packsaddle

Wow, this is great! It reminds me of colleagues having a friendly discussion in the hallway. I just want to note that there's also a really neat (yes, I said 'neat', as in Beaver Cleaver - students seem to like this 'retro' stuff) version of the flood myth in the Uncle Remus tales as well. Gotta love those crayfish!

OK, I've definitely missed something...what's a 'stoner'? Is this someone who is a fan of the Rolling Stones, the way I sometimes think of myself as a Trekkie? Or is this someone who likes to smoke marijuana? Help me out. Edited part: le Voyageur, bite your tongue! I do all those things every Christmas for my DIL's second grade class, dressed as Santa himself, of course. One child to the other in the hallway: "Do you think he's really Santa?" second child, "Sure he is, he's OLD!" that sweet, sweet child.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I just read through the linked paper and I can't seem to find evidence in support of the topic. Looks mostly like trade and economic policy as it relates to environmental concerns. Have I missed something? The only thing I can find is a statement, "The environment should compete with religion as the only compelling, value-based narrative available to humanity." Looking at this statement through the eyes of a scientist, I merely see a confused and poorly-defined position statement. Substituting 'environmental awareness' for 'environment' makes a bit more sense but the mere act of competing with religion doesn't make it 'religion'. If so, I could also argue that such things as capitalism or consumerism or perhaps hedonism already compete with religion and should also be added to our concerns. I'm not concerned though about this. The set of values based on greed are far more troubling and I'm no more likely to change or influence those than I am the confused and thoughtless ramblings of some analyst for UNEP.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

LOL, one of the guys was thinking of writing a fan letter to Will Smith after the MIB movies. He asked me how to get the address and said he was thinking about doing a Google search. So I asked him, "how many people are there with the last name, Smith...and the first name, Will?" He's a bright guy and figured it out.

I just received the patch and I'll have it on the uniform as soon as I can remember how to thread the bobbin. DWS, there's also that matter of the 'God' thing. Which one? How many? And for the Buddhists...they should be outta here if we're going to interpret those words the way many of us want to interpret them. As you note, it's ambiguous...on many levels. That said, I suspect that Brent's view is closer to the majority view within scouting. I still don't understand why the organization wants to be a "religious organization". As for my patch, they'll take it when they pry my cold, dead fingers.....

"A couple of sixpacks later and we'll be weeping for the good old days." I'm curious, which days were those and why were they so good? I can already tell you that my neighbor wishes that slavery was still legal - he openly admits this. THOSE would be his good old days. Oops, need to mention that he doesn't drink alcohol in any form. Sorry.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

She's probably a follower of one of those northern Hedonist theologies - nothing like this EVER happens in the South, no sir.

I have often mentioned that I really love the cub scouts. If I had the opportunity I much prefer working with the little guys but it looks like I'm going to have to wait for grandchildren...oh well. Back when I WAS still working with the cubs, I took them to the local police station for one of these types of outings. Part of the visit was to the dispatcher who basically operates a radio station. Moreover, the cubs got to hear the calls that were coming and going and the officer doing the tour could explain some of them. Later, on another outing we visited a full-time fire/EMS station. Same thing, listening to the radio (fortunately, no fires while we were there). Most of the calls were EMS and the tour guide explained those as well. They boys had a great time both places and I took the den back a couple of years later for a repeat...more fun. I wish you lots of fun with the guys. I really miss them.

BDPT00, I re-read the original post to see where I've gone wrong. It is about a boy who has all the MB's needed for palms but who has chosen not to bother with them. I quote a specific line with which I am in sympathy, "You know, it's never been about the advancement for him, so I guess this just goes with who he is." If this IS who the boy IS and how he feels, then it isn't a big deal for him. Why should it be a big deal for anyone else? This boy should not feel pressured to do something he doesn't want. He has Eagle and that seems to be sufficient for him. As the Eagle coordinator for this unit I see it from this end of the process, not from the viewpoint of younger scouts who have not made it to Life or perhaps already earned Eagle. I see this from the perspective of boys who often have more MB's than needed for palms but choose to focus on other aspects of growth. If that is what they choose, I support them. And I don't make a big deal out of it. It's their lives and their choice. No problem.

I exchange emails with boys as well as students for what seems like ALL the TIME! I never worry about it one way or the other. What I have found is that if I avoid the nonsense or attempts at humor, and just stick with straight business - giving them solid information - they mostly try to do the same thing. You know, it's that 'leading by example' thing. A couple of other practices: I keep EVERY email in an archive. I follow the rule, "if you think you can get away with it, don't do it." Stay formal and professional. I am very careful with email, text messages, facebook, etc. if I'm corresponding with a child or a student. (my boss, on the other hand, sometimes feels the need to take some extra valium afterwards) If you never write something that can cross the line then you have nothing to worry about. I save all the pent up frustration for messages to the idiots at insurance companies and the morons who work for banks.

I've never thought of it as 'rank' either. Just additional recognition. If a boy made it to Eagle at, say, age 16 as suggested, and if he had, say, 34 merit badges when he made Eagle, then he simply has to wait for the palms to arrive. Nothing special, just stay with the program. That's the way it was for me and for the boys I've seen doing it recently. They earn far more merit badges than are needed for Eagle before they complete the ones that are the greatest cause for procrastination (i.e. personal management, family life, etc.) and then they don't need to earn a single additional merit badge to qualify for the palms...as long as they are young enough to pass the needed time periods. I suspect there are few Eagles who ONLY earned 21 merit badges. Most of the time I suspect they've earned plenty of 'free electives' before they complete the 'required'. So it's not that big a deal. Just passing the time.

GWD, I can feel your pain. le Voyageur, I guess he does understand that aspect of the 1st Amendment that allows him to speak out against the 1st Amendment. (brought to you from the Department of Redundancy Department)

Oops, my bad! I do have it. It's still pinned onto the medal, DUH! But it goes to show how little the palm means, to me at least, I didn't even remember it was there and I've seen that medal many times - without noticing the palm. GWD, this is one of those things that isn't worth the sweat.

Hi Vicki, thanks for confirming the notification button thing. I was beginning to think I was the only one.

Perhaps JoeBob could drop over my way and explain these things to my neighbor three houses down who flies the confederate flag above the American flag on the same flagpole. I'd like to watch that encounter.

I think Lisa is right. I earned one palm and I hardly remember anything about it. I'm sure I no longer have it. My son earned two, but only because I kept reminding him that he might as well just do it if he had the merit badges. After Eagle, it just doesn't seem very important. GWD, I'm sympathetic to your son.

Considering what you've told me I know you made the best decision. And this plan gives them a good chance to make a smooth transition. I did something similar when I gave up CM to go to the troop. Just don't let them wait until the last minute. Plus, I'll still be available for BBQ now and again. It really IS all about food, you know.

Monday might work. I'll call that morning to confirm.

I always tag the 'Do you wish to be notified via email..." button when I reply to a thread, just like I did just now. But lately, I have not been getting ANY email notifications. That's OK because I don't care much one way or the other...but others might need that 'reminder' to bring them in. I'm guessing that the web site is having some hiccups or something. No big deal. Plus, I guess all of us may at last be reconciled to Obama and all the other stuff. Edited to add: GWD, you need to get more sleep! You doin' anything next week, might stop through for BBQ or something.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I see this differently and wouldn't have a big problem with this as it has been described. Actually, I see the 'secretary' as THE person to receive correspondence in order to save the SM from having to handle all of it (we're part of a team, right?). That's the way my office works for the most part. If correspondence is addressed to me, it comes to the office, and the secretary then hands it to me if it's mine. If it's generic the secretary opens it and then sends it to the correct recipient. The secretary also does a lot of phone calls in a similar manner. As a person who really enjoys being able to delegate responsibility, I'd be pleased for the secretary to handle things like this, thus freeing me to enjoy interacting with the cubs. It's a much greater burden NOT to be able to depend on others to take these responsibilities.

Have to be very careful how you discuss this kind of thing. If it comes across as an accusation (and it would be easy for this to happen) he might respond defensively and you'll hit a brick wall. I've seen this up close in boys who need rigid structure in their lives. If they've been successful in getting their own life in order by erecting such structure, they tend to expect it elsewhere as well. I have to ask, has he broken any rules? Has he been dishonest? Has he been intentionally destructive? If not any of those things, then I'd say things are going fairly well so far. Reality will eventually soften him up. I've seen that happen too. You might ask him if he's had any problems getting boys to work with him? Or similar questions. He might be just as frustrated and just not mentioning it. If so, it is an opportunity to note that "you know I had a similar situation a long time ago and here's what I learned in order to cope with it." He might even listen. Good luck.

Yep. I agree.

Kahuna, I can only imagine. I HAVE seen the bullet holes though. Here's a quote from Shane Tate, the imperial klaxon (or something like that): "We are coming to Ole Miss to say enough is enough on attacking our Christian, southern heritage and culture, and its time for every person to have a right to freedom of speech," Tate said. "We arent coming there to cause problems or cause trouble," Tate said. "Trouble has already been caused by a handful at Ole Miss, including the black student body president, who wants to shape Ole Miss into yet another liberal sodomite college." Wow, what could anyone possibly add to that?

Wow, Kahuna I have to wonder if we might have lived in the same neighborhood! "There were, however, a lot white Scout leaders who worked in black Scout camps and with their troops, which was socially acceptable, although you were viewed as a bit eccentric if you did." Agreed, and this is similar to the rest of the few white folks who mixed in with the black community. I attended plenty of weddings and funerals with my mother. But church and reunions were one thing - I note that it didn't work the other way. While society tolerated whites integrating into some of black society, the barrier was solid against blacks integrating into white society. Whites were freer to cross, blacks weren't. I also agree with le Voyageur's characterization of the reality in regard to his example of the DE. In my experience BSA was not actively racist but it also did not present a challenge to segregation. And thanks to Skeptic who found that really interesting piece in the archives somewhere. I close by noting that while I acknowledge progress since I was a boy in the South, this recent event brought a lot of those times flooding back into my mind: http://www.thegrio.com/2009/11/kkk-rally-briefly-before-lsu-ole-miss-game.php It's still there, festering beneath the surface.

Just noticed this: "Saturday, November 28, 2009 The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis. - Dalai Lama" From his website: http://dailydalailama.com/ Thought it fit this thread.