packsaddle

You know, I just realized that someone might think I just called them a 'geezer'. I apologize in advance. I apply that term only to me and to others shameless enought to admit it themselves.

Ahhhh, taxes. Because churches (and similar organizations) do not pay taxes, government IS paying them (by not requiring them to pay for services the way most of the rest of us do), similar to the various forms of corporate welfare. I would end all of it. I think it would be good to adopt something like Senator DeMint's flat tax proposal, applied across the board to everyone and every organization. And let the chips fall.

That, ahem, IS one feature of the inclusive fitness aspect I mentioned shortly thereafter. Thanks for expanding on it though. I have sometimes heard a quip that Jesus had the greatest inclusive fitness of anyone in all history (a little more evo humor there). But to continue on your latter idea, I have occasionally been frustrated by what I have read in these forums regarding the understanding of genetics. My frustration isn't so much with the writers but rather with the fact that either the educational system has failed so many, or else people have chosen to be so ignorant of new knowledge that is crucial for decisions related to such aspects of our lives as sexuality, behavior, development, reproduction, etc. My prejudice is that most people simply have not been presented this information during their academic years and I greatly fault our educational system for this deficiency. And for those of us in the geezer group, it would take some diligent work to keep up with it even if it WAS reported extensively in the popular literature (which it isn't). Some of this new knowledge is fairly recent (coincidental with completion of mapping the human genome and later) and some is more than a decade old. For a teaser see: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/virtualembryo/hox.html And this is just a taste of the wonderful ideas that are emerging. (I read similar articles and then think about George Bush...it may be hopeless) The old Mendelian approach is still valid but very limited in its ability to explain. The new developments in genetics have a huge impact on the way we view development and behavior. And evidently, very few people are prepared to employ these new ideas in the decision making process - thus leaving the process susceptible to influence by myth (religion?), and deception (politics?).

Fuzzy Bear, Shhhhhhhh....you might give them ideas

Ahem, just to brag a bit (imagine that I am now examining my fingernails), my daughter can use a bow and drill and have actual flames from friction in about a minute. I'd put her in competition with any or all of the guys for overall survival skills. And when we take our marathon trip this summer, I have complete confidence that she could take care of us both if necessary. (It won't be necessary, I hope)

Hunt, I think I agree with your initial point. Given the realities of todays sects, a moral judgement on this is probably going to have a sectarian element to it. However, I think that the nonsectarian Church of Moral Thermodynamics might conclude that since it is evolutionarily maladaptive, it could be considered immoral (see, Ed, there's something you can like about evolution). But that does not account for inclusive fitness or other, even less-quantifiable benefits. So after reconsideration, it would probably equivocate. And besides, who's business is it anyway?

I noticed the same thing when I read through it. Thanks, NJ, for the detail. I'd sign it but that would be meaningless since my children are too old for scouts anymore. It must have been added recently as I haven't noticed it (another person handles forms for the troop). But I guess the point is that if this is widespread knowledge, fewer families will put their sons into scouts. I know this to be true locally but it isn't because of the form (rather, an obnoxious DE who shot his mouth off a while back). As NJ says, anyone who doesn't know about this already probably doesn't have much of an involvement in youth or scouting. Or else they're from Tralfamador.

A mathematician and an engineer (both men) were discussing women. The math guy says, if your wife was standing across the room and you were allowed to travel only half the distance to her with each step, you would never actually get there. The engineers says, "..yeah but I'd soon be close enough for practical purposes."

Cajuncody, we had a female gym teacher who used to check on us BOYS in the locker room. So we showed her what a 'bank walker' is. Didn't faze her at all. And although I can't vouch for Howard Dean's accuracy, I can tell you that the good people at the Baptist church down the road have been told by their minister that to associate with members of our church is to associate with Satan. H'mmm, I guess that makes us Demoncrats

Trevorum, your list just reminded me of a conversation my father had with one of his friends back when I was a boy. They had both fought in the war. Had similar education. The friend was a mason and had a nice family and a thriving business. He and my father were taking a break one day and the conversation went to something like, "what would you change in your life if you could?". My father's friend said, after some reflection, that all in all, he would rather not have been born a black man. For many similar reasons to those in your list. Prejudice and hate doesn't merely harm the object of prejudice and hate - it harms us all.

Regarding the don't ask, don't tell aspect. If an organization decides to discriminate against persons who, say, ascribe to a certain idea, there is no way to detect those persons unless they openly admit to having those thoughts. No matter how much the organization might want to exclude persons with those thoughts, if there is never an open admission, persons with those thoughts may populate the organization. It is this logical conflict that makes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy inevitable. And why, evmori, gays are currently in BSA and always will be. The conflict is also present when, say, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, Bill Clinton, or the two most recent scout leaders in the news, were discovered to have aspects of their personal lives that seemed to conflict with their creeds. The more an organization attempts to control thought, the claim of success will be that much greater a self-deception.

Our burning rule for sticks is, 'if you put the stick in the fire, you can't take it out'. As far as burning trash, we allow them to burn paper. But no cans and absolutely NO plastic. Metal and plastic is packed out no matter what. BTW, I sometimes get an opportunity to make a sucker bet with someone about aluminum foil burning in the fire. I do enjoy winning those bets. I should add, we also don't allow burning: tires the forest (even small portions thereof) the SM's tent his sleeping bag his (fill in the blank) each other's hair little sis or brother small animals breakfast big animals (unless they are hamburger)

OK, you got the fire going all right! But what about the beach? Were you ever able to also start one on that sand? ;)

Back before I switched to the life sciences, we had an engineer joke that went something like this: Several farmers were trying to solve a problem with their cows involving structures and transportation. An engineer overheard their discussion and decided to help the poor rubes out. He listened carefully to the problem description and thought for a while. Then he told them that he believed some basic engineering principles could prove valuable. He would try to explain to them how this would work. He began, "First, let's assume a spherical cow...."

Actually, that helped A LOT! It filled in the blanks for a lot of the process I didn't understand. Scary, isn't it? I now see that I need to get our non-profit on a friendly basis with the state people. Then I will try the procedure again, maybe this time with success. Thanks

I have been on both sides of this, being an ASM as well as the Hand Receipt Holder for a property list for the Army. I have disposed of many items that would have been great for scouts (and, uncharacteristically, much of the property was in good condition)...BUT...my property officer either doesn't know about this program or else the program doesn't apply in my situation - anyway, I've been unable to get material to the scouts. So the property goes away the regular old way. Incidentally, for me this process terminates at a DRMO, not the DRMS. I guess the problem is at the state end here so I'll check further. Sure would be nice to get this stuff to the boys.

I found it! An old man was on his death bed and called his whole family together so that he could bid them farewell and make his peace with the world. After he said what he wanted to each in turn, and he knew he was coming very close to death he called for all to gather together. "I have one thing I would like to confess before I go," he said. They all drew closer. "It was me," cough, wheeze, "I was the one," he said as they leaned down as close as they could to hear what he could barely get out in a whisper. Gasp, cough, "I was the one," cough, wheeze, "in the kitchen with Dinah..."

What did the 'banjo player' get on his SAT test? Answer: Drool. Just trying to keep this alive

SR540Beaver, that's a new one on me. OGE, I especially enjoy all the CPAP machines (but I don't have one) because with a couple of those around me I can dream about Darth Vader or those 'Alien' face suckers. Think I'll go eat some lo mein now, I seem to suddenly be very hungry.

What do you do when a 'banjo player' knocks on your door? Answer: Pay him for the pizza. What do you say to a 'banjo player' in a three-piece suit? Answer: Will the defendant please rise?

Trevorum, I thought the 'cold call' was ALWAYS supposed to be the way, from a time before I was a boy scout. But I sympathize, we are in a similar situation here and despite my urging, no-one in the district (council as well) seems to pay much attention to the problem. So we limp along doing things poorly, but getting by with a troop-based MB program.

I agree. Food rewards are a great motivation as well.

OGE, I think I am in a similar predicament. In my 57th year, I'm still planning to be at the top of the South Sister as soon as McKenzie Pass opens this summer, approaching from the Obsidian Cliffs end of the Pacific Crest. And before that, I'm going to make a few passes at some good whitewater sections (Chattooga, French Broad, Ocoee), do a wild cave this weekend. Getting old sucks. But not as much as the alternative. I'll keep fighting as long as I can breathe. And on those occasions that I can still outdo the senior patrol (I can still free dive to >50ft) I not only feel good about still being in the game, but also that the friendly competition puts us all on a level playing field and they are even more motivated. Now if I could just keep up with my daughter.

Well, at least I got part of it right. That law is still on the books? You can be sure that if I EVER mess with Texas, I'll give myself a good scrub afterwards.

I'd even let little Ed fill in his own information on the blue card. Mr. Ed couldn't do it anyway, because he's a horse Seriously, if there are multiple approved counselors, let the boys' fingers do the walking. It's part of taking personal responsibility and also part of the fun for them. I just wish we had that luxury more often.