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It may just be my screen but I can't read that font.It's not a big deal for me though because it's out of my area. I was just going to read it out of curiosity. :)

It just adds to the challenge. Actually, it prints out very nicely.

here's my offering... got it in before the 5th!

http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/showboxinfo.html?gBoxId=30985

night writer

Any bets on who among you will be arrested first?

http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/POLICE/press020407.htm

SD

I read the news release at the link you provided. It makes me sad to think that letterboxing may become labeled as suspicious, dangerous and felonious. It makes me even more aware of how careful we must be when planting and hunting. Thanks for the link,
In Cahoots Gang

You would think that after (how many years is it now? 18?) so many years the police would have caught on a bit earlier... and then this would not be causing the panick it seems to be causing. Some people are way to jumpy for their own good though. At the same time, I could understand how some actions would raise suspicions.

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(1) I prefer the people who are protecting me to be way to jumpy.
(2) Anyone who is not just a little bit paranoid these days is not paying attention.
(3) I hope all boxers will take into account the terrorist situation that exists in the world, and use common sense when planting

hear hear!

I figure that common sense would, or should, include not placing a box where it would appear to be a threat to
a) integral public structures (such as bridges, tunnels, etc)
b) electrical boxes of any sort
c) any other place where, if it were a bomb, it could inconvenience/kill a great number of people.
d) near any mas transit, including buses, planes, trains, and their respective terminals
e) or any buildings such as post offices, court buildings, government buildings, places wher security is high.

anyone with eys can se wher security is tighter and wher it is looser. we need to keep leterboxing to "safer" areas so we are NOT suspected of being terrorists. also so that terrorists don't plant sometheing that looks like a letterebox, and it gets ignored by the cops and then hurts people. we need to become even more stealthy, without looking like we're stealthy.

how to do that? like Han Solo said... "fly casual!" it's a lesson we all ned to learn, and to teach our children and newbies we bring in...or we will find letterboxing outlawed.

night writer, putting away her "paranoid soapbox"

The biggest issue seems to be the choice of placement. Letterboxes or cashes placed in the woods are not likely to be considered a threat to anyone (although there are exceptions there as well). Anything placed on an electrical panel could be suspect.

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You would think that after (how many years is it now? 18?) so many years the police would have caught on a bit earlier... and then this would not be causing the panick it seems to be causing.

Actually, this is the flip side of the "no publicity" coin. If we've chosen to be quiet about our hobby, then we can't expect every local police force to be "in the know."

I prefer to be quieter, and only talk about the hobby if approached by the authorities, so I will deal with these issues as they arise. Gotta plant smart though. Check out the Yahoo Urban Letterboxing group for tips.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

I'd rather be arrested for planting anurban box that looks suspicious but turns out to be obviously harmless, then be arrested for deliberately leading people to a dangerous location and have them get hurt.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

I agree. I was thinking the same thing taht terrorists would plant boxes that look like Letter boxes. What if they did this and replaced a letterbox with a dangerous thing?? That is scary to me. Again, I am paranoid.

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I was thinking the same thing taht terrorists would plant boxes that look like Letter boxes.

I wouldn't think that terrorists, whom I presume want their explosives to go unnoticed, would make them look like a geocache or letterbox (or a cartoon character Lite-Brite, for heaven's sake), which have been noticed as suspicious in the past. They would more likely try to make it look ordinary, like a backpack or briefcase or garbage can or something usual, I should think.

Anyway, yes, terrorists could plant a bomb anywhere (they always could have, even pre-9/11). We could also get hit by a car, have an earthquake or hurricane, or any number of sudden things that can happen. Life is precious, but there is no way to make it completely secure. And I value the ability to enjoy letterboxing (in safe, legal locations) over whatever security might be gained by banning it entirely.

Mariette

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(1) I prefer the people who are protecting me to be way to jumpy.
(2) Anyone who is not just a little bit paranoid these days is not paying attention.
(3) I hope all boxers will take into account the terrorist situation that exists in the world, and use
common sense when planting

In many ways I agree with this thinking... I guess I am just saddened that this is necissary at all. I completely understand why people are a bit jumpy and I also understand the need for the jumpiness, but isn't this exactly what the terrorists are hoping to create? A completely paranoid society where someone cannot even forget their lunchbox in the park without creating mass panick and landing that person in jail for "terrorist" activity? Congrats, they have already won in that sense.

I am sure some flaming is going to come my way... and yes, no one has actually been arrested for forgetting their lunch, but isn't that the direction we are headed? The mental game they play is far more effective than the physical threats...

Please do not misunderstand me, I am just a bit upset over what our world has become and why it had to go there...

Rhea

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Any bets on who among you will be arrested first?

Well, the Sprite has just called off the challenge, so I imagine that many people will pull their boxes. I intend to pull mine, actually. A few others have posted that they plan to leave theirs in place, but remove any references to the Challenge and to AQ.

I do think it's sad that our society has come to this. But people are jumpy right now. The climate here in Boston on the day the "lite-brites" were discovered was really scared and tense. After the truth was discovered, there were a variety of other reactions (anger, humor, embarrassment), but that initial fear made a strong impression, here and in other parts of the country. It's important to be extra-careful, especially if you're planting in urban settings.

The Dread Pirate Queen

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I am sure some flaming is going to come my way...

Oh gosh, I hope not. Flaming is just so non productive.

Actually, I was just saying to Robert how I love AQ because there's little if any flaming going on here. Everyone is supportive, understanding, and open minded. I just love that about the people here at AQ, the Letterboxing family. **insert warm fuzzies here**

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We could also get hit by a car, have an earthquake or hurricane, or any number of sudden things that can happen. Life is precious, but there is no way to make it completely secure.

I agree here, you never know what tomorrow will bring. I say that we letterbox smart and try not to live in fear. Being paranoid or fearful just means that they have won.

Mystic Dreamer

Oh MY!! I go to Southgate Plaza at least 3 times a week, to pick DD up from school. She is the keeper of the "Hair I Am!" letterbox, which I was considering planting outside of the school, when she graduates. Guess it will just have to be retired, if none of the other students want to take it over. I was wondering why there have been more hits than usual, to the clue, in the last few days.