BrentAllen

Beaver, You made my point for me. Rather was supposed to be a "real" unbiased journalist, as opposed to O'Reilly, who everyone claims is just entertainment or an activist for Republicans. As you said, Rather was supposed to be a neutral journalist. He was anything but. He and all the mainstream media will tell you they are not biased. Lefties see the MSM as neutral, because the reporting fits with their political view. Those of us on the right see it as slanted. Survey after survey of journalists show they overwhelmingly vote democrat. Yes, this has all been rehashed a million times... So FNC is the equivalent of feeding Christians to lions and car wrecks... I guess it would be too hard to admit they are just doing a better job...

Other than the month before major elections, or when something big happens (tsunami), I rarely watch any news. When I do, it is mostly Fox. Count me in for the History Channel in the evening, and Animal Planet in the morning when the kids are getting ready for school. The only show I seek out regularly is UFC. I get most of my news from the internet.

Hunt, One of my WB Ticket items was to improve the uniforming in our Pack. Granted, this is Cubs, not Boy Scouts, so there is a difference. When the WB Course Director/SM came to our Pack for the beading ceremony, he was very impressed with the way our Pack looked - nearly 100% in complete uniform. He asked for further details about how we got to that point. This is the email I sent him: Hope you and your family are doing well. You had asked me awhile back about our uniforming methods for our Pack. I've been giving it much thought, and finally have time to type them out. While we are working with Cub Scouts, I think some of these ideas could be adopted to Boy Scouts. I also have included some ideas that local Troops are using to get the boys in uniform. For our Pack, we try to have a quick uniform inspection at the Pack meetings. The den that scores the highest receives $2 Brusters Ice Cream gift cards for the members. It is very easy to get Cub Scouts excited about Brusters! Last year, we also had a year-long contest, where the winning den won a big pizza party. Events that counted toward the contest included Pack meetings, and we also included attendance at service events and campouts. While successful, I think the monthly Pack meeting inspections and immediate rewards worked better. If you have a really nice prize for a long-term contest (special trip, maybe), the contest could help develop esprit de corps among your patrols. At our December Pack meeting, we have a Marine visit for our Toys for Tots drive. He arrives in Dress Blues and goes over the significance of the parts of the uniform. He usually inspects at least one den, and has fun with the boys. They really listen to what he has to say, and he goes over their entire uniform - "you need to button that button" etc... I think getting some people like that, who really take pride in their uniform, in front of the boys might help them appreciate their uniform a little more. They might want to look a little sharper, as well. Army Rangers might be another group to arrange a visit - some in dress uniform, some in field, maybe even some in full camo. Fighter pilots might be another idea. Two local Troops have very good uniforming. At both, the boys have decided to require full uniforms, and require any adults who attend the boys' part of the Troop meetings to be in full uniform as well. They take this very seriously. There are some boys who play sports, and if they come straight from practice or a game, they are not required to be in uniform. That is all I can think of right now. Not sure if it is much help, but hopefully at least a little. Yours in Scouting, Brent Allen I used to be a Fox...

Yeah, O'Reilly isn't a real journalist, like, say - Dan Rather? You know, that REAL journalist who used forged documents to try to take down Bush 43 during an election. The same Dan Rather who was forced to apologize to Bush 41 after interviewing him, for being rude and obnoxious. But Dan didn't have an agenda at all - right? The reason I posted those numbers, other than showing what a total loser Olberman is, was to show how "Faux News", as some here like to refer to the channel, is kicking the snot out of CNN. For Fox to be so bad, they sure are drawing the viewers. So, maybe who is out of touch with mainstream America?

Venture, I think it more important what I wear under my uniform shirt. I wear Wickers (http://www.wickers.com/) t-shirts, which are 100% polyester (wicking material). When I wear these under my cotton uniform shirt, the uniform tends to stay dry, which helps keep me cooler. I have not tested this theory in any manner - I just like the comfort of wearing the cotton uniform, and the Wickers t-shirt deals with the moisture in a way that keeps the outer shirt from getting wet. I'm guessing the t-shirt would work the same with the other materials, but I'm not sure. The cotton does seem to breath well in this manner. In my experience, once the cotton gets wet, it gets heavy and uncomfortable. BTW, I only buy the Wickers products when they are on sale. They hold up very well, and are very comfortable. The Mens Boxer Brief WA622 is the most comfortable u/w I have worn. Their long u/w works great! I remember how uncomfortable my cotton long u/w was - a little exercise and I was sweating like a river! The stuff got soaked and would then turn very cold, and I would be miserable. Not anymore with the Wickers!

Sorry, Beaver, I don't see where packsaddle's quote had any disclaimers about whether one is acting is defense or offense. It was pretty clear. "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." Churchill and FDR had other choices - negotiate, even surrender. According to packsaddle's quote, those choices would have been more "competent" than violence. If that sounds absurd, that is exactly my point. His quote is absurd.

Fuzzy, It is really very simple. packsaddle quoted, "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." Neville Chamberlain believed he could negotiate with Hitler, and avoid war/violence. According to packsaddle's quote, he was competent. FDR and Churchill took their countries into war - chose violence. According to packsaddle's quote, they were incompetent. I think history has judged them just the opposite.

CABLE NEWS RACE MONDAY, JULY 24 VIEWERS FOXNEWS O'REILLY 2,693,000 FNC HANNITY/COLMES 1,801,000 FNC BRIT HUME 1,648,000 FNC SHEP SMITH 1,559,000 FNC GRETA 1,491,000 CNN COOPER 1,128,000 CNN KING 1,097,000 CNN ZAHN 890,000 CNN DOBBS 784,000 CNNHN GRACE 460,000 MSNBC HARDBALL 369,000 MSNBC OLBERMANN 365,000 I guess if I was Olbermann, I might be tempted to use an O'Reilly mask to get some viewers as well.

I disagree with nldscout about the new supplex pants. I think they will be much better than the current pants in winter, due to their breathability and quick drying qualities. If you want another opinion, I found this at http://www.sunprotectivefabrics.com/about_fabrics.htm What are "Wicking"/ "Breathable" Fabrics: When clothing gets wet from perspiration it sticks to the skin and hinders the evaporation process. The evaporation process keeps our body temperature at its appropriate level to keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In the summer months, keeping cool is pretty obvious, surprisingly, in the winter, the same process keeps us warm. When we work or play outside in the cold our body temperature heats up causing us to sweat. The sweat soaks into our clothing causing them to stick to our skin hindering the evaporation process. The wet fabric lays on our skin keeping us cold even while we continue to work or play hard. Add rain or snow to this mix and we get into some real problems trying to keep warm and dry!! Cottons, nylons and polyesters have always been notorious for hindering our evaporation process. While wool has been known to be warm when wet, it weighs a TON when in this state. But thanks to modern technology we have learned how to battle the elements in a comfortable and fashionable way by turning fabric breathability into an art. The new fabrics have one basic character, Breathability! They have special weaves that give them the ability to let our cooling process happen by "wicking" the sweat away from our skin. There are lots of different ways that the manufacturers have applied this weave to the clothing industry. Supplex nylon has a special weave that lets the steam out while keeping the wind and even the rain out. Gortex and Ultrex products have developed a special coating to put on to fabrics to make them virtually waterproof while still being breathable. Polar products have developed a lofty fabric to make the clothing warm (remember air trapped in the weave make little heat pockets) and breathable. The hundreds of variations on all of these styles have made the world of outdoor clothing fun and exciting!! Always keep in mind that the idea behind clothing is to be comfortable while we are working or playing. These new products not only feel good but look great too!! What is Supplex?? Supplex is a nylon fabric that Dupont created to have all the good qualities of nylon (easy care, great color retention, little or no ironing, durability, softness, etc.) without the stickiness that nylon creates. Supplex is a high-wicking, highly breathable nylon that comes in many styles including wovens and knits and can be found with many different treatments such as water proof/repellent treatments, sun protective treatments or antimicrobial treatments. This fabric is used to line other breathable fabrics, it can be used as the outer layer of a breathable garment or can simply be used alone as outerwear or fashion wear.

So, packsaddle, just to make sure I understand you - Neville Chamberlain was competent, and FDR and Churchill were incompetent? OK, got it.

For the pants, wait until the new zip-off leg pants in 100% Supplex nylon come out in August before making your decision. You may like them better than any of the others. I own several short-sleeve shirts in different materials, but almost always wear the 100% cotton one. It is the most comfortable. Yes, it has to be ironed - and I iron it, not my wife.

(putting on my unofficial UP hat...) trlarue, I found myself in the same situation a few years ago. I grew up in a Pack and Troop that wore and respected the complete uniform - that is all I know. When my son joined the Pack at his school, they were waist-up. I wanted to change the policy, but waited for the right time. My son and I wore full uniform, but we were pretty much the only ones doing so. Near the end of that first school year, they asked me to be ACM. I went to WB over the summer, and wrote a ticket item to improve the uniforming. When we started again in the fall, the committee agreed to give it a try. I made up a little game to introduce the new policy at our first Pack meeting. After the meeting, we received 2 complaints about the new policy - from ADL's. The CC pointed out we had discussed the issue at the planning meeting, and neither of them had attended. End of discussion. The boys took to the policy like fish to water. They really enjoy wearing the full uniform. Your argument is going to be with the parents (cost) and adult leaders who don't want to wear the pants. Want some ammo? Check out Chapter 12 of the Cub Leader Book. Page 12-11 "How To Wear The Uniform": Uniform parts should not be worn separately or with civilian clothing. The entire uniform should be worn or not at all. The pack does not have the authority to make changes to the uniform. Same page, "How To Uniform Your Pack" The pack committee should set the goal of 100% boy and adult leader uniforming. This can be accomplished several ways:... Our own method, which seems to help - we have occasional quick inspections at Pack meetings. The Den that wins gets $2 gift cards to Brusters Ice Cream. The competition can be fierce! Start a uniform swap and show the uniforms can be recycled and inexpensive. That will help with the "cost" concern. Good luck! (UP hat off)

Joebanker, When was the last time you visited Woodruff? Within the past 5 years? All the Troops here in Dunwoody go to Woodruff just about every year. I can't find anyone who would agree with your assessment. Yes, it is a large camp. We are the 5th or 6th largest Council in the country - do you think we (Council) should build small camps that only a small % of our Scouts can attend? The Scouters who have recently attended Woodruff said they never ran out of food - in fact, there was plenty. The Mountain Man program gets very good reviews, and most are pretty happy with the Merit Badge classes. I find it hard to believe so many Troops would be returning year after year if the situation was as you described. Bert Adams is an old camp. Some of the infrastructure is worn out. The weather is hot and the ticks are plentiful. They offer 2 weeks of Boy Scout Summer Camp and 5 sessions of Webelos Encampment. Camp Jamison has been recently improved as a pioneer camping site (not Summer Camp). The camp has potential; there are a lot of ideas floating around about where money should be spent and what improvements should be made. If you think the Council executives are only interested in money, you are badly informed.

Owl, Thanks for the quotes - I love reading them! The gear check is a great idea. Way back when our Troop (of my youth) first formed, we finally got around to our first real hike - up Springer Mountain. We did the % of weight thing, and tried to do the best planning we could. Once we hit the trail, the group separated almost immediatly - a dozen of us out front, the rest behind. Front group reached the top, had lunch and waited, and waited, and waited... We decided if we were going to get to the planned camping location, we had better get moving - and we did. We made it just before dusk. What we didn't know.... one of the "heavier" and younger Scouts was having real trouble with a knee. He couldn't carry his heavy pack at all. So my dad and the SM were carrying their packs and his, and also helping him up the trail. They were having a very rough time. Needless to say, they got to the top well after we had left. The SM decided to head down the trail to see if he could find us. He was dead tired, so he dropped all his gear (key word ALL) and off he went. He didn't reach us before it got dark, and with no flashlight or other light source, he had to spend the night on the side of the trail, in just the clothes on his back. Yes, he was pretty miserable. You never forget the lessons you learn at the School of Hard Knocks! So... (I'm sure you already know this, but others might not) set your time interval for catch-ups, have a good sweeper, use the Buddy System, and start with small hikes. Good luck! "We are born wanderers, followers of obscure trails, or blazers of new ones. The mind, too, is a natural wanderer, ever seeking, and occasionally discovering, new ideas, fresh insights." Royal Robbins, U.S. mountaineer and climber whose interest in the outdoors was stimulated by Scouting.

Not a direct answer to your question, owl, but my WB TG was big on light or ultra-light backpacking. One excercise he ran with his Scouts was to take them on an overnight hike in the spring or fall, and they could only take what they could fit in a standard shoe box. They would take super-size trash bags for sleeping bags, space blankets for a ground cloth, ultra-light tarp for a tent, small stove, one pot, spork, etc.... The point was to show them how little they really needed to go on an overnight trip. Having the boys hike for 5 miles carrying that load vs. a 25 - 30# pack will get them thinking in the right direction! As an answer to your question, the BSA Fieldbook recommends no more than 25% of body weight. If you don't have a copy, I highly recommend getting one. Excellent book! One of the many quotes found throughout the book: "If you cannot endure a certain amount of thirst, heat, fatigue, and hunger without getting cross with Nature, it is best to stay home." William T. Hornaday, Campfires on Desert and Lava, 1913. Brent Allen I used to be a Fox...

We used to do this around the campfire - kind of a cross between a prank and a skit(mid-1970's era). I learned it at a church lock-in. We took all the Scouts who had not "kissed the King's ring" away from the campfire. One by one, they were blindfolded and led to the campfire. They were instructed to kneel and kiss the King's (SM) ring (a neckerchief slide). The blindfold was removed, and there sat the SM with a bare foot and a neckerchief slide on his big toe! The Scout thought he had actually kissed that slide, until the next Scout was brought in and kneeled. Just as he was about to kiss the slide, the SM stuck his hand down over his foot, with an identical slide on his finger, which was kissed instead of the one on his toe. The previous Scout saw what had happened, and there was a "gotcha!" moment. This was repeated until the last Scout was brought out. He was usually chosen to go last because he was the biggest prankster. He didn't get to see the step repeated, so he thought he had kissed the slide on the toe - at least he did until someone told him the real story.

Unless Tooth of Time is selling some pants not on their web site, they don't offer these same pants. The closest match is the Columbia Convertible Hiking pants - Arrowhead logo. These are tan, not green, and are 100% nylon Omni-Dry canvas, not Supplex. I didn't look for a "Made in ..." logo on the sample. Could very well be China. My Columbia GRT pants are made in Vietnam.

Gern, I held the sample of these new miracle pants in my own two hands, and I still can't believe it's true! Everyone standing around looking at them kept saying the same thing - "this just makes too much sense to be true." If the BSA is truly entering the 21st century, maybe they will at least start making the socks in Smartwool. On second thought, that might be a bad idea - then we wouldn't have any excuse for not wearing them on camping and hiking trips.

I stopped by our Scout Shop and saw the demo pair of these new pants - I am very impressed! Supplex nylon that is the same color of our official uniform pants. According to one of the higher-ups, the color has been the issue that has caused the delay in bringing these pants to market. Looks like they have that problem solved - these appear to be spot on! They are convinced these are going to be Official Uniform pants, and not just Activity pants. They have a BSA tag in them, and even have ribbon-type pulls (with fleur-de-lis) on the zippers at the legs. The cargo and rear pockets secure with velcro. The cargo pockets are not as large as those found on BDUs, but appear larger and much more useful than the small pockets found on the front of current pants. They do come with a black belt and plastic snap buckle with BSA logo on front. The loops are large enough for the BSA leather belts. Instead of numbered waist sizes, they appear to come in S, M, L, XL, etc... with inseams of 30", 32", 34", etc... The waists are elastic. I suspect the kids pants will be sized appropriately. I was very impressed with the overall quality of the pants. They appear to be of the same quality as I find with Columbia brand pants. I can see the Scout Shops selling a ton of these if they are dubbed Official Uniform. Price is estimated at $39.95, with anticipated arrival in August. I think those Scouters who would never wear the Official pants will find these very appealing.

tentmaker, Glad to hear y'all had a great time at camp! I'm also glad to find my memory isn't failing me - yet! :-) The first time I got in that water, I remember looking around for ice cubes - it definitely took your breath away. Luckily, I already had my swimming and canoeing merit badges, so I only went to the water front for fun. I can certainly understand some of the boys having a hard time passing the swim test in that water. Hard to swim when you can't breathe! When we had attended Bert Adams ('75, '76 & '77) they had 3 different camps - 2 of them ate at the mess hall, 1 cooked their own meals (Jamison). We had always been to Jamison, so when we went to Daniel Boone in '78, our SM wanted us to cook. The staff tried to help us out, but they just weren't set up to do that. We were eating in the mess hall after the first day, much to the delight of us Scouts. :-) The Amityville Horror book had come out in '77, and one of our ASM's read from it each night around the camp fire. I don't know how any of us got any sleep after that! I have some very fond memories from Daniel Boone!

I was told that the super secret recipe for the World's Best Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler was only revealed to those who attended WB, so I signed up. :-) Actually, my dad and my SM from my youth had attended back in the late 70's. Even though the material has changed, they convinced me it would be one of the best courses I would ever attend (they were right). I thought about waiting until my son was in Boy Scouts to attend, but our District Trainer convinced me to go ahead (he said something to the effect of "why wait - what are you scared of?" - he has become one of my best friends, btw). I had the time available, so it worked out very well. Congratulations on completing your ticket!

I just called our shop (Atlanta Area Council) to see if they had any news on these new pants. They don't have them in yet - they expect them in August. The woman I spoke with said they "expect" these new pants to be considered official field uniform pants, but they won't know for sure until they arrive. I'm with Monty - let's hope they finally got these right!!

Eamonn, I think I know how you feel. I had been out of Scouting since I was 17, and got back in the game when my son started 2nd grade, 3 years ago. It was like coming home. I've bounced around with various hobbies and efforts - scuba diving, golf, hunting, competitive rifle shooting to name a few - but none have been as enjoyable and rewarding as Scouting. I even coached our State Junior High Power Rifle Team, taking them to the National Matches, but something was always missing. We taught them how to shoot, but not much else. I jumped back into Scouting head first - attending as much training as I could, including Wood Badge. As you can imagine, it didn't take long to get noticed, and get asked to join District Committee, and the list has grown from there. Current responsibilities include Cubmaster, District Activities Chair, Council Long-Term Strategic Planning Committee, Scouters Academy Steering Committee-Cub Scout Chair, and District Nominating Committee. I attend nearly all Roundtables, and will be attending our Trainer Development Conference next month. We marched in our 4th of July parade Tuesday, attend Cub Scout Family Camping next weekend, and my son and I are attending Webelos Encampment at the end of July. Outside of all that, my son, daughter and I take martial arts classes (Han Mu Do) 2 nights a week - the instructor is an Eagle Scout! Do I feel a higher calling to be a Scouter? I do. I find myself in a position professionally that feels as if I have been guided here. I don't make a lot of money, not nearly as much as some of my fellow Georgia Tech alumni, but I'm also not required to work those long hours, or be away from home on travel assignments. I work from home, which is a huge benefit. I enjoy my job, and would love to make more money, but when I look at what I would have to give up to do so, it just isn't worth it. I honestly feel the Lord has put me in this position, allowing me to serve as a Scouter, so I can give back what my father and the other leaders gave to me as a Scout. It is a shame some only see Scouting as something their son does on Tuesday nights. Scouting is truly a gift from God.

I doubt this is written in any BSA manual or handbook, but the general consensus I have found could be summed up as follows: It is the SM's responsibility to get the Scouts to First Class. It is the Scout's responsibility to reach Eagle. That being said, the SM is not supposed to pick the MB's and order the Scout to complete rank advancement in certain steps. Rather, the SM should create an atmosphere where the Scout will have the opportunity to advance, and the SM should try to keep the Scout from straying too far from the advancement path. By saying the SM is responsible for advancement, I understand that to mean if none of the boys in the Troop are advancing, the SM is the one who should be held responsible - he is not creating that environment conducive for advancement.

Eamonn, Glad you enjoyed your trip! My wife is from Savannah - we love going to the coast! As Jen mentioned, the sausage is usually Polska Kielbasa (polish sausage), cut into 1" pieces. We always use Old Bay Seasoning, usually found on your grocery shelf. Some call those potatoes "New potatoes" - just make sure you get small ones, or they will take forever to cook. This is actually a very easy meal to cook, especially for a large group. The Moon Pie is sort of an acquired taste. We do a lot more talking about them than actually eating them. :-) That mud along the banks is like nothing I have ever seen. Some of it is firm and will hold you up, but on some you will sink all the way up to your waist. The problem is you can't really tell which is right in front of you. I'll mention one other very popular trip in the area, which usually requires booking a full year in advance - Cumberland Island. The island sits off the coast, just north of the Florida state line. A ferry delivers everyone over, from St. Mary's. There is general camping on the southern end, and remote camping up north. The hike to the northern end is very cool. There are large sand dunes on the beach, and wild horses inhabit the island. Check out photos from a Troop in Jacksonville - they hiked the island in 2001, 2002 and 2004. http://www.troop623.com/eventlog.htm If anyone heads to the area, feel free to stop by the King of Peace Episcopal Church in Kingsland, GA. Frank Logue is the Pastor - we grew up in the same Troop together, and he is an Eagle Scout. He and his wife Victoria have thru-hiked the AT, and they have written several books about hiking in general, hiking with kids, the AT, and traveling in Georgia. They are one of the nicest couples you will ever run in to. http://www.planetanimals.com/logue/