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Gags

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Everything posted by Gags

  1. Greetings all. Over the past several months, the choice of language used by my Scouts has quickly deteriorated. The Troop is only 4 boys, all are 14 and in the 9th grade (3 in HS, one in the last year at a Senior Middle School, or whatever they call it). Last months backpacker was the worst. I feel theres a total lack of respect being shown to myself and the ASM (one of the Scouts mothers, no less) during meetings and outings. I understand that boys will be boys, which is why the one parent seems to accept the all too occasional slip-ups. Now I definitely dont live in a glass hou
  2. FOG - I've heard the opposite. Several of my friends that use them claim they find themselves drinking less, since they're only taking sips at a time. Could depend on when you're hiking too - we do most of ours in the fall/spring. I'd go through 3 liters in no time in the summer, hose or no hose. I guess it depends on how experienced a hiker you are - if you haven't used a regular canteen before, you may not be aware of the idea of water conservation for the whole hike. Just a theory though. YIS, --Gags
  3. Camelbak - Great idea. I assume you'd just be bringing the bottle and hose. Be careful where you keep the tip of the hose though - I've heard of plenty of cases of the valve being accidently squeezed/opened just from the way you pack your backpack. Especially with a soft camelbak/platypus, bring at least 1 liter of water in another container. No need to put all your "eggs" in one basket. If you only container leaks, you may not realize it until you're well along the trail. Multi-tool? I keep wanting one, but never want to carry the weight. Have I ever needed pliers in my 18 yea
  4. OGE - I don't have my handbook on me at the moment, so I can't turn to the page that labels the parts of the axe. But if you replace the handle, and then replace the head - what's left of the original axe? Happy Chopping, --Gags
  5. That's why I like the neckerchiefs given out at WB so much (the "plaid" ones with the embroidered "Troop 1" on the back - maybe it's just an NCAC thing.) They're a bigger size than the troop ones you buy at the scout shop, and actually hang lower for adults. I'm trying to convince my guys to start wearing the neckerchief consistently(when they don't "lose" them). I showed them the difference in sizes, and they all liked mine. If the custom neckerchief must be the same size, can you clarify NW what size you're referring to? Do they all have to be same size as the current "official" nec
  6. Finally - a question I feel somewhat qualified to respond to! The "slip knot" that I was taught was tied at the very tip of the of the neckerchief to tie the two dangling tips together. We were told it was to remind us to do a good turn. I believe I've read that originally (circa 1920's) once you've done the good turn, you can untie it. The knot itself is just an overhand knot in one end that's tied around the dangling tip. (geez - can it be any harder to explain in writing something so simple?). The problem I've come across with trying to duplicate this is that it makes the
  7. Barry, Magic is what's called a Collectible Card Game (CCG). It was the first of many that game out beginning around 1993. Oh - wow - 10 years ago - I'm getting old(er). Today being by birthday isn't helping things... It's like the traditional card game War (my king beats your jack), but instead the cards can represent creatures that you send to attack your opponent, or spells you can cast to make yourself stronger, damage an opponent, or damage an opponents creature. You start with 20 hit points, and when you get "damaged", it slowly goes down to 0, at which point, you lose, cur
  8. Sorry for the shorthand. Scouts-L is a listserv - an email based discussion group. Similar to the forum here, but posts and replies are sent directly to your inbox. More information is at: http://www.engr.tcu.edu/~eidson/scouts-l/swelcome.html I know of at least two forum members that post to both - I'm sure there's more that just "lurk" on both lists. Scouts-L lets you subscribe in digest form - instead of 15 emails a day from the list, you get one with all the days "action" listed in one email. Same quality of scouting knowledge, and sometimes, same disagreements. There's no discu
  9. Kasane wrote: > What a great line - I think this sums up the intent and purporse of a Board of Review (BOR) perfectly. Just wanted to repost it to make sure everyone else gets to read it again! It's not a test of the actual skills, but a test of how they've used the skills they've learned in scouting in their personal lives - both conciously and subconciously. I think that neatly sums up the purpose and "spirit" of a BOR. There's a similar discussion going on in Scouts-L that I think I'll cross-post this to. Cheers, Gags SM T-61 Washington, D.C.
  10. Well, might as well join in on the fun... Glen Miller (from my parents), ELO (different from ELP!), Meatloaf, Boston, and the Eagles from my 2 older brothers, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, & Rachmaninoff (just from curiosity w/ a little help from a college piano teacher - love those 2 credit courses). Most importantly, Lynrd Skynrd and Charlie Daniels Band (aka CDB) courtesy of all the older guys and leaders in my troop who sat around the campfire and actually played guitars and a fiddle (yes Virginia, there are rednecks in NJ). To that we add in Metallica (1 Heavy Metal Band + San Franci
  11. This is a bit off topic - but I unfortunately don't even do a SM Minute. I have a very small troop (4 boys), and the few times we actually have a closing (rather than - I have to finish homework, my dad's here early to pick me up, can I go?), I always get the feeling that the scouts are too distracted and uninterested to listen to a story or quote. (Yes, the mtgs. do need to be MUCH more structured than they currently are - a whole other thread!) So I guess the question is - for those of you who have started using SM Minutes recently (or remember from way back when you first implemented
  12. I'd like to throw in my two cents worth on the 2-deep leadership requirement. I'm quite sure (but don't have the G2SS available for quoting) that this only applies to Troop Activities. I've seen it explained from the G2SS that a meeting is defined separately from an activity - the reasoning being at an activity, someone can help/stay with an injured scout, the 2nd can go for help. Not really a problem in a meeting setting. As B.W. said - in this case it's a G2SS issue, and not a YP issue. I know it's a "cop-out" to not offer the direct quote, but I'm hoping another list member can com
  13. In reply to what kwc (I think) asked about what a ticket really is - in my view, it's what separates WB from all the other training courses, and what really makes the course the most useful. In most corporate courses, you come, sit, listen, learn, leave, and quite often, forget. Or leave the course all pumped up with your new conflict resolution or organizational skills, ready to take on the world - until you return to the unread emails and stacks of paper on your desk, and it's back to the same 'ol same 'ol. In a nutshell (which is difficult for me, b/c I wander all over the place
  14. Does anyone have any recommendations on the store bought kits? I'd much prefer to assemble my own, but by the time I buy the travel bag and all the supplies (for say - 3 day backpacking trip) - I'm probably looking at a bill of at least $50 (although I keep telling myself one I create myself will be cheaper.) Are the ones in campmor, rei, or even Sportsmans Guide ( http://www.sportsmansguide.com/search/search.asp?c=83&k=first+aid )that usefull? Does anyone ever carry triangular bandages around in a kit (like we teach w/ the scout neckerchief)? Thanks, Chris Gagliano SM -
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