WasE61

Temperature extremes do effect battery efficiencies. Air density at 6400' is 44% of that a sea-level... Without satellite based control, operation in heavy terrain is very limited. (Line of site or less).

Just popping in to say adios. Scouter is all done with Scouting and is on college in the fall. Since I don't like leaving accounts open on the 'Net, I'll be shutting this one off. Bye. B

I don't suppose anyone realizes that Scouting has some of this as well...right? The "instant gratification" model where a Scout is immediately awarded a badge or rank, is not very real world. It's possible to work on something and get no recognition at all...except for the negative recognition when you screw something up.

OK... I'll chime in ... player of trumpet, trombone, french horn .. parent of bass trombone major Fundamentals of Brass Playing 1) The bugle mouthpieces I've seen are really not conducive to learning to play a brass instrument...if the bugle will accept a trumpet mouthpiece, to to your local band instrument store and ask for a "Bach 7C" trumpet mouthpiece....is the standard beginner mouthpiece for trumpet. If the bugle has a Cornet size receiver, you can get the Bach mouthpiece for Cornet...if not sure...take the bugle with you. 2) Embouchure setting -- in spite of popular view...the lips are not pressed together to get the buzzing action. The easiest way to learn the mechanics is to blow "long tones". Place the mouthpiece to the lips with a slight gap (like trying to blow out a very small candle), begin blowing slowly and increase the force of the air...do not jam the horn into your face. When you are blowing enough air, a buzz will start and you will get a note. 3) Long tones - you don't care what note you play as long as you are not straining to play it. Play long tones ... 6-10 second notes .. breath...6-10 second note...for 5 minutes. 4) Changing notes...no..pressing your lips tighter together does not change the note...stretching your lips tighter from the corners of your mouth does. Start with a long tone, when pull the corners of your mouth back with your cheek muscles...keep blowing as you do...the note will "slur" up. Make them looser, it will slur down. Lip slurs (as they are called) are the ultimate strengthening exercise for brass players. 5) Do not starve the horn for air...more is better. As you play more you will get additional range of notes. But 15 minutes per day is essential...but do not overplay...bad things can happen...play for 4 days...rest one day. Good luck. P.S. If you have a bright red (or blue) ring on your lips after playing for 15 minutes you are pressing to hard. Some swelling is normal after a practice session.

I'm a little on the fence on the whole thing...it's not that he mismanaged his time as much as Scouting, at least subconsciously, reminded him of his Dad's death, not something your average teen wants to be reminded about. By getting back in, and then not being able to succeed ... might leave a bad taste in his mouth.,..and he's got big fish to fry over the next seven years. Dwelling on this (which I could easily see him doing) could be a detriment. I'll have to have a talk about that.

Incidentally, I have no problem with "drop dead dates", as long as you realize that sometimes you get the result like the Challenger, the iNtel 386 and the Edsel.

We did the math, and he's late. Not based on CoH date. One week short between Life and aging out... The SM and ASM's were will to backdate everything, but someone ratted him out to the Troop board. His project is to clean up a home used for emergency housing of families in crisis. I know this has to be churning up a lot of crap for him...he hadn't even realized that he had stepped away for all that time.

Public kudos to my son. For nearly 5 year he stopped Scouting. His father passed suddenly when he was 12. Scouting was their summer pastime. He took up Marching Band ... it was his gig...played along side my other son in jazz band. This year, he decided to try for his Eagle. Banged out the rest of this requirements for Life. Picked out his Eagle project...planning in progress. Then at one of the Troop Eagle Board reviews ... the adult in charge said, "Sorry, your Life Rank was one week too late." I think most boys would have folded it up and gone home...not my son. "Well, I'm going to do the project anyway." Good boy...

Funny how the response doesn't match the News report which states, http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/02/05/bare-bottomed-bathers-cub-scout-nature-hike-includes-nude-beach-visit/

From the article, both adults present left to go get the equipment, and the boys took off on the line.

http://www.kpho.com/story/27946139/east-valley-boy-scout-dies-in-zip-line-accident

My observation is that kids never challenge authority or the status quo. Ironically, my Scout is far more guilty of the trait than my non-Scouts.

"When i became SM two years ago, my paster told me that he is supportive of the Boy Scouts, as long as it does not conflict with catholic values." That sounds about right....the Catholics have spent years ignoring pedophiles....just like the BSA.

Sentinel wrote: "I don't see the difference between this and the kid who gets forced by his parents to join the band or a sports team that they don't want to be a member of." I completely agree. As parents, I think we have to give out kids options. But it should be their decision to engage (or disengage). I've been involved in youth sports and band for a number of years, both as a coach and a sideline parent. I've only had one kid in baseball that was there and didn't want to be. He got in trouble in the dugout and left before the season was over.