.I
had about a
24 hour window where I thought I could frolick and not miss work.
Coincidentally, at
almost the same time, my Mexican mother-in-law had an urgent need to return
to Monterrey.
But her timing and mine were off, so we did not get on the highway until
Wednesday night at 9 pm.
We arrived in downtown Nuevo Laredo at 3 a.m. Thursday just as the
Federales were having a confrontation
with some cartel sicario.But we missed that, as it was over by Boystown
across the tracks,
and we were in the nicer part of downtown Nuevo Laredo about 2 miles away.

We checked into the Best Western at about 3:30 a.m. I had never stayed
there before, and
normally do not stay in such fancy motels.This was a first for me in
Mexico.

https://www.bestwestern.com/content/best-western/en_US/booking-path/hotel-details.70278.html?propertyCode=70278&group=&srcPage=SelectHotel&isMapOpen=false&selectedHotels=

This cost $ 83 dollars, but with the exchange rate I gave the clerk 1,493
pesos Mexicanos.

After, I got my elderly "suegra" settled into her room, I went to park my
Sequoia. The desk clerk
had sent me on a very scary route around the block to get to the parking
garage.That was way way
too risky, especially at 4 in the morning.Next time, I will just stick
to my instinct and stay on the
main boulevards and make two U-turns.

There are a dozen hotels and motels that you could stay at in Nuevo Laredo,
but I can at least vouch for this
one, that the desk clerk was ready to assist me at 3:30 in the morning as
was the parking-garage
attendant.The hotel restaurant breakfast and the indoor pool looked
nice, but we did not
have time to try them.And one of the best restaurants in town is a
half-block away.

My mother-in-law and I had breakfast at a taqueria near the bus station, as
she was super late for the
bus.   We almost missed the bus by just 1 minute.

After sending her on her way, I then frolicked all over town, spending
about 190 pesos on a delicious seafood lunch.   I can not say that I
learned anything on this trip,
as I used to know Nuevo Laredo pretty good back in the late 80's.But I
had forgotten a lot and
had to re-orientate myself.I probably could have used the GPS and
Internet on my phone, but
I was afraid I would get some weird fee on my next bill, so I turned it off.

My only real concern was that I really did not want to be in my luxurious
Sequoia.   I would
have felt much more comfortable being in a car that someone might not want
to kill me for.
Plus if it got stolen, I would have been in an awful mess with the
Tote-the-Note lot.

I almost crossed back into Texas on the old bridge, but then thought to
myself, what the heck, I have
not crossed at Columbia in way over 15 years, maybe 20, so I headed that
way. That was
uneventful.

I can not recommend Nuevo Laredo as a vacation spot.I certainly would
advise not to drive
there after dark, as it is a ghost town with just a few men wandering
around the streets and
no sign of police.

I was back home by midnight Thursday, but I was wiped-out from having to do
all the
driving there and back. The amount of DPS Highway Patrol Troopers south
of George
West on Hwy. 59 is alarming. I can guess there was one trooper for
every 10 cars, plus
officers with TPWD and Immigration, plus the local police, and county
sheriffs.It is amazing
I did not get a traffic ticket.

I have put 20,000 miles on my Sequoia since I bought it in June.   I would
definitely
recommend it, and would be very glad to sell it to a caver for $ 13,000.

David Locklear

P.S.

To see a few photos of this trip, click on link below at your own risk:

 https://goo.gl/photos/SGDKm4YhepTLeevP7

My mother-in-law went to about 3 TCR's back in the late 90's or around 2000.
She cooked tacos at 2 of the East Texas Caver Cookouts.A few cavers
remember
her.She is super duper healthy, but can not walk down stairs or steps
alone.   I forget
her age, but I think she is 83.   In 20 years that I have known her, I have
never heard her sneeze or cough or catch
a cold or complain of a sore throat or a headache, or blow her nose or
complain of any medical related ailment.
She sticks to a very strict diet of mostly corn tortillas, hand-made salsa,
jalapenos, avocados,
chicken, jasmine rice and real beans and one cup of coffee per day.No
cold drinks, no ice, no
sweets, no processed food, no white flour foods, and no alcohol.Just
sayin 
___
Texascave

[Texascavers] an idea for a caver event

2016-10-28 Thread David via Texascavers
Here is your chance to get your 15 minutes of speleo-fame.

Use the idea in the link below to create a new type of conversation
piece at a caving convention.

 http://cssf.usc.edu/History/2014/Projects/J0222.pdf

Set up this type of trampoline at a caver event and let everybody
jump on it.The movement is converted to electricity
and then the electricity is used at the event to power
lights for the party.

I think it would work better if the jumper was a robot wrapped
in copper wire and there was a generating cylinder around
them, kind of like an enormous shake-light.   However that
might create a worm-hole and the robot would vanish into
some other dimension of time and space.

David Locklear
NSS # 27639
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Re: [Texascavers] The Texas Caver

2016-10-28 Thread Charles Loving via Texascavers
I just got the photo of Crash being eaten by Godzilla.

On Fri, Oct 28, 2016 at 1:37 PM, Mark Minton via Texascavers <
texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:

>   We actually did that back in the ‘90s. Every grotto had a correspondent
> that wrote summaries of trip reports given at their meetings and then sent
> them to the Texas Caver editor. Each TC issue had a section on Grotto
> Reports or some such, with a paragraph or two from each grotto that sent in
> something. I did it for UTG for a while. Seemed like a good idea to me, but
> I don’t think it lasted very long. Not sure why – I guess many
> correspondents got lazy, moved away, etc. Shouldn’t be hard to reinstate if
> interest is high enough, and it would be easier now with email.
>
> Mark Minton
> 
>
> mmin...@caver.net
>
>
> On Fri, 28 Oct, 2016 at 12:08 PM, Charles Loving via Texascavers <
> texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>
> To: Cavers Texas
> Another stupid idea of mine. I don't have a clue as to how many grottos
> there are or caver clubs. Each one should elect a scribe and send the
> e-mail reports to a central place. Editor in chief. You can send photos
> too. This is a picture of Crash Kennedy being eaten by Godzilla at Dimbulb
> Cave in  Lower Slobovia.
>
> Charlie Loving
>
> ___
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> texascavers@texascavers.com/
> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>
>


-- 
Charlie Loving
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Re: [Texascavers] Cave Assistance number for Bexar County

2016-10-28 Thread Geary Schindel via Texascavers
Joe,

Thanks for the clarification. When I called the number a few minutes ago, all I 
got was an answering machine which didn’t identify the who’s number it was and 
I didn’t recognize it. When I called the other number, I got someone who did 
answer but wasn’t a caver.

The listing of county call numbers is not ideal and maybe some better method 
could be considered.

Thanks,

Geary



From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of Joe 
Ranzau via Texascavers
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2016 1:59 PM
To: Cavers Texas 
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Cave Assistance number for Bexar County

Geary -
I'm pretty sure Linda Palit is a Texas Caver...

"Number from the Texas Caver is

210.865.2061 Texas Caver

I've called both the TSA and the Texas Caver numbers to see if there was a 
caver associated with them and there was not."

:-)
Joe

On Fri, Oct 28, 2016 at 1:50 PM, Geary Schindel via Texascavers 
mailto:texascavers@texascavers.com>> wrote:
Folks,

I've check the TSA web page and the Texas Caver related to the call number to 
request Caver Assistance.

I volunteered a number of years ago to have my cell phone listed for cave 
assistance. I checked them today and here is what I found.

The number listed on the Texas Speleological Association web page is

210.865.1576

Number from the Texas Caver is

210.865.2061 Texas Caver

My actual number is:
210.326.1576 cell

It is close to the TSA number but probably won't get any help there.

I've called both the TSA and the Texas Caver numbers to see if there was a 
caver associated with them and there was not.

I would recommend that these numbers be changed to 
210.326.1576 (unless someone else wants to do this).

I would also recommend that the names associated with each number be listed on 
the web page and Texas Caver.

It would probably be worthwhile to check the numbers for the other counties to 
see if they are up to date and figure out who they go to.

In addition, the NCRC names and numbers appear to be out of date.

Anmar Mirsz is still the NCRC National Coordinator and not John Punches (John 
is the training officer)

Also, the NCRC web page has DJ Walker listed as the South Central Region 
Coordinator.

I'm not sure if the Kreidler Funeral Home is still volunteering to be part of 
the cave rescue system.

I think it's time to update this system.

Geary




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[http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_03.gif]





Geary Schindel, P.G.
Chief Technical Officer/Director - Aquifer Science



900 E. Quincy | San Antonio, TX 78215
tel: 210-222-2204, ext. 346



gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org>
www.edwardsaquifer.org



[http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_facebook.gif][http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_twitter.gif]

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Re: [Texascavers] Cave Assistance number for Bexar County

2016-10-28 Thread Heather Tucek via Texascavers
The outdated-ness of this list was addressed at the meeting at TCR. I'm talking 
with a local caver/firefighter about being the safety chair, and updating that 
list. 
I do know that John Kreidler does not want to be a contact anymore, and that DJ 
Walker is indeed still the South Central Regional Coordinator for the NCRC. 

-h

> On Oct 28, 2016, at 1:50 PM, Geary Schindel via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Folks,
> 
> I've check the TSA web page and the Texas Caver related to the call number to 
> request Caver Assistance.
> 
> I volunteered a number of years ago to have my cell phone listed for cave 
> assistance. I checked them today and here is what I found.
> 
> The number listed on the Texas Speleological Association web page is
> 
> 210.865.1576
> 
> Number from the Texas Caver is
> 
> 210.865.2061 Texas Caver
> 
> My actual number is:
> 210.326.1576 cell
> 
> It is close to the TSA number but probably won't get any help there.
> 
> I've called both the TSA and the Texas Caver numbers to see if there was a 
> caver associated with them and there was not.
> 
> I would recommend that these numbers be changed to 210.326.1576 (unless 
> someone else wants to do this).
> 
> I would also recommend that the names associated with each number be listed 
> on the web page and Texas Caver.
> 
> It would probably be worthwhile to check the numbers for the other counties 
> to see if they are up to date and figure out who they go to.
> 
> In addition, the NCRC names and numbers appear to be out of date.
> 
> Anmar Mirsz is still the NCRC National Coordinator and not John Punches (John 
> is the training officer)
> 
> Also, the NCRC web page has DJ Walker listed as the South Central Region 
> Coordinator.
> 
> I'm not sure if the Kreidler Funeral Home is still volunteering to be part of 
> the cave rescue system.
> 
> I think it's time to update this system.
> 
> Geary
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_20-years_logo.jpg.gif][http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_02.gif]
> 
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_03.gif]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Geary Schindel, P.G.
> Chief Technical Officer/Director - Aquifer Science
> 
> 
> 
> 900 E. Quincy | San Antonio, TX 78215
> tel: 210-222-2204, ext. 346
> 
> 
> 
> gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org
> www.edwardsaquifer.org
> 
> 
> 
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_facebook.gif][http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_twitter.gif]
> 
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_07.gif]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
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Re: [Texascavers] Cave Assistance number for Bexar County

2016-10-28 Thread Joe Ranzau via Texascavers
Geary -

I'm pretty sure Linda Palit is a Texas Caver...





*"Number from the Texas Caver is 210.865.2061 <210.865.2061> Texas Caver**I've
called both the TSA and the Texas Caver numbers to see if there was a caver
associated with them and there was not."*

:-)

Joe

On Fri, Oct 28, 2016 at 1:50 PM, Geary Schindel via Texascavers <
texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:

> Folks,
>
> I've check the TSA web page and the Texas Caver related to the call number
> to request Caver Assistance.
>
> I volunteered a number of years ago to have my cell phone listed for cave
> assistance. I checked them today and here is what I found.
>
> The number listed on the Texas Speleological Association web page is
>
> 210.865.1576
>
> Number from the Texas Caver is
>
> 210.865.2061 Texas Caver
>
> My actual number is:
> 210.326.1576 cell
>
> It is close to the TSA number but probably won't get any help there.
>
> I've called both the TSA and the Texas Caver numbers to see if there was a
> caver associated with them and there was not.
>
> I would recommend that these numbers be changed to 210.326.1576 (unless
> someone else wants to do this).
>
> I would also recommend that the names associated with each number be
> listed on the web page and Texas Caver.
>
> It would probably be worthwhile to check the numbers for the other
> counties to see if they are up to date and figure out who they go to.
>
> In addition, the NCRC names and numbers appear to be out of date.
>
> Anmar Mirsz is still the NCRC National Coordinator and not John Punches
> (John is the training officer)
>
> Also, the NCRC web page has DJ Walker listed as the South Central Region
> Coordinator.
>
> I'm not sure if the Kreidler Funeral Home is still volunteering to be part
> of the cave rescue system.
>
> I think it's time to update this system.
>
> Geary
>
>
>
>
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_20-
> years_logo.jpg.gif][http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-
> Signature_02.gif]
>
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_03.gif]
>
>
>
>
>
> Geary Schindel, P.G.
> Chief Technical Officer/Director - Aquifer Science
>
>
>
> 900 E. Quincy | San Antonio, TX 78215
> tel: 210-222-2204, ext. 346
>
>
>
> gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org
> www.edwardsaquifer.org
>
>
>
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_facebook.gif]<
> https://www.facebook.com/edwards.aquifer.education/?sk=wall>[http://
> www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_twitter.gif]<
> http://twitter.com/EdwardsAquifer>
>
> [http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_07.gif]
>
>
>
>
>
> ___
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> texascavers@texascavers.com/
> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>
>
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[Texascavers] Cave Assistance number for Bexar County

2016-10-28 Thread Geary Schindel via Texascavers
Folks,

I've check the TSA web page and the Texas Caver related to the call number to 
request Caver Assistance.

I volunteered a number of years ago to have my cell phone listed for cave 
assistance. I checked them today and here is what I found.

The number listed on the Texas Speleological Association web page is

210.865.1576

Number from the Texas Caver is

210.865.2061 Texas Caver

My actual number is:
210.326.1576 cell

It is close to the TSA number but probably won't get any help there.

I've called both the TSA and the Texas Caver numbers to see if there was a 
caver associated with them and there was not.

I would recommend that these numbers be changed to 210.326.1576 (unless someone 
else wants to do this).

I would also recommend that the names associated with each number be listed on 
the web page and Texas Caver.

It would probably be worthwhile to check the numbers for the other counties to 
see if they are up to date and figure out who they go to.

In addition, the NCRC names and numbers appear to be out of date.

Anmar Mirsz is still the NCRC National Coordinator and not John Punches (John 
is the training officer)

Also, the NCRC web page has DJ Walker listed as the South Central Region 
Coordinator.

I'm not sure if the Kreidler Funeral Home is still volunteering to be part of 
the cave rescue system.

I think it's time to update this system.

Geary




[http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_20-years_logo.jpg.gif][http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_02.gif]

[http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_03.gif]





Geary Schindel, P.G.
Chief Technical Officer/Director - Aquifer Science



900 E. Quincy | San Antonio, TX 78215
tel: 210-222-2204, ext. 346



gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org
www.edwardsaquifer.org



[http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_facebook.gif][http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/eaa_twitter.gif]

[http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/signature/images/EAA-Signature_07.gif]




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Re: [Texascavers] The Texas Caver

2016-10-28 Thread Mark Minton via Texascavers
  We actually did that back in the ‘90s. Every grotto had a
correspondent that wrote summaries of trip reports given at their meetings and
then sent them to the Texas Caver editor. Each TC issue had a section on Grotto
Reports or some such, with a paragraph or two from each grotto that sent in
something. I did it for UTG for a while. Seemed like a good idea to me, but I
don’t think it lasted very long. Not sure why – I guess many correspondents got
lazy, moved away, etc. Shouldn’t be hard to reinstate if interest is high
enough, and it would be easier now with email.
Mark Minton

mmin...@caver.net 

On Fri, 28 Oct, 2016 at 12:08 PM, Charles Loving via Texascavers 
 wrote:
 

To: Cavers Texas

Another stupid idea of mine. I don't have a clue as to how many grottos there 
are or caver clubs. Each one should elect a scribe and send the e-mail reports 
to a central place. Editor in chief. You can send photos too. This is a picture 
of Crash Kennedy being eaten by Godzilla at Dimbulb Cave in  Lower Slobovia.


Charlie Loving ___
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Re: [Texascavers] The Texas Caver

2016-10-28 Thread Charles Loving via Texascavers
Another stupid idea of mine. I don't have a clue as to how many grottos
there are or caver clubs. Each one should elect a scribe and send the
e-mail reports to a central place. Editor in chief. You can send photos
too. This is a picture of Crash Kennedy being eaten by Godzilla at Dimbulb
Cave in  Lower Slobovia.

On Thu, Oct 27, 2016 at 10:33 AM, Fritz Holt via Texascavers <
texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:

> Carl, A nice critique of the state of The Texas Caver. I don't have an
> opinion but do enjoy reading it when it is published. Fritz Holt
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 26, 2016, at 11:05 AM, Carl Kunath via Texascavers <
> texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
>
> *The **Texas** Caver*
>
>
>
> So here we go again with the *Texas Caver*.  Every few years we are
> seeking a new editor or at least discussing options that might disburse the
> rowdy crowds that are assembling at the gates with torches and pitchforks.
>
>
>
>
> What is gong on here?  Why is it that every few years there is a *Texas
> Caver* crisis and a less than graceful transition to a new editor?
>
>
>
> There is lots of talk about the *Texas Caver*.  From the outset, there
> seems to have been some confusion regarding the difference between good
> journalism and nice graphic arts. Unfortunately, neither has been regularly
> in evidence.  Maybe I've missed it, but I can't recall anyone praising
> the *Caver* for high quality journalism or the reliability of production.
> The editor has a few passionate defenders who are willing to do battle
> with any and all detractors, but the current editorial has now acknowledged
> what has been evident for several years.
>
>
>
> The coming transition is an opportunity to learn from previous mistakes.
> Texas cavers appreciate good grammar, proper spelling, and nice graphics
> but, failing that, are willing to forgive a lot if the *Caver* shows
> signs of having been carefully crafted with attention to detail:  nice
> photographs properly captioned and credited; articles well laid out with
> all elements present; no space used as a personal blog; and perhaps most
> importantly, timely production.
>
>
>
> I was handed a copy of the most recent *Texas Caver* at the TSA meeting
> Sunday morning, October 16.  When I looked at the cover, my first thought
> was "huh?"   I rotated the page through 360 degrees as I searched in vain
> for a person or anything for scale.  Despairing, I then looked inside for
> the caption information.  I didn't find much.  The picture credits Peter
> Bosted and apparently depicts a scene from the Big Island, Hawaii.  I
> infer that it pictures something within a cave and is not merely a hand
> sample from a flea market or mineral show.  As usual, there is no proper
> caption information.  A closer look at the cover reveals "haul" to be
> misspelled and a Government Canyon report proffered as being from "2105."
> Those errors are egregious and, sadly, are but a preview of others to come.
>
>
>
> In the present issue (the word "current" can't properly be applied since
> it is about six months late),  pages 4 and 5 are mostly filled with
> pictures—none with caption information—and the top photo on page 4 suffers
> from a lack of pixel information by at least one order of magnitude.  Where
> is the graphic arts expertise we are often reminded of?  If a photo is
> essential and a small file is the  best available, then please reduce the
> printed size.  At the top of page 5 there is a full half page devoted to
> two guys stirring a large pot of food. What about the "hero" shot at the
> top of page 6?  Neither photo is captioned or credited.  It's a poor use
> of space that TSA's  hard copy subscribers are paying for.  In fact,
> there is a lot of "white space" in every issue.  I am reminded of some
> prior issues with long personal "blogs" that should never have appeared in
> the *Caver.*  Furthermore, we are subjected to the new English word,
> "givin."   Page 8  treats us to another low resolution photo with no
> credit or caption.  Page 9 credits the photographer  but tells us nothing
> else.  More of the same on pages 10-11.  Sadly, this trend continues
> throughout the remainder of the issue with a few other photos offering no
> information whatsoever.  This has been a problem for many years.  The
> Editor seems unable to grasp the notion that a picture without caption
> information looses a major portion of its potential value.  On pages
> 13-17 there is a change from two columns to three; then a change back to
> two columns for pages 18-22.  Page 23 reverts to three columns once again.
> Oh, well.  I wonder where the back cover photo was made.  Is it a
> continuation of the "Forged in Fire" photos from the previous two pages?  Who
> authored the few words of text that accompany the photos?  "I had the
> good fortune. . . .  We spent a day. . . ."
>
>
>
> It's discouraging to think that this is the best that Texas cavers can
> manage,
>
>
>
> The *Texas Caver* has a l

Re: [Texascavers] The Texas Caver

2016-10-28 Thread Charles Loving via Texascavers
I suggest we draft David Lockleer. He is a good writer no matter what you
think of his wild and wooly posts. When I was editor of the UTG Newsletter
we had tons of cave trips that were two paragraphs. March 3, 1969  John
Fish, Charlie Loving, Susie Holstrom,  Marsha Meredith, Ed Alexander and
Elmer Gantry wnet to Lantry Leads. The team mapped 14 feet and climbed out
into a sand storm and returned to Austin.

That was the sort of reports I got. Things like going to Uvalde and Mason's
Ranch and caving there. Sleeping in the bunk house. Sloshing around in the
cave and getting to the syphon and needing more gear to push it. One of the
things we recorded were the participants. Anyone could write a blurb and
did. We did not have e-mail. We sometimes got the reports on the back of a
napkin at the CHuckwagon Caver table.

On Wed, Oct 26, 2016 at 8:38 PM, Bennett Lee via Texascavers <
texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:

> I've thought about this a lot over the past year.  I'm of the same opinion
> of Mixon.  I think the Texas Caver should be a record of caving in Texas.
> We live in a social media world, and most of what's happening gets posted
> to social media.  However, social media is fleeting.  Anyone remember
> Myspace?  Only 8 years ago it was the most popular website in the world.
> Who's heard of it now?  What's going to happen to Facebook in 10 years?  Or
> even now...can you find what someone posted to Facebook a month ago?
> Social media isn't an archive--it's constantly drowned out by new content.
>
> And as Minton points out, very few trip reports or caver activities get
> written specifically for caver publications.  The bulk is short blurbs
> dumped to email lists and social media.  But if we collect enough of these
> short blurbs over three months, we'll have a nearly complete Texas Caver.
>
> So how do we harness this?
>
> I propose authors tag posts appropriate for the Texas Caver with
> #TexasCaver to make them easier to find.  For example, when Marvin Miller
> or Joe Mitchell posts their Government Canyon or Deep Survey trip reports
> to CaveTex, Geary Schindel's quick write-ups of the LaChance Sinkhole digs,
> someone writes a book review or light review, tag them with #TexasCaver at
> the beginning or end of the post.  Then every three months someone does a
> quick search for #TexasCaver and grabs pages of content for the Texas
> Caver.  That's far easier than perusing all the CaveTex exchanges and
> social media posts for content.  And more importantly, it grabs a snapshot
> of caving in Texas using the most popular way to communicate today--social
> media--then preserves it in the Texas Caver in perpetuity without anyone
> having to write anything extra (other than #TexasCaver).
>
> As far as the Texas Caver becoming a "picture magazine", I actually like
> that.  I'm a bit biased because I love both taking and seeing cave photos.
> But in my defense, photos are huge part of documentation.  Robber Baron has
> amazing old photos (albeit very low-res) gathered from these archaic things
> called "newspapers".  The photos show people standing in passages we have
> to crawl or stoop walk through now.  We were actually able to match these
> old photos to specific locations in Robber Baron so we know where to dig
> for potential buried passage.  Even more dramatic, I've seen photos of
> Endless Cave in New Mexico before people came in with saws and harvested
> whole walls of cave formations to sell at Carlsbad Caverns back in the
> early 1900s, and then photos of the same locations a hundred years later
> post-harvesting.  You can talk or write about these things all you want,
> but to actually SEE them puts them into a whole new perspective.  50 years
> from now, where are you going to find similar photo documentation?
> Someone's 50-year-old Flickr account?  Some low-res photo printed on
> water-stained copier paper in the TSS archives?  If anything, I think the
> Texas Caver needs MORE photo documentation.  That's just my opinion, and
> like I said, I'm biased.
>
> But back to my main topic...what does everyone think about using
> #TexasCaver to flag content?
>
> --Bennett
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf
> Of Mark Minton via Texascavers
> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 3:56 PM
> To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] The Texas Caver
>
>   Here in the East at least one publication, The Potomac Caver, (from the
> non-NSS- affiliated Potomac Speleological Club) does exactly what Bill
> Mixon suggested. The editor gathers articles and trip reports that are
> posted on various email lists and elsewhere, and reprints them. I think
> very little of the content is written specifically for the newsletter.
> There are also usually a few photos included because either the trip
> reports contained them or gave web links to online galleries. Everything is
> in black and white. This does indeed provide a good