packsaddle

ManyIrons, no it's a good question. My security guys require daily checks for updates - I set it up to do this automatically. I'll do it manually right now and see what happens. Edited part: Upgrades to all features complete. Seems to be working fine.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

OGE, byte your tongue! FOG, me too. I also read instructions on how to make your own in Mother Earth News. But I refrained, probably for the same reason nearly everyone else did - economics. The Ford Escape hybrid looks pretty good too. I like the idea of the regenerative braking and the ability to use regular 110AC appliances directly from the vehicle. On the other hand, real camping is about to take another hit - Ford is suggesting such add-ons as crock pots. Oy vey!(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I have a favorite pair of Vasque Whitneys I bought back around 1971 or 72. I want to be buried in them. But for less serious strolls, I have the extraordinary luck of having a wife and a son whose castoffs fit me just fine. You heard that correctly - my wife has grape-stomping feet. So I have a huge collection of boots and shoes of all types and styles, probably more than I'll ever be able to wear out. The high heels are just a bit painful though.

I have a couple of old Svea 123 stoves that still work great after decades of use. Also an Optimus with similar stamina. They'll probably keep working long after I'm gone. The troop has a few Colemans and I've come to view them as synonymous with 'death wish'. The troop tried a couple of the Gaz butane stoves but the waste of the empty tanks stopped us. They would be great if the tanks were refillable. I just acquired an MSR Whisperlite International and I like it very much. It's lighter, hotter, faster, and more fuel efficient. And it will also burn kerosene as well as naptha or gasoline. The only downside is that it doesn't pack as compactly but I'll live with that happily.

I am absolutely loaded with security and firewall stuff by Norton and other vendors. I have been able to access nearly every site I have tried (the ones that are still active) and I've never had a problem with this one. I think the problem may be something other than the Norton software. I think Norton (Symantec, whatever) is excellent.

For some reason, my message is being cut off so I'll try again later(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I have a special sensitivity for the cubs and this really hurts me to hear. A long time ago when I was a cubmaster, if the boy was allowed to race he was allowed to win (the trophy as well). To me this was terribly unfair on several points. The decision to allow him to race hoping he would lose was a self-deception on their part...meaning they were afraid to confront the issue honestly. It was dishonest to him and to the other participants as well. Their decision to deny him the award after he won was a betrayal not only of him but of the other boys and the pack. I fear for the damage this did to his feelings but the only thing that you may have available is to make sure this doesn't happen again. Once a hammer puts that nail in a board, it takes a lot of work to pull it out and there will always remain a hole. I hope this doesn't drive your son away from the pack.

By crackee? By crackee? Now I'm repeating things...BTW what is the difference between a geezer and a coot (the featherless biped kind)? One of my favorite cartoons is of a Dilbert type sitting at his desk with the caption, "25 to 65 in what seems like 6 seconds flat" or something like that. I agree with dozer, it can be done with some work ahead of time. Wilderness survival is a great one for summer camp. I agree with Ed on the lifesaving badge. Environmental Science is a really tough one to do correctly. But even getting a partial and working on it later would be a start. Unless he gets help with the exercises and experiments, though, it could be tough to get most of it done beforehand. ....teeth sucking noises....By crackee?

OK, I'm slow.

meanpc, perhaps I don't have the same perspective that others do. The site seems to be running as fast as any other site I visit. I really don't understand the slowness complaints. Especially when I watch some of our rotund leaders negotiating steep hills, get my drift? Anyway, maybe it's different with a modem. Oh well.

I thank my lucky stars that I don't have to read very much of Big Dog's poetry Whatever you guys want to do with the ratings is OK by me if it's OK bayou.

SCOUTER-Terry, Please don't be offended by the habitual whiners and complainers. I think the site is great.

FOG, A few years ago someone (not sure who) made the decision to set up in front of the local grocers asking patrons to pick up a few extra items and donate them as they leave. Overall it is a good idea for us because we collect a LOT more food; it isn't the expired stuff off the back of the shelf; and we no longer have to worry about safety issues with the door-to-door thing. The only down side is that the boys just stand around, not much activity beyond handing out our fliers.

Whoa! Did she just give us a verbal spanking? I think she may have. That was a spanking wasn't it? At least I'm beginning to think I should feel like I've been spanked. But I could be wrong. She did spank us didn't she? I'm seeing stars already, or maybe that's my imagination. FOG, always the naked emperor thing. Or is that someone else? What is this fixation with naked emperors? Anyway, for the record I think of you as 'rough as a cob' (those of you who were raised like I was will know what that means) but that's not necessarily a bad thing, at least it works. It does, however, tend to irritate the sensitive places, if you know what I mean. I agree that you do push the limit (maybe go over it) but so do I at times, as do others - except OGE who seems to be perfect. And I while I recognize that everyone of us has flaws (maybe even OGE), I accept them and try to live with all of you...as I expect you to do with me. We fuss at each other but are still friends, what more could anyone ask? Right?

Laurie, I offer this advice based on our experience. When the unit gets close to the 40-50 year mark, members will be wringing their hands wishing they knew all the names of the previous members and leaders. We caught this fever a few years ago and it has been a fun time recovering all that info. But to be able to put names and faces on the original ribbons is just GREAT! Photos even better! Especially when some of those guys (much older now) stop by to visit. As they stare at a particular ribbon you can imagine the memories flashing through their minds. We don't have any particular place to store or display these things but I wish we did. We find that it isn't easy to keep more than the current generation of ribbons on the flag. That means that we try to keep all the ribbons that have been awarded during all current youth members. That's tough too. We take the superannuated ones off and pin them to a rope that we can drape across the room. The really old ones are getting frayed and faded, kind of like the boys that won them so long ago. I don't know what to do about it though. The CO is in the midst of a major upheaval so it will be some time before we ask any favors.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

willysjeep, I suggest that you ARE free to shout, "fire!" in a theatre. Such expression is simply not protected as a constitutional right. FOG, I suspect that young female forms are not what you really find depressing. I tell the boys often that they'll blink their eyes a few times and they'll be 40 years old. That usually puts a scare into them.

Just a thought. Is it possible to squelch oneself? I'm almost afraid to try...but I wonder what would happen. Anyone know? Back when I started on computers we used the punch cards. And if anyone submitted a card that said, 'stop' the computer would literally stop (I may not remember the command correctly but you get the idea). It is this ancient anxiety that keeps me from performing this experiment.

I wonder...is it possible to be a religious organization and NOT discriminate on the basis of religion?

This troop and the associated pack are several decades old - and the accumulation of ribbons is way too much for the flag. So we display the old ones along a rope stretched across one end of the meeting place. Even that is getting crowded. But I think it helps motivate the boys to see what the previous generations did and what they can do. Plus, I really can't bring myself to discard those old memories. Oh well.

Reminds me of something that happened years ago. Way back during the days of door-to-door scouting for food, the cubs encountered an elderly woman who came out swinging a broom and shouting expletives. Far from being traumatized, the boys came back laughing about it. Word got around and all of them wanted that route. I requested changes in the streets for our pack. But nope, she moved right to our new streets. Next year she was at it again. This time, unfortunately in front of the mothers, I asked one of the boys what she said. He repeated it...accurately and with every tone and inflection correct, I assume. Red-faced, I vowed never to ask THAT again. Then we stopped the door-to-door thing. Boy, was I glad of that.

H'mmm. I was thinking that it was supposed to be 48 DAYS. I wondered why so many were breaking the rule. Duh! Anyway thanks for the clarification.

Speaking of the...well whatever, what DID happen to Wheeler? Did I miss some big event along the way?

I emphatically agree with that. Plus, I would encourage a good-natured audience. There are some great stories to be generated about people learning to back a trailer. It is one of the activities that really separates the patient ones from the rest.

Not courteous, maybe not friendly, definitely not clean, perhaps not reverent, and it hardly proclaims one's intelligence. When I am frustrated and tempted to use such language I keep it to myself. I would apologize to the troop or pack. Hopefully it is behavior not to be repeated, especially in the presence of the boys.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I supppose that when I get tired or bored, I turn off the boob tube. Or I use the paper to start a fire in the fireplace. Or I just head out on the water or the trail. So I guess I'm guilty of squelching of a sort. Normally, I support freedom of expression regardless of how much I disagree. I make some exceptions regarding the boys. But although I sometimes disagree with many of the respondents in these forums, I also sometimes agree, even enjoy the responses. So I continue to support open expression in the forums. But...as stated earlier, we do have the ability to squelch. And inasmuch as we have that ability, I also support the choice. I just won't do it myself.