packsaddle

Calico, curiosity has the best of me and considering I'm not a cat, that's probably a safe thing. But I have to ask...can you give me an example of 'reasonable' bull puckey? Wouldn't the state of being bull puckey automatically make it unreasonable? Sorry,....that curiosity thing.

Or maybe the 'Lord' has a warped sense of humor. Maybe a mean streak. Kind of like human beings. Who might have to 'imagine' the characteristics of the 'Lord'. Could be.

This would be less of an issue if the decision simply was left to the woman and her doctor - and if other people (and the government) would BUTT OUT.

Correct, Lisabob. Obama's opinion is essentially a states rights approach. I don't agree. Women should be free to make this decision for themselves, unencumbered by governmental interference. It is an individual responsibility. It should be an individual choice. The thing is, the Republicans seem to prefer this decision to be made by the central authority of the Federal Government. Another one of those ironies I suppose. Edited for clarity(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

bweintraub, Welcome to the forums! I have to admit, after seeing the good answers you're already had, that I first read the title as 'Edible' Den Leader Forms. Sorry, I guess it's way past time for lunch.

I agree Lisabob. But in my view it is better for these guys to be able to take potshots in these forums in a figurative sense than for them to take real ones. Let them flame off and vent. Maybe prevent an eruption. And then they might consider other opinions and start thinking sensibly. We all might enter an age in which we can all set aside political and religious differences to consider the objective merits of all ideas and just perhaps...solve some of the big problems for humanity. Naaaaaahhh!

Heh, heh, NJ, your prodigious talents are wasted here, Master. If you'll hit the number for his posts and check the information in his profile you'll quickly recognize a troll, not even trying to put on a disguise.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Env. Science Nature Mammal Study Plant Science Oceanography Reptile and Amphibian Study Wilderness Survival Soil and Water Conservation

I still have my Vasque 'Whitneys' from the early '70s and while there are better modern designs, they felt like they were literally part of me back when a single trip was around a 100 - 150 miles in the Rockies or Cascades. I knew they would never let me down and probably still won't if I need them for a trip like that again. Getting a good pair, with good fit, and designed for the use they'll get, can be a long-term love as has been mine. I can't begin to tell you how many hundreds, maybe thousands of miles I have on those old standbys. I don't wear them often now because I have newer designs and I go on more shorter trips now in different climates. I like my Asolos and my Raichles as well. For day hikes, I mostly just wear good cross-trainers with hard soles so I don't feel the sharp rocks. My ankles are strong so I don't worry much about support but I can see how it would be an important consideration. My advice: put the factors of fit and feel as well as the factor of type of use you expect to see above price as your criteria. Don't assume that one pair of boots can do it all. And then go out and have fun.

vol_scouter, Speaking of 'scary'....So, Obama gets elected president, and it's looking very likely that he will. What will you do? Are you in agreement with those others who are making outbusts at McCain rallies?

Yes, I also noticed McCain's reaction at the rally. He must be experiencing mixed feelings...or else a realization that the negativity is backfiring. My reasons for supporting Obama are related to education and science issues. But among the speculative and nebulous negatives that Charles Krauthammer listed recently, he also said this: "Obama is a man of first-class intellect and first-class temperament." Coming from someone who can hardly be considered liberal, these are concrete, powerful reasons to consider Obama.

Heh, heh, Great Joke! Just a problem with perspective, perhaps? I note that Cassanova remarked that we should not allow prejudice to limit our possibilities. At least that's the version I heard. Anyway, family life is probably more normal than I'd like to admit at times. We don't actually own an ice pick...I just used it as a metaphor...and she's taking good care of me right now...broken collarbone. Really annoying too, but not really painful. The broken ribs...now THOSE are painful. The broken collarbone end just won't stay put, it shifts around constantly (and of course, I just won't stay still) and it constantly rubs against the other broken end making crunching sounds that even other people can hear. The students think it's distracting, maybe even kind of creepy. I get it nailed down Monday as soon as the shop gets a new nail gun. But the ribs...every cough, every breath, and a sneeze is exceptional, the pain is exquisite. But it's only pain. And my wife, she says she's actually kind of enjoying things. Go figure.

Sorry, I'm in a better mood now. Lisabob, I agree. Also with scoutingagain. I guess my problem is that I really DID buy into the whole Bush line when he started out after the 2000 election. I didn't vote for him but after he won, I really thought he would try to bring the country back together when he said he would. I should have been more cautious when I saw what Bush did to McCain in that primary. Then, after 9/11 I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he made his case to invade Iraq. I guess I sort of blame myself in all this. I don't suffer fools lightly and liars, well, I have a special contempt for them. Bush gets the brass ring for both. I wish I could be optimistic about our future for the next few years. I just can't.

What the heck, I was in a bad mood.

What might 'flame' McCain right now is that the 'swift boat' political approach isn't working except on HIS cult followers. Like I've written long before this election got started, I am pessimistic about our future regardless of who is elected. The guy is going to take the steering wheel of the bus after it has been driven over the cliff by the previous driver. The Bush administration and friends have left such a mess I think any words of optimism from any candidate qualify as unfulfillable promises. I'm not surprised by the intensity of the crisis we're in...I'm mostly surprised (as probably is John McCain) that it arrived so quickly, bad timing for McCain. Obama's tax restructuring cannot possibly address the problems and McCain's is just more of the same idiotic nonsense that helped put us here in the first place. Both their timetables are simply fantasy. Neither candidate has the slightest hint of a real energy policy...if they know enough to form one, they're too politically timid to make it. In the face of those issues alone, nearly everything else shrinks to insignificance. We're IN Iraq. We're going to continue to be IN Iraq. That won't change regardless of who is elected. The costs of the Bush fiascos are going to be visited on this next president and probably on future generations of presidents. If Obama is elected, and it looks like he will by a large margin, he's going to be unable to fix this mess and he'll get the blame for it. Same with McCain. And neither of them will have been any more responsible for making the mess than the other was. The VP spot is almost not relevant. Palin, the pit bull with similar intellect, against Biden with foot and mouth disease. Who cares. Truly smart persons would run away from the oval office this time around. If it was possible to somehow require the Bush administration to serve another term and then another and another, I'd go for it. I'm sure Bin Laden would agree.

Biden got a good laugh out of SNL as well. I really like the guy. I too watched the second debate and I wasn't sure but did I see Obama offer his hand to McCain and have it rejected? I could be wrong but that's what it looked like? Edited part: I just saw the Youtube video and it looks more innocent than that, especially after they shook hands right after the end of the debate. I'll give McCain the benefit of the doubt. Back to original post: I agree with you on the dirt and so do the polls. McCain is taking a calculated risk, using the negative stuff. It doesn't seem to be doing anything other than inflaming kooks on the extreme right. I still want to think of McCain as an honorable man but he needs to start acting more honorable through his campaign. I do have some sympathy for him, he must terribly frustrated at how the real-life circumstances of the economy have bitten so hard. If only we had elected HIM instead of the liar back in 2000. Sigh.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Take a deep breath, ED. They only charge for the compressed stuff.

I have also observed this incorrect 'sentiment'. Fortunately I managed to beat it down in this unit. I did this by asking the leaders who felt this way to write clear, concise, universal additional requirements that ALL scouts in the unit will be required to meet. They couldn't. So here's a way to approach this: Ask them to show you the official requirements and rules where there is an age limitation. Ask them why they would stifle a boy's initiative in this manner? Ask them to consult with the DE or council about their additional requirements. If all else fails, transfer your enthusiastic son to a more deserving unit.

Greetings, I'm originally from NC..the Lincolnton, NC area. Grew up in Mecklenburg County. Went to NC State. I guess there's still a little tar on my heels and a little wolf in my howl. Welcome to the forums.

Anyone check the Dow today? Down 678.91 points on the day to close at 8,579.19. Lost 5000 points in one year ($8.3 trillion in value, I think, is the figure I heard). Have a nice day. But at least we pacified Iraq, turned Afghanistan around and finally got Bin Laden and wiped out the Taliban and al-Qa'ida. Oh well, I can dream can't I? Bush probably still can't think of any mistake he's ever made. Think I'll go watch Body of Lies this weekend just for laughs. At least we fought off the horrendous threat of gay marriage in most of the country. I guess it was worth it. I suspect that John McCain suspected his association with George Bush would be toxic during this election. I doubt he envisioned it would be THIS toxic. The irony is that the guy who screwed McCain over in 2000 with political dirty tricks is now screwing McCain over again and Bush doesn't even have to lift a finger. On a dimmer note, Bush is going to offer some optimistic words for the country tomorrow morning at 10am. What an apocalyptically deluded man.

I have also observed this incorrect 'sentiment'. Fortunately I managed to beat it down in this unit. I did this by asking the leaders who felt this way to write clear, concise, universal additional requirements that ALL scouts in the unit will be required to meet. They couldn't. So here's a way to approach this: Ask them to show you the official requirements and rules where there is an age limitation. Ask them why they would stifle a boy's initiative in this manner? Ask them to consult with the DE or council about their additional requirements. If all else fails, transfer your enthusiastic son to a more deserving unit. Edited part: I'm copying this reply to the duplicate that already has a dialogue running. Sorry. Please don't respond further. Perhaps a moderator will remove some of the duplicates and put the thread into a more appropriate forum.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I'm not schooled in this area but I have practical experience. I have noticed that when I pay the debt back more quickly I pay less interest. I pay no interest if I pay the entire card balance when it's due, which I have done since 1984. As an alternative to capping the interest rate, I would suggest that the way the banks figure the minimum payment be changed so that all minimum payments will result in a more timely payoff of the debt. This will do two things regardless of the interest rates. First, it will force people to pay their debt in less time. Second, it will tend to make banks refuse credit to those who are not creditworthy, the effect that would be realized by artificially capping interest rates. Ultimately, I am unsympathetic to those who have essentially 'kited' debt by shifting it around cards and paying the minimum. They knew what they were doing and like this country has treated the national debt, they figured they'd put the pain off to some future time. It's time to feel the pain.

I agree with Beavah regarding cooking gear. With careful planning, hot water can take care of most needs. With regard to personal cleanliness, plain water is also a pretty good way to go. But I understand the occasional need for something stronger, as Beavah notes, for example, cleaning wounds. A wound can just as effectively be cleaned using one of those prepackaged first aid pads. But for larger jobs, where soap is really needed, I try to use the plainest soap available, made from natural fatty acids and not including detergents, fragrances, or antibiotic chemicals. This usually translates into something made from palm oil or some other natural substance, so that microbial decomposition can proceed as quickly as possible and there will be few or no residues remaining after decomposition. I think Ivory soap qualifies for this although it may have fragrance added. It is fairly caustic (high pH) so a little goes a long way. The caustic nature actually reacts with our skin's oils to saponify them and increase the 'soapy' effect. You might have noticed this effect if you've ever accidentally gotten some NaOH or other base on your hands. Washing them off..they feel really soapy. Great way to degrease your skin though...NOT RECOMMENDED!

Welcome to the forums, Theresa. Looks like your family is heavily involved. I hope you find the forums as useful as I have over the years.

While I understand that practice varies from council to council, there is a chance that the council will actually ask for letters or they may make followup calls to references. I'd only list references who you think would be good for such followup. For this unit, we have never listed another boy although I agree with Ed, that possibility is not ruled out.