packsaddle

"His buddies were a bunch of devils, Christian though." Heh, heh, another reference to that mythical angel, those Christian devils are certainly distinctive. RememberSchiff, as I read it you acknowledged that they were fine and upstanding in every way and that the boy would have been a great SPL. But you made a judgement based on a conversation with the family and turned them away. This is the part I about which I am not perfectly clear. I am required to make prospective members aware of the membership requirements. I am not required to make the decision for them regarding their ability to meet those requirements. That decision is theirs to make because only they know what their true beliefs are. Did you make that decision? Or, based on your conversation, did they make that decision?

Or in your case that might be 'gerrrliemen'. The accent just doesn't work when typed. I had a buddy who was the best trials and hill-climber I ever saw - slipping both wheels in turns and sometimes doing head stands on only the front wheel. Then she'd stop and take off her helmet and jaws would drop.

Vicki, from the second message by CRW, "The school is a private school and in fact is heavily backed and supported by the CO. It is located on the CO's property."

That story sends shivers up my back it is so similar to what happened just as I became CM. Volunteers 'graduating', numbers declining, the CO didn't care if we lived or died. And the new DE as well as another pack actively recruiting boys away from this pack without mentioning it to me or the CO. Without a CO you're dead. Without leadership that is highly motivated (not to mention 'trained' in the program) your chances are not good. I managed to turn things around but the CO at least was a neutral force. With 60 boys, if you keep at least 1/3 of them in a reconstituted unit and a CO of some sort, and if the leadership gets up to speed quickly, you could survive. The troop, if it depends on that pack as a feeder unit, will eventually feel the pain. However, this CO couldn't grasp that relationship so a few years after the cubs diminished, the troop nearly died as well. I tried vainly to explain all this to the DE (dumber than a bucket of nails) and the council (didn't seem to care). Long story short....you're going to have to rely on whatever resources you and the remaining leaders can bring to bear. Don't expect help from anyone outside. I wish you well and good luck.

My brother-in-law has a Ural, although I'm not sure what year model. He has a side car as well. He really likes it and (when he takes that car off) when I take it for a spin it's a lot of fun. That REAL reverse gear is cool too. But the time I spent in Russia makes me wary of it. There was just too much inoperable, rusted Russian machinery lying around while I was over there.

Beavah, if you think about it in slightly different terms, it is actually exciting. OK, I didn't necessarily mean it THAT way either. But it could be that, for the first time, these opportunities really are available in an equitable manner and it could be that talents we've missed in the past (yes, perhaps because of the good-ol-boy system) are now getting an opportunity to outcompete in the market of ideas. To me it is time for the males to start doing the hard work that women are doing already and compete back. Instead of being glued to ESPN and video games. On the other hand, that Y-chromosome really is slowly going away, only a few actual genes left and declining. Maybe with this and a little more research in molecular genetics, males won't be needed anymore anyway. As they say down the road where the guy with the tobacco juice drool flies the Confederate flag: 'Say la vis'. Edited part: Hey Vicki, the tie part is fine, but it will be OK with me if it doesn't actually 'end'. Please?(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

"...as would Santa Claus and Tooth Fairy one would think..." Man, you should see me in my fairy costume!

From what I see around here, children in general are just as courteous as they were when I was growing up. Maybe it's a regional thing.

On the up side, now that we're leaving less of a trace, nature might be better off.

Acco, on a slightly off-topic note to your post, I was just part of a selection committee to select the best student research presentations to represent this university at a conference. We did this with no knowledge of race or gender, only on the basis of the merits of what was written in their proposals and abstracts. Once we had the final list we peeked. It was dominated by science and engineering with a few other disciplines, no surprise, but then we looked at gender...ALL WOMEN. We shrugged - it's the look of the future, I think.

Trevorum, you have a diabolical mind. I like that.

"There is no room in the Boy Scout Organization, however, for the spirit of intolerance which does not recognize the right of every man to his own convictions in matters of religion, and therefore we should exercise the greatest care and consideration in not doing or saying anything which might hurt the feelings of other people in matters which to them are sacred." How is this different from political correctness? Prior to that: "Being Nice for Nice sake is a weak and worthless philosophy and it is very unappealing and ineffectual to boys and men in particular." I'm not sure why that would, in particular, apply to men and boys as opposed to some other gender (not that I agree with it, by the way). Please explain. Trevorum, where is Saturn or Janus in your vision?

I've only observed this a couple of times and only once in this unit. "Never" is my answer as well. The boys will sometimes test one's composure but a leader loses both position and control if he starts shouting or using profanity. The boys know this, too.

I long ago gave up the dream of being 'Attorney General'...that tact thing, you know. You evidently have a really low opinion of Santa Claus by the way. But if someone else finds Santa Claus to be an object of reverence, what harm is there in that? Or, if you want to discuss the difference between a myth and some particular article of faith, that would be good too. I'm all ears (or 'eyes' in the case of this forum).

Last one I bought was over $600 without the ammo. It will be better if we just shrug this off as an idiotic election year waste and focus on more important things.

Calico, that's an interesting question. I imagine it is a full time job just signing all the death warrants.

...sucking air noise..."join with me Luke..." Not Greek but actually the son of Anakin and Padm Amidala of Naboo, raised on Tatooine, he was 'The One' who cleansed the universe and brought redemption to his own fallen father. Wow, I can just imagine the profit potential still untapped.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Trevorum, thanks for expanding on that. A critical view (mine, at least) finds great difficulty in separating some of the acknowledged myths from things people claim to believe in some of the popular religions. In another thread I had a little fun tickling the tail of the dragon by declaring Satan to be a myth (for myth, he certainly is). I could as well have thrown in Hell, or Heaven for that matter. But following Calico's and your lead, if a person applied and professed a belief in Santa Claus, I'd say he qualifies under the DRP. And when I put my suit on, he'd be able to affirm it! H'mm gotta start work on that creed thing. Edited part: The 10 Articles of Faith: 1. Don't pout. 2. Don't cry. 3. Watch out. 4. I'll give you your reasoning. 5. I have a list of all people. 6. You will be separated into good and bad. 7. I can see you no matter where you are. 8. I know everything you do. 9. So be good for goodness sake. 10. I'm coming back periodically.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

We're pretty much a secular unit as well, mostly because the boys are from all over the faith map. Local option is working well for us. "Maybe we should have a merit badge in racketeering." Shhhhhhh, someone may read your suggestion. We're already counting phantom scouts and units, are you trying to make it even worse?

Welcome to the forums, EagleBeagle. Good to have you with us.

Anyone know anything about the Suzuki Boulevard? I have yet to hear anything good or bad about it.

FireKat, we can indeed probably compare a lot of notes. On those rare occasions when I am actually IN CHARGE of our summer camp experience, I try to get all the boys into activies that involve, well, physical activity. Waterfront stuff, pioneering, high adventure if they're old enough, archery, rifle range, etc. You get the idea. I'd even rather have them making baskets or carving neckerchief slides than sitting idly while they wait for a week to get a signature on a piece of paper. A real merit badge program executed well will eliminate this problem of merit badge 'school'. Sadly, we don't have one either.

Honda 50 at college. A friend had a Triton (part Norton and part Triumph) and I'd ride that beast once in a while. Then bought a Bultaco 100 (for motocross) but not enough oomph. So traded up to Suzuki 185 enduro (had enough of jumping whoop-ti-doos). Later a 250 Bultaco trials bike - destroyed and replaced with an Ossa - also destroyed while coming back down a really, really, high, nearly vertical hill climb. Then, riding a trail, someone had stretched a line of barbed wire across the trail at low level. It caught my foot and sliced off the end of my boot just missing my toes. Also was a very sudden stop - that foot was on the brake - moral, time to go on the road. Then I was given a Honda 305 Dream (loose parts in a box which I reassembled) and rode that thing for a couple of years. That leading-link suspension always gave me the willies though so I dumped it for $50 to someone who is still alive, thank goodness. Then my brother-in-law gave me an old Gold Wing as a loaner. I never dreamed a ride could be so quiet and comfortable. So now I go online and dream about how nice it will be. I still have that old 1972 TS185 Suzuki, can you say, 'ring, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding?' Still fun on the back roads too but my hands tingle afterwards from the vibrations. I've seen this joke all over the place but it sums up my predicament: http://www.jibjab.com/view/62704 Don't lean too far in those turns....

I try to steer the boys away from doing the 'classroom' badges at summer camp...with a counselor who is barely older or more knowledgeable than they are and who is likely to just joke his way through an hour and then sign off on some piece of paper...sorry for my raving and ranting. Instead I try to steer them toward the mayor or one of the local political or social types who actually LIVE the badge. Those boys, on a more personal level, get to experience a lot of those things in a nearly hands-on manner. They come away with a much better knowledge base than being bored to tears sitting virtually idle for an hour after lunch at summer camp...oops, slipped up a little, sorry.

Has to be close to a record for going off topic. I'm fairly sure that neither scripture nor Shakespeare addressed motorcycles. But as long as we've digressed, for me 500 miles would take about 5 weeks at roughly 100 miles per week, a nice comfortable pace for backpacking, say, on the AT. But back to two-wheeled long-distance bikes: I have to vote for the golden wings, a combination of smooth comfort and quiet, and the certainty that it's going to start every time. We're willing to face it, Gern, we're old. And you'll be here soon enough - if you don't smear your lip balm....all over the highway.