XXXXmas

I suppose it's something of a departure for this blog, but the news that Guides and Brownies have been banned from carol singing in a shopping centre for the first time in 20 years on the grounds that they pose a threat to customers' health and safety is really too delightful.

And quite right too! When the Girl Guides were founded the focus was on clean living and outdoor activities. Last year, however, Girlguiding UK decided that what their girls really needed was more sex. And if they're not sure which way they want to swing, why should that matter? Condoms? Sapphic tendencies? It's all good fun for nice young gels. Shortly before 9/11 they were condemning the Bush Administration for not discriminating against boys. (OK, so I'm biased! Sue me.) They've also been very keen to shed their "Christian" image. (Hard to believe, huh?)

In any case, I'm sure the powers that be in Girguiding UK will be more than capable of thinking up more exciting things for the girls to be doing in the run-up to Xmas.

In Iraq...

...I think.

Mystery Scouts

Dunno who they are, but Scouts (and Cubs) ought to be recoginsable by what they're wearing. (Those slogans on their T-shirts look as if they're Google-able.)

Boys and Boats

No Escape!

The War against Boys Continues

Actually it's not some "feminist" war against boys per se. Quite the reverse, in fact, it's simply a war by brainless ideologues who know nothing and care less about raising and educating children who simply want to advance their horrible disgusting sexual revolution into every corner of the world.

Council officials have told Broad Plain Boys' Club, Easton, an inner city area of Bristol, that it does not meet its equality standards.

The club, which has helped thousands of children, said it had had its name since it was founded in 1894, and it does cater for girls two days a week.

The leader, Dennis Stinchcombe, who was made an MBE for his work, has been warned that unless he changes the club's name the authority will withdraw the £11,600-a-year funding it receives for two paid staff to work alongside volunteers..

Bristol City Council wants the club to cater equally for both boys and girls, despite funding other minority and single sex groups.

[The Daily Telegraph]

Messing about with Boats

Another little boat pic! No other connexion!

Tug-o'-War

Before and after!

What reputation?

A quinquagenarian lady in charge of Beavers almost died and had to be taken to hospital after a her fruit cocktail drink was spiked by a typically vicious product of the modern Scout movement mischievous teenage Scout leader.

It's chilling to think that Beavers are now being taken on camp. Presumably it won't be much longer before the entire movement in this country is composed mainly of pre-schoolers and toddlers - like pets dressed up in strange costumes by their owners.

But what's rather more depressing is the way this poor woman was subsequently treated by the Scout Association.

[W]hen the mother-of-two from Norbury, south London told a local newspaper about her ordeal she was sacked by the Scout Association.

In a letter from the association's district commissioner Chris Williams, Mrs Setohy was told: "I am disappointed that you chose to bring this matter to the attention of the media and in so doing tarnished the reputation of the Scout Association. I have had no option but to withdraw your appointment."

"Tarnished the reputation of the Scout Association"? What reputation?

Yukon Ho!

Three possible takes, in fact, on Calvin and Hobbes's famous expedition to the Great White North!

I just came across the third pic - of our young hero now all grown up, still with his faithful old companion but with Susie Derkins as well - and then remembered the "real life" version just above. (The first, of course, is Waterson's original.)

Oh, what a life! we cannot wait,
To be in that arctic land,
Where we'll be masters of our fate,
And lead a life that's grand!

Sgt. Preston eat your heart out.