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[[quoteright:295:[[WesternAnimation/WallE http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cutmachines01_8826.png]]]]
-> ''"I have no idea what they're saying. But I love 'em! Look how cute you are!"''
-->-- '''[[RobotGirl Jinmay]]''' (meeting the Super Robot Monkeys for the first time), ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo''
Sometimes, a robotic character, despite its composition of hard circuits and cold metal, [[{{Moe}} completely melts your heart]].
Often just as lovable as their flesh and blood counterparts, these little guys[=/=][[{{Fembot}} gals]] steal the show and the audience's affection.
The name of this trope comes from a song by Music/ScarsOnBroadway.
Sometimes overlaps with RobotBuddy, FunnyRobot, AmusingAlien, FemBot, and RobotGirl.
Contrast UncannyValley.
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* The Tachikomas from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex''. Cutest {{Spider Tank}}s ever. Also designated BadassAdorable, given that they're capable of taking down opponents several times their size. Without weapons. With them, they're essentially an urban Act Of God.
* Some of the robots in ''Manga/AstroBoy'' and ''Manga/{{Pluto}}''. Even the more overtly robotic ones, like [[http://www.onemanga.com/Pluto/41/12/ Anton]] can be adorable.
* ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' has Sho's Vehicroid monsters which feature various vehicles from tricycles to bullet trains. All of which are adorable...and [[BadassAdorable badass]].
** In the card game, there is the Gadgets and, while not Machine-type, Wind-Ups are certainly mechanical in appearance.
* The Haros from ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}.''
** SD Gundams veer between this and BadassAdorable.
** The red Haro in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'' is also quite the BadassAdorable, being able to stop an attempt to steal the O-Raiser by hiding in the cockpit and initiating the TransformationSequence in the middle of the villain's escape.
** [=HARO-BE=] (usually called Nobell) from ''Anime/GundamReconguistaInG'' is as cute as its Haro cousins, of course. However, the G-Self is also much cuter than your typical Gundam, with its wide eyes, oversized head, and "bunny" ears. [[spoiler:It was sent to find and guard a pair of lost children on Earth, so that might be deliberate.]]
** Don't forget the Beargguy III and Beargguy F from GundamBuildFighters and GundamBuildFightersTry.
* Aside from the ViewerGenderConfusion, almost all of the doji from ''Manga/KarakuridoujiUltimo'' are ''very'' cute.
* [[AGodAmI Eneru's]] cover story in ''Manga/OnePiece'' has the Spaceys, little robot creatures that live on the moon.
* Along with Manga/{{Chobits}}' [[RobotGirl full size Persocoms]], there are smaller, cheaper models like Shinbo's overly-perky Sumomo. Kotoko is a snarkier example.
* ''Anime/SpaceDandy'' has QT, Dandy's yellow vacuum cleaner and RobotBuddy who serves as a foil of his.
* Nono from ''Anime/{{Ulysses 31}}''.
* The small cockroach-exterminating robot dolls from ''Manga/IchigekiSacchuHoihoiSan'' are made adorable, with childlike proportions, to help them sell better.
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Many of the Toymaker's creations in ''ComicBook/FallOutToyWorks''.
* The Peebos in the ''ComicBook/GoldDigger'' universe.
* Inventor Gyro Gearloose in the DonaldDuck comics had Helper, a tiny robot with a lightbulb for a head.
[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In the AbridgedSeries ''WebVideo/FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' a significant portion of the population are apparently robots, who upon discovering their true nature, will go on a horrible rampage. Before hand, however, they're basically indistinguishable from regular ponies (if one ignores their monotone voices, tendency to spark and glitch out). Somehow, Sweetie-Bot manages to be even more adorable than her [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic canon]] counterpart.
* In ''FanFic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'', Servbots and Metools are regarded as adorable even in-universe.
* In ''FanFic/MegaManReawakened'', there's Servbots, Birdbots, and Metools.
* Mark VII in the ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' fanfic [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/2787221?view_full_work=true ''re: I'm keeping him.'']] is a little beeping box on wheels with the personality of a border collie. It functions like a robotic psychiatric service dog.
[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' is probably the TropeCodifier. See image above.
* The cast of ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}''. Go ahead, [[http://www.areyouscreening.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/3-4.JPG just try and tell me]] they aren't cute.
* [=LaRousse=] City's block robots from ''Anime/PokemonDestinyDeoxys''
* Several of the appliances in ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'', most notably Toaster, Blanky, and Lampy.
* In ''Disney/BigHero6'', Baymax is a huge inflatable robot designed to function as a nurse and probably the best example since ''WALLE''[='=]s protagonist bots. His appearance and [[BenevolentAI behavior]] are intended to make him as gentle and non-threatening as possible, to the point of being completely incapable of hurting anyone without significant modifications. His exterior sits comfortably on the high point before the uncanny valley, being loosely humanoid with only some simple black eyes to hint at a face on his marshmallow head. His personality and voice are as kind and friendly as can be before turning annoying.
[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
* Johnny Five from ''Film/ShortCircuit''.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** C-3PO and R2-D2 are the TropeMakers.
** The Death Star's "Mouse" droids. (Of course, Chewbacca [[SmallAnnoyingCreature had a different opinion]].)
** [[Film/TheForceAwakens BB-8]], which is like taking the top of R2-D2 and sticking it onto a sphere that it uses for mobility.
* Herbie, and Volkswagen Beetles in general.
* Bumblebee from ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' has been accused in-universe of invoking this intentionally.
* Huey, Dewey, and Louie from ''Film/SilentRunning''.
* ''Film/BatteriesNotIncluded''. Two Cute Machines ''spawn three more''.
* In the film version of ''Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', they've given Marvin rounded proportions and an oversized head, making him deceptively cuddly-looking.
* ''Film/IronMan'': Dummy, the robot that assists Tony in creating his suit, is adorable. This is an interesting case in that the machine has almost no human qualities except for bolts that look like eyes, but it is made cute by its behavior.
* ''Film/{{Chappie}}'', it's kinda hard to watch a robot that acts like a child, has moral values, and walks around in bling and not find it adorable.
* Ani-droids in ''Literature/{{Argo}}'' are designed to look like animals so they can be cute instead of threatening to humans who would otherwise be uncomfortable with them.
[[folder:Live-Action Television]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** Vicki finds the little Rill robots in "Galaxy 4" very cute, hence why she gives them the decidedly cute nickname of "Chumblies". Thanks to the soothing, quizzical sounds they make, they really are, [[BeautyEqualsGoodness and it's the first hint that they aren't as sinister as the Drahvin insist]], although Vicki's opinion on cuteness [[NightmareFetishist is not always supposed to be agreed with]].
** The Quarks in "The Dominators". They were designed to be a potential future MascotMook and were played by child actors in the [[PeopleInRubberSuits suits]] (and an adult woman voice actress [[CrossDressingVoices doing a childlike voice]]) to give them a PsychopathicManchild vibe. They potter around on their big feet and make hugging motions with their arms in order to kill things and talk like Victorian schoolchildren and are far more adorable than they are frightening.
** The K-1, a HumongousMecha attempting to start a nuclear war in "Robot", is mostly portrayed by the story as rather cute and [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds sympathetic]].
** K-9, the RobotDog companion belonging to the Fourth Doctor.
** Kamelion was quite cute. Probably because of the slightly dopey look he had on his face.
** Gadget from "The Waters of Mars".
* Marvin the Paranoid Android from Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy. More than anything, you can't help but [[{{Woobie}} want to hug him.]]
* The [=DRDs=] from ''Series/{{Farscape}}''. They're little round yellow droids with cute antenna-headlights, they're super-helpful, and one of them can play the 1812 Overture. What's not to love?
* Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy from ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''.
* Alpha 5 of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' fame.
** All the zords in ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' are highly toylike animal-vehicle hybrids with "big googly anime eyes" because they were designed by a child.
* Leo and Ike, the probes from the SpeculativeDocumentary ''Alien Planet'', have cute undersized heads and plump balloon-bodies. The narrator describes their AI as comparable to that of a four-year-old child, which makes them even more cuddly.
* Several of the more recent ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series feature small RobotBuddies that certainly qualify, including Series/KamenRiderFourze's Foodroids, Series/KamenRiderWizard's Plamonsters, and maybe a few of Series/KamenRiderOOO's Candroids and Series/KamenRiderDouble's Memory Gadgets.
* The robots of SteamPoweredGiraffe are quite the cuties, what with Rabbit's love of puns, The Spine's attempts to act as the straight man, and Hatchworth's general cluelessness.
* R2-D2 in ''Pinball/StarWarsDataEast'', especially how he bounces and whistles during the game.
* The [[LittlePeople Matoran]] in Toys/{{Bionicle}}.
* Pretty much every toy robot made for small children.
* The ''Toys/BusouShinki'' and their successors, the ''Toys/FrameArmsGirls'' and ''Toys/MegamiDevice'' MechaMusume, are all small, close-to-1/12 scale robot girls, and all of them are wonderfully endearing.
[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Most Myr in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''. [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=214344 Alloy Myr]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=194056 Perilous Myr]] and [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=213800 Brass Squire]] in particular.
* Arbiter inevitables in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''. Little ball-shaped [[MechanicalLifeforms semi-robotic]] LawfulNeutral outsiders that can serve as familiars.
** Also from ''Pathfinder'', the Clockwork Spy. Why anyone would WANT them to [[ActionBomb explode]], we have no idea.
* Some of the illustrations of modrons in ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'' are ridiculously cute, particularly the monodrone flipbook hidden in the corner of one. (Of course, modrons who evolve into the higher levels of the hierarchy aren't cute at all.)
[[folder:Theme Parks]]
* G-bot, the satellite robot in the Universal Studios Japan ride ''Space Fantasy: The Ride.''
[[folder:Video Games]]
* The titular tanks from ''VideoGame/MetalSlug''.
* Clank from ''Franhise/RatchetAndClank''.
* Dog from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''. Hulking great brute, but cute in his behaviour.
* ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'''s robotic gun turrets, as well as [=GLaDOS=]' curiosity core.
** From the sequel, we get the personality core Wheatley, and Atlas and P-body from the new Co-op mode (adapted from a core and turret, respectively). Atlas and P-Body may not be as small and adorable as the others, but make up for it with their mannerisms.
*** The 'different' turret at the beginning of the game fits this trope ''especially'' well.
*** So do the [[TheWoobie remarkably pathetic]] frankenturrets: they're basically a pair of turrets hastily fused to a cube. They can't stand or talk but crawl along feebly with their two wonky forelimbs, and they'll shiver and retreat into their cube/shell when you pick them up. These things basically behave like scared hermit crabs, and are [[UglyCute strangely, sadly adorable]] for it.
** The Weighted CompanionCube deserves a mention here, even though it's just that.
* The small, stage one turret gun in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' (if you happen to be the engineer who built it).
** The Gunslinger unlockable weapon replaces the normal upgradeable sentry with an [[FunSize even smaller]] turret that can't be upgraded but builds faster. It's similarly stinkin' adorable.
* The depressed/scared looking, little RC robot in ''VideoGame/SheepDogNWolf''.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'' features the Metal Gear Mk. II (eventually replaced by the similar Mk. III), a ridiculously cute miniature version of the titular battle tank that serves as Snake's RobotBuddy, piloted by Otacon. It's also directly based on the Metal Gear Mk. II from ''VisualNovel/{{Snatcher}}, which looked exactly like it, and served a similar role to that game's protagonist, Gillian Seed.
* R.O.B. from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' qualifies.
* The Mecha Grunty from ''[[VideoGame/DotHackGUGames .hack//G.U.]]'' games.
* VideoGame/MegaMan and especially Roll, though their cuteness probably fits them into just plain {{Moe}}. Some of the enemies as well, such as the [[MascotMook Mets]].
** Most of the robot masters qualify to an extent, especially the shorter ones (such as Ice Man and Heat Man).
* The BadassAdorable bomb-chucking ''VideoGame/{{Bomberman}}'' with his cute little computer monitor face that becomes (n n) when he's happy.
* C21 and its sequel ''VideoGame/CosmicBreak'' are filled with examples. Running the full spectrum from this trope up to RidiculouslyHumanRobots.
* ''VideoGame/TimeSplittersFuturePerfect'' has the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w-mJkdnLJM Sweet Suck PPT Cleaning Robot]] in the "Breaking and Entering" level (skip to 4:30). Its a chatty little bastard too! Just imagine it saying this in a C3-PO-esque voice ~ "I am the Sweet Suck PPT cleaning robot, I am ideal for both office and domestic use, no job is too small. I love filth, and my full range of accessories ensure no crevice is left untouched. I bring a smile to any owner's lips". It scoots across the floor with a little street sweeping brush on its fanny!
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' features Ancient Robots.
* [[VideoGame/{{Planetfall}} Floyd!]]
** [[VideoGame/JetForceGemini Floyd!]]
* Pipo from ''VideoGame/OverBlood''.
* Sackbots from ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet''.
* The Gearmos from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2''.
* [[VideoGame/ChibiRobo Chibi-Robos]] are appropriately-named tiny {{Robot Maid}}s that help people and LivingToys with their problems to earn Happy Points. The RobotBuddies they come with usually count as well.
* The player character in ''VideoGame/{{Drol}}''.
* The "Cheoptronic" door-opening robot from ''The Riddle Of The Sphinx'' is cute, if only because it's dinky-little and so prone to getting hung up on rough surfaces that it's [[TheWoobie kinda pathetic]].
* The Claptrap robots in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}''; sure some may find them rather annoying due to them [[MotorMouth talking too much]] but some others find them cute, especially with their humorous voice.
** Spin-off game ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands'' has [[spoiler:Gortys]], who is delightfully chipper and somewhat of a MoralityPet, depending on your choices.
* Though he technically isn't a machine, the eponymous protagonist of ''VideoGame/{{Knack}}'' is still this in his default (small) form.
* The titular robot from the game Light-Bot. He's even more cute in the (as of writing in alpha) remake.
* The AR Bots in the pre-loaded [=PS4=] augmented reality game, ''The [=PlayRoom=]''. They seem inspired by EVE, mentioned above.
* The funky, cross-eyed title character ''[[VideoGame/{{BOB}} B.O.B.]]''.
* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' has two robot characters in the fifth case, Ponco and Clonco. Both are short, eager to please, happy to make friends, and get upset if they can't help you. The Judge finds Ponco positively adorable and [[ImTakingHerHomeWithMe wants to adopt her as a grandchild.]] [[spoiler: Clonco gets slightly less cute when Aura takes him over.]] Their personalities were designed by their creator, Metis, who thought that when astronauts go to space, the robots will go with them, and having them as emotional companions will help the astronauts psychologically.
* ''VideoGame/DokiDokiUniverse'' features a number of cute robots, though the most obvious is the main character [=QT3=].
* In ''VideoGame/BioShock1'', those little helicopter droids that fly around making farty noises as they go by are kinda smile-inducing when they aren't shooting you.
* In ''VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward'', after TheReveal, [[spoiler:Luna]] counts as this.
* Verrocchio from ''Nanami no Oshiete English DS'' series.
* Many of [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Dr. Eggman's earliest robots]] had whimsical, animal-themed designs. Over the years, the designs got gradually less cutesy and more threatening before settling on a mix of both as of ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed''.
** ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' brought back several robots from the classic games and gave them more cartoony designs resembling their original concept arts. Even Egg Pawns, who were already cute to begin with, recieved a redesign!
** Unrelated to Eggman, we have Q-N-C from ''VideoGame/SonicBoom'', despite the possible {{gonk}} elements of its design by [[BigBad Lyric]].
* Legion from ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. [[{{Adorkable}} C'mon, admit it]].
* ''[[http://www.kongregate.com/games/scarybug/chronotron Chronotron]]'' from the WebGame of the same name.
* Both Codsworth and Curie from ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' are the three-armed, three-eyed Mister Handy utility robots, and they are possible companions for the player. They're also both {{Adorkable}} in character, with Codsworth being "loyal British butler" adorable and Curie being "cute French scientist" adorable. Even better, the two robots can meet and interact, and they're both so polite and friendly to each other it borders on TastesLikeDiabetes, plus with the way Codsworth's "eyes" widen when he sees Curie it's implied he has something of a crush on her.
* Most [=ROMs=] in ''VideoGame/ReadOnlyMemories'' are this, which makes sense given they are mainly consumer products.
* QQQ from ''VideoGame/FZero GX'', the little robotic sidekick to Phoenix.
* The ''Lonesome Road'' DLC for ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' has ED-E. Unlike its counterpart in the main game, this eyebot has a personality. It communicates with electronic beeps that the [[PlayerCharacter Courier]] is somehow able to understand, it displays emotions like happiness, sadness and fear simply by how it shakes, and it has a taste for old world TV shows.
* While many of the robots in [[VideoGame/{{Soma}} SOMA]] can be utterly terrifying, the little mini-sub bot that you rescue early on in the game is definitely this. You quickly fall in love with its adorable little beeps and clicks, and it helps you on numerous occasions.
* Scavenger 'bots from ''VideoGame/DeadSpace3'' are turtlish little robots that scamper around making beepy noises while looking for scrap to bring you. If you're lucky, you can see them zipping into the nearest Bench. If really lucky, you won't be fighting for your life when it happens.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfTanks''. Yes even Tanks can be cute.
** The Panzerspahwagen II Luchs features stubby proportions and incredible agility that earn the nicknames Puppy Tank and Murderkitten. And it's 30mm autocannon has good enough penetration to be a terror if gets a free run on the enemies' flank. The M24 Chaffee has similar cute credentials but does not contest the nickname.
** The hulking T29 American heavy tank boasts basically impenetrable frontal turret armour, a powerful gun and decent mobility that make it a potent, versatile threat. And two little 'ears' (coincidence rangefinders) on the side of the large turret that earn it some cute credentials for many fans.
** The AMX 40 is a tier 4 light tank with armour that would be good on a tier 5 heavy and bears a resemblance to a rubber duck, which is it's nickname.
[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Several robots in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', including [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sawtooth Rivergrinder]] -- heavy {{terraform}}er and amateur percussionist (as in ''"[[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1200/fv01190.htm Orbital bombardment in D minor]]"''). Helix is the one with the most screentime, however, and his [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff500/fv00432.htm childlike demeanour, collection of soft toys]] and frequent "^_^" expression make him more adorable than a bowling ball with limbs should be.
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' has several: Robox ([[TheAce awesome!]]), Boxbot ([[DesignatedMonkey terrible!]]) and one of the main cast -- though now that S13 practice parkour and proselytising in the new body, "he" is just cool. And then there's weather station bot, because Tom managed to draw ''[[{{Squee}} cuddly]] sharp-clawed metal mantis''.
* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob:'' because of his hulking design, Roofus [[http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20070918.html ''can'' be scary,'']] but usually he's just [[http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20070616.html childlike and lovable.]]
* Agatha Heterodyne's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091002 little clanks]] ("dingbots") in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''.
* Despite having [[JerkAss terrible]] [[SecondLawMyAss attitudes]], there's no denying that [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2009/02/22/whatwhawhat/ the MOUSE units]] from ''Webcomic/CommanderKitty'' look like cute pet toys. [[spoiler: Then there's the [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2012/03/18/cks-epiphaly/ Alpha Droids and even Zenith herself]] in "[[HeelFaceTurn Safe Mode]]".]]
* Carnby's gearbits (from ''Webcomic/TheRifters'') count - they are crosseyed clockwork helpers. (Good example on the second page http://www.indoorempire.com/3-and-if-he-had-a-thousand-of-those )
* Most [=AnthroPCs=] in ''WebComic/QuestionableContent'' fall into this category. [[HeroicComedicSociopath Pintsize]], [[StraightMan Winslow]], [[SuperDeformed Momo]] [[spoiler: prior to her upgrade]], and even non-humanoid models like [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2430 Gordon the ArachnoPC]].
* Squarewave from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''.
* The Franchise/HelloKitty-esque heroine of ''Webcomic/EllieOnPlanetX''.
[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' has Sheila, a tank [[spoiler: and later ship]] AI for the Blue Team. Though she is deadly as a tank, she somehow manages to pack lunches for the protagonists and gets involved in a crazy love triangle.
* From ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', [[Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio Penny]]. Despite the fact [[BadassAdorable she possesses enough firepower to scythe gunships out of the air and enough strength to stop a speeding truck with her bare hands]], she's mostly just a shy, awkward robotic girl who wants to make friends and please people. For evidence of her cuteness, [[http://33.media.tumblr.com/6d551d496de48f28a56764a911ae3bad/tumblr_nbr7yx1QXg1qjcq11o1_500.gif watch her dancing by herself]] in Volume 2, Episode 7.
* [[Blog/AskBrainyTwilight Brainy Twilight's]] daughter Sparks almost definitely qualifies for this trope, as does Brainy herself. The almost comes in when you consider one's a BrainInAJar and the other's an ArtificialIntelligence mounted in a pony body, so neither is exactly a machine.
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Ro-Bear Berbils from ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'' and ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' are rainbow-hued robotic ''[[BearyFriendly teddy-bears]]'' who love to build and repair things.
* Depending on the design, [[{{Toonami}} TOM]] can be this. Even with his more detailed designs, he has an {{Adorkable}} personality to make him always seem cute.
* T-Bot from ''WesternAnimation/{{MASK}}''.
* Beemo from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.
** Also NEPTR.
* Jenny XJ-9 from ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''.
* Bobert from ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball''.
* HERBIE[[note]]If you care, it stands for Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics. And he's not actually humanoid.[[/note]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1978'' wasn't seen this way initially, as he was a none-too-badass ReplacementScrappy for the Human Torch. However, time passed, and he's been homaged - and every new version of HERBIE is so freaking adorable, most recently the ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'' incarnation.
* Moon, the reporter rabbit robot from ''Anime/BeastWarsII''.
* GIR, the defective SIR unit from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. He's more likely to shout [[NonSequitur Non Sequiturs]] than melt your heart, though.
* In the [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersofTheUniverse1983 He-Man]] and [[WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower She-Ra]] ChristmasSpecial, Skeletor's heart is melted by a cute robotic puppy.
* Tinny Tim, the [[Literature/AChristmasCarol Tiny Tim]] robot {{expy}} from ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}''.
* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by the Scraplets in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime''. Sure, they ''look'' all adorable and tiny when the first one shows up, but once their [[KillerRabbit true nature]] is shown, they become downright ''horrifying''.
* ROTH in ''{{WesternAnimation/Motorcity}}'', oh so much.
* ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'':
** The Super Robot Monkeys.
** RobotGirl Jinmay.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' has rabbit droids, and feminine [[FemBot girl droids]] .
* The titular main character Robot Jones from ''WesternAnimation/WhateverHappenedToRobotJones''.
* [[RobotMaid Rosie]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons''.
* The title character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Robotboy}}'' and his DistaffCounterpart Robotgirl.
* Rivet from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfFigaroPho'' is Figaro's tiny, playful, and kindhearted RobotDog.
[[folder:Real Life]]
* The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is a jet trainer modified into a BadassAdorable baby A-10 Watrhog.
* [[http://www.tweenbots.com/ Tweenbots]], little smiling cardboard robots that can only roll in a straight line, with a flag with its destination written on it. They were created for a social experiment to see whether or not people in busy cities would help the little robots get to their destination. [[spoiler: [[CrowningMomentofHeartwarming They do.]]]]
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g-yrjh58ms Keepon, the dancing robot.]]
** Naturally, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeAgX8NRpc4&feature=endscreen&NR=1 it's now a toy.]]
* [[http://labcast.media.mit.edu/?p=206/ Boxie]] is a cardboard robot built at MIT. Boxie uses its cute appearance and infantile voice to get people to talk about themselves and take it places. The footage it recorded was made into a short film.
* The original [[http://digitographer.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/135017-imacbondi_376.jpg Apple iMac]]. So round and friendly-looking, and it came in all kinds of neat colors. It almost looked like a toy, and made you want to collect them all.
* [[http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/jerrycantrell_photos/2011_02060004.jpg The Smith and Wesson .38 Revolver]] is one adorable little lead-thrower.
* Pa Pe Ro [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PaPeRo]] functions as the user's [[CompanionCube companion]]. Its cuteness is important as it helps ease the user.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fnxW5pDPXY MEDi, a robot from the University of Calgary, ]]not only looks cute, but is also meant to soothe and interact with children getting vaccines. Also, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq9z4-RSTzk tai chi.]]
* Say hello to [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo2TUIEXJig T8 the 3D-printed Octoped robot.]] It's a CyberCyclops GiantSpider which is only too happy to dance for you. Even some of those who believe SpidersAreScary have said that they don't feel threatened by T8, possibly because its very first action after walking into view is [[AllAnimalsAreDogs eagerly shimmying its abdomen like a dog its wagging its tail]].
* The Volkswagen Beetle, and many other small cars since. Particularly in the era of standard-sized round headlights that gave smaller cars childlike big "eyes".
* The Rhoomba. Dutiful little plastic oreo with a penchant for getting trapped and frequently thought of by owners as something of a pet.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPjlJKRa7Uw Robi]], an adorable little [[DoAnythingRobot multipurpose robot]] from Japan. He's basically a humanoid [=SmartPhone=] who takes voice commands and sounds vaguely like [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]].
* Some of the slightly more superdeformed-looking tanks of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII can come off as cute in spite of being, well, tanks. A good contender is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_II#/media/File:PzIIL.Saumur.000a4p5p.jpg PzIIL Luchs]], thanks to its wide, stubby hull and comically understated main gun. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ac1cNpon0k As stated]] by ''VideoGame/WorldOfTanks'' commentator The Mighty Jingles:
--> "--the ''Panzerkampfwagen Luchs'', the cutest tank in ''World of Tanks'', and there it is! Look at it! Don't you just want to give it a hug?"


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If it weren't for Kim Kardashian's blown-up marriage, this would be just another Kardashian reality-show premiere.
But under the circumstances, the arrival of Season Two of "Kourtney and Kim Take New York" – premiering Sunday night (Nov. 27) at 10/9c on E! – takes on a whole new dimension as you attempt to spot clues to the irreconcilable differences that would later result in Kim quitting her marriage to basketballer Kris Humphries after 72 days and one high-rated wedding special on E!.
Thanks to E! – and our lofty position as TV columnist – we got a look at Sunday night's premiere on a preview DVD. And, as is customary with these Kardashian shows, we were both fascinated and appalled (and really, isn't that the formula for successful reality TV these days?).
What we look for in these things is this: All the touchstones that separate so-called "reality" television from real reality – or, to put it another way, the everyday lives you and I live, as opposed to those lived by the Kardashians. In this show, it's Kourtney, boyfriend and baby daddy Scott, their little son Mason, Kim and Kris who have all moved together to New York.
The reason for moving to Manhattan: Kourtney and Kim want to check in on the clothing store they have in NYC called Dash. So, they take up "home-making" in a two-story suite in a trendy hotel that's big enough for all five to live in. Well, there's your first "unreal" thing right there – a hotel is not a home (especially this hotel – the glitzy Gansevoort on Park Avenue South), so the idea that they're "living" in New York isn't really holding water from the outset.
But we can excuse that because the irony of reality television is this: We know much of what happens on reality TV is not real in the "documentary" sense that things just happen and the camera crew just happens to capture them unfolding, like filmmakers in the African bush who just happen to stumble on a herd of migrating wildebeests.
We know that in many reality TV shows, a story is outlined and the participants are directed to fulfill that vision as closely as they can. In "Kourtney and Kim Take New York," the prevailing narrative – at least in the season premiere – is the friction in these two couples – Kourtney and Scott (no surprise there), and Kim and Kris. And so, the two pairs squabble. Otherwise, there'd be no show.
And we could just view the "friction" between Kim and Kris as the usual reality-TV put-on, except for the fact that, a few weeks after this episode was filmed, they were getting divorced. And suddenly, reality TV becomes real, for a change.
Or does it? We'll leave that determination to you. "Kourtney and Kim Take New York," filmed after the Aug. 20 wedding of Kim and Kris and before Kim split, premieres Sunday night (Nov. 27) at 10/9c on E!.

subset: commoncrawl


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Endocrine Index | Glossary |
The Structure of Insulin |
Insulin is composed of two peptide chains referred to as the A chain and B chain. A and B chains are linked together by two disulfide bonds, and an additional disulfide is formed within the A chain. In most species, the A chain consists of 21 amino acids and the B chain of 30 amino acids. The molecule viewer below can be used to examine the structure of bovine insulin. Setting the Color parameter to "Chain" will color the A chain green and the B chain red. Although the amino acid sequence of insulin varies among species, certain segments of the molecule are highly conserved, including the positions of the three disulfide bonds, both ends of the A chain and the C-terminal residues of the B chain. These similarities in the amino acid sequence of insulin lead to a three dimensional conformation of insulin that is very similar among species, and insulin from one animal is very likely biologically active in other species. Indeed, pig insulin has been widely used to treat human patients. Insulin molecules have a tendency to form dimers in solution due to hydrogen-bonding between the C-termini of B chains. Additionally, in the presence of zinc ions, insulin dimers associate into hexamers. These interactions have important clinical ramifications. Monomers and dimers readily diffuse into blood, whereas hexamers diffuse poorly. Hence, absorption of insulin preparations containing a high proportion of hexamers is delayed and somewhat slow. This phenomenon, among others, has stimulated development of a number of recombinant insulin analogs. The first of these molecules to be marketed - called insulin lispro - is engineered such that lysine and proline residues on the C-terminal end of the B chain are reversed; this modification does not alter receptor binding, but minimizes the tendency to form dimers and hexamers. |
Index of: The Endocrine Pancreas | |||
Insulin Synthesis and Secretion |
Last updated on June 30, 1999 |
Author: R. Bowen |
Send comments via form or email to email@example.com |


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Roasted Asparagus with Tasso
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the tasso and cook, stirring constantly, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shallots and cook until just softened, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus and toss to coat. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a roasting pan or baking dish.
Roast asparagus until crisp tender, turning occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with Parmesan shavings. Serve warm.


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Studio/Urban Garden
For your next event, step out of the concrete jungle and into The Studio and Urban Garden, The James New York-Soho's flexible indoor/outdoor event space. Your guests can enjoy all the benefits of state-of-the-art technology in a comfortable and stylish atmosphere, and then venture to the unexpected landscaped herb beds and recycled material sculptures of The Urban Garden.
- 1,500 sq. ft. combined flexible indoor/outdoor event space for receptions ranging from 10 - 75 guests (500 Studio sq. ft. and 1,000 Garden Terrace sq. ft.)
- Dedicated conference service manager
- On-site audio/visual team
- Sophisticated built-in surround-sound system
- Restaurant-style dining and custom event menus by David Burke Kitchen and David Burke Garden
- Complimentary business networking lounge
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Residentially-styled guest rooms and suites are available for out-of-town attendees


text: A Bit More on the Paul Dana Incidenttplunkett3/27/06 7:42pmFiled to: News: RacingIrlPaul DanaRahal-letterman0EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkThis image was lost some time after publication.We've seen some pretty horrific wrecks in our time. We've borne witness to road accidents that left vehicles flaming. We've had bodies carried past us with sheets over them by emergency crews. We've had a drift car smack into the K-rail not ten feet from where we were standing. We've watched dragsters explode. But the Paul Dana wreck yesterday really shook us. It was like watching a kamikaze attack where the pilot really didn't want to die. Dana was exactly our age, and something about that crash really got under our skin and into our soul. That said, the man died doing what he loved. Meanwhile, we're waiting for our Macintosh to suddenly go kiloton on us.AdvertisementDana spurned journalism to race cars [USA Today]Related: Dana Paul is Not Paul Dana [Internal]


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Home Screenshots Sounds Download User Guide Installation Operation Problems Organ Definition Links SourceForge News Mailing Lists Contact |
GENPOWhat is it?GENPO is the GENeral Purpose Organ. It replicates the essential features of any pipe, theatre, or reed organ. GENPO reads a description of an organ (a .org XML file) and presents a suitable user interface for operating that organ. There are a number of high quality organ SoundFonts freely available and the .org file maps the stop sounds to organ divisions, manuals and stops. Other facilities such and couplers and presets are available. You may connect one or more MIDI keyboards to GENPO to provide the organ manuals, you can also assign one to be the 'pedalboard'. GENPO is free, Open Source software. The program was written as a result of the author trying some other 'virtual organs' and having a hard time either getting them installed, or using them. The philosophy behind the program is to combine a natural interface with full functionality. GENPO does not try hard to look exactly like an organ console - but an organist should feel instantly at home when presented with the console... GENPO has been developed by Stephen Merrony in the UK, with the help of feedback from as far afield as Canada, Germany, Australia and Japan Features
What do I need?Minimum requirements are:
N.B. This site does not cover building or installing the ALSA libraries. Using GENPOSee the User Guide for full details, but here is a synopsis.


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The Sportsmen's Act may have been killed earlier this week, but don't nail the coffin shut just yet. Sen. Jeff… more
House Passes (Totally Awesome) Bill That Would Broaden Hunters' Rights
by PH Online Editors 6A landmark bill to broaden hunters' rights has been passed by the House of Representatives and now awaits Senate approval…. more


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Asante goldweights were used to counterbalance scales for the purpose of weighing gold. Originally made from wax moulds, the goldweights were an essential component of business transactions and were used by both the royal treasury and common people. Among the goldweights, there is a dynamic...
Early 1990s, sold by Christie's, London to George Abrams, Waban, MA; 2009, gift of Abrams to the MFA. (Accession date: January 20, 2010)
Credit Line
Gift of George Abrams in memory of Maida Abrams
African, Ghana, Asante peoples, early to mid-20th century
Accession Number
Medium or Technique
Bronze, (copper alloy)


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Peters Township graduate Katie Murphy has been named North Coast Athletic Conference women's soccer player of the week.
Murphy, a junior midfielder at Allegheny College, recorded the first individual two-goal game of the season for the Gators, posting a pair of scores in Allegheny's 3-1 victory at Oberlin.
For the season, Murphy leads the team with five goals and two game-winning goals.
Last season, Murphy started 15 of 16 games and ranked third on the team with six goals, four assists and 16 points.
As a freshman, she started all 16 games and ranked second on the team with seven goals, four assists and 18 points.
St. Clair grad nets success
Upper St. Clair graduate Chris Foster, a starter on the Allegheny College men's tennis team as a freshman, posted an 8-2 singles record during the fall season.
Foster also had a 4-1 record in doubles matches teaming with Matt Winters.
Allegheny finished the fall season with a 5-1 record.
Bethel's Woodring scores
Bethel Park graduate Lauren Woodring ranks third in scoring on the Grove City women's soccer team with 16 points.
Woodring, a sophomore forward, has scored six goals and assisted on four others while starting in all 18 games.
She also has two game-winning goals.
Woodring played in 15 games last season as a freshman and scored two goals.
Grove City has a 15-2-1 record this season.
Central grad tackling leader
Central Catholic High School graduate Jon Scholl ranks No. 17 in NCAA Division III in total tackles.
Scholl, a 5-11, 190-pound senior cornerback from Coraopolis, has 88 total tackles in seven games for an average of 12.6 per game. Scholl has recorded 38 solo tackles and assisted on 50 others. He also has four tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.


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Cosplay Island Forum > General Costume Help and Critique > Attack on titan, Maneuver Gear [help] | Login or register to post. |
Login to reply | Page: « < 1 of 1 > » |
02 May 2014 - 01:11 | 113179 |
Keeti Joined: 17 Dec 2011 Posts: 35 | Attack on titan, Maneuver Gear [help] Does anyone know where I can get a Maneuver Gear from Attach on titan cheap? |
02 May 2014 - 13:24 | 113188 |
EvilShadowMaster Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 31 | You won't find the gear anywhere cheaply, the price will always be between £200-£300+
The cheapest option is to make one yourself by getting materials by your own and making it yourself for around £60. I have to make mine out of cardboard, since I have no money at all, and I'm telling you now, don't use cardboard, it'll break easily! |
02 May 2014 - 20:51 | 113195 |
Fables Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 364 | Bear in mind that with any costume part, you'll get out what you put in. You probably could get one for "cheap", but it will probably look cheap and/or be flimsy. And don't forget they're pretty hefty. Postage alone is probably going to cost you a bomb to get it to you safely.
I'd agree with the above as to say that making one yourself would be a good idea, but make sure you invest in good materials. Alias' journal for her Annie cosplay has her 3DMG broken down into steps, and it's really helpful http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/costume/view/82302 |
03 May 2014 - 07:43 | 113197 |
Alias Cosplay Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 122 | It's already been said but you're not going to get one ready made on the cheap unless you commission one with a clear budget in mind and I would suggest asking them to make it out of the lightest (but stable) materials possible - these things seem to defy gravity with little support!
The pre made ones you can find on ebay/etsy from China are apparently quite heavy and clumsy looking. Might be worth checking out some of the AoT groups on facebook, see if anyone has made a set they're looking to sell. At least that way you'll have an idea of the scale and weight before buying. |
27 May 2014 - 17:38 | 113740 |
BEEPcos Joined: 23 Aug 2013 Posts: 6 | Personally I believe the cheapest way would have to be making it yourself since it is possible to just make it with some wire, 3~5 A2 (cheaper than A3) foam board(mount board) from hobbycraft, and ~4 empty 1L bottles (EX: cheap tesco's brand lemonade ect). Some glue, a ruler, and spray paint.
That'd be... _________________________________________________________ foam board_|3.00 x 3~5 bottles______|0.60 x 4 wire________|1.75 x 1 Spray Paint_|4.95 x 1 {Unless you already have it} glue________|6.36 x 1 {{Unless you already have it} _________________________________________________________ £24.46 or £30.46 Based on the bare essentials from this tutorial it all depends on how much time you wish to spend on it, or if you'd rather spend more money on it just so you don't have to make it. |
23 Mar 2015 - 21:54 | 117669 |
Keeti Joined: 17 Dec 2011 Posts: 35 | Thank you for all of your advice, luckily I had some commisioned for £69.92 thanks to the Milanoo website shipping a bit pricy for £30.31 with discount of £27.63 it all came up to £72.60. |
Login to reply | Page: « < 1 of 1 > » |


text: Nintendo Buys Patents of Company That Lost Wii Fit LawsuitEvan Narcisse1/09/14 3:00pmFiled to: nintendowiiwii fitbusinesskotaku corelegallawpatents881EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink The company that sued Nintendo three years ago has just had their then-disputed patents snatched up by the House of Mario. In 2010, IA Labs sued Nintendo, saying that the Wii Fit exercise peripheral infringed on their patents. That suit got dismissed and IA was ordered to pay Nintendo's court defense costs. They apparently couldn't and now Nintendo acquired those same patents in a Maryland sheriff's sale. Nintendo's statement on the matter follows: "Nintendo's track record demonstrates that we vigorously defend patent lawsuits, like the IA Labs lawsuit, when we believe we have not infringed another party's patent. This includes holding those who sue Nintendo responsible for the costs and expenses incurred in patent litigation," said Richard Medway, Nintendo of America's vice president and deputy general counsel. "Nintendo has a long history of developing innovative products while respecting the intellectual property rights of others."The video game giant has recently been on the losing side of patent litigation, too, with a recent ruling making it so they have to pay royalties for the camera technology used in the 3DS.Reply88 repliesLeave a reply


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DFW Restaurant Week: The Hottest Reservations to Make Right Now
Welcome to DFW Restaurant Week! The regional prix-fixe event will take up most of this month, with restaurants offering three-course meals for $35 or $45. Here's a list of the hottest reservations to snag.
Table 13
Why It's Hot: RW is the perfect chance to check out Addison's brand-new Rat Pack era-influenced supper lounge.
What We'd Order: Hearts of Romaine, chicken cordon bleu and peach Melba. [RW menu]
Belly & Trumpet
Why It's Hot: The chic Uptown restaurant has been a regular on best-of lists, thanks to chef Brian Zenner's way with fresh ingredients.
What We'd Order: Tuna tartare, branzino with chermoula and chocolate mousse. [RW menu]
Why It's Hot: This is the Uptown restaurant and cocktail den's first time participating in RW; the money you save on food can go toward drinks!
What We'd Order: Striped bass ceviche, butter lettuce wedge salad and sweet tea pork chop with goat cheese grits. [RW menu]
San Salvaje
Why It's Hot: Stephan Pyles' newest spot (pictured) has drawn much attention for its modern interpretations of South American classics.
What We'd Order: Chilled corn soup with crab, aji amarillo roasted chicken and banana flan. [RW menu]
Why It's Hot: The sleek One Arts Plaza restaurant is one of the top showplaces for Japanese cuisine, from sashimi to soba.
What We'd Order: Baked enoki mushrooms, the sashimi of the day and short green soba Bolognese(!!). [RW menu]
Little Red Wasp
Why It's Hot: It's the Main Street bistro's first time at the Restaurant Week rodeo, and a tasty reminder that Fort Worth is in on the fun.
What We'd Order: Tomato-basil soup with garlic cheese bread, arctic char and cinnamon sugar doughnut holes. [RW menu]
Nick & Sam's
Why It's Hot: Folks who can't swing a visit on a regular night (or don't have access to the company credit card) pack the house for an RW steal.
What We'd Order: Shrimp bisque, Allen Brothers filet with sauce chasseur and chocolate Butterfinger torte. [RW menu]
The Mansion Restaurant
Why It's Hot: The Turtle Creek icon is on many a foodie's bucket list.
What We'd Order: Hot smoked Scottish salmon, Kurobota pork short rib with succotash and the corn panna cotta with lemon-verbena ice cream. [RW menu]


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COLDSPRING – Rebecca A. Herrod, 56, of Shepherd, entered a guilty plea to embezzlement Friday afternoon in the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. According to Assistant United States Attorney Charles Escher, Herrod, was employed by The Bank of San Jacinto County from 1999 through April 6, 2011 when she was terminated. Her last position with the bank was bookkeeping supervisor. "At least since 2008 until her April 6 termination at the bank Herrod embezzled $131,500 in funds from the accounts of several customers to her own personal bank account at the bank," the plea agreement states. According to the plea agreement, Herrod would disguise the transfers to her account by placing into the bank's imaging system images of checks from her federal credit union account to make it appear that the deposits into her bank account were from her own federal credit union account. To replenish the customer's account she debited, Herrod would eventually debit another customer's account and credit the first customer's account, continually floating the increasing amounts of false debits. Herrod timed and offset the various false entries in a way that made her scheme difficult to detect. The Bank of San Jacinto County discovered the scheme when a bank customer called one day to complain about the repeated debits and credits on his account. Herrod usually handled such calls from bank customers and was able to use her long-standing relationships with several of the customers whose bank accounts she was debiting to circumvent questions about the false debits and credits. On the day of this particular complaint, however, Herrod was out of the office and another bank official handled the call. The bank official was able to uncover Herrod's scheme by studying her complicated entries on the bank's daily posting journal, security reports and item entry reports. The bank's records showed that the false entries were made through Herrod's operating number that allowed her to access the bank's financial system and were made on Herrod's computer terminal, according to the plea agreement. When the bank discovered the scheme, several customers had lost funds that ultimately ended up in Herrod's own bank account. Losses the bank has had to pay to the affected customers include $100,258.22 to Eastex Title; $29,241.78 to Duane T. and Marvelina Pira; and $2,000 to Street Brothers Ready Mix, Inc., according to the plea agreement. Deposits in The Bank of San Jacinto County were insured at all times by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Under her agreement, Herrod agrees to pay back the $131,500. Herrod's sentencing is set for Sept. 28, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. in the United States District Court, Houston. The statutory maximum penalty for each violation is imprisonment of not more than 30 years and a fine of not more than $1 million. Additionally, the defendant may receive a term of supervised release after imprisonment of up to five years.
Copyright 2012 Contact Us: firstname.lastname@example.com Call us at - (936) 327-4357


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Hello, I started up playing 6 months ago and have progressed rapidly, thanks in no small part to this forum (I lurk). Anyway, I began playing with 3.0 dudes in the winter and this season started playing in two 3.5 singles leagues. I haven't lost yet and am mowing these guys down consistently losing only 0-3 games per set. Today I pounded some poor guy 22 games to none in 1:15 and neither one of us enjoyed it. I didn't intentionally sandbag so I could win...I just didn't really know where I belonged, rating-wise. So there's another month to go in these leagues...am I ******* these guys off? Should I take some games off, give away points? Should I extricate myself from the leagues? Anyone faced this situation? For sure next season I will play in 4.0 leagues.
Well, first off, that's really impressive, moving from hitting with 3.0s to destroying 3.5s. I would continue with the leagues since it's only another month and not go easy at all. I would then find some 4.0s to hit with and enter a 4.0 league.
Very impressive, keep up the progress and good work. As said, was the best advice. Seek 4.0 level players to hit and then play against, bring balls, be polite win or lose.
Well, you can do it Federer style: play, and when you are at the end of the set like 4-3 or 4-4 you break and serve for the set thereafter. But it can also be disrespectful not to go at full power and "going easy" on your opponent (Nadal style). Hitting with +4.0 guys may be the next step on your progression.


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Inspired by that dude from PCU who is trying to prove that at any moment when you're watching TV you can see Gene Hackman in a movie, I've been running a long-term study of how many times I can hear Pitbull on the radio every time I drive anywhere. It turns out if I drive for an hour, I can hear "I Know You Want Me" and "Hotel Room," his current hit singles, twice each. I'm like the guy at the 1:55 mark of this video fo the Bull doing the songs on Wendy Williams' show: I'm not amused. Though it is impressive that you need two drummers to do these songs. And that Pitbull is about 5 feet 5 inches, because Wendy Williams looks like Larry Johnson to his Muggsy Bogues.
Pitbull's Rebelution is due out on Aug. 31.
Weezer - "(If You Are Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To (Stream) | The Horrors "Mirror's Image" (Video) |


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Invasion of the European Water Chestnut!
By Gwen Supplee
I'd like to tell you about alien invaders…no, not Martians from outer space, but plants from the other side of our own planet. In this case, it's not an unidentified flying object we're worried about, but an invasive floating plant.
The European water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an invasive, partially submerged aquatic plant that was introduced to the U.S. in the 1920s from Eastern Europe. It has spread through watersheds within the Chesapeake Bay watershed such as the Potomac River, Sassafras and Bird rivers of Maryland, and the lower Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. Recently, it has begun to impact smaller, local watersheds closer to EPA's Philadelphia regional office where I work, such as the Perkiomen Creek Watershed in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Why should you care – aren't water chestnuts those yummy things that you can find in Chinese food? Not these water chestnuts! The European water chestnut consists of multiple rosettes, with long cord-like stems that can be as long as 16 feet, forming dense floating mats and making the waters a pain for boating and fishing. As if impeding your recreation out on the open water wasn't enough, the seedpods typically have four barbed spines that are sharp enough to penetrate shoes as you scamper in the shallow waters of impacted areas. Ouch!
As far as the native ecosystem is concerned, the floating foliage severely limits the passage of light into the water, reduces oxygen levels in the water, and reduces growth of native aquatic species, all of which are needed to maintain a well-functioning aquatic ecosystem. And these water chestnuts are definitely not good to put in your salad or stir fry.
How prolific is this invasive plant? Each plant produces up to 20 seedpods per rosette and each seedpod can live for up to 12 years. In one year, one plant can produce 300 new plants! European water chestnuts prefer slow-moving and nutrient-rich waters, like man-made or natural ponds, and shallow creeks. The water chestnut begins to flower in late July. The nuts ripen one month later and seed production continues into the fall.
What can you do to help stop the spread of these invaders? If there is European water chestnut (or other invasive aquatic plants) where you recreate:
Remove the aquatic plant from all parts of your boat, trailer, fishing gear and accessory equipment. Dispose of the removed material in the garbage.
Drain all water from your boat including your bilges, live wells, buckets and other water containers before leaving the water access area.
Wash your boat and gear thoroughly with regular tap water when you get home. Flush water through any part of the boat that contained water from the waterway including motor's cooling system, live well and any other area that holds water. Dry equipment and boats in a sunny location before using them in a new body of water.
Volunteer with your local watershed organization if there is European water chestnut where you live.
I recently had the pleasure of joining the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, which is organizing hand-pulling parties all summer long, in order to remove the plant before it begins to flower and go to seed. Not sure whether you have a watershed organization where you live?
You can surf your watershed to find out. The best way to keep invasive plants out of our waters is to be informed about what species are a threat in our region and in the rest of the country. Do you know of invasive plants in the waters where you live and recreate?


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One of the big misconceptions in leadership is that the leader needs to worry about the big stuff. Yes, the leader has to know or have vision and that requires a look from the 1000 foot view, but when it really comes down to leading, it is the little stuff that matters. The little things that make all of the big things happen or lead to big success.
Lets go back to our example we have used here of "The Tent".
When we set up our tent there is but one correct way to set it up. As a leader to ensure that the tent is set up correctly a look at the details, the little stuff, is important.
Is the footprint extended beyond the flap of the tent? If so, it's wrong.
Are the stakes in so that it will actually hold the tent down? Stakes improperly placed will allow for the tent to be unstable, not tight, and ultimately not serve their purpose.
Is the vestibule staked out properly? Are the vents open or closed dependent on the conditions? Is the tent located in a good position to leave no trace? Out of the elements? In low ground?
Are the guy lines being used properly?
Are the storage bags put away or just blowing all over the camp site?
Is the rain fly on correctly or inside out?
Is the door facing away from the wind?
Is there food in the tent?
Is the gear stored properly (not in the tent)?
You see there are a list of little things that go into setting up a tent. Multiply that by the number of guys in the Patrol and how many tents are set up and you have a lot of little things to look at. When all of those little things are done right, everything tends to fall into place.
This habit of doing all the little things right will lead one to doing everything right. Once the standard has been set, it is something that becomes routine. Leaders check and recheck and inspect what they expect to see.
They first teach the skill, the task, or the method and then hold those that they are leading accountable. Doing it over is an option. Not correcting something that is wrong is not. That to is perceived as a little thing.
I have heard over and over that "well.. that really doesn't matter", "they are just kids", "give it a break, it's only a weekend"… It all matters to leaders. There are standards for every task and when they are done right, all of the big things are right also. All of the little things matter to make the big things work.
There is no room for lowering the standard, when that happens it to become habit and that is when things go wrong.
This example works for every task our Scouts are asked to do.
There is a reason we have our Scouts earn their Totin' Chip before they are allowed to use a Knife, Saw, and Ax. The Totin' Chip program introduces the standard. The consequence for not performing to that standard is the inability to participate using a knife, saw, or ax.
When we allow the little things to slide we set our selves and those we lead up to be unsuccessful. Mainly because they will tend to do more and more wrong. Once the idea that everything is expected to be done right is accepted, and the leader makes sure that the little things are constantly being checked, you will see success in the big things.
So how do we make that happen? Training and accountability.
This last weekend we conducted Junior leader training with all of the older Scouts in the Troop. Since we have been having some issues with leadership lately, I decided it was time to get back to basics. The Senior Patrol Leader had the Troop pack up everything on Saturday morning. The days activities started with the Troop splitting up, the younger guys went to shoot shot guns and the older guys began their training. We began with a discussion on packing a backpack the right way. We demonstrated what right looks like and then made sure that every pack looked that way. It was a lesson on attention to detail and not taking the easy way out.
Then we went on a little hike. When we reached our first destination, the leaders were given the task to set up camp using leave no trace principles. They set off to get camp set up. I instructed the Scouts that when they were finished to come and stand by me. Once they all were there, we talked about the little things and making sure all of the little things were right leading to the big thing (camp set up) being correct. Each Scout had to go to a tent that was not his and stand. Then one by one they instructed the group as to what was wrong with that set up. Each and every tent had something that needed to be improved. Corrections were made and then a second walk through happened. This time everything was right and the Scouts could see the big picture.
After a quick reflection and discussion of the process, they were instructed to pack and move to a second location and do it again. The same process happened the second time, this time with fewer mistakes. Again corrections were made, this time including the use of the EDGE ™ method of teaching [Explain, Demonstrate. Guide, and Enable]. And pack it up again. This time with a pause to inspect the packs to make sure they were packed right. If it was not correct, do it again. Reinforcing the idea that there is only one right way to do it and we will not settle for it being done wrong.
When the younger Scouts got back from shooting their Troop guide did this process with the new Scouts. Packing and unpacking, setting up and taking down. He made it a game having the Scouts race each other and in the process made it fun. The new guys picked up on it right away. I overheard the Troop guide explain to them that doing it right the first time will save them time and energy down the road. There is only one right way of doing things right.
The focus is on the little stuff and making the little stuff matter. Little things done right make the big things right.
When it comes to older Scouts and adults, modeling the expected behavior while doing the little things right and making sure that the little things are always done right will set you up to being an effective leader and leading a high performance team.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Going Camping
Heading out into the woods this weekend with the Troop. New Scout Patrol will be stepping off on the Trail to First Class, but not until after a fun morning on the range shooting Shot Guns. Then the older guys will get to shoot all afternoon, but not until they develop some leadership skills in camp. Modeling the Expected Behavior will be their theme for the weekend.
Weather calls for sun tomorrow.. we hope for the best.
So, I will let you all know how it goes on Sunday!
What are you up to this weekend?
Please share!
Have a Great Scouting Day!
5 Reason's I Hammock Camp
This last weekend I got to hang out with some great Scouters at our Lodge's Rendezvous. A few years back a few of the guys became interested in my hammock set up, which I use every camp out. Slowly the interest became more hammock campers. This year there were about 5 or 6 hammock set ups that I knew of and it seems that the interest is growing more and more each year.
We got to talking about our hammock set ups and as we discussed this fantastic way of camping there were a few people who had lots of questions. We all had our tips, tricks, and way we do it, but most of it was common.
Some one asked why? Why hammock camp, after all, what's wrong with tents? So it got me to thinking about why I hammock camp.
Here are the top 5 reason's I am a hammock camper.
1. Comfort. In a hammock I wake up rested and no sore body parts. When you are laying in the hammock you have no pressure points. Hips, Shoulders, and Back are all suspended in nylon. Without the pressure points I find I don't toss and turn and wake up well rested.
Using the under quilt and top quilt is warm and comfortable and easy to get in and out of. Nylon and Down wrap around me and I feel snug as a bug when I am sleeping.
2. Easy set up and take down. I like how easy it is to set up my system. The tarp goes up quick and my hammock is just a matter of two straps and buckles. I can set up in a driving rain and keep everything dry. The same goes for take down. I can stand up under the tarp and pack my gear, take down the hammock and keep everything clean and dry. Because all of the components of my system are in stuff sacks, everything is easy to unpack and pack.
3. Leave No Trace. I am a big fan of leave no trace methods and work to practice them no matter when and where I camp. Hammocks can be set up places where tents cannot comfortably go, as long as there are trees. Because I am hanging above the ground I am not leaving the impact that a tent does on the ground, nor am I restricted to tent platforms or designated tent sites. Since I am not on the ground, I do not need to clear the area of rocks twigs and other debris that show I was there. Tree straps are tree friendly. They do not damage the trees and the weight is distributed so as not to hurt the trees. If there is a concern about softer bark, I use the Philmont method of wrapping rope for bear bags in the I insert twigs around the straps to reduce the impact if there would be some.
Because most, not all, but most hammock campers practice light weight backpacking practices, I am reducing my foot print in gear and how I camp and think about LNT all the time.
4. The Gear. The nature of hammock gear is light and small. Everything from the hammock to the tarp fits in small sacks and does not take up a lot of space in my pack. The quilts are light and compress real small. I never will be an Ultra light backpacker. It's just not something that I am willing to dedicate too much thought and energy to doing, but I am dedicated to being a light weight backpacker and the hammock set up really allows for that. Along with the hammock, tarp, and quilts, hammock campers typically look at lighter solutions to camping. Stoves, cook kits, and the other items that fill the pack are looked at carefully for its functionality, purpose, and size and weight. Becoming a hammock camper got me into tinkering with gear and finding the "perfect solution" for my backpack. This has been super fun for me.
5. Hang anywhere. I have found that I can hang pretty much anywhere. I have hung my hammock inside of shelters, off of rocks, and of course between tress. There never seems to be a place that I can not hang my hammock (except at Philmont). I do not have to be uncomfortable camping in the hammock. I noticed that as I started getting older that I started having a harder time sleeping on the ground. Even on a cot at the National Jamboree I tossed and turned. The weather, the temperatures, and the terrain are no longer obstacles in camping. I can hang anywhere in my hammock set up.
Well there are 5 reason's that I love hammock camping. I am sure that I could list a few more, but it really comes down to comfort and fun. I always encourage our Scouts to try new things and when they find that they like it, it adds to the adventure of Scouting.
I can say this… once you go to the hammock, it is hard to go back to the ground. But Hike your Own Hike and do what you like. I am a hammock guy and love it.
Have any questions feel free to ask, leave a comment.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Teaching Winter camping Skills- Revisited
As most of the country is still experiencing Winter conditions and here in the Northwest, the Winter Camping season is really in full bloom, as late as it is, there are still Troops and Crews that are venturing into the woods for some good winter camping. I thought I would revisit our teaching or winter skills, just as a reminder that even though it's March, we need to stay focused on how we camp in the winter. Most of these skills transfer well all year round anyway. I will take a page out of the Safe swim defense and Safety Afloat program. Supervision and Discipline are a Must.
So here are a few rules that we maintain whenever we are talking about High adventure and Cold weather camping.
Remember anytime you engage in a high risk activity… you increase your preparation, supervision, and discipline.
The first rule is take it serious. Cold Weather camping can be one of the most enjoyable activities with challenges and memories that your scouts will cherish. But at the same time Cold weather camping can be Extremely dangerous when not taken seriously.
I use a three strike rule when dealing with the issue. Three strikes and you are not going on the event. Period.
A scout that does not want to pay attention or is goofing off too much will not get the information that is being presented. This can lead to dangerous consequences in the field.
Before we do any Winter camping adventure we have a couple mandatory meetings.
During these meetings we teach Cold Weather first aid.
Understanding and knowing the symptoms of cold weather conditions such as frost bite and hypothermia. Knowing what to look for on your buddy for those signs and then how to treat them.
We teach techniques for setting camp, preparing meals, setting up gear to best meet the conditions of Cold weather camping. Simple stuff like zipper pulls and tent anchors. Issues like meal preparation and how to better prepare meals at home for ease in the camp site.
These meetings we feel are important to set the tone for the High adventure activity.
We do the same thing for Rock climbing activities. Mandatory meetings get the scout into the mind-set that this is so important that they are "Making" me be there … or I do not go.
Enforcement of the mandatory meeting is just as important. If you make it a must for one that they get all the information, then make it a must to all.
If need be…have a make up meeting for scouts that absolutely can not make a mandatory meeting… give them opportunities to participate, but ensure they get the skills, training, and information that are needed for a successful outing.
The next rule that is non negotiable is using the buddy system. Now I know that the buddy system is part of Scouting anyway, but in cold weather environments it is a must.
Buddies need to be established early in the process of planning, training, and preparing for the camp out.
Getting these buddies to learn the first Aid skills together, planning of meals together, and in camp routines will lead to skilled buddy teams that understand the importance of one another in the process.
When they train in first aid, it no longer is a routine activity, they understand, that if I do not check you and you don't check me.. we can get hurt. If I am not aware of what creamy colored skin means…then you may be getting frost bite on your nose or fingers.
Enforcing buddy teams is a must and hard fast rule. In camp use the Patrol leaders to monitor buddy teams and ensure that they are maintaining discipline as a team.
One issue that may or may not come up, it has with in my unit, is when you are tent camping in the snow and most of the Scouts have single person tents maintaining the buddy concept.
The fix here is that they, unlike when camping during the summer, cluster the tents. Have buddy teams set up their single person tents right next to one another. This way they can still communicate throughout the night. One technique that our boys have used is setting up their tents for the doors face each other, and they put them real close. Almost to the point where they can share vestibules. I have seen them actually tie their vestibules together creating a tarp like set up. It makes a little cooking area and allows them to sit and talk while in their sleeping bags. Now this is all dependant on what their tents are like, but the point here is that sometimes they need to think out side of the box to overcome obstacles. But they need to be aware that the buddy system is extremely important in the cold. And because it is important, they need to do things that allow them to watch each other, and communicate with each other.
So rule number 2 is the buddy system, do not over look this, it is way to important.
Rule number 3 is TIME AND PLACE.
There is a time and place for everything. There is a time and place to screw around and have fun, there is a time and place to be serious. The sooner your Scouts know this.. the better. Enough said.
I try not to get bogged down with a bunch of rules, after all we have the Scout Oath and law and that is pretty much all we need, but when it comes to high risk activities, it is important to establish importance in the seriousness of Cold Weather camping.
So now we have established it is important… so when teaching these Scouts about cold weather camping what are some things that need to be taught.
I guess if I had to narrow my list down to the top things to teach Scouts about Cold weather camping the list would include.
First. Cold weather injuries and how to prevent them and treat them.
Second. Gear.
Third. In camp routines
Fourth. Planning a preparation.
And fifth. Getting around in the snow, including moving and orienteering.
So lets quickly talk a little about these 5 items.
First Aid. Or better yet understanding the risks of Cold weather injuries and how to prevent them. The idea is that you do not want to get into treatment. You won't have to if they prevent the injury to start with.
Hypothermia, frost bite, Frost nip or chill blains, immersion foot, sun burn and snow blindness are the biggies.
Show pictures of frost bite, that is enough to get the attention of your scouts. The Scouts need to be able to tell you what they are looking for on their buddy.
Do they recognize the disorientation, nausea, and the fact that their buddy is no longer shivering means that he is probably slipping quickly into Hypothermia.
One of the biggest issues regarding the treatment of some cold weather injuries is getting the Scouts over the idea that they may be put in what they feel is an uncomfortable position. Getting into a sleeping bag with another Scout is not normal, but it may be that which saves his buddies life. Again, it's all about prevention. How do you prevent getting into that position?
Well that leads me to the next topic…gear.
Clothing and equipment are important in the cold. First know that when talking about clothing… Cotton kills.
Do not allow your Scouts to wear lots of cotton. Underwear bottoms are ok, but any clothing on the body that can get moist due to perspiration needs not to be cotton. I'm talking primarily about T-shirts and socks.
Poly propylene underwear, long johns and sock liners are fantastic items to put against the body. It reduces the chances of sweat staying on the skin and eventually leads to freezing.
Teach them about layering. Talk about Base layers, Mid layers that insulate, and a shell layer that protects. Handing out flyers that discuss the layering system are a great idea so that mom and dad understand what you expect.
When teaching about gear, talk about the difference between gear they use the rest of the year, also show them how they can use their gear all year round, with modifications.
Using a three season tent as a four season tent for example. Simply by adding guy lines and anchors. Tents do add warmth to the scout, they protect against the elements. Snow and wind are the two elements you are concerned about. Guy lines and tie downs will keep your tent steady in the wind. Digging into the snow and setting your tent up sheltered by a snow wall will combat against the wind. The tighter the guy lines, the better also for keeping snow from collecting and damaging your poles. Reinforcing your poles by wrapping them with duct tape is a way to strengthen them. The tape can be removed in the spring. Making sure the Scouts know to constantly keep the tent clear of snow during the day and clearing it off before they turn in for the night will reduce the strain the tent poles feel.
Your Scouts need to understand that cold air settles in low ground. Digging a trench outside of their tent by the door will move cold air away from their sleeping platform, just like in a snow cave. It also allows for a place to sit up right when dressing.
Boots, lets talk about boots.
First, make sure that your scouts have good boots suitable for wear in the snow and cold.
Then make sure they keep them dry. Boots when worn should be protected by wearing gaiters. This protects the laces and upper portion of the boot. They also keep snow from entering the boot, keeping them dry.
When boots are not being worn, they need to be INSIDE the tent, use an old stuff sack or even garbage bag to put the boots in. Put them under or in your sleeping bag to keep them warm. Boil up some water and fill a water bottle before you get in your tent. Put the water bottle in your boots. It will keep them warm and you will have water in the morning that is not frozen. In the morning if your scouts can boil up some water and fill that bottle up and put it in the boots for about 15 minutes.. they will step into nice cozy boots that will ready them for the day.
Backpacks should be packed with stuff sacks, ditty bags, and need to be kept organized and accessible.
Adding zipper pulls or tabs to zippers will make it easier to get in and out of pockets, this goes for their jackets too.
Gloves and or mittens. Check the gloves your Scouts bring. They need to be water-resistant and warm. Do not allow just any glove. They need to provide insulation and protection. I had a Scout show up once with gardening gloves. Not acceptable in the cold weather environment. As a leader, take extra gloves with you. I have found that gloves come up missing or get wet, I carry a stuff sack with a few extra pair of gloves to throw on chilly hands when needed.
Outer wear. Protective shells that keep the Scout dry and out of the wind.
You will know what right looks like, they do not need to run out and buy North face $300 jackets, although it would go a longer way in protecting them, to stay warm and dry.
Have a shake down of gear the week before the camp out. This will allow you and your Patrol leaders the opportunity to look at all the gear and a week for the Scout to make corrections.
In camp routines. These need to be discussed prior to the camp out, but practiced in camp.
Things like setting up camp quickly, getting shelter up, gathering fire wood, cooking and cleaning up, settling down for the night, staying dry, and fun things to do while in camp.
Establishing good in camp routines, just like in the summer is an important part of winter camping. Gear gets lost in the snow, part of good in camp routines is storing gear and staying organized.
Planning and preparing for the winter camp out is probably the most important thing to getting the most out of your winter camping experience. This includes training, planning, and readying your gear for the trip.
You need to know where you are going, how long you are going to be there, how you are getting there and how you are getting into the area you are camping in. And then what you are going to do once you get there.
Preparation is so key to a successful Cold Weather camp out. The Scouts need to be prepared and properly instructed. Like I tell the boys, we are not planning to treat cold weather injuries, we are preparing to prevent them.
Taking that approach with you cold weather camping preparation will lead to success.
You as the adult leader, or even for those Junior leaders that listen, need to become experts in the skills needed to camp in the cold.
Preparing the Scouts of your troop starts with some clear goals for the experience.
In your first year of camping in the cold weather, you may want to limit your overnight stays to a single night and progressively move to longer stays.
You may want to start by taking day hikes and excursions into the cold. Set up camp and work on skills such as shelters, building fires, and staying dry. Then retire to the comfort of a lodge for the night.
In your planning you need to figure out what your objectives are. Going into the woods and setting up camp, eating and hitting the rack is not enough to keep scouts interested in camping in the cold. What are you going to do once you get into camp? Navigation is a great skill to practice in the snow. Folks get disoriented easily in a snow filled forest.
How about winter relay's, snow shoe hikes, igloo building or snow caving, Cross country skiing, or just plain winter skills. There are many things that you can do that lead up to the cold weather camp out. Make gear like snow shoes, then test them out when you get to camp. There is a great Scouting resource available at your Scout Shop. The book Okpik: Cold Weather Camping #34040 shows you how to make gear, as well as activities and know how on camping in the winter.
Use other resources too, one of my favorite books on Camping in the cold is Winter Hiking and Camping, by Michael Lanza a book put out by Backpacker Magazine.
In planning and preparing, get you hands on as much material as possible and become familiar, almost to the point that you are an expert. You need to be, those boys depend on you.
Finally, getting around in the snow. I alluded to snow shoeing and cross-country skiing earlier. These are super fun activities that the Scouts really have a great time with. If you are going to snow shoe or ski, it is a good idea to get out there prior to the camp out and get a feel for it. If time is an issue, when you get to your drop off point, leave the packs in the car and take a little hike to get used to the snow shoes or skis, it is better to establish balance and some skill before you throw your pack on.
If you get a lot of snow, I would recommend show shoeing for your first time winter campers. It is a skill that is easy to pick up and provides the most stable mode of on foot movement in the snow. Trying to walk in deep snow with a pack on can be frustrating as the scouts post hole their way into camp. Taking along snow shoes provides not only ease of movement, but a fun activity to do once you get camp set up.
Most winter sports outlets rent snow shoes and we have gotten real good Weekend rates when you mention you are taking a group of Boy Scouts out for a snow shoeing adventure.
Let me leave you with this.
The best tool you have in the winter camping environment is your brain. It will know when things are good and when things get bad. Listen to it. Adult leaders need to be upbeat and positive throughout the winter camping process. A positive attitude is infectious and the boys of the unit must keep a great attitude when camping in the cold.
Seeing an adult with a negative attitude, complaining about the cold, or showing frustration at gear, not being able to accomplish tasks, and generally not having a good time will surely infect the rest of the Troop. Keep a level head, have a great time, acquire the necessary skills, and have a positive attitude and your winter camping adventure will be a fantastic memorable experience. Oh and take lots of pictures.
Get out there and camp in the cold.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Gear Tip – Wet Fire ™
Ok… all of this talk about being lazy.. and it caught me. Not really. I wanted to get a Saturday Quick tip out this week but once again my Scouting life got in the way of the blog.
Saturday, I was at a Staff Development session for the upcoming Wood Badge course. I am not on the staff this time, but I have been asked to be a Guest presenter during the course. I will be presenting the Teaching EDGE and more than likely will be doing dishes also… it's what we Wood Badgers do.
Sunday was dedicated to one of my Scouts. We held a Court of Honor to present his Eagle Award. Man, what a great day. I love Courts of Honor especially when we honor a Scout that has worked so hard and has become an Eagle Scout.
Alright… enough of the excuses.
I was going to shoot a video about a piece of gear that I always keep in my pack. In fact I keep a few of them in my pack at all times and love them. They are the Wet Fire ™ Fire starting Tinder.
They are made by a company called the Revere Supply Company and is part of the UST line of products. Designed for survival kits, these little Fire starters are the best.
Now, we don't teach survival to our Scouts, rather we teach preparedness and being ready in the event that everything goes South. Being Prepared is the way to stay out of survival situations.
Having said that, we all like a fire and the Wet Fire ™ Fire starting Tinder is the best way to get a fire going quick and easy. I don't know about you.. but I'm not into the whole rubbing sticks together and flint and steel went out of style in the 1800's. When I want fire, I want it now. And I live in Oregon, read… wet. The Wet Fire ™ fire starting tinder gets that fire going while drying out other tinder and smaller wood so you can have a nice fire in camp.
Each cube is 1" x .75" x .5" (24 x 19 x 13mm) and only weighs .16 oz (44g), they do not take up a bunch of space and for the efficiency you won't worry about the added grams.
You can read more about it at their website. The Wet Fire ™ fire starting tinder is available at most stores and are inexpensive. About $6 for a package of 5.
Here is a little video from the folks that bring you the Wet Fire ™ fire starting tinder.
I carry these in my pack and I highly recommend them for everyone.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
How do You fix Lazy?
Here is a question for you… How do you fix lazy?
I do not intend this to be a rant, rather a real look into why are people.. in particular.. some of our Scouts so lazy. Yes.. I said Lazy, and if the shoe fits they need to wear it.
Well, Scoutmaster Jerry… you can't call a boy out like that.. you may hurt their feelings… Really? If you don't want your feelings hurt, stop being lazy. It's really that simple.
Here is the situation.
We do a very good job of teaching skills. As is the case in Scout Troops all over our Country, Scout leaders have vested interest in making sure that our Scouts are trained in skills, both life skills and those skills that can be applied in the great out doors. In the case of my Troop, we have assembled a group of adult leaders that are the best. That is a pretty lofty claim, but true. We have multiple BSA certified Climbing instructors. Multiple Wilderness First Aid trained and First Responders. Medical professionals, skilled outdoors men. Trained and certified trainers for extreme cold weather activities, etc. Avid backpackers with years of experience and mastered skill levels. Leave No trace experts etc. We have made it a point to be over trained so the Scouts of our Troop will have the benefit of training that is current, relevant, expert, and will ensure that the Scout will gain the most of his Scouting experience.
Now, before I go on.. YES, we are YOUTH LED… BUT…
As you all know there are times that Adults with know how need to step in and not lead, but train. The Scout leadership is still leading and teaching basic skills, but when it comes to high risk activities it is important that Adult instruction from those that are qualified, skilled, and trained need to do the teaching.
So, we have assembled this great group of skilled folks that know what they need to know and are willing to teach and provide mentoring as the Scouts develop their skills.
I suppose it is worth mentioning that a Scout joins our Troop knowing what he is getting into. It is also fair to point our that we do not push participation. A Scout will get out of Scouting exactly what he puts into it. If a young man makes the choice to not participate, well then he will get that experience out of Scouting. On the other hand, if he makes the choice to fully immerse himself in the experience, he will have an outstanding experience while a Scout and more likely than not carry that with him the rest of his life.
We are what we are we are not going to change that based on Lazy. We have made it a point to never cancel based on outside of Scouting choices. We encourage our Scouts to be active outside of Scouts also and we know that there are certain outings that lend themselves to less participation, but we will not cancel those based on the interest level of some of the Scouts taking away that opportunity for others. We would rather go with 5 that are totally into it than 40 that are not.
On one hand we preach that this is the Scouts Troop, and yes that is the case. They are the Scouts that made the choice years ago that they wanted to be a high adventure unit. And that is what we became. That is why boys join our Troop. Then some realize that we expect more from them individually than perhaps their School teacher do or their parents. We expect them to become self-reliant. We expect them to pay attention and learn. We expect them to develop skills and become proficient in those skills and at some point teach those skills. We expect them to push themselves beyond their comfort zone. We do not think that this is too much to ask, and when parents bring their son to us, it seems that it is not too much for them either. Parents by and large seem to like the idea that we expect much from their sons.
We see it over and over again though that some, not all, of our Scouts are just plain lazy. It would seem that they would rather freeze to death and starve before they took a tiny bit of initiative to do the right thing. They are trained, but have difficulty applying that training because they are too busy trying to take a short cut or allow someone else to do it for them.
They would rather be told 100 times to do something than just do it. They would rather be cold and miserable than to apply the training that they have learned from some of the best folks around. Simple things like keeping your gloves out of the snow or staying dry. This is just plain lazy.
They would rather have Mom and Dad replace gear than take care of it. They would rather crawl into their sleeping bag than learn new skills and develop their own level of expertise in those skills. They would rather… well, I think you are getting the point.
I do not understand this way of thinking. I do not understand Lazy. Now before I get one comment that tells me that kids today are different from they were 20 years ago… JUST STOP. They are no different. The difference is not in the kid, it is in how they are raised in the world around them. They have been wrapped in layer of bubble wrap and not allowed to explore. They have been force-fed pills to calm them down, they have been sheltered because of the boggy man and Al Qaeda. They are sat in front of a TV as a baby sitter and the world around them tells them that they don't have to work for a living. Don't worry.. the Government will take care of you and the more ailments you can rack up the more Uncle Sam will take care of you. You don't have to get a good paying job, you can apply for hand outs.. so don't work and you will be fine. I don't understand this thinking. And it is happening. Citizenship used to mean making a contribution, now it means waiting for one.
Are their legitimate ailments out there?.. sure there are.. but c'mon.. When you are a 13-year-old boy, you need to get out and at it.
Lazy is a habit. It is formed early and reinforced often. Here is the thing. I don't know how to fix it. Well I do, but in the process I will lose Scouts and upset parents. This is the issue I am dealing with. How do I fix lazy and maintain Scouts and get them on board? How do I do this and keep Mom and Dad happy?
I will be working on answers to this question.. I am curious as to what you have to say.
Please leave your answer to How to fix lazy in the comments section. I want to know what you do.. or do you just allow it. Either way.. share.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
What's in your Backpack?
I was bouncing around on some of the blogs and found a cool post on a blog that I follow. The subject was something that I think we all do or have, but give little or no thought to… What do you keep in your pack, or items that never leave your pack. I read her list and then some of the comments and it got me to thinking and actually running out to my pack to see what I never take out.
I assumed at the outset that this list was to be that stuff that NEVER comes out of my pack.. so for me that would be those items that I take no matter what kind of camping I am doing, no matter where I am going, or no matter how long or far I am venturing in the woods.
The other component to this discussion is who I am camping with. Scouts or just friends and family.
So I want to know what those items are in your pack. Here is my list of items that just never come out of the pack.
1. First Aid kit. I check it annually when we show the new Scouts some of the things that they should consider when making their own kits. But it never comes out of my pack and is always loaded in the right hip belt.
2. Poop kit. This kit consists of bags, toilet paper, Wet One singles. Pretty sure that's self explanatory.
3. Ditty bag of fire starting materials. A couple cotton balls covered in Vaseline, a few Wet Fire cubes, a Light My Fire fire steel, and a few sticks of Fat wood and a lighter.
4. Zip lock bag with one extra wool socks.
5. Ditty bag with about 50 feet of line and a compass, Micro pure tablets.
6. UCO Candle Lantern
7. Headlamp and 2 extra batteries.
8. Clothing bag with synthetic long sleeve top, Poly long bottoms, beenie hat, light gloves.
9. Hammock (Warbonnet Blackbird) and Tarp (Warbonnet Super Fly)
10. Water Filter
I remove my tarp and hang it dry for a day or so then it goes right back in.
I always keep my Top quilt and Under quilt hanging till I need them.
Clothing is decided in planning for the trip.
Food bag is clipped to backpack till I load it. Water Bladders are in food bag till they are filled.
Cook kit is loaded on outside of pack and I decide how much fuel etc when I meal plan.
I wear my knife (Light My Fire Mora).
So that's the basics.. What never leaves your Pack?
Have a Great Scouting Day!


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Your Stay: 1 Rooms, 1 Guests/room Edit
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Mansfield OH
PointSavers offers up to 33% in point savings, depending on the hotel category and number of nights requested. This hotel is offering Seasonal Awards, so you can use fewer points when you book a stay during these dates.
1065 N Lexington Springmill Road Mansfield, OH 44906
4 miles from Mansfield
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1125 Guest Court Mansfield, OH 44906
4.1 miles from Mansfield
227 Jamesway Marion, OH 43302
32.1 miles from Mansfield
6220 Milan Road Sandusky, OH 44870
44.5 miles from Mansfield
3125 Eastpointe Drive Medina, OH 44256
45.6 miles from Mansfield
500 Highland Blvd. Newark, OH 43055
48.3 miles from Mansfield
5211 Forest Drive New Albany, OH 43054
48.6 miles from Mansfield
New Lobby
8865 Lyra Drive Columbus, OH 43240
48.8 miles from Mansfield
9000 Worthington Road Columbus, OH 43082
49.1 miles from Mansfield
Nights 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
My dates are flexible
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text: Ibanez AF2 Paul Gilbert Airplane Flanger Pedal; Two pedals in one tough package. If you love the flange effect, and we know you do, the AF2 contains both a traditional chorus Taxi flange and what has come to be known as the Take Off flange. Toggle the Airplane flanger from Taxi to Take Off and you'll be playing with Paul Gilbert's own crazy flange sound that shifts the pitch up and down. Add this incredible effect to your pedal line up and get ready to fly. Ibanez AF2 Features:


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Concrete and car body riprap, Yellowstone River, Montana
Farmers minimize bank erosion of their fields by placing concrete slabs and car bodies along river banks, providing an unsightly view for boaters. This photo was taken about 20 miles east of Billings, Montana, on the otherwise beautiful Yellowstone River.
"Limnology" - The study of inland waters
Photo: 2 August, 2013
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