GernBlansten

What this woman did was the exact opposite of the stereotypical welfare ward who just fools around getting knocked up then casually aborting them at the free clinic. Now I'm hearing from the same folk who oppose public funding of abortions to deny any funding to help the product of this woman's misguided quest for the celebration of life. It ain't the kids fault.

I think that most who want Obama to fail are actually terrified he might succeed and pull us out of this tailspin. If he does that, he will put the final nail in the coffin of conservative ideology. Bush dug the grave, but Obama, if he succeeds will seal the fate.

My son's ECOH is next Sunday. We had 3 that got Eagle last fall and they all decided to do their own thing. One already had one and the other probably won't. I've only been to one other ECOH for multiple scouts. I thought it diluted the ceremony.

There was pork in the original bill. But in reality, all stimulus packages are pork. If it creates jobs and jump starts the economy, who cares what label it has. Some was removed to compromise with the Republicans. Obama met for two hours with the Republicans. That's two hours more than Bush met with the Democrats for 8 years. What did Obama get from the other side? Bupkis. I think it sent a message to the Dems and Obama that they don't need the Republicans. They had their chance, but they let it pass. Obama reached across the aisle, but the Republicans refused to unclench their fists. As for Bush wandering from conservative values...did the entire Republican caucus follow him? They gave him everything he wanted. Everything.

You do realize that what Obama did was the antithesis of hypocrisy. He removed the government from the abortion decision. That's what his constituents want. Government out of the reproductive decision making process. What Obama did was rescind the executive order the Bush placed on the funding. That executive order restricted the use of those funds to exclude abortions. That was government deciding against abortions. You also realize that what Obama did was not fund the aid, just removed the restriction. So to say that Obama is funneling money away from Americans isn't correct. The funding was already in place and untouched. Keep in mind, when Bush put the restrictions on the funding, he did so to satisfy his constituents. What Obama did in removing them, was the same thing.

Do you realize that if Obama fails, America fails. Bush dug a pretty deep hole. Obama is our only hope on getting us out of that hole. The republicans are out of power. We tried their ideas, they not only didn't work, they made things worse. Americans have chosen a different direction for America. I say, give Obama a chance. He can't do any worse than Bush. If at any time in American history, the country needs to come together to solve our problems. If the stimulus package vote was an indicator, the republicans will not be part of the solution. If Obama fails, there probably won't be an America to rebuild.

Unfortunately, cold winter camping doesn't leave much room for mistakes. And like your unit, we train and have shakedowns to weed out the inappropriate gear, but nonetheless, a few always don't bring the right stuff. The problem with these guys, is that they need to experience pain before they learn from their mistakes. Unfortunately, the experience might make them never winter camp again. We have a few guys in our unit like that. I always throw some extra essentials into my truck for just such situations, extra boots, bag liners, snow pants, gloves, socks. They always get used. But I make them suffer a bit before I announce I have them. I understand the solo adult issue too. I did a night solo at -15F in my two season one man tent. The tent really only keep the frost off me. A good 4 season 2 man tent with two people inside can get quite warm. But if they ain't the same sex and not married, you gotta split up. That's what happened that night. I gave up my nice 4 season to another leader and we couldn't double up. I was ok though. I was double bagged with a liner. A water bottle I stuffed between the bags froze though.

Didn't respond to the second half of your post. Yes, you could use ziplock freezer bags, with one note, they always seem to figure out how to leak. That could get real nasty and dangerous. It violates the C(lean) in the COLD equation. Hate to have a stew pack leak all over inside my pack getting my L(ayers) un-D(ry). Jerky is great. Protein, but zero carbs and fat and it isn't warm. Good for trail snacks and lunchtime, but morning and night, you want something warm in your belly. From our OKPIK training materials. Winter Menu Planning (4000-5000 calories/day) -Carbs 40% - sugars, pasta, breads, potatos -Protein 20% - meats, gelatin, peanut butter -Fats 40% - cheese, butter, nuts

Jello.... First, you take the dry jello (cherry is the best) out of the box and put it in one those reusable food tubes with the rollup end. Next, you take your cup and squirt about a tablespoon of dry jello. Then add hot water. Stir. If its too week, squirt a little more jello in. If its too strong, dilute it or just suck it up cupcake. Trust me, it really warms you up on those cold mornings. Much better than coffee or hot chocolate. Jello provides two key ingredients, sugar and gelatin. The sugar is quick fuel to get you warm fast. The gelatin is protein (ground up pigs hoofs) and provides slower burn. You don't get the rush then crash you'd get from just using KoolAid which is just sugar and flavor.

I think the access road to the Holy Cross Trailhead has been closed for a year. Not sure when it will reopen. Also, they closed the East Creek (midway point on HC) camping area due to excessive damage so you can't camp when climbing HC anymore. That makes it a very long 14 mile round trip, uphill both ways (I'm not kidding). Pine beetle infestation is almost state wide. The FS has closed some campgrounds due to it (and budget cuts), but most access to the wilderness areas are still open. Other options: Tahosa High Adventure base. Run by the Denver Area Council is a Philmont style back-country adventure into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Lost Creek Wilderness west of Denver (my favorite secret cache). You could do a 50 miler loop or shorter in and out hikes. Terrain much like Philmont. Average elevation 9000 ft. Colorado Trail Trek. Starts in SW Denver, ends up at the Four Corners. Like the AT, most do it in segments. Requires some support to lay food caches or pickups. Continental Divide Trek. Trail follows the divide from north and south state borders. Most of the trek would be above timberline. Pikes Peak Barr Trail. 13 mile trail up the front side of Pikes Peak. Camping midway at Barr Camp. 7000 elevation gain, but if you break it into three days (one to midway, one to summit and return to midway, one to hike out), its an easy hike up the peak. Hot Cocoa at the top too.

If socialized medicine is so wildly unpopular and delivers such terrible results, why hasn't any nation that has it, move away from it? Where are the protests in the streets? Where is the debate in their houses of government? Show me a nation that wants to get rid of their socialized medicine and maybe we can have a debate.

If the British system is so inferior to ours, why haven't the Brits cast it off and emulated our system?

Which radio show host are you referring to? I'm talking about the conservative torch bearer who had 4 failed marriages yet pontificates over the airwaves about the sanctity of marriage. Really guys, if you are gonna follow a pied piper, at least have him dance to his own music.

If consistency were a virtue, you'd be a saint. I actually find it refreshing. Not like the hypocrisy some demonstrate here.

"I chuckle a bit at the thought that one would think the federal government could stamp out greed. " And I am awestruck to think that someone might consider free enterprise as the remedy to stamp out greed.(This message has been edited by gernblansten)

Greed. America is saturated by it.

A lot of conservatives don't find Colbert to be a comedy show. I did love his interview with Papa Bear.

What you describe is how the third world handles its health care system.

As long as you have a plan to deal with all the sick kids and dead old folks.

Yep, lots of horror stories out there. From both sides. No system is perfect.

All European countries all have socialized medicine, so of course they can travel without risk.

Rationing occurs in every system. Insurance companies ration care by excluding pre-existing conditions and denial of benefits for other various reasons, like procedures they deem experimental. Often, when presented a case where two methods of treatment are available, they will authorize the cheaper one, even when challenged by the physician to allow the alternative. In a free market system, the rationing is naturally taken care of by the thickness of your wallet. State by state systems would be OK, if you never planned on traveling outside your state. Say Colorado had socialized medicine so I didn't need health insurance, and New Mexico had a free market system. Get hurt at Philmont, and you better bring a bag of cash.

I think the closest thing we might have to a free market health care analogy would be the current US veterinary system. Its a pay as you go system. If you don't have the cash, your pet doesn't get care. Only the richest can afford care above the normal preventative procedures and routine visits. Not to mention the millions of pets who never see a vet, ever. A majority of pets are simply euthanized when costs exceed the family budget. Of course we can justify that saying that the patients quality of life wouldn't be worth the expense or trauma of treatment. Imagine telling grandma, sorry, that chemo is pretty expensive and you know, you aren't going to be feeling that great after it anyways. Besides, you've had a good life and reached your expected life span.

A totally free market health care system would be purely driven by profit, not patient care. Un-regulated, we could have the same greed and corruption that took down our banking system. Just because no country has tried a pure free market system, doesn't mean that it will work.

I'm not sure what conservative values Rush demonstrated when he got busted for drug dealing and doctor shopping. Or when he got busted for caring a Viagra prescription under another persons name when returning from a "vacation" in the Dominican Republic, known for its sex vacations. Or when he had to go to rehab to get off his addiction to pain killers. Or when we lost his hearing due his abuse of Oxycotin. Yes, he is a beacon of conservative values.