packsaddle

That's why I put a question mark in the subject title, I'm not sure the concept applies but there's just something about this that reminds me of the McCarthy days, I just can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe its the slimy way the lie is perpetrated...I'm just not sure. As far as that 'Communist' label...I sometimes accuse people I AGREE with of that, lol. Simple pleasures....(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I applaud John McCain's recent comments in the Senate. I wish they hadn't been necessary: http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2012/07/18/mccain-says-five-gop-house-members-have-launched-unfounded-and-unwarranted-attack-on-an-honorable-citizen-a-dedicated-american-and-a-loyal-p "Ultimately, what is at stake in this matter is larger even than the reputation of one person. This is about who we are as a nation, and who we aspire to be. What makes America exceptional among the countries of the world is that we are bound together as citizens not by blood or class, not by sect or ethnicity, but by a set of enduring, universal, and equal rights that are the foundation of our constitution, our laws, our citizenry, and our identity. When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it." Nice to have you back, John.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

The personal trip insurance that I require all young people to purchase has no weight limit or any other such stipulation. And it provides for many $$tens of thousands of cost (helicopters) if necessary for extraction and evacuation. And this is from a foreign country, not a domestic location. If it can be done elsewhere it can be done at Philmont. Per person cost is less than $50 for the trip...peanuts compared to the rest of the costs. I just did a MedEvac quote for a domestic trip for one person 30 years old, coverage for one month of Adventure Sports coverage: less than $60. It pays for extraction and up to $50K for medical, etc. Not as inexpensive as the policy I use but I have a group rate. But if I croak out in the woods someplace, I'm hoping the wildlife will clean things up fairly quickly...save a lot of money.

Thanks Moggie, I was aware of some of those things but those are not really 'functions' as much as they are positions as figurehead...or am I wrong? But those ARE by agreement, right? It isn't as if she merely 'took' those positions because she is Queen? Or did she? Anyway, that wasn't my question. In short, I'm trying to understand why anyone would feel fondness for a monarch. Especially an absolute one. Perhaps there is a sense of sentimentality for something that involves pageantry or some historical significance? Perhaps the relief of getting out from under a monarch leads to a fondness for them? Or perhaps it's nice to keep one around (and perhaps allow benign functions for them) to remind oneself of the alternative? I'm trying not to focus on the UK although that is a good example. And if you can help me understand for your system that would at least be a start. Then, perhaps I can refocus on cricket.

Monarchs in general today. But I'm keeping in mind that the ones without the pin feathers today at some time in the past often were also absolute. If you throw dictators into the mix there are a few of those as well, but recently not as many as there were before, lol. Interesting...how long does a dictator and his family have to rule before they are called, 'king'...or 'royal family'?

No, not about playing cards. Some of the other threads in this forum made me think about the 'idea' of having a king or a queen or some other form of absolute monarch. And I realize that not only can I not fully imagine the situation of having such a person with that kind of power (and there's not much anyone can do to help me with this), I also can't understand why, even if it is just a figurehead who 'used' to have absolute power...why would anyone cling to this, even in a sentimental way? I just don't get it. If a former President of the United States, the day after he became a private citizen again, didn't put enough quarters into the parking meter, I'd expect him to get the same violation notice as any other citizen (although I'm also realistic enough to understand that he might still be able to pull a string or two, but you get the idea). Because I've never experienced this personally, I can't fully understand in terms of personal impact to my life the 'idea' of living under an absolute monarch in which citizens are granted no rights whatsoever except those that the king or queen 'feel' like granting. I understand the 'legal' aspects but not the 'state of being'...and that's something I don't expect anyone else can help with. But the part I would like anyone to explain is: why would anyone feel some kind of warm and fuzzy feelings toward such an absolute monarch? Especially after such an absolute monarch had had their pin feathers pulled, so-to-speak, and are now serving essentially at the pleasure of the people. Me, I'd be tempted to strip them down to the level of private citizen (perhaps in jail as a criminal) if I had that ability. Help me out if anyone can.

Why does it always seem to associate with the South? We trade on our basic wretchedness enough already - I wish some of the loonies in other regions would take some of the limelight...North Carolina - it figures.

"I ask the parents to stress deodorant use with their boys." You should probably forget about any international travel you ever dreamed about.

"...getting scouts to engage in politics." Why? Can't something useful be found for them to do?

One of the reasons I enjoyed the movie "Contagion" was the opening and certain scenes through the movie in which it was obvious all the times so many of us touch our faces with our hands...after touching other things that we share like door knobs, keyboards, money, etc. When you think about viruses most of us can't fathom just how small they are nor how many of them may be 'shared' even with the slightest of touch or airborne contact. The symptoms that I have seen at summer camp are similar to those we hear for cruise ships. I don't know for sure what virus it has been but it seems similar to the Norovirus group. If so, it is spread by common contact and does not require a contaminated water supply. We talk to the boys in our unit. We make them aware that this kind of virus is a gastrointestinal virus and that it is usually transmitted by oral contact and ingestion of a tiny amount of either the vomit or the sh*t from an infected person. I don't mince words or allow clinical terms to blunt the impact. The impact of the mental image of what I just wrote helps drive home the importance of sanitation. Example: Mr. X, the DE, wasn't careful when he wiped himself and forgot to wash his hands afterwards. He went to the trading post and then to his cabin because he felt sick. Little Billie touched the same door handle to the trading post. And then he bought a snack and touched the handle again on his way out. Then he opened the snack and transferred some of Mr. X's 'fecal material' to the snack by eating using his fingers. He didn't wash his hands before he ate the snack. He ate some of Mr. X's 'fecal material'. Mmmmmmmm. Good snack! A virus has just found 'fertile ground' in which to reproduce. Little Billie is about to enjoy a special gift from Mr. X. This unit thankfully has avoided having any boys contracting the illness so far. It might be dumb luck but I'd like to think that contrary to what I observe for most scouts, the boys in this unit are more careful to wash their hands frequently and strategically as well as using hand sanitizers when washing isn't as easy. I'm aware that it could be false pride. The camp makes these things available and tries to inform the campers of the need to stay clean. The troop tries not to allow sharing plates or utensils or food after it has been served to individuals. Dining hall staff hand plates of food to the boys, there is little or no buffet-style self-serving. I'm suspicious of the 'salad bar'. Bathrooms are sanitized with chlorine bleach solutions. But if even one person arrives at camp carrying one of these viruses, and if the population shares the facilities in a careless way, it can spread with awesome speed. Fortunately, I've never ever had this illness, just observed it in others. It appears to be one heck of a weight loss experience. I'm especially proud of the ability to keep my appetite even while the sounds, and sights, and smells of vomit permeate the dining hall. Mmmmmm, green eggs and ham, yum!(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Welcome to the forums. Psychology huh? Your background here could be a source of enlightenment for some and perhaps frustration for others, you included. Try to keep a sense of humor and be prepared to sift for pearls. If you ever get time, take a look at the Issues and Politics forum. Scan through some of that to see what I mean. It can be fun at times. Other times, well, we're just people. Other than that, try to focus on the boys, yours in particular. It's a LOT of fun. Mine is grown but I have a couple of grandchildren about the same ages as yours...I'm very much looking forward to a another fun ride.

This has been discussed several times in other threads. The most recent time (and I'm surprised that it's not still open) is: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=353790 You should be able to get plenty of good ideas reading through all the responses. Good luck on your program. I hope it works really well.

Roadside fight. Well, I've intervened in the past and I gave the details in another thread quite a while back. But by the time I had stopped my car, the fight was pretty much over and the two persons had separated, one of them in retreat. The deputy I had on the phone advised me not to approach, advice that a guy named Zimmerman probably should have taken. The deputy investigated later and eventually called me for some more conversation. Evidently between the time I left and the time he investigated, one of the guys returned with a golf club and nearly killed the other guy. Testosterone combined with stupidity. Bad combination. And what was it about? A girl. (have I ever mentioned before that we are monkeys?) Beavah, when I learned about the record that both of the guys had, neither one of them would have been worth your life. Trust me.

Moosetracker, it was in another country with real socialized medicine. 1. There was no wait. 2. They asked for name and local address. Passports were used for ID. The forms took maybe 5 minutes while they were working on the patient(s). 3. No one even mentioned insurance or residency. 4. As we checked out from the hospital, we merely gathered our things and waved goodbye. No charge. After the stitches, casts, x-rays, antiseptics, antibiotics, pain killers, time in surgery and hospital beds (not to mention dental work), no charge. Every citizen (and evidently every guest) is eligible. Now I will grant that in this very poor country (second only to Haiti in the region) your chances of getting an MRI or some high-tech surgical procedure would be slim, probably would require travel to another country. But for the kind of basic care many of us need some time in our lives, there is no check for coverage, no rejection because of pre-existing conditions...and no charge. So as far as the ACA is concerned, there were a few Americans who began to see things differently this summer.

In answer to the subject title: No. As you discovered empirically, they often seem to prefer areas covered by socks as well as other tight garments. They also like belts and tight underwear (and I can tell you that sometimes the relief of scratching feels so good I'm surprised it hasn't been condemned as some kind of special sin). A long time ago, when we went blackberry picking we'd dust ourselves with 'flowers of sulfur' or sulfur dust. There might actually be some preventative value to that mess but today I prefer to just live with them. I don't even bother with insect repellant (besides, chiggers are mites, not insects). Scratching a little now and then is just fine by me, all the other monkeys do it.

I don't worry about adult sensitivities. If I see a scout engaging in something that is risky or dangerous or if I just am not sure about it, I just blurt out what I'm thinking. Sometimes I get the 'huffing and puffing' from another leader, other times they get just as alarmed as I am. But either way, the problem, if there is one, is addressed. As for the adults, judging from what I see waddling around, I think I can still outrun most of them.

We had three brushes with socialized medicine this summer: an advisor nearly cut his thumb off the first day of their visit (doing something stupid with a pocketknife), a student developed a serious dental problem, and another advisor slipped and broke both legs on a hike (these were really serious breaks, too, in a very remote location). They all went to the hospital or the dental clinic. Anyone curious about how long we had to wait? Anyone curious about the forms we had to fill out? Anyone curious about the insurance entanglements, residency questions, etc.? Anyone curious about how much the surgeries and multiple days in the hospital cost? Curious?

There's worse things. Seems like every summer there's some virus thing that causes a boy to blow cookies all over the place. It's bad enough at lunch but if it happens at breakfast there's a better chance that it's going to be contagious vomit. So in order to stay on topic, we've adopted...I guess it's more of a Gregorian Chant or something...anyway, it goes like this: "Regurgitate! Regurgitate! Throw up all the food you ate!" Repeat until laughter replaces the wretching sounds. ...Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts......

If I want to punish someone, the one who does the singing is ME...'second verse, same as the first...." "in my many years of scouting both as youth and adult, I have never seen a scout ask to sing for a lost item." Did you mean "asked" to sing? Yeah, it's rare in my experience as well. I have only seen a scout asked to sing once, at scout camp. It was a scout from this unit and an ASM from this unit making him stand on a stool in the dining hall to sing for his book. It took me by complete surprise and brought back personal memories from when I had gone to camp as a scout. The boy in question laughed as he did it and seemed not to be bothered. I really like that kid (he's an adult now and I still like him). But several of us took the ASM aside and had a productive discussion. That's the only time I've seen it happen...of course that's only one week of camp out of the summer, one year. I'd like to add that over all the decades of scout camps, camporees, and unit functions, I've never observed crimes against humanity either (although some might place my singing in that category). But like I've written before, this area seems to be populated by creampuffs compared to what I read about other regions of the country...who's to know? I still suspect the probability of something like that happening may be finite but very, very small. OTOH, the probability of me breaking into song is fairly high...'oh, a horse is horse, of course, of course...." Edit to add: I have found several abandoned boats. In each case I was able to assist the natural resource agencies in prosecuting the owners to force them to dispose of the boats.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

C'mon, admit it Scoutfish. You're a communist, aren't you?

Is it possible that Baden Powell might have been wrong about something? Anything? Is it possible that he didn't anticipate some of the changes that have occurred after his life, changes that might affect the application even of those things he was right about?

"Comprehensive health insurance is an idea whose time has come in America. There has long been a need to assure every American financial access to high quality health care. As medical costs go up, that need grows more pressing. Now, for the first time, we have not just the need but the will to get this job done." Dirty little secret: Richard Nixon (1974) was a communist.

I was a CM for a couple years before and then several years after my son moved on to boy scouts. It actually was welcomed by the CO and parents because it allowed continuity and growth for the pack. The advantage of a long-term CM, or for that matter SM, is that you have a known quantity who is experienced, knows the system and likely has an understanding far beyond the training that is required. I really like the cub scouts, actually more than boy scouts. I've written this many times in these threads. Sometimes I'd like to go back to working with the pack again...all they need to do is say the word - but they seem to be doing fine without me right now. Besides, in just a short time my grandsons will be there and I'm going to enjoy that thoroughly. Now, I'm tempted to take Beavah's advice and move this to I&P. If you folks do NOT want this to happen, say so and please stick to the topic. Alternatively, Ohanadad, if you DO want me to move it (and I'm already counting Beavah's vote on this) just say so. I'll be glad make it happen for you.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Learn to work with the 'team' to get things done. This means learning to say 'no' - or delegating if the request can be handled more efficiently by someone else. Learn to trust the other team members to do their best, even if it isn't quite what you expected. Be honest. Do what you can and don't attempt more than that. If you start to feel stretched too thin, it was of your own making so you have to decide for yourself what to cut. Keep a sense of humor about yourself. This usually works well even in confrontations with parents (but you do have to be careful). Don't apply the humor to them. Don't take anything personally. If you start to take any of this personally, then you've invested too much in something that 1) will eventually let you down, and 2) will hurt when it does. Whenever you can, just watch the boys being boys. Enjoy this. File those good memories away and remember them whenever you're tempted to non-constructive thoughts. Always remember that there is life outside of scouting. Scouting is not life and scouting is not as important as some other things. (This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Stainless steel might be kind of pricey. What were the approximate dimensions?