Fuzzy Bear

hmmmmmmmm, ok all together, Gary indiana, Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana.... We sing the State song of each person that comes to the campfire, so they will feel at home, even though they really are at home. FB

Thanks Wingnut. I forgot to add that it is a true story. We still have the plaster casts up on the wall in the Scouthut. The Scouts talk about that visitation late at night on campouts. We also tell it at Halloween. It sends shivers down my spine each time I hear it retold. FB

We start the day with a full pound of ground coffee in the pot and by the end of the second day it is finally fit to drink. Some only like it on the first day and think the second day doesn't have quite the kick. So, some bickering about such things will normally occur in light of differing tastes. Just fill up your cup and tell us which way you like it. We are sure to tell you ours. Welcome, FB

"*To avoid the discussion turning into a philosophical discussion" If this column were pornography, everybody would miss the point of it. FB

Truth is stranger than Fiction (to be told at Roundtables on a stormy night) "Once upon a time, deep in the woods and in the dark of night, I actually saw a Unit Commissioner with my own two eyes." SM's move in closer with eyes wide and looks of outright fear on their faces. "Yes, it was, he wore a red jacket and round hat. He had a coffee mug attached permanently to his hand. It was an awful sight to behold!" SM's move closer to the edge of their seats and grip them ever so tightly. "He had big boots and came right into our camp. I whispered to the boys to stay down and inside their tents. We had no idea what to expect." SM's begin to tremble and shake. "The first thing he did was head straight for the coffee pot and fill his cup clear to the brim. He drank the scalding brew without a breath. It appeared he had lots of experience with such things so we didn't want to disturb him." "He looked around and since he didn't see anybody, he poured another cup and stumbled off into the woods." SM's give a sigh of relief. "We haven't seen him since that fateful night but we took plaster casts of those big prints to prove his existence and here they are." Light applause. "We will now take questions." "What was the round hat for?" "We don't know but we have a theory that it keeps the rain out of his mug." FB, UC

I have been doing these for over two years now. A slab of turkey bacon/meat instead of pig bacon and/or cow meat. The meat is good but with spices, it is even better. Cutting out carbonated sugar drinks by drinking Tonic water. Cutting down on chocolate and candy by eating more nuts and fruits. I usually have an apple and an orange. (*They are different from each other:) Eating more oatmeal instead of eggs. Dried oatmeal, raisins and walnuts is a good backpacking breakfast. Drinking 8 ounces of cold water 4 times per day. The recommended amount is twice that but just start. I have quit drinking real coffee and now drink instant decaf. This one took me about two years to quit. I drink one cup a day so on campouts it is lighter to carry. I moved my office to the far end of the hallway and I walk back and forth to my assistant's office and the file cabinet. I park across the street and walk over to my work. I have a power mower that I only push. I purchased four acres of almost unusable land and I have been building check dams and cleaning it up over the past year. I spend about four to eight hours per week working it. I have heard from reliable sources that diets don't work as well as changing your lifestyle. I enjoy these "new" things but I know that efficiency has caused me some problems in the past. I am doing some other things and I am open to other suggestions. FB FB

Vicki, I understood your analogy about Montana and FZ. I have also read and remember some of your other posts. This question could be dealt with quickly and effectively if we were actually sitting around a campfire. There are several limiting factors to the virtual setting. Hacky Sack, No and Yes. FB

Some or one will probably try to duplicate the same stunt at home without the same success or care. Kids just love fire and are concrete thinkers. In an attempt to increase the novelty of fire, adults like to take an extra step or two, mainly for themselves. Fire all by itself is simply novel to kids. You can get the same results by building a safe fire and everyone watch it. You can use candles. You can strike a match. It doesn't make any difference, same results. FB

My WB CC's name was Jack. He was overweight. He had his stomach stapled and lost 100 pounds. Somehow the staples pulled or his stomach stretched or both and he gained it all back. His habits of Scouting and eating defeated his efforts at losing weight. I knew that he struggled with his weight but his love for Scouting, his insights and depth of knowledge is what I admired and still do. Jack's character was well developed and that is what showed. I am concerned for him but I have benefited from his time in the program. I would be much the less without Jack. He is and remains an excellent example for Scouts and adults. I raise my glass of sparkling water to him. Thanks, Jack! FB

Roger, I followed Whittlin' Jim when I was younger and after he died, I acquired a few of his slides and some of his art. I have traded for a few other slides over the years. I now have a relatively small but carefully selected collection. A person from Kansas tried to take Jim's place and he did a few articles for Boys' Life magazine. I purchased a couple of his slides at a Tradeoree but I can't think of his name right now. I guess I shouldn't even have written but I share your interest. FB

D. Everyone knows that women are to be worshiped as delicate vessels. Women should be allowed to enter into sports but be closely supervised and wear only appropriate clothing and never be televised or photographed. All events would be closed only to participants and men coaches would be banished. The multimillion dollar cosmetics, lingerie, and fashion industries should be outlawed. We should burn any book that that even verbally depicts women as anything other than being perfectly pure. Women should only have one pair of shoes, high top sneakers. Women should be covered from head to toe with black robes and not be allowed to be seen or heard from ever again. Any magazine that depicts women doing anything other than cooking or cleaning is out also. Fantasies are to be prevented by a special electric dog collar around the neck and etc. of all males. By following these simple guidelines, debates about such things (*word would no longer be uttered) would be unnecessary. There are men even in Montana. I think that just about does it. Did I leave anything out? FB

My wife never considered it a deterrent. It is the amount of time I spend in it that leads to problems. During my tenure in high school, the uniform didn't get in the way but sometimes going to church, Order of the Arrow, playing sports, school clubs, Scout meetings and outings did. Since study wasn't a priority, I dated in my spare time. I pretty much made a mess of it. I hope they all have forgiven me by now. FB

Ed, Your post is excellent and one well worth considering. The list of required things is quite long. Safety issues are first, covering physical and emotional issues and then the promises. Following the rules of Scouting, especially the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan are the basis of the program. Page 1 of the 2003 Boy Scout Handbook, Copyrighted in 1998, Eleventh Edition, Fifth Printing: Scouting promises: ...the great outdoors, camping, learning about nature, being taught, teaching, and helping others ...friendship ...opportunities to work toward Eagle ...knowing and using your resources, good deeds ...increasing in wisdom and strength ...adventure, learning, challenge, responsibility. The Eight Methods of Scouting are not mentioned but are detailed in the following 449 pages, item by item. One can either use the summary approach or use the manual, your choice. FB

We should be acutely aware of the vitamin needs of our body, especially with vitamins A-N and fish oil. If you haven't purchased at least $50.00 per month of the correct vitamins, then you might not live to be old enough to age into a prune and wilt in the corner of a rest home that smells of urine. Also be aware of getting eight hours of sleep per night and a balanced diet. It's these kinds of tips that one day could allow you to be wheeled into the sun while someone quips, "He is having a good day." It will also allow one to look "natural" during an open casket service. Just in case someone thinks, "he is against good health", think again. It is the other benefits that I am concerned about. FB

I watched a video of our Council's last Woodbadge session. It was evident that many of the staff were over the weight limit. Since I am new in the Council, I was shocked. I thought to myself, "I have to get to know them better." FB

PWD Skit Scout Officials come to FB and ask the question, "How should we run a National PWD?" FB does not scratch his head or hesitate, "Each Scout is given a block of wood, nails and wheels and is told to build a car in one day, using any of the tools, paint and sandpaper available. At the end of the day, a race will be held. The winners will go to the district and do it all over again until they move up to a National competition." "Gee, FB what about Dad helping out a little bit at his shop with all of the electronic gizmos to make it a super-deluxe model?" says Scout Officials. FB, "Well guys, it just doesn't seem fair. I would agree only if everyone had the same Dad." Scout Off., "You are not being fair. Cubbing is for the Family." FB, "Oh, you are so right it is one of the Methods. Go for it Dads." FB is awakened by a knock on the door but it is only the milkman. Where did you come from? I didnt know you guys still delivered?" M.M., We dont but we wanted to tell you that the National PWD will be held soon. FB scratches his head hesitantly. Curtains close with a booming voice, "Gentlemen, start your engines."

I realize that the Eight Methods of Scouting are not required but I would like to see Method number 9 added and then required by all. It is called sitting on a log around a campfire. If we all were required to face each other, we wouldn't be so quick to use both barrels to settle our squabbles. Humor might be our first shot instead. FB

Dug, I accept your argument that you believe that God is not all-knowing and that man has free-will. I would not attempt to change your mind and even if I could it might interfere with your free-will and with your personal walk with God and I dont want that to happen. I doubt any of my words would be strong enough to elicit a change anyway. Only God and the receptive servant have that ability. Packsaddle, Judging another's faith no matter how much knowledge the person has of the other's faith, that judgment comes from within that person. It is not an act that is derived from God and it is expressly forbidden by the God that I know. We agree that mankind is imperfect and cannot change that characteristic. Man and science is willing to work within the domain of imperfection to continue to be fruitful and to multiply, which is God's command to us. So, your stock portfolio will always be in jeopardy but your chances are increased for an increase in yield by having good oversight and your financial manager is obligated to tell you so. As for God's command to cast three or four generations into outer darkness because of a lack of belief of one, is derived from the God of Law at a specific time in the past. A careful review of history does not reveal a changing God but mankind changing and understanding God. God's perfection allows for him to be multifaceted and complex. Mankind's imperfection allows for him to slowly learn the use of the zero and then to increasingly build a calculus that is highly sophisticated but still imperfect. So, God walks with us because mankind has failed to learn to run. To be fair and balance your equation, your question should also address man's laws on other men that have lead to mass killings, purges, pogroms, genocide, etc. The simple explanation of man's characteristic to be imperfect would lead us to believe that man is revealing himself to God and slowly evolving but we suspect something else very peculiar is happening. If the Bible is God's word about himself, then recorded history is man's word about himself. Comparatively speaking, God's word has to carry the vote. (*this also fits in with the doctrine of election, I also must add that if we look at the history of prejudice (i.e., men hating other men) in America that hatred and the effects of hatred can actually be shown to carry over for three and four generations. I am supposing that is how man is similar in nature to the God of Law. The things that I know about God come from the Bible. I have also walked with God long enough that my ways have come in conflict with his/her ways and I have learned and continue to learn from those incidents. I try to quote from the Bible but big words, old words, and too many words get in the way so I sometimes shorten some of the stories or examples to make a point. I try to understand doctrine(s) that are derived from an overview of scripture and the characteristics of God, according to scriptures that appear to be consistent about the subject. It may be the doctrines that are throwing you a little. It historically has thrown most of us into wild fits of fear, misunderstandings, and rage about the nature of God. The history of doctrinal evolution is interesting but sad. It has lead Church people to have a reputation that is less than acceptable to mankind and especially to God and the results have carried over for many generations. So, if doctrine is confusing, you have joined a large number that either in private or openly has pointed out the problems that exist with understanding it. Actually it is another thing that mankind so imperfectly understands about a perfect being. FB

Dug, (*please forgive me because I am not trying to convince you of anything. I am sharing some of my thoughts on a difficult subject.) I want to review a specific point about observation and perfect knowledge. When man observes an event, the event itself can be changed by the act of observation. This does not happen often but it has occurred in controlled experiments other than in Quantum Mechanics. When God observes an event, nothing will be changed. This difference allows God the ability to observe events from any perspective past, present, and future but that observation will in no way affect the event itself. Man is bound by the second law of Thermodynamics. Man can have knowledge of the past and the present but not of the future. This limits man to probabilities on what will or will not occur. So, man's knowledge will always be imperfect but man will always have free-will. God's observation of that free-will can in no way hinder or redirect man's choices. Now, in the case of Jonah, one can say that Jonah was forced to go to Nineveh because the storm and the whale were sizable obstacles. But on the other hand, Jonah willingly accepted the God's Mission, Jonah became willing honest when the storm put the boat in peril, and Jonah willing went to deliver the message after the whale put him back on the right path. Jonah was a man of integrity and was willing to be responsible even though his tolerance was flawed. The question should be asked, could Jonah have taken holiday and went to Tarsus? The answer has to be that Jonah could not possibly do anything else for several reasons. Jonah's own characteristics lead him when nothing else di and Jonah was God's chosen one, who obviously was a poor choice by all earthly standards. But as God's chosen servant, Jonah chose to do exactly what he did even though he personally would have liked to see the thousands die a horrible death. We could say that God reminded Jonah on a couple of occasions about what he had promised to do, and Jonah was a man of his word, so he did it. FB

Dug, Jonah stayed true to form with his imperfect knowledge and his free will even when given every opportunity and ample evidence to do otherwise. Appeasing is not the same as pleasing someone. God knows the difference between the two. We are not quite as bright. FB

When a human KNOWS if any person will accept a chocolate ice cream, it has nothing to do with perfect knowledge. It is either a matter of wisdom (i.e., imperfect but very good knowledge), probability (i.e., based on an educated guess), skewed probability (i.e., based on insider knowledge, also known as magic), or a good guess (i.e., the use of blind luck or using or not using 50/50 probability). Knowledge of an event by a human may also affect the outcome of that event simply by observing the event. If one says that God has perfect knowledge, then that knowledge will: 1. not be based on probability, imperfect knowledge, magic, or good guess and 2. will not affect the outcome of the observed event. People are incapable of replicating this kind of perfect knowledge, so it is confusing when speaking about the characteristics of God by using the characteristics of human knowledge. Perfect knowledge can only be a described phenomenon. Try this story: Jonah, a man given a mission by God to tell the heathen of their demise (perfect knowledge). Jonah's intolerance leads him in the opposite direction to allow that destruction (imperfect knowledge). God creates a great storm and the boat was in peril of destruction (perfect knowledge). The sailors cast lots to find who was responsible for their peril (imperfect knowledge). Jonah confesses his dishonesty about God's mission and tells the sailors to cast him over the side (perfect knowledge). The sailors try not throwing him over the side (imperfect knowledge) but they find it a losing battle and toss him anyway (perfect knowledge). Jonah is swallowed by a whale and is carried back to shore (God acting in accordance with his perfect knowledge and Jonah's free will). Jonah's mission was to prophecy God's perfect knowledge to the heathen about their demise. Jonah hesitates but hurriedly runs through the city smelling of great putrid fish and shouting out words he hoped none would understand (free-will). He then reclines on a hill outside the city and under a large bush that grew by God's intervention to gleefully watch the destruction of the hated city. The bush suddenly dies and Jonah is angry and disturbed with God's act of disobedience of his own love for Jonah (imperfect knowledge). To add to Jonah's anger towards God, the city repents and is not destroyed (imperfect knowledge by Jonah but perfect knowledge by God). The citys inhabitants acted on their own free-will to Gods word, even when the word was given to them under duress. This story represents the workings of man's free will and imperfect knowledge and how God's perfect knowledge and love transcends even the might of one very righteously holy and intolerant individual and the great wickedness of an entire city. Trev, I have attended the UU for some time and I have found that there are some people there who do cast other religions into outer darkness. It is against the stated policy and not all do it but I have witnessed openly snide remarks and laughter about some formal religions. Tolerance is a learned trait and difficult to master for those of us with imperfect knowledge. FB

I encourage each unit that I visit to do the following: Make use of the yearly calendar as the most effective way to employ all of the Methods of Scouting. Proof: The Troop Historian working with the Troop Committee person in charge of Public Relations, photographs and video tapes all yearly activities, a newspaper is published with pictures and stories about all events, and finally the Historian quantifies the individual accomplishments with the help of the Advancement Chairman and the Outdoor Chair, so it will become clear as to what occurred in relation to the Methods of Scouting. Other Uses: The video tape can be edited and copied with overdubs using music and speeches for Troop history, given to the Scouts as mementos, and used at the yearly Charter Presentation Ceremony as advertisement for perspective members. It could also be shown to the CO's Board and COR as a way to demonstrate program validity during the program review session. It could also be used to demonstrate Troop needs, such as Troop growth indicating the need for a larger meeting place, etc. FB

This quote was put forth during this "discussion" by one very knowledgeable poster, "This forum could be a great tool to learn about delivering a quality scouting program. But that doesn't mean that anybody with a Scout uniform in the closet and a keyboard should consider themselves a teacher. If you lose half your new scouts every year, if you don't understand the how or why the methods work, if you can't keep the majority of your scouts after they turn 16, if your troop is 1/3 the size it was two years ago, if you have never finished the courses for basic leader training in your position, then you need to realize you are a student not a teacher. You need to be asking questions and considering some personal changes, not offering opinions and telling people "your way" of scouting. Lastly, this is the internet, in case no one ever told you, some people on the internet lie. There are posters on this forum who are not what they claim to be. You need to choose who you listen to. There are posters who say "this is what I do". What they fail to tell you is that thier program failed or is failing. There are posters here who claim to have experience that they do not have and they use that false background as evidence of knowledgethe. The best way to make sure that what you are hearing is accuate you need to put more trust in the official resources of the BSA than you put in the writings of ANY poster here. You need to know your job and how to do it according to the BSA program not according to anyone here. You need to learn the program you volunteered to lead." It was agreed by all, even the Liars, Failures, Incompetent, Untrained and the Inexperienced alike here that the Methods of Scouting are not required but it also appears that all of the same great unwashed posters use the Methods of Scouting. Nobody said they use softball or religion or some other method, tool, organization, etc. on an on to achieve the Aims of Scouting. The Uniform is not required and even with all of the past "discussions" it looks like most of the lowly ones, if not all use it as well as one of the Methods of Scouting. Agreement in light of the method of presentation of this "discussion" is both funny and ruggedly insightful. FB

I have been unable to find an answer to how a person's sexuality preference is determined or the reason a person chooses their lifestyle even by using the internet and the Bible. Many have observed that homosexuality happens and has occurred throughout recorded history. Likewise, peoples choices of religions, even when it looks like they are similar in nature are almost always vastly different one from the other even when they use the same words and sometimes the same meanings for the same words. Congruence between religions would appear on the surface to be an easy objective but it is a profoundly complex and irresolvable. Each religion generally casts all of the others into outer darkness because ultimate truth is thought to be at a premium and none have any room for compromise or they may face the same consequences. So, it has to be a problem in how we treat one another and/or how we live together. Now, if people fear criminal acts as a result of lifestyle choice or religion or if any individual hurts another for whatever reason and whether it was a person's character or free-will, a line has been crossed and the act can't be undone and should not be condoned. We hope that justice is swift but fair and that the punishment fits the crime close enough to discontinue the acts and to make satisfactory reparations to the offended party(ies). Scouting has done a remarkable service in bringing together so many disparate religions and types of people over the years. It may be that an outer boundary has been reached by the program and the Good Will that has been fostered that could no longer be achieved if others were allowed in. It may be fear or lack of understanding or both but it appears that even with laws in place to prevent bloodshed and/or unwanted advances that the other two elements could not co-exist with Scouting. I cannot find the answer by using both the internet and the Bible. Some things are just too mysterious and our understanding is too limited. So we need to be careful not to resort to superstition when attempting to resolve it. FB

Arguing over the question and/or the lack of objections is even funnier. That has the makings of fairly dry humor with a twist. Does anyone want an ice cube with theirs?