Ever wanted to be like McGyver and construct your very own metal detector out of a spoon, your pocketknife, and a rubber band? Well look no further! I found this interesting site = Wonderhowto.com which shows you several ways to “Hack a Metal Detector.” It seems you can turn just about anything into a metal detector after watching some of these videos. For instance I had no idea that a calculator, radio, and even my cellphone could be capable of such things! I’m sure the strength of these so called “modern” metal detectors are weak and probably won’t find you treasure. Who knows though, they may just save you in a survival situation or give you some amusement as you locate your keys under the sofa.
If you are up for a challenge and get one of these homebrew mods to work, send it into our flickr photos or just comment back!
The widely anticipated expansion to Google Maps “street view” is coming out soon, and will allow users to view images in 360 degrees over the computer. The first trail mapped is Monterey Rec Trail, which from Google’s street view looks stunningly vivid and beautiful. The whole plan is to map out places that aren’t accessible by just cars, giving users the ability to scope out locations or even get some extra bearing if lost.
Google will also be taking snap shots of trails all over the world as we speak and more trails are bound to show up in the near future. Look out for trails in California, Italy and the United Kingdom. As the article suggests, I feel like this may bring a lot more people outdoors. I think sometimes we get so caught up with work and everyday chores that we forget to get out and experience nature for its wonder. If people can see for themselves how amazing some of these locations are, they may decide to go for a hike instead of going to the movies over the weekend.
For you Metal Detectorists out there, anyone planning on using Google trail view to help hunt down some treasure? Let us know. Try it out for yourself:
Spain wants back its sunken treasure that was found by an American salvage team (Odyssey Marine Exploration.) and they mean business. In 2007, the US based diving company salvaged 500,000 silver and gold coins from the Strait of Gibraltar. Spain testifies that the warship Mercedes belongs to Spain meaning everything inside is rightfully theirs. A judge based out of Tampa, FL apparently agrees with Spain, making the ruling that the rightful owners of the treasure is Spain.
Spain’s representative went on to elaborate that people should “respect the resting place of sailors who died at sea.” He also went on to say that the Mercedes is the Spanish equivalent of the USS Arizona which was sunk in Pearl Harbor, questioning the morality of it being “OK” for another country to strip the site.
This case will ultimately determine the future of underwater claims. The UN is making drafts now that would make it illegal to commercially exploit vessels, artifacts, and human remains that were continuously underwater for 100 days or more. If this ruling passes the treasures will become “underwater cultural heritage,” meaning the country’s owners are the only people that can salvage the claim.
My thoughts are two fold, one part agreeing that there should be some restrictions on where and what can be salvaged for commercial exploitation. The other part of me thinks of all of the hard work, time, and money that goes into these salvage operations. They do all of the work of finding a wreckage just to have it taken from them. Where can the line be drawn between the two?
I have to admit I wasn’t aware that nudity and treasure hunting go hand in hand. Council committee leaders in Mount Pleasant S.C. apparently want to put a stop to feeding the birds, treasure hunting, and strolling in the nude at their new park near Charleston. Although I’m sure that the city officials don’t assume that people will be metal detecting naked; you can rest assure with such a blanket ban on activities that this park will be missing out on the fun.
My question is how do they expect to keep birds out of an outdoor park? Granted feeding the birds can create concentrated “aerial bombing” but really? Hopefully the people and council can weed out some of these silly rules, and reconsider metal detecting as a park friendly hobby.
