Thanks, Condo - interesting video. Throwie, huh.

Good on you, that's noble work.

👍

Not sure if it'll make a difference for you or not, but that search engine I mentioned earlier has what they call a "fair pricing policy" which means they basically extend your membership for each month that you don't use the service. Basically, you won't get charged for what you don't use.

I thought that was a brilliant idea, though, so I've added a "fair pricing policy" to AQ today. If a premium member doesn't log in for a full calendar month, they basically get their premium membership extended by an extra month automatically for free. So if you only use the website every few months, you could stretch a premium membership out for several years. =)

This applies to all premium members, starting this month. Although anyone reading this message this month is clearly logged into their account and therefore won't get the extra month.

But in a nutshell, for those who drop out for a few months or even a few years.... you'll still have your premium membership when you come back.

I also logged into my Google AdSense account to look at the settings. It's kind of scary how many options they have now, not all of which I fully understand. But I did find a setting to reduce the "vignette ads" from showing every 1 minute to now show every 5 minutes, so maybe that will help make the ads a little less annoying. They'll still happen, though!

-- Ryan

That's an awesome feature! Thanks so much! I don't think I've ever gone more than a day or two without logging in since the day I started letterboxing, but what a generous gesture for those whose life events sometimes get in the way of our fun pastime.

So let me see if I have this right...if I have a Lifetime membership, and I go, say, 10 years without logging into AQ... do I live 10 years longer?

Yes! And, if you cross the international date line...

I get a date!

I don't care what anybody has to say, you really are a nice person

Hard to see, but REDS, as in Cincinnati Reds?

Wow! I’m impressed. I really appreciate this idea!!!! Thanks!

I think there are 6 letters.

Based on your link to Throwie, I'd say it looks more like 4 letters.

My sarcastic response is that I decoded it to say:
"I have tiny man syndrome and need to vandalize to feel larger"

My guess for the letters... sideways P, R, single line so I? Then 2 curves. PRICE ?

With that red behind it I'm thinking maybe one street gang painted over another gang's letters and left enough red to make it clear what they did?

We could ask the Orange County CA police department what it says.

???

===
DZ & ECP don’t live in the OC (it would be cool if they did, cuz then we would have more boxes to find), but contacting their local gang enforcement task force is a good idea.

In my neck of the woods, graffiti is rare. What shows up is removed quickly. Our “gangs” mostly consist of male adolescents on e-bikes zipping through shopping centers and doing wheelies on 45 mph streets.

My son, who works in the Anaheim PD, does not recognize it, nor does the gang team there. He said it might help if you tell where it was located?

This is a throw-up (throwie) style piece — rounded bubble letters, thick black fill, white outline, and a red cloud background.

Reading left to right:
*The first letter is an O (with a star/asterisk style fill inside).
*The next two letters are G and G.
*The fourth letter looks like an I.
*The last letter appears to be a B (two rounded lobes).

So it most likely reads:
“OGGIB”

Throwies often prioritize style over readability, and the first letter’s star fill is a stylistic choice rather than changing the letter. It’s probably a tag or crew name rather than a word with a dictionary meaning.

I don't know what it says, but I love it!

Letting Wassa know where I live... what could possibly go wrong?

Ha ha, I kid, it's in Santa Maria.

Are we looking at the same graffiti!?

I bow to your apparent greater knowledge of reading throwie, but I'm having trouble seeing what you're seeing.

It's a Melmacian QR code - it links to a recipe for Cat Fricassee.

It is with a heavy heart to let all of you know about the passing of LSQ this week. As I told Boot Tex she was like my Letterboxing Mom. She will be truly missed in Texas, especially at the TALE events. Very sad day yesterday when I found out, but I know there is a special place in heaven for her now. Boots, we love you and please stay in touch with us. Baby Bear

I echo everything my brother said and with Boot's blessing I would like to see a memorial page added to AQ where we can voice our love for this kind and loving person.

Silver Eagle

I still think it says RAKE. The asterisks the the place of where the "hole" would go in the R and the lowercase E. Also, the red is part of it, and under the bridge says other words that I think may be by the same artist as well.

Also, to any others concerned: not all graffiti is gang-adjacent,. Graffiti is historically a voice for the disenfranchised or oppressed, often an immediate way to be seen and/or heard, to get a message out, and sometimes one of the only ways of doing so. So, it's important to keep that in mind.

I can see the case for 'PRICE' but the P looks a bit pregnant.

I'm starting to come around to 'RAKE'

So sorry to hear this,
DoubleSaj and Old Blue

I've noticed in my area after being out of letterboxing for years I see most letterbox haven't been found or maintained in 2 to 6 years or more. Has everyone stopped letterboxing or something?

No.
I call it 'the usual suspect' attribute......once all of the normal, usual suspects in an area get a box, it may go quiet for a while until a new boxer comes around or boxers from a different area take a trip.

I see some never maintained either. I just started back into it and years have gone by. I just wondered . I know geocaching is booming and people are now putting stamps in geocaches and calling them letterboxes yet nobody is stamping log books lol. They just sign the log lol. I suppose I been out if it too long lol. Thanks for the reply