Sit down while you eat that ice cream, it’ll taste better. Oh yeah.

This is a VIRTUAL event for newbies to our hobby who have lots of questions about this or that. If you know someone who has recently gotten into the hobby / joined AQ, you may want to point them in the direction of this event, since chances are, they may not even know that events are a thing. ;) I didn't know they were until I'd already been boxing for 5 YEARS!

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?eventId=4894

Sounds like fun!! I hope you get some sign-ups!

Hi- is that Pacific time? Thanks!

The time listed is EST so that would be 2:00 Pacific time.

I have met new boxers ( to me) when they come to visit DC..... the boxer I met didn't have their exchange stamp so we decided to mail ours to each other. To me that counts as a meet in person because we did meet.
Hope this helps.

I keep a spare sig stamp, logbook, pen, and ink pad in my car. It has come in handy a few times.

I always love it when someone other than me responds to a post 12 years old. I'm funny that way.

Yeah, I noticed that after I responded.... lol

Ditto

I've added a couple of new My Page settings.

There's always been a minimum column size--mostly so columns don't get too crushed on mobile devices, but I've added a maximum column size as well. The default is 50--which is actually "50em" for those of you familiar with em units. It's a pretty large column, and I kind of doubt most people ever saw columns that wide to begin with, but it's an option now. Maybe useful for those who decided they prefer only two columns for mobile devices and now the columns are ridiculously wide on desktops.

But in any case, you can control the maximum width that columns will be.

The trickier setting is "initial scale". That one's a little hard to describe. I've been playing around with it for the last week or so trying to figure out an optimal size, and frankly, I've given up. I don't think there is an optimal size, and there's a good chance that everyone would prefer something different. So--good thing it's a setting now! =)

I call it the "initial scale" because--for those who are familiar with HTML, it basically goes into the "viewport" meta tag.

100 = normal sized. Most pages on AQ are set to "normal size". The full-size page that doesn't require zooming in or out to see. Larger values can zoom in even closer, while smaller values take more of a "zoomed out" look that My Page has continued to use for all these years. Zooming in makes things legible, but often requires more scrolling to see everything. Pluses and minuses.

(For those of you without technical backgrounds, skip this paragraph. I know that the "viewport" setting in HTML actually uses 1 as the "normal" zoom. You're right. I didn't want to store decimals in the database, though, and decided to use an integer scale and I just divide that number by 100 before putting it into the HTML. So a "default" setting of 100 gets divided by 100 and you wind up with the 1 you normally would have expected. So a setting on AQ of 200 creates an initial-scale of 2 in the code. And a setting of 50 creates an initial-scale of 0.5. You get the idea.)

I still needed to decide what to use as the default setting, however, and decided just to go with the "normal" zoom level used everywhere else on AQ.

Some of you might feel this is zoomed in TOO MUCH. You can only see one column at a time! If that bothers you, edit your My Page settings so the initial scale is something less than 100. As a general rule of thumb, I found using 100 divided by the number of columns you want to see works pretty well. Not perfect, but well. So if you have a two-column layout and want to see both columns without scrolling, use an initial scale of 50. If you use three columns, try an initial scale of 33. If you use four columns, maybe 25.

You'll probably want to experiment a bit to see what feels best for you. This setting doesn't really affect desktops or laptops at all--this is purely a mobile-device option.

If you don't mind scrolling but hate zooming in or out, you'd probably prefer the default settings. If you don't mind zooming in or out but want to see all the columns at once, try using 100 divided by the number of columns you use. (This is what I had been doing before it was a custom setting you can control.)

Anyhow... go ahead and experiment. I hope that all made sense!

Additionally, there shouldn't be any "Ctrl-F5" issues involved because while these settings do affect the CSS, they affect the CSS directly in the HTML page rather than on cached pages. Changing the minimum and maximum column sizes, initial scales and such should show up immediately upon a regular refresh of the page.

Happy trails!

-- Ryan

Yeah, what you said.

My page looks like it did before you worked so hard to add the updates. Thank you!!!..........for the extra work to make it "work" ;j

condo

Thanks Ryan! It looks so much better!!!

Jaxx

I will be posting trackers to request stamps soon. I am asking that you pick 1 stamp from all of the trackers so that everyone has a chance to carve something if they wish. After a month, I will open up the trackers and you can then sign up for anything not already assigned.

It's a big event - and many people want to help - we just want to make sure there is a chance for everyone to participate.

So look for trackers coming soon.

You can read all the details on the official AQ blog, but in a nutshell, it's now possible to keep track of the specific latitude and longitude coordinates for each of your boxes.

It's for your own use, though. This isn't geocaching, after all! Only the owners and planters of a box can see the coordinates.

-- Ryan

This will be very useful. A water authority in our area has several wonderful parks and trails. When I get word of trail improvements/changes I pull boxes but sometimes a person isn’t quick enough to get there or out of the area when it happens. From now on that won’t be a problem with this feature. Thanks!

Been there, done that! Landmarks don't even have to change for me to forget just where I planted a box. While I do not usually bring my GPS with me when I plant a box it is something I've thought of doing (recording coordinates for my notes on a box) for a while now. I'll bet there is a way to get GPS long/lat from my phone (Android). I'll have to look into that.

i think it was this post. but i see now that its from 2005 hahaha

I changed it to a virtual event because that is what it always has been.
https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?eventId=4919

Echo and Leenancytanney are inviting you to spend Saturday in the Park with us. This park has over 2.5 miles of nice paved trails, mountain bike trail and a dog park. (Bikes are an option) Note: only port-a-potties are provided.
This park is about 5 miles off I-20.

There will be over 30 stamps for you to find. Come meet with fellow boxers from near and far.
If you want to plant a box please let us know ahead so we can plan.
See you there!!!

Important Information-
-LOCATION-
*Big Head Mountain Big Trail Head on Dudley-
Large parking lot and open field. GPS-32°22'31.1"N 94°51'26.6"W
-WHAT TO BRING-
*Chair
*Sunscreen and bug spray
*Lunch
Water and snacks will be provided

I just saw on her FB page that she passed on Feb 8. So very sad. She was only 52. Jennifer was very fun to box with although it's been a few years since I've seen her, she kind of stopped LBing for a while. Always smiling and having a fun time. My heart hurts. I don't know what happened. Here's the obit. https://obits.syracuse.com/us/obituaries/syracuse/name/jennifer-stahl-obituary?id=54521389

I saw this today! I’m heart broken. Jennifer and I talked a bit about cars, her model A project, letter boxing, bunnies, and I always meant to get up to SC to run the track she field marshaled at with my Mustang; her Mustang GT was called the Murder Stang.

I’m not even sure what happened. :(

Hugs to all who knew her. We were not ships in the night. I read her obit, so sad she passed. However, even more sad, her brother had just passed earlier this year. This family has so much healing to do. Hugs and prayers to all.

condo

TRC, thank you for sharing this. I was thinking about Jennifer not long ago. We did have some fun times together. We may have first met Jennifer at the 2012 Christmas Boxes event. You were there, too, with your children. I am sorry that your heart is sad. Maybe we can plant a stamp in her memory in Fort Mill.

Condo, you are right. That is incredibly sad and must be hard for the family.

You're right. We did first meet her at the Christmas Boxes event. I was thinking of doing a tribute stamp for her or you can. Possibly just like her sig stamp near the little waterfall at the Ann Springs Greenway. Somewhere nice of someplace she enjoyed, not some random place. Maybe a couple of us could get together and do this.

Her siggy stamp is also what I was thinking. Would you like to carve? It might have been 1968comet who told me that part of ASG is now private property. That might take some research. Inviting others who knew Jennifer could be nice if any of them would like to go -- not an event but a small group who remember her and might want to share a moment. Do you happen to know when is Jennifer's birthday? That might be a personal-to-her date to plant.

I'll try to carve it, looks fairly easy. I need to get some pink. Her birthday is Oct 9. I don't even remember exactly where that little waterfall was. I'm going to have to look at some of the clues for those old boxes.

That's a great idea!! Maybe in 3-4 weeks? Keep in touch and let's make it happen. :)

That looks like a good plan. We can keep in touch off of AQ.

Can GT or an admin set up a tribute page please? Thank you.