packsaddle

Heh, heh, the engineer is off the screen to the right...actually solving a real problem.

It didn't 'establish' the concept but it did bring the term into more popular use. We don't reject or accept paradigms in the same sense that we reject or accept hypotheses. The so-called 'social sciences' suffer from their association with pseudo-science (I'm being generous here). However, as fields like neurochemistry and genetics have influenced and interacted with the social sciences, the social sciences, some of them, have 'hardened' some and that's a good thing. Ahhh, phlogiston. I love befuddling my students with this old concept. It is diabolically difficult to refute and I just love to see them squirm.

Moose, I have observed first hand the truth of what you said. The harm that was done to those children has lasted their entire lifetimes. They have confided to me, all of them, that it would have been better for their parents to split. This, merely from an unhappy marriage and mental abuse. I also know personally instances where it was far worse. Those children committed suicide. The looks on their faces just weeks before their deaths...haunting looks. How does the song go? "All you need is love...."

Wow, and to think I actually believed, at first, that the intent of this thread was simply to offer a sincere greeting.

This unit does not use (and never HAS used) cots. OK, one exception, an adult leader used one at summer camp...one time in my memory.

Hi, Vicki used to scold me for "sexist claptrap". Made me proud. So in the future, if anyone wants to spout sexist claptrap, check with me first for pointers on how to make the maximum effect. Hey, at least I'm good at SOMETHING!

" If a small bit of cloth to sew on to their sleeve is what it takes to mold this cubicle farm worker into a useful scouter, then I say lets provide some carrots." If that's really all it takes, something that superficial, then no problem, bring on the scraps. Just don't ever think that even a small forest of scraps thereby endows you with some kind of elite status or position in the 'pecking order'. They're just scraps.

"....boring professors...." tut, tut.

As long as you don't claim that the pants are 'official', I see no big problem. In fact I'm going to go to Penny's asap to see for myself. Thanks

Twocub, the 'nanny state' is the term I hear when people complain about motorcycle helmet laws. Do you agree?

Perdidochas is right. This is merely a different kind of addictive drug delivery system. Might as well be a water pipe. Anything that makes it seem 'cool' or even just acceptable to the boys is wrong. I vote to prohibit, same as the smoke-producing coffin nails. Edit to add: This campus is planning to become a completely tobacco-free zone, outside the buildings as well as inside. All tobacco products including the nicotine. Needless to say, the addicts don't like the idea. I'll report how it goes if they successfully do this.

Dcsimmons, I guess I actually DO remember that stuff and more. I was the first ever for my troop to achieve Eagle. Most of the other guys kind of put it down as something that scouts in our troop weren't supposed to want to do but I was intrigued and when I read the requirements I realized that not only could I do this, the process was probably going to be fun. So I set it as a goal and worked toward it. Keep in mind that back then I could drive on a learner's permit at age 15 (I was driving a school bus at 16). So things back then were much different, not to mention the absence of an Eagle project as part of the requirements. I have always thought far more of my Eagle than my HS diploma. Actually, I have very positive memories about scouting and the work I did for Eagle and fairly negative memories about high school (it's complicated). For that matter, the only diploma I really think is of any significance is the terminal degree but mostly because that's finally the end of it. That said, I don't list Eagle on my resume. Never have. It isn't a professional qualification. It means different things to different people and really the only person it has real meaning for is me, so I don't advertise it. I do know that my mother was very proud of the collection of mother's pins that she accumulated from my scouting days (I made sure they were with her when we laid her to rest). I personally couldn't care less about the awards we hand adult scouters. If you didn't achieve what you could have as a boy, it's over. Don't try to compensate for those omissions as an adult leader because it's not about adults. It's about giving boys the opportunities to experience some of the things we experienced and to earn whatever ranks they choose to pursue. The program has changed. Society has changed. But spirit has not. I guess I'm just a curmudgeon.

Nor should you. The expenses should be paid by the district or the council. They should pay YOUR expenses too.

Let's see: On one hand there is someone who wants my skills and time and they are not only willing to pay me for them, they also pay for any training I need for their special applications. On the other hand there is someone who wants my skills and time and they want it for free. As a bonus, they expect ME to pay THEM for specialized training related to their needs. I have this about right? No, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, I know this the reality. I'm just always amazed at how we 'roll' like we do.

W-w-w-w-ait just a minute. Do you mean we have to PAY for this? You're kidding, right?

Sad, but I'm glad BSA stepped up. I can see how it very well could have been the cubs. They're not much different from bear cubs (the real kind) and will try to climb just about anything.

Our town also prohibits handouts but it's because a few years ago, a little girl was nearly fatally crushed by one of the floats as she tried to get handouts. I was standing right across from it with my daughter and her friend. I saw it happen and was too far away to do anything to stop it and it was sickening...a slow-motion forward by the trailer, little girl slips and falls under the tire, the entire weight of it rolls slowly up her body, crushing her so completely that she didn't even make a sound, and I'm pulling the kids around so they don't watch her skull crushed. But the driver finally realized the crowd was screaming at HIM so he stopped...right on top of her...and then slowly backed off of her body. It was horrendous. Her mother, on the side of the street, was apoplectic. My daughter asked me if she had just seen a child get killed. I told her I hoped not. Fortunately, the little girl was not dead and after a few weeks in the hospital made a full recovery. But the scene is a constant source of torment in my mind...what if he had moved forward another 4 inches...just awful.

Do you want it to look like flames or hot coals? Make sure you follow G2SS for the float and the vehicle pulling it.

TT. I wager there are probably one or two other clues as well.

...for insurance,,,what a load. AFAIC why would it matter even if it WAS written somewhere? Just do whatever works best for the unit and the boys. This is nonsense.

Ooooooooo, Moosetracker...you peeked, didn't you!

I could have been a ballerina but I had that pesky, defective Y-chromosome.

KDD, I agree, also with Basement if I'm reading him correctly. To me it's ok to just get to know the boy well and let him do what is appropriate for him as an individual rather than some pigeon-hole age or other status. Then fill out the paperwork and send it up the pipe. If it's approved your good, if not then you wait until it can be approved. Don't try to force all the boys to the same model. When I was CM, we tried to cross over in February or March and the den leaders knew this. Reason was to allow the boys who were champing at the bit to become scouts to have that chance as soon as possible. The others would merely join the troop after they turned 11, either that or else move on to soccer or some other sport.

I get the arrogance part. Most of the time, unless they're completely delusional, life will offer some reality checks. I disagree with this: "The point is to make our Scouts into better citizens and people..." We don't make them. We give them opportunities to make for themselves. Moreover, while National may tout Eagle as some kind of pinnacle of achievement, mostly it's the rest of us who 'sanctify' the rank with our admiration. Sometimes it's deserved, sometimes not.

GAD!!! Moose, you've successfully caused me to remember the spectre of sitting through required presentations back when I was working for the federal government. Someone, please pass the Flavor Aid.