packsaddle

Graphic novels, fantasy escapism, etc. are not a valid replacement for the classics.

 

Yeah, I agree, once college was for reading the classics, now the big hit is remedial reading.

Spock: Admiral, may I ask you a question?

James T. Kirk: Spock, don't call me Admiral. You used to call me Jim. Don't you remember "Jim"? What's your question?

Spock: Your use of language has altered since our arrival. It is currently laced with, shall I say, more colorful metaphors-- "Double dumb-ass on you" and so forth.

Kirk: You mean the profanity?

Spock: Yes.

Kirk: That's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays any attention to you unless you swear every other word. You'll find it in all the literature of the period.

Spock: For example?

Kirk: [thinks] Oh, the complete works of Jacqueline Susann, the novels of Harold Robbins....

Spock: Ah... The Giants.

Deeelicious!

A true southerner will like KK.   I like KK way better than DD as I feel that DD is a drier more cake like doughnut.   KK when they are hot and fresh will do down like butter.  When we lived up north all we could get was DD.  My mom hated it. 

 

I try to stay away from doughnuts as I feel like such crap after I eat some(well that and that I am overweight).  But that being said my husband bought 2 dozen for 3 people in my house.  Geez.   Those are going to go bad before they all get ate.   I may have to down one or two of them(when I have time to feel crappy).  I asked him why he bought so much.  "It was the coupon for this month in the calendar."   I told him that he needs to take them elsewhere so they can get eaten.  Also KK doesn't tend to freeze as well as DD IMO...

I have to break silence on this one. Agree with Jackdaws. To me Krispy Kreme  is one of three absolute components of Heaven (flanked by Dairy Queen and KFC and a big sign saying 'All You Can Eat'). I will divert my route through town, stop by the KK place to pick up a dozen, polish off 6 of those delectable treats in the next few minutes and the rest the next morning. NJ, I am so sorry for your loss. 

Switching off....

Swooping in for a moment...to followup on Stosh's ideas, I suggest arranging for classes to have some hands-on experience changing diapers, real ones, dirty ones, fully loaded. That is a spectre that will last a lifetime, lol. Flutter, flutter.....

No one ever applies any critical thinking skills to it.  No one stops to wonder why we should transfer the State's responsibility to fund their own schools to the taxpayers of all states.  No one ever asks "How will it work?"  So I ask - how will it work, just on a fundamental level?  In my state, tuition rates aren't the same across the board at public colleges.  The tuition rates at Northern Illinois University are different from the tuition rates at University of Illinois which are in turn different from the rates at Illinois State University which are in turn different from the rates at Eastern Illinois University, etc. etc. etc.  So is the federal government just going to pay for a student's tuition at different rates in the same state? 

 

What's to prevent a state from jacking up the tuition rates to collect more federal tax dollars?  Is the federal government going to try to set the tuition rates for the state's schools?  Seems to me there is some constitutional issues there regarding the sovreignity of states.  Or is the answer that the federal government sets a number that is the tuition reimbursement which may be higher or lower than a schools tution rate - and if that's the case, so much for free tuition to the students who attend a public school where tution is $4,500 a semester and the reimbursement rate is $4,100 a semester. 

Briefly out of quarantine. Calico, most of the tuition is borrowed at interest rates likely to follow graduates for many years if it isn't paid by rich families. Tuition rates are rising not because states are raising them. On the contrary, when this state lowered state support to record low levels (10% or less) the university was forced to raise tuition to compensate - and the legislature raised concerns about the rising tuition costs in response. One of the major state institutions compensated by opening enrollment to much larger numbers (with resulting increase in failure rates) and another raised both tuition and entry standards - a gutsy move that 'paid off' it turns out. That institution has a huge applicant pool and they only accept a tiny fraction. It conforms to market forces in many ways. Unfortunately, as Beavah noted, it isn't exactly the way to spread the benefit of education to many of the best students who can't afford it. 

But back to your assertion that states raise tuition: think about the political reasons that this would NOT happen - such as angry parents who can't afford college because some legislature raised rates. Legislators just don't have that kind of 'courage'. They'd rather take the path of cutting support and then pretending to be outraged when the institutions raised the tuition. 

Over and out.

I don't think removing I&P will help, it will just overflow elsewhere. Isn't that the reason why I&P was formed? Trying to remove dissent or arguments will gut this forum.

 

There's a good way to argue and a bad way to argue. The good way is when everyone is trying to come to an agreement, even if it is to disagree. Lurking scouts should see that. I'm all for it. Bad arguments are when it becomes a zero sum game. If there were a way for the moderators to help with that I'd say absolutely. I'm just not sure what that might be.

 

What seems to work really well is when someone realizes they crossed a line and apologize. Personal messages could also help. Even if it's a moderator pm-ing someone and saying they won't remove a comment but man, it sure was rude, an apology might be a good idea.

 

But at the end of the day, I have enough conflict in the rest of my life. I don't need want to see bad arguments here. What I really want is is that scout-crack feeling when some boy walks up and says thank you. I'm here to learn better ways to get that. Yeah, I'm greedy. I suppose I could help people here but there really aren't that many people here, especially those that would like some help.

 

Why drink beer and get in a fight? Why talk about scouts and get angry?

>>coming out of hibernation...

There's a limit to how much time moderators have to 'police' the 'behavior' of forums...remember...they also don't get paid and they have 'lives' outside of this as well as careers. In the ideal world, a forum like scouter.com (if it doesn't work for scouters it probably can't work anywhere) should be self-moderating with the 'moderators' providing occasional nudges now and then. I read the series in this case and while I also disagree with his decision, I understand cyclops's feelings. Sorry to see him go.

back to hibernation<<<

MoosetheItalianBlacksmith, I will break silence to express how deeply saddened I am to hear about your mom. She was a truly good human being who, with great eloquence and passion, expressed empathy and generosity and fairness for others. We are all better for having had her among us and I am personally saddened that, like OGE, I never was able to have the pleasure of meeting her. Perhaps someday, I will be able to meet you and say these things in person. My condolences.

I didnt diary much until about 10 years ago. With over 30 nights a year in the woods, I certainly have my last 70 in journal form. Some with photos, some not.

Just a quick visit to the old gang, and I noticed this. It took me a few minutes to find it but I still have my diary that I wrote on my solo 100+ miler way back in 1973 in the Yellowstone backcountry. Thanks for the memories. See you 'round.

Interesting topic and timely. I've been interacting with my grandchildren, the first just coming into the Cub Scout age. They have looked around their area and considered the CS program. The father is an Eagle Scout. But the programs seem to be something they are just not interested in and the local community has a strong youth program itself, not affiliated with any organization, church,...anything. They have decided to go what what they know and like.

I asked about the kinds of things scouting is advertised as promoting: character, good citizenship, etc. Their response was something on the order of: "That's what we are already. This family doesn't need some external program to do that."

I can't find a flaw in their logic. So, this probably means I'll be helping with that program and withdrawing from the unit I'm with. Interesting...how these things turn out. The ultimate in local option. Guess this is goodbye.

Nothing wrong with some good vibes these days. I think you made the best decision that you could. Qwazse had some good suggestions that are also worth consideration.  When I was CM, it was tough for me to turn down any request. Sometimes they just ask too much.

I know y'all think that this permissive vs. restrictive sexual ethic thing is what's dooming the BSA, but that's not where the ship needs to be righted. In theory BSA could have gone more restrictive, and the membership drain would continue.

 

There's one thing that would restore value to the BSA that would undermine every micromanaging adult:

Move aggressively from a vision of "adventure boy"  and toward A Vision of Hiking and Camping Independently with Your Mates.

 

Think about it. If my Johnny or Jane is never going to Jambo, or an HA Base like all the glossy photos talk about all the time, but instead is finding a little nook just outside of town (or even in town) where he or she can grow and learn do some good in the world, I won't give a care about who some crack-pot troop on the other side of the nation is letting be their leader.

Back for the evening. I agree with qwazse.

On that note, if the unit had been on those streams with me, all this turmoil would have paled into background noise. Which is what I intend to let it do again tomorrow.

On a different note, I am saddened to report that one of our former scouts has just been charged with a local murder (a different one). When I joke about some our bullets landing not to far from some of the rest of you, I'm not really joking. Thanks qwazse, I'm outta here again. This forum is just too much.

As I promised Sentinel, I took time off and took a hike. 

While I'm back I'll take this time to apologize to BDPT00 and the forums in general for 'going off' the way I did. Stosh was right, I should have handled it with PM and the result was destructive overall. I regret this greatly.

I had been on the trail for a short time only to be called back to attend a memorial for a friend, evidently killed in a robbery the same day as my regrettable words - which just doubly makes my reaction that much less important in the grand scheme. I apologize.

I won't do the deed. It will be up to Terry. You are free to make the same request.

Edit: OK, I'm backing off.

My daughter routinely outperformed some our best scouts, physically and mentally. It would be a good thing.

You think this is a threat? "I'll ask Terry to ban you"?

 

When he offers a complete explanation, I'll apologize.

And in your post above you just put quotation marks around something I didn't write as well. No user error for that. When someone publicly lies about me, I respond publicly and directly.

You think this is a threat?

When he offers a complete explanation, I'll apologize.

We don't need charities anymore because the Government will be there to fix everything. Where they don't corporations will fill the gap. Haven't you been paying attention since 2008?

We should not 'need' charities anyway. We should be paying our own way as we go. We should not lament when someone decides not to give us something we haven't earned...that is entitlement. We should be paying the freight for the camps if we use them, and all the other stuff, same as families in our unit do every month, every week. It's called responsibility. The 'program' is an idea. The 'program' is not an overpaid, bloated superstructure that volunteers should worry about getting their bloated salaries. Sorry, end of rant.

Use BSA camp grounds? Maybe once a year for summer camp, but that's about it. Most units I know use national and state parks, private or public land and other such areas. High adventure can easily be done (and cheaper) by doing your own thing.

This gets into 'program' but that's pretty much what we do. Plus it relaxes a lot of the restrictions that are placed on the 'official' places, like the arbitrary age limit for one.

Moreover, the alternative gives the PLC and  boys a lot more planning and leadership opportunities.

Some of the council camps I have known well are now becoming surrounded by gated communities and suburbs. The National Forests and Parks and private lands offer a lot of great options.

Skeptic, I agree with this.   However, the yellow press has been given engraved invitations by the BSA.    They aren't going away now.

Sadly, this has the ring of truth. But with all the prognostications, all of us will just have to 'wait and see' what happens

Why do they exclude LDS?

Sure we can. Some of us just need more space than others. Sometimes it needs to be completely different space.

I know next to nothing about LDS scouting but I was under the impression that that was how it is now.

Scout driven to me means you spark the interest via a vis a troop or patrol sponsored event that covers a requirement or two, then leave the boys to follow up with the MBC.

That is similar to the way I interpret it as well. Really, shouldn't this be the case for all MBs?

Yes, except for the fire, all good news. Are you sure this belongs in I&P? I guess maybe.

Edit: I didn't realize I was posting to a Lazarus thread.  I deleted my comments for that reason.  

What's wrong with posting to a 'Lazarus' thread? Have you seen "The Walking Dead"? (I'm not talking about political candidates)