TAHAWK

AVON's Skin So Soft has been tested and has no measurable effect in repelling mosquitoes. In contrast, Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard has insect repellent added. "Permethrin kills ticks on contact with treated clothing. A method of reducing deer tick populations by treating rodent vectors involves stuffing biodegradable cardboard tubes with permethrin-treated cotton. Mice collect the cotton for lining their nests. Permethrin on the cotton instantly kills any immature ticks feeding on the mice. It is important to put the tubes where mice will find them, such as in dense, dark brush, or at the base of a log; mice are unlikely to gather cotton from an open lawn. Permethrin is used in tropical areas to prevent mosquito-borne disease such as dengue fever and malaria. Mosquito nets used to cover beds may be treated with a solution of permethrin. This increases the effectiveness of the bed net by killing parasitic insects before they are able to find gaps or holes in the net. Military personnel training in malaria-endemic areas may be instructed to treat their uniforms with permethrin, as well. An application should last several washes. Permethrin is available for topical use as a cream or lotion. It is indicated for the treatment and prevention in exposed individuals of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) and treatment of scabies (Sarcoptes scabies). Permethrin formulations include a prescription-only 5% strength for scabies and an over-the-counter 1% strength for lice." CDC "Clothing, hats, shoes, bed nets, jackets, and camping gear can be treated with permethrin for added protection. Products such as Permanone and Sawyer permethrin are registered with EPA specifically for use by consumers to treat clothing and gear. Alternatively, clothing pretreated with permethrin is commercially available, marketed to consumers in the United States as Insect Shield or BugsAway. Permethrin is a highly effective insecticide-acaricide and repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, and other biting and nuisance arthropods. Clothing and other items must be treated 24–48 hours in advance of travel to allow them to dry. As with all pesticides, follow the label instructions when using permethrin clothing treatments. Permethrin-treated materials retain repellency or insecticidal activity after repeated laundering but should be retreated, as described on the product label, to provide continued protection. Clothing that is treated before purchase is labeled for efficacy through 70 launderings. Clothing treated with the other repellent products described above (such as DEET) provides protection from biting arthropods but will not last through washing and will require more frequent reapplications.' Several sources say permethrin presents a low risk of absorption through the skin. As noted, it is used directly on the skin to treat lice and scabies. v Regarding handling of Permethrin-treated clothing post-outing: Lemon Eucalyptus repells deer ticks and reduces risk of fungus infections. It does not melt plastics but lasts only 75% as long as deet products.

Good grief ! Only 54 ! I can barely recall party lines. Cord boards were the stuff of legend by 1954 where I grew up.

The Bible may be quoted on different sides of religious issues. BSA is likewise. I wonder, for example, what BSA says and will say specifically to the atheist religions who have been in Scouting for generations.

BSA apparently does not require Scouters to live in councils in which they serve. I live close to the junction of three councils. I am registered in those three councils and serve in each to varying extents. What does it mean to "belong" to a district or council? I think it means no more than that a unit is registered in the council within which the unit's CO is located, certain "paperwork" has to be. "filed" with that council, and certain fees have to be paid at that Council. What Scouting events you attend and where you donate money seems to be your choice. One of my councils has routinely trained Scouters from the adjoining council's east district since that district has offered no training on the Scout side for three years and did no Cub training for two years. Because I staff those training events, I can assure you that the Scouters from "over west" are happily accepted at training, as are their units for camporees and Klondikes. That virtually training-less district also has had no roundtable staff for three years, so some of its Scouters "cross the line" to attend roundtable. What is the penalty for wearing the "wrong" CSP? (I avoid the issue with three different shirts.)

"All Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Sea Scout ranks, and all Venturing advancement awards must be reported to local councils. The best and most accurate method is through the BSA’s Internet Advancement (see “Internet Advancement Highlights,†6.0.0.0, for more detail on reporting). At the council’s discretion, the paper form, Advancement Report, No. 34403, may also be submitted, as may electronic files generated by unit management software such as TroopMaster©. Council advancement committees may elect to accept a completed Eagle Scout Rank Application that is signed by the board of review chair and the Scout executive, in lieu of an advancement report form." Guide to Advancement

What happens if I want another knot from the "Restricted" list? I earned most of my knots in a council that ceased to exist forty-four years ago and the records were already gone when I tried to get them "transferred" in 1981. Ever since my "newer" council was forced to switch to BSA standard software, their records show I completed adult basic training in 1910. That makes me 21 in 1910, and 126 in another two months, so I must be dead.

There are multitudes of opinions on what a "survival" knife should be - all the way from light MORA's to two-pound khukuri. There are even advocates for razor blades. As the knife is typically for use in "wilderness," it probably should be something you are happy with toting in the wilderness if design or accident puts you on foot.. Carry a folding pruning saw and you need less weight of knife. There is more of a consensus on a "bushcraft" knife - 4" blade with minimal to no guard - a slicer tough enough to baton wood as required. (Lost? Sit down and carve a spoon.) There are forums (forii ?) devoted solely to knives for bushcraft and survival. When gearing up and tempted to go the razor blade route, remember: "Things rarely go wrong according to plan."

Not the same. I was thinking about proof of what was said if, for the first time in 45 years, I need that proof. Since I was a small cog in Echelon at TPC, I figure there are copies of the telephone voice messages as well, but how do we get at them if we, as opposed to the state, need them?

Stosh, I send most of mine to the trash and periodically Hillary my trash bin. So I can't honestly say they are all saved. Nor could I prove they were all saved if I stopped cleaning them out.

The statement is published by Scouting Magazine, the official publication of BSA for Scouters, and is by "Michael Johnson, Youth Protection Director for the Boy Scouts of America."

Well put.

My original council (Well, plus the northern half of the country that broke off in an adult dust-up in the 1940's, only to recombine in 1972): http://www.ocbsa.org/youth-programs/sea-scouts/ SHIPS: SSS 90, Renegades, Newport Beach, co-ed SSS 711, Del Mar, Newport Beach,male only SSS 936, Mariners, Dana Point, co-ed SSS 1767, Triton, Newport Beach, co-ed SSS 2020, Mission Viejo, male only

The grouping of MB's with choice from within groups sounds great. In fact SUPER! .

Iron Chef became one of the highlights of summer camp and excluded any camp that required eating all meals in the camp dining hall.

"Yes we also had our sheath knife, but that had one main purpose which we don't use in Scouts." What, no jar of peanut butter?

First time I saw it, I checked to see that I was logged in. I was. I'll try to get a picture.

The "edit" function seems to cease to work within a couple of minutes. At first, the button is there, but you are told you are not authorized to edit. Then the edit button disappears. As a really terrible typist, that's a minus among the many pluses. Any option to extend the period to edit?

We disagree. I posted my reasoning that "policies" were compulsory. In this case, BSA says: . . . § Another adult leader should be copied on any electronic communication between adult and youth member. Violations of any BSA's Youth Protection policies must immediately be reported to the Scout executive. Given that this is an official BSA policy statement, I don't believe that you can take much solace from the use of the "should" word, especially given the immediately following language: "Violations of any BSA's Youth Protection policies must immediately be reported to the Scout executive." BSA's designated "expert" has recently posted at Bryan's place: Youth Protection policies extend into cyberspace. There should be no one-on-one online or digital activities (games, social media, etc.) or electronic communications. Leaders should include or copy a parent or another leader in all online communications, ensuring no one-on-one contact exists in text, social media or other forms of online or digital communication. So the expert has ratcheted down from "another adult leader" to " a parent or another adult leader." Baby steps towards rationality.

Generally, I do not think we do ceremonies as well as we once did. Wood Badge does not even have a closing ceremony. Losing the mystery of firelight is sad.

Please think upon the implication of this 2015 statement by BSA: [emphasis added] The Scout is to primarily experience Scouting in the context of the patrol. The troop exists for administrative convenience.

Luddites forever !

I know the Field and Stream article. Written by someone(s) with modest knowledge of the topic. Not the worst, although fairly obsolete today. The article by Knife Works is the real deal. And excellent retailer, by the way. There are decent and inexpensive carbon steel slip-joints made in China, but you will not find them in local stores. They can do fit-and-finish. The issue is heat treatment, which cannot be seen but only experienced. Google Rough Rider. 90%+ of all knives are found on the Internet. There were always junk knives, but as buyers are less knowledgeable the proportion of junk has increased. (Why are many CHINA knives junk? We buy them,) Prices for the same item vary tremendously. Shop. ePrey is like the wild west. Stay alert and pack heat (Pay by credit card so you have recourse.) Shopping value rather than price is a lesson we can pass along that has life-long utility.

Again, this is only about one characteristic, edge holding when cutting. (That pretty much boils down to abrasion-resistance and edge stability.) No ranking of toughness on page 1. In the course of the LONG thread, other characteristics do come up. WARNING: KNIFE KNUTS ON THE LOOSE. JARGON IN USE. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/793481-Ranking-of-Steels-in-Categories-based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope Stainless steels that hold an edge well and are also relatively tough include Elmax, CPM 35V and CPM 20CV. VG 10 is less abrasion resistant but notable for easily taking a very fine edge. Used in survival knives abopted by Sweden and the U.S. All of them hold an edge better than typical carbon steel (1095 being the classic used for over a century). Big bucks! More economically-priced knives of decent quality are made of stainless steels that hold an edge less well than the expensive ones but better than almost any non-stainless steel. Examples include 420HC [used by Buck], 440A, and AUS-8. 8Cr13MoV is in that class and is used exclusively in China (like the BSA "Scout" pattern slip-joint knife). 440C was once the latest and greatest stainless and is still pretty good, especially in edge holding compared to most carbon steels. As steel fashion and performance have gone on to greater things, 440C knives are often more economical. Very stain resistant. Still hard to sharpen compared to typical carbon steel = better edge retention in use. No free lunch. 440J. The "J" stands for junk. Almost no abrasion-resistance. Used is very cheap Mall Ninja knives. Exception: sometimes used as sandwich outer layers in laminated steels with something good in the center layer to hold an edge. Near-stainless steels notable for edge-holding include D2 Tool Steel. The steel is like flour for a baker - a raw material. The quality of the finished product of course depends on the skill and integrity of the maker.

So I misspoke, not merely a third party but another "adult leader" must be party to every telephone call with a "member." (Apparently we care less about non-member minors. Strange since the rules are to protect us. Are members really more likely to falsely accuse?) And how can we be sure this rule is obeyed? First, no telephone calls to houses without adult leaders unless you first call another adult leader and only then add the number of the "member.". The same applies even if the member's house has another adult leader in residence because he or she might be absent or otherwise not on the line for the entire conversation.. Finally, accept no telephone calls from Scouts unless you have a second adult leader who can pick up with you on "1, 2, 3 'Hello.'" Otherwise, you cannot be sure the required second adult leader is on the call. I hope this is a mistake, as was the former rule that only adults were to deal with "discipline" in Scouting. I know better than most that we live in the age of the lawsuit. But trying to shape the entire enterprise to deal with narrow risks runs another risk - destroying the enterprise out of fear to run any risk. Further, history tells us that enacting rules that inspire doubt, distrust, hostility, and contempt for the rule-makers tends to reduce compliance with all rules. Were he alive, we could ask George Germain,, Secretary for America, how all those rules for the colonies worked out for the UK. He too was a superior person who saw more clearly than the mill run of folks out in the day-to-day world. He too would not listen to the discontent of his "inferiors," much less hear them.

It seems I do not have "permission" to use the edit button on my post, I will try not to need to do so.