le Voyageur

be considered a hate crime since it may be incubating the foundation for homophobia and intolerance in our most impressionable members? http://www.rtis.com/touchstone/feb02/17.htm

Quxiote... since I'm the one that used the disrepectfull term of Supreme let me put it this way.... In the 2000 election, the Florida justices invoked the basic democratic principles of popular sovereignty and the right to vote. They asserted, "The right of suffrage is the pre-eminent right contained in the [Florida] Declaration of Rights, for without this basic freedom all others would be diminished." Antonin Scalia, on the basis of a reactionary interpretation of the US Constitution, one that flew in the face of constitutional jurisprudence since the Civil War, declared that American citizens had no constitutional right to vote for the president of the United States! Direspect for this guy, no, it's much stronger being along the lines of just pure contempt....

an essential piece of gear always in my winter backpack, would never consider doing an alpine climb without one........

Turning in more homework...(looks like ASM1 was more than right...) CheckPoint's lobblyst - Vin Weber http://www.mediatransparency.org/people/vin_weber.htm other sites... http://www.lumpen.com/coup2k/coup2k-all.html http://www.commondreams.org/views/120700-106.htm http://www.geocites.com/redflagsinflorida/cybercrow.htm

I have one too, it's called Marksmanship....

Something to read.... http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2002/nf20020124_0582.htm http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/12/08/integrity/print.html http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2000-12-08/pols_naked3.html

Fried Squash You'll need about 3 or 4 yellow squashes per person, two med. onions, and a half pound of lean bacon..(serves 8) Clean and slice squash and onions thin. Lightly brown bacon, adding onions when the bacon is nearly cooked. Drain excess grease and add squash when the onions are somewhat transparent. Cook on low heat until squash is fairly soft. Salt and pepper to taste. French Canadian Pottage (Metis) You'll need a pound each of spicy ground breakfast sausage, and split peas, plus 6 to 8 oz. of lentils and a med. onion. In a fair size kettle saute' sausage draining excess grease, add diced onions, peas, and lentils covering well with water (about 2 or 3 inches above the peas/lentils). Cook on low heat, adjust water as needed as it boils down. and should be done within 45 min. Salt and pepper to taste...

Ed, To answer your question on how BSA's background checks violates the 4th, 5th and 6th admendments is based on my reasoning that ChoicePoint has to operate only under contract law meeting just those requirements as agreed on and so stated in their contract with BSA. Had a governmental angency such as the FBI agreed to conduct background checks then they would be operating under the restrictions of consitutional law. It's a savy move by BSA to ensure a winnable solution to any future lawsuits against slander....

Here's the reason why I say it all about money... Yes, the information that Choice Point will provide to BSA about any person will be limited. But, the concerning problem is that there are no limits as to what Choice Point can, should or will do with that information once it is in their data banks becoming their property. It's a safe bet to infer that since ChoicePoint is a for profit company that it will be use in some manner to generate income and profit without consent. Why else bother to compile data if you don't plan to make a buck with it....

pfann so you never heard a government employee tell people that they had to follow a certain faith. Sorry to say, I have, lots of time. Until 1978 Christianity was a manditory religion for native Americans. It's the reason I tend to bristle on this subject, but overall I'm glad the Federal government has come to it senses more or less, and have takened it's mandated theological leash off of our necks..

Here's one of my more favorite recipes, the addition of more water will make it a soup, less, a stew depending on taste...but to save time, I've resorted to using canned beans. Three Sister Pottage (this should feed abou 8 hungry scouts) Yellow squatch, about 12 med. 2 15oz cans pinto beans 2 15oz cans northern beans 2 15oz cans red beans 1 15oz can white or yellow corn 1 15oz can hominy 2 Carrots 1 med. Onion 8oz pumpkin (pumpkin pie filling - unspiced) salt and pepper to taste... At home.....rinse, drain and store the beans, corn and hominy in large zip lock bags and freeze. (keeps the cans out of the backcountry) In camp.... Diced the squaches, and carrots. Cube, or sliced the onion. Toss in a large pot,covering the vegetables completly with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer about 30 to 45 minutes. Adjust the water as needed, add salt and pepper to taste (a little at a time, much easier to add more than to try and remove it...) Add the beans, corn, hominy, and pumpkin, simmer/heat for another 10 minutes (or until hot). The pumpkin can scorch so watch the pot and stir Note: If you've got a kettle big enough, you can add corn on the cob to the mix.... Serve with cornbread, frybread, or...

nldsscout Yes, it is written. Check with your Council's C.O.P.E. director, or Climbing Director for the info. Or take a Climb on Safety course for this and added information. For safety reasons, every piece of C.O.P.E. or Climbing gear must have a written history of its use from the time that it is bought "new", for every time it is used, to when it is phased out and discarded. No C.O.P.E. director that I know of would ever consider using any piece of undocumentable, or questionable surplus gear...sorry to say this, but as a C.O.P.E./Climbing director I've had to cut up donated ropes from military surplus. But, it was useable for painters for canoes, so it didn't go to waste...

Back in the 70's I was fairly vocal and much against the program changes that BSA created, what a mess. Needless to say, I was right, and in this regard I'll let the passing of time speak for me again. I'll be around to say "I told you so". For those who care, know that in the interest of safety we are now in the process of giving away our individual freedoms. BSA's background checks will simply feed information to an outside organization who's only purpose is to make a profit at our expense. It's all about money... In time, I predict that both the Federal Government and the priviate sector will soon be able to track and monitor every American regardless of where they are at, at any moment in time... Here's an example as to what is now in the works.... http://news.com.com/2010-1069-980325.html end of sermon....off of the soapbox. Feel free to let the Genie out of the bottle.....

You know, we really don't need to do any background checks because the solution to the problem is so plainly in front of us.. it's called parental involvement. If parents are really concerned about the safety of their children, than they need to get involve and stop passing the buck on to volunteers. Being too busy to be involved in the development of one's own children is not an excuse....why not a youth membership requirement that requires parents to be involved in at least a minimum of 4 hours of unit supported services each month. By the way, been doing internet searches on ChoicePoint,it's a data mining company...so infer what you will, as for me I'm not for sale by National.

Do understand where you're coming from, as for myself I'm seeing a push to turn BSA into an ultra right wing Christian fundlementalist movement. Being a non Christian I expect that someday down the road I'll be getting my walking papers unless I convert (this won't happen). But, nontheless I've been thinking about making this my last year with the organization because it no longer feels like Scouting. It's core has been gutted out and stuffed with too much politics and fundlementalism....

This Supreme should be ashamed of taking this very one sided position. Freedom of religion means ANY religion...but, how soon we forget that when Christiany ruled the world, it was called the Dark Ages. Guess I'll go out and gather some firewood and save this Court sometime since free thinkers are the first to go....

Thanks for the info ASM1...I was smelling a red herring and starting to do my own checks on this company. For myself, I'm not yet sold on blanket background checks as they side step the 4th, 5th and 6th Admendments ignoring PC. No matter how noble National trys to sugar coat their reasons I sense that something is very much amiss. Would love to read the memos, letters and the contract between National and this company to see the real reason for this course of action....until then, I'm not on the bandwagon...

Some of the stuff is okay, but be careful. For climbing, and C.O.P.E. type activities no military surplus items such as ropes and biners can be used. Curious, besides jungle boots, and BDU's what other gear is being used for your afloat trips?

I'll look through my recipes and post them shortly... Since you're doing a "Grand Encampment" here's some sites that may help your scouts get into the spirit of the event, and knock off a few requirments for the American Heritage and Indian Lore mb's during this weekend by dressing out in period grab... First, the dress of the Eastern Woodland tribes during the 18th century was very simple, basic wear being a long shirt, breechclout, center seam mocs, leggings, leg ties, and a sash for the waist....plus any personal adornment that struck their fancy...here's a photo http://www.angelfire.com/wv/mesawmi/images/teach.jpg As a project consider having the boys sew their own long shirts...cost will be around 5 to 7 dollars to make a shirt...here's the site for instructions... http://www.1771.org/pages/sew_shirt.html a few notes Choosing fabric, look for stripes, checks and calicos with the pattern on both sides. Wal Mart sells some nice patterns for a buck a yard. 4 Yards will make one shirt for an adult with a width of 32 inches... width of the shirt can be reduced down to 28, 30, and 32 instead of the 36 inches shown. the finish cuffs should be about 1 to 7/8 inches in width with button holes at the ends of each cuff. Cuff links can be made from buttons. the front length of the shirt should be 2 to 4 inches shorter than the back. For adults an ideal length would be 42 inches at the front, 44 to 46 inches on the back. shoulder gusset should be around 3 1/2 inches square before folding. Sleeve gussets, 5 to 6 inches square. To keep the front slit from tearing out, the square stop is okay, but the more traditional is the heart shape. the finished sleeve should be around 18(>20)"L x 13 to 15" W Buttons can be homemade from many items..I'm using the tops of small acorns. Others are dorset buttons made only from thread (50 turns of heavy thread around a dowel, frapped around, and shanked to the cuff with thread)... for stiching, use either a running stich (10 per inch), or a back stich. Reenforce stress areas with additional stiching... Final note....this shirt is ment to be loose and baggy, and was in vougue for nearly 250 years as it was simple to make and served the needs of those who wore it...

Last PS (I hope) Another place for great camping, Big Trees State Park north of Arnold. Out of Frisco head to Stockton and pick up Highway 4....

PS If you want a place with fewer people, continue north past Strawberry about 5 miles, turn L on 52 and drop down to Breadsly lake. Pick up a Campfire permit at the CDF station in Pinecrest (can't miss it)....again carry chains..

Pinecrest or Strawberry off of Highway 108 north of Sonora.....carry chains

If you're interested in coming to Virginia take a look at our Voyageur Trek program featured in the May 2002 issue of Boys Life.

Both of these camps are pretty good, but if you're wanting to get away from the skeeters and the heat take a look at this one http://www.bsa-brmc.org/

Rooster, Reading the Consitution in it's entire is one thing. Letting lawyers who are motivated by money to interpet the Consitution and shoe horning it to fit the needs of their masters is a matter altogether different.....