Idaho Treasure Hunters

I am a big fan of Lost Treasure at www.losttreasure.com, but they have made me angry and now I am fighting back.  I own over 70 digital metal detecting and treasure hunting E-Books, magazines, including most of the Treasure Cache and Treasure Facts magazines.  Those of you who own any of their digital products know that they are secured by the fileopen.exe plugin obtainable either from the Lost treasure website or from Adobe.  This is a form of Digital Rights Management that is in place obviously for product protection which I have no issue with under normal circumstances.

My Problem With Lost Treasure

A few days ago I tried to open one of my Lost Treasure books and I received the error message, "This file cannot be validated – Please contact Lost Treasure at 1-800-423-0029 for assistance."  I then went through the time consuming task of checking all my digital downloads to make sure they open.  All but seven of the digital books and magazines that I own opened without error.  These seven gave me the same error as quoted above, so I did the right thing and called Lost Treasure for assistance and/or an explanation.  After almost 30 minutes on the phone I was told to send an email to Aaron, the webmaster, so he could fix the problem, so I did exactly that.  Did I get a response by email, no.  I then called and left a message on the webmaster's voice mail letting him know about my email, told him the problem i was having, and asked for an email or call back assuring me he would take care of the issue.  Did I get a call, no.

Some of you know that I spend a lot of my time on computers either building websites and blogs, doing computer repairs, or working on building business online.  Out of anger and frustration I started working on the Lost Treasure downloads that I could open and figured out how to remove the Digital Rights Management protection.  This was totally in self-defense; I didn't want any more of my downloads suffering the same fate.  Of course the benefits are fantastic.  The main one being I don't have to be connected to the Internet when I want to open one of the E-Books.  I spend a lot of time treasure hunting and to have the ability to open these E-Books and magazines from Lost Treasure on my laptop and my Blackberry while out out of Internet range…… well, you know……..

What I Will Offer That Lost Treasure Will Not

This being the case, if anyone has digital downloads from Lost Treasure that would like the protection removed all you need to do is send me the file and I will remove the protection and send it back.  Sending me the file actually gives me proof that you actually own the book or magazine and not just asking for a free handout.  I know that to some of you this may seem underhanded and, "black hat", but I could say the same for Lost Treasure not dealing with the issue.  This may be a time sensitive offer depending on how long it takes Lost Treasure to change their digital product security, if they can at all.  Send your file to: steve@idahotreasurehunters.com.  If the file is too large to send, let me know.  We might be able to make other arrangements.

I ask that my readers who have Facebook share this post, like it, etc., and retweet it if you have a Twitter account.  Jut click on the button(s) of choice at the top of this post.  I am going to bring my situation with Lost Treasure to all the metal detecting and treasure hunting forums I can find as well.

In conclusion I would like to say to Lost Treasure, that I saved this post in draft for a few days waiting to see if you would do the right thing.  if you would have taken care of my problem to begin with, this post wouldn't exist.  Thanks, Lost Treasure……..

Before we get to the winner in our August drawing Let me remind you about all the possible ways to get entries to win metal detecting and treasure hunting E-Books.  Taking advantage of all the entry possibilities would obviously be the best, but you can pick and choose which ones you want.  Don't forget, you can enter daily.

• Fill out the form in the "Contact Us" section of the blog
• "Friend" me on Facebook for one automatic entry each month
• Find the gold coin daily for five additional entries each time – See the "Drawing" section of this site for information
• Post in our forum – Each post counts as one entry for the month, and you can post as many times as you want
• Comments on any blog posts earns one entry per comment for the month – No spam; spam will be deleted
• All E-mail subscribers get one automatic entry each month

I am working on a plan to give credits toward prizes by forum posts.  More on that later.

Now for the winner for August.  The winner this month is……..  (drum roll)………. Don G., from Northwood, New Hampshire.  Congratulations, Don.  Write me an email with your book choices and I will get them out to you.  As I tell all winners, make sure you leave a comment on this post, and if you are a member of losttreasure.com make sure you post there as well. Any previous winners can continue to enter in all drawings, so make sure you get your entries in for September.

Location of Idaho historical marker:  U.S. 12 – Milepost 12.2

Marcus Whitman and Henry Harmon Spalding led Presbyterian missionaries west in 1836 to answer a Nez Perce call for teachers.

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Location of Idaho historical marker:  U.S. 12 – Milepost 10.9

According to a Nex Perce Indian legend, the stone arch up the hill was once two fighting insects named Ant and Yellowjacket.

Ant and Yellowjacket had a argument and came to blows over who had the right to eat dried salmon here.  Fighting fiercely, they failed to notice Coyote, the all-powerful animal spirit.  Even when he ordered them to stop, Ant and Yellowjacket kept on struggling.  For not heeding his warning, he turned them to stone while their backs were arched and their jaws locked together in combat.

(In my opinion, I think it might be what's left of a cave made of basalt, but who am I to mess with an American Indian legend.  After all, they were here many moons before you and I.)  I am sure that Ant and Yellowjacket won't mind my opinions.  

I found this story and just had to post it here in hopes that everyone who reads it will get a good laugh and have a brighter day because of it.  I know it really made my day.  

The story goes as follows: There's a lovely story (most likely apocryphal) about two London cockney treasure hunters, let's call 'em Bill and Charlie, who ventured into the grounds of one of England's more splendid Georgian country mansions, in the vain hope of gaining permission to hunt, while trying to project a good image for themselves, and the hobby.

Finding themselves on the manicured front lawn of the stately house, were immediately seized upon by a small terrier dog making several attacking and yapping passes at their trouser legs.  Amidst the commotion, an upstairs window opened.  It was the lady of the house, inquiring as to their business.

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