OldGreyEagle

We have a pretty active chaplain aide corp, mostly because we have a Polish National Catholic Church Priest as an ASM and his son in the troop. Makes for lively liturgical discussions versus Greek, Russian, Ukranian and Byzantine theologies. Being Roman Catholic helps somewhat

Gee, if you can remember the 60's, obviously you didnt do them right... I did the 60's

I think the badges I respect most are the ones confered upon others. Such as, the Vigil Honor, District Award of merit, Silver Beaver, the adult Religious award. I know there are others, ones that some one else applied for in the persons name. Of course, the downside is when I hear of "deals", I will nominate you if you nominate me, it severly clouds my thoughts of those people for quite awhile

since its obviously a European commercial, I was surprised to see the sense of humor portrayed in it

Gee Whiz Eamonn, Kathie Lee hasnt been on day time TV for a very long time, some chick named Kelly Rippa replaced her back in 2001. Frank Gifford has some sports past I think. People around Bethlehem talk about a guy who grew up here, had the nickname "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik. Talk is he laid Frank out in a game in 1963 and frank didnt wake up until he realized he was doing play by play with Howard Cosell.

Pssst Eamonn, thats Kathie Lee, as in Kathie Lee Gifford, married to Frank Gifford.

I agree that kids are not all that different today than they used to be, at least when I was a kid, after Brownsea Island but before the end of the red berets. But one thing kids today are is more sophisticated, they have been exposed to so much more. How many times have you heard comments at a kids birthday party such as "They never had anything like that when I was a kid". I remember watching Jason and the Argonauts with my son and I asked him how they filmed the fighting skeletons or the flying harpies. He was 11 at the time and looked at me and said "Puters daddy, they use computers". I pointed out that the movie was made in 1963 and they didnt have special effects computers back then, he was impressed. A bit later we were watching "Topper", you know, with Leo G Carroll. And they had ghosts and I asked him how they did that. He said "Puters" again and I said hey, they didnt even have color, let alone computers and he was again impressed. Some of todays cars park themselves, others give you turn by turn directions, how many people drive a standard shift? And that's just the cars. At the grade school I went to, (Elementary and Middle Schools combined don't you know) we had a sophisticated security system. Sister Mother Principal screened anyone comming in the school and could repell a pack of rabid rottweilers with a single glance. Today. most people want the pack of rabid rottweilers to be the security system. The boy scout troop was lead by WWII vets who were either European Theatre and did winter camping well or Pacific Theatre who did summer camping well. And they smoked and drank a bit (beer) as well. But saying numbers are down because times have changed will not help. OK, I agree times have changed, but we can't keep blaming the youth for changing. What do industries do that face a changing consumer? The finest quality buggy whip manufacturer had to diversify or face extinction during the first 20 years or so of the last century. The president of ACME Whips may have blamed the consumer up and down, but that did not save his company. Blaming the changing times does not increase dwindling numbers. Unfortunately, to engage youth today takes effort and planning and a committment to the BSA program that is daunting. Even if you attend all the possible training that is offered and you follow the program to the letter, unless you have enthusiasm and drive, you may not be sucessful. This last bit is a tad disheartening to me. I can see that it takes more than just dedication to the program to get kids excited, each unit needs real talent to engage the youth, and that is where I beleive the issue is. To know and think like your target demographic, its what susessful compnmaies do, its what we have to do, I just wonder if it's within our grasp.

Hey vol_scouter, how is your hospital doing with OPPS, DRGs, and APC's? Remember, it isnt a science unless you have your own language

Take a lookk at the following http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/lightning_safety.htm and review the Ligthening safety presentation, its a start

::Spoken with inflection from the famous Jim Mora "Playoffs tirade" Mother-in-law? Mother-in-law, dont talk to me about mother-in-laws, this calls for major perk Haul out the holly; Put up the tree before my spirit falls again. Fill up the stocking, I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now. For we need a little Christmas Right this very minute, Candles in the window, Carols at the spinet. Yes, we need a little Christmas Right this very minute. It hasn't snowed a single flurry, But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry; So climb down the chimney; Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen. Slice up the fruitcake; It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough. For I've grown a little leaner, Grown a little colder, Grown a little sadder, Grown a little older, And we need a little Christmas now

This is in reponse to a question on a previous thread on how to propose a new merit badge, there are a few suggestions on the web, I like this one, but in no way mean to disparage any others http://usscouts.org/mb/proposals.asp

Well thanks guys, I guess I am a little down and singing does perk the spirit and so, I guess the next selection is obvious Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites When the bee stings When I'm feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad

So, on the Asking about God in the Advancement thread, I sorta screwed up, well no I actually screwed up when I asked the question. I should have just copied the original post on take 2 and let it go. So if I mis-stated the original post, I am sorry as I recall I was under fire, yeah thats the ticket, I was under artillery, no, wait, mortar, no wait, sniper, yeah yeah thats the ticket I was under sniper fire and wasnt being cogent, yeah thats the ticket, I was under sniper fire so I am in no way responsible for my actions. Now I must get back to my wife, Morgan Fairchild

well, when I am wrong, boy I am wrong I started the Music Man lyric tribute to lighten the other thread. Then things got out of hand, mostly because of my efforts. I asked the question because that was the original posting. Actually I should have copied the original post: "What do you think of a Eagle board of review that dares to ask the scout if he believes in a god? Isn't that a violation of separation of church and state? Are they allowed to ask such questions? I can understand questions about scouting stuff, but about a belief in a god is going a bit far, don't you think? Macy (This message has been edited by MacyM)" I can see questions on how the scout is reverent and how he does his duty to "God and my Country". If his belief system is gods and Country, he explains how he does it as well

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness May an Eagle Board of Review ask the Youth about God?

MacyM, I apologize if you consider this thread hijacked but to give you inside information, I was 2 seconds away from closing this thread. It had degenerated into a string of "I never said that", "yes you did" "where did I say" and other replies that were not on topic. My first post of "you gotta know your territory" was to get people off the where did I asy that line of responses and then it went off from there. The EBOR has a right to ask about reverence in the scout's life. The EBOR cannot make a judgement concerning the scout's reverence unless he state there is no God. I am not sure what else can be said on the topic, but that's just me, I could be wrong. PS Vicki, you are welcomed at the Crew anytime, you know where we meet, second star to the right and straight on 'til morning

Its down right refreshing to see a fellow musical lover in the bunch, this time of year I look forard to Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk Makin' lazy circles in the sky. (This message has been edited by oldgreyeagle)

When the best post of late is Bob White and Ed agreeing, and then we go back to "where did I say?" I have this melody running through my head. You can talk, you can talk You can bicker, you can talk You can bicker, bicker, bicker You can talk, you can talk You can talk, talk, talk, talk, Bicker, bicker, bicker You can talk all you want But it's different then it was No it ain't, no it ain't But you gotta know the territory Enough Already(This message has been edited by OldGreyeagle)

(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

I would like to see Anwar developed and to drill in an around our coastal waters. I would like to see some modern gas refineries built and a recognition this is a real problem that will not go away anytie soon

So the Fraterization portion of the Venturing Youth protection can be not "ignored" but understood. So, then when cooking with Beer on a Troop activity, I understand I will cook out all the alchohol so its ok to use.

Untrained leaders is indeed a problem in scouting. Leaders who do not follow the scouting program is also an issue. But I am not sure there are any more/less leaders following the program today than there were in the '60s. I have posted that I was skeptical of GW's original post, then I found the US Park service statistic page and found what I did. The numbers of any type of camping is going down. We have a fellow forum member who is a Park Ranger who pesonally verifies that camping is down. We have people coming up with the term "Nature Deficit Disorder" to describe youth's detachment from the outdoors and writing articles about it. None of this is due to untrained scout leaders. I have a deep love of the outdoors, I am at a loss to pass on this love to the youth. I can take all the training I get my hands on and staff all the Powder Horn Courses I can (which I am) but if the families dont camp, it makes that much harder to interest youth in doing so. Doesnt mean it can't happen, as evidenced by RangerT's experience, but it makes it that much harder and how much energy should be expected?

I hope those who think this is a great thing have thought the ramifications out. Perhaps America can survive with higer gas prices, but at what cost? Somethings will be effected. Fast-Food comes to mind, travel of course and tourism, thats a lot of people who wont have jobs. Stores that carry a huge variety of items will prosper as one stop shopping makes a comeback, specialty stores disappear. The human cost will be huge.

was a little skeptical at GWs remarks, then I did a search on the National Park Services Public use statistic page http://www2.nature.nps.gov/stats/viewReport.cfm I checked the last ten years in the categoies of BackCountry Camping, Tent Camping and RV Camping. All seem to be trending down. If the family isnt camping, why would junior be interested in it? I know if scouting is the best show in town, then their wont be an issue attracting youth, but what if the interested and trained adults are not showmen? I might be able to put on a huge gala show stopping event once every 6 months or so, but every week? Who can do that? maybe I am just getting tired

well, you know those wacky scientists, always comming up with way to dispose of an over abudance of lab rats and take away lifes simple pleasures, like anything I want to eat and drink