Gold Winger

That's not a word, that's an acronym.

Zyzzyx is a monospecific genus of sand wasp, containing a brightly-colored, medium-sized species, Z. chilensis, named after the sound they make while flying. They were first studied in detail by H. Janvier (a.k.a. Claude-Joseph) in 1928, more than 100 years after they were first described.

" We can argue the definition of "directed" and debate whether I meant the curriculum was "directed" or the marketing was "directed", but the bottom line is most of the participants we are seeing in the classes we are offering (3 to 4 per year) are there because of the Philmont requirement." As those the council classes that you speak of? What about all of classes offered outside of the BSA arena. Look at WFA's or WMI's websites. Didn's see anything about BSA there. There is a world outside of your council. People who hike and camp aren't all BSA members. Back to you.

Yes Brent, I know all of that but that still doesn't mean " WFA is directed more to Scouts and Scouters attending our High Adventure programs" any more than saying "CPR is aimed at Scouters . . ." since the council offers/requires it. The course is directed towards ANYONE who expects to be off in the woods and more than a quick shout away from help.

"We have several lawyers who are fathers of kids in our units, and they are great people. " That's what people used to say about the drug dealer who lived across the street.

As I've pointed out before, both my DE and my lawyer disagree with the Beaver on this point.

"V/O: (1)Make sure your brother saves all his documentation. Wrongful termination is a sue able offense. Does he have his Job Evaluations (assuming). Around here, in the DC area, I know a couple of union labor relation lawyers that would fairly salivate over such a case." Not in Maryland. I lived there for over 20 years and in Maryland, they can fire you any reason or no reason. All they really have to do is follow their own internal rules, if there are any. At least that's what my lawyer told me. Of course, we know that lawyers are just that . . . lawyers. I was once terminated while I was on vacation. I came back and found a lay-off notice in my box. My boss said, "I wanted to tell you in person but you were on vacation." You couldn't have waited a few days?

"Gold Winger, courts have ruled that having school officials tell grade school students to pray is coercion" In the end, judges are just lawyers and we all know what lawyers are.

"That said, I am sure there are probably lots of fine people out there who have passed the bar" There are six. I know a lawyer who took out an injunction or cease and desist or something like that against his sister because he didn't like the way she was handling a will of a late family member. His explanation was that it would have been "uncomfortable" to bring it up in person.

I love the fact that I have neither cell phone nor computer at summer camp. Last year for Philmont, I went for three weeks without email, that was wonderful. If I'm camping, I want to watch a campfire and listen to the tree frogs, not surt the web.

"And grade school kids being told by their school officials to pray IS compulsion. " In my day, which was long ago and far away, you could just opt out if the Lord's Prayer wasn't your cup of tea. About once a month the lone Jew would lead us in a Jewish prayers and with about the same frequency, our resident pagan would sacrifice a virgin. If there had been atheists back then, I'm sure he would have been allowed to get up and lead us in saying nothing.

"Lisabob reminds me of myself about ten or fifteen years back. " You used to be a woman? I thought that transgendered individuals weren't permitted to be Scouters. :-)

"Also understand WFA is directed more to Scouts and Scouters attending our High Adventure programs (Philmont, for example). What % of Scouts attend Philmont or Northern Tier? I don't have that answer, though I'd be very interested in hearing it. " I wouldn't say that it is directed at folks going to Philmont since it isn't a BSA program. I figured out one day that about 1% of all Scouts/Scouters get to go to Philmont or another High Adventure facility. As I told the guys on my crew, "if you get to go to Philmont, consider yourself very lucky."

To me it seems that quite often when I post my opinion, the thread dies. I'n not curious enough to actually research it unless I can get a government grant.

"All to often, people approach training as it helps me, almost narcissistic. " Yep. As Scouters we want training so we can do a better job and be offered the opportunity to take on more tasks. CPR and First Aid training may help me save someone's life so I can get a medal and be offered the opportunity to take on more tasks. Now, I'm headed to a stream where I can gaze at my reflection for eternity.

"I figured that because of the large number of members on here . . ." It might seem like a lot but, in reality, there are very few Scouters here compared to the number of Scouters out there. I am probably acquainted with about 100 Scouters personally and none of them participate here. I do know that Scouters in my son's troop have had to deal with hypothermia, severe dehydration, concussion, lacerations, and a few sprains. Fortunately, we have incredibly well trained medical staff with the troop.

It is far better to have something for emergencies and not need it than to need it and not have it. Self defense skills like karate, aikido, or a gun. Seatbelts. Ejection seats Fire extinguishers First aid kit CPR. The list is endless. We are a rather small sample set and I know that I've been lucky and have never been around for any of the fun stuff with my son's troop like hypothermia or concussion. I've been CPR certified for over 30 years but have never needed it. I keep my certification reasonably current because I never know when I might. I'd like to take First Responder and EMT classes just so I could be better prepared.

Wow! .35 and only a fine. That's amazing but maybe I shouldn't be surprised. About 15 years ago a niece was killed while walking home in her neighborhood. The unlicensed teen was celebrating his 16th birthday and was so drunk that even after they cut him out of the car, he wasn't aware that he had wrecked. I think that his BAC was close to .5 Being a minor he was given community service and none of the responsible adults could be shown to be responsible so no one went to jail. I know you can't admit it here but did you take a baseball bat to the guy's skull?

Since I discriminate against men, that is sexism by definition.

A DWI conviction doesn't bother me as much it might bother some. I know of too many horror stories involving over zealous enforcement of that law. A friend (not his real name) was busted and convicted because he knew that he was drunk so decided to sleep in the parking lot rather than drive home. A cop came along, "What are you doing here?" Sleeping sir because I can't drive. "Out of the car long hair, you're going with me." In Virginia about 20 years back there was a fellow busted for drinking a beer while working on his car. He too was convicted because the judge decided that since the engine was running, "he was operating a motor vehicle." Another hapless Virginian was convicted because he was mowing his lawn on a lawn tractor whilst drinking a beer. Not too smart but most of us wouldn't think it was arrest worthy. Urban myths? I used to know the attorney who represented both men. DUI/DWI arrest? I'd worry more about the guy who hasn't been caught and shows up with beer on his breath. Back to the subject at hand. This is the 21st century. The days of riding a Scout troop to a campout in the back of a stake bed truck are gone. Seatbelts are the in thing. Six kids and only five belts, you need another driver. Back to the topic at hand.

I'm missing the point here. Did someone get passed over?

I am proud to come from a long line of sexists. I have always resisted and will continue to resist, despite any social, political or legal pressure to snog with men or any post snogging activities. I will restrict my snogging to women, particularly attractive women but unfortunately, as I age, the number of women willing to snog with me is diminishing. For the record, saying "it's a chick thing" isn't sexism, it is simply remarking on the differences between the sexes. In case you haven't noticed, evolution has put us together. It's what makes life interesting.

Back then, movies had plots that were supported by special effects, now the plot is only there to provide a reason for the FX. My last comments were zapped. I guess that pointing out that "facts" aren't accurate just isn't allowed anymore.

It's not sexism, it is simply biology and 50,000 years of evololution.

What do I carry? Every day, I have bandaids, immodium AD, benedryl, asprin (chest pains, chew asprin), and life savers. On the trail, I add duct tape and some bigger band-aids and more life savers (that's my diabetic first aid).