Here you can read/hear the ramblings of a pretty boring guy
And you want me to Exercise!!
Holy longest two-and-a-half minutes ever. Here’s a completely ridiculous compilation of Robin’s holy exclamations, most of which make no sense.
Holy Robin just said “nucular”! Holy why did I watch this! Holy thanks a lot Tedfufu!
[via G.TDW]
Related posts:
Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys probably does things on his birthday so eccentric that the rest of us would say, "What? Why? Wait … Damn…." I'd go into more detail, but that defeats my premise.
I’ve never understood the ambivalence that some ’80s fans show toward the Pet Shop Boys. I admit that for the longest time, my only knowledge of the group was based solely on West End Girls, a song that’s far more grating than just about anything else in their incredibly prolific catalog. That’s why today’s earworm is It’s a Sin, a 1987 tune that spent three weeks atop the British music charts. It’s probably the perfect ’80s combination of music, lyrics and video.
So celebrate Neil’s birthday today by expanding your horizons. If you continue to think of PSB as a one-hit wonder for West End Girls, well, then that’s the real sin.
Many of the requirements to advance from Scout to First Class can be done any place at any time. A few work much better during the summer than winter. Repeating the Scout Oath or describing a cyberbully can be done at a troop meeting in December, but identifying 10 native plants is much more difficult in January than June for most parts of the country.
I encourage scouts to accomplish the following ‘summer’ requirements as soon as possible so they aren’t stuck in their advancement trail waiting to do one requirement over the winter.
The cooking requirements can be very difficult and discouraging when the temperature is below freezing. Animals are more abundant and active in summer. It’s more enjoyable to be hiking in nice weather rather than through a foot of snow.
It’s ‘possible’ to do all the requirements except one at any time of the year, but planning ahead can make it more enjoyable. I believe enjoying the outing is more important than advancing.
That one requirement that I don’t think can be done at any time is identifying poisonous plants. When the plants have died off and are covered with snow, it can’t be done. I’ve heard of letting scouts point to a picture of poison ivy. I’ve heard of letting them just describe what poison ivy looks like. This doesn’t seem to meet the goal of the requirement to me, which I feel is to be able to recognize and avoid these plants in the wild.
Have you any ways to let scouts identify poisonous plants when they are not actively growing and visible?
Scout On
Polls show that a
majority of Americans say that both the Republicans and Democrats are
doing such a poor job representing the people that a new, third party
is needed.
I’ve repeatedly warned that there is a scripted,
psuedo-war between Dems and Repubs, liberals and conservatives which is
in reality a false divide-and-conquer dog-and-pony show created by
the powers that be to keep the American people divided and
distracted. See this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this.
In fact, the Founding Fathers warned us about the threat from a two party system.
John Adams said:
There
is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into
two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting
measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension,
is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.
George Washington agreed, saying in his farewell presidential speech:
The
alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the
spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages
and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a
frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and
permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually
incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute
power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing
faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this
disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of
Public Liberty
Without looking forward to an extremity of this
kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the
common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to
make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and
restrain it.
It serves always to distract
the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It
agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms;
kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally
riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and
corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself
through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of
one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There
is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon
the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the
spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in
Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence,
if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the
popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not
to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will
always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there
being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of
public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched,
it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame,
lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
See how far computers have come.
Papa B:
George Washington, our nation’s first president and leader of the American Revolution!
Abe Lincoln, an honorable leader who pulled our nation through its darkest hour!
Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father, first Secretary of the Treasury and leader of the Constitutional Convention!
Andrew Jackson, “Old Hickory”, who fought the British in New Orleans!
Ulysses Grant, Union army general, who led the North to victor over slavery during the Civil War!
Ben Franklin, a genius, inventor, statesman, political theorist and leading author of the Constitution!
And, at long last, we have someone to put on the food stamp!
Obama’s put more people on food stamps than any other president, so this placement is most appropriate. Unlike the Nobel Peace Prize, for which he did nothing, this is an “honor” he truly deserves.
I am not sure if you all are aware yet.. but there is a website to help you and your Scouts to get and stay Fit.
I figured after my last post, that there should be some solutions offered as well. We can all stand to be better fit and lose a few unwanted pounds.
So check out BSA FIT and get FIT!
Check out the Boy’s Life Gym too.. this is a neat resource in getting you and your Scouts on the trail to fitness!
As for me and my unit.. we are looking into how we can get fit! Join us and the rest of the BSA, especially all the great Scouts and Scouters that are participating in #100daysstrong!
Have a Great Scouting Day!
There are many out there that feel that there is no place for electronics in Scouting.. no phones, ipods, or gps units. Well I tend to disagree with those folks, but with this caveat, training, skills, and appropriate time and place.
Training. IF you are going to use a gps unit you need to know how to read a map and compass. Goecaching has made gps very popular and has taken away some of the map and compass skills that we use in the field. The game of geocaching on the other hand has gotten lots of folks out in the woods and hiking from point to point. I love this idea, but… add the map and compass skill to your list when hunting for your next treasure. Total reliance on the gps may leave you stranded when the batteries die. the compass and map will never fail you. So map and compass training is a must.
Training in basic camping (outdoor) skills are a must. Knot tying, First aid, and setting camp, cooking, and the principles of leave no trace are all must have skills. Your iPhone can help in those endeavors. There are great apps out there that teach skills. The Boy Scout handbook is a nice tool on the iPhone to take Scouting where the Scout is… on his phone.
In my troop we do not discourage the use of electronics. Game units, gps, iPhones, etc are all welcome. We do not have a written policy or a guidebook on how and when to use these items, it is understood however that there is an appropriate time and place. Once a Scout understands the when and where and the fact that we welcome technology the instances of abuse are rare. It is a matter of teaching, trusting, and letting them lead in the use of their electronics.
I think that there is a place for electronics in Scouting… and Scouting thinks so too. If you trust your Scouts to do the right thing, train them in the proper use, and then establish the appropriate time and place that it all can be used, it will naturally find its place in your unit.
There recently was a good article in Backpacker magazine about skills and the iPhone.. check it out here.
Let me know what you think. Leave a comment or drop me an email.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
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