misc – Page 5 – Explorer Scout 84

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Recently, I went on a cyber camp residential and learnt how easy it is to hack into computers.

Under a controlled environment, we hacked into one of our fellow teams computer. With this we were able to open up a conversation between the victim and the hacker, make random lights on the keyboard flash, make the mouse go crazy and open up unwanted tabs.

We also learnt how to change the users password whilst not being logged into the computer and we made our thumb print with latex to use to hijack our phones finger sensor ID.

We got taught why to keep ourselves private online through a demonstration of having a picture of a Yellow Lamborghini, and having to find out who it belonged to and other facts about them. It was surprisingly easy to find out who the person was and their age etc. all through looking at one picture.

The 3R’s

For the older audience these were ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’ for the youth of today it means ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’. Sometimes there are 5 R’s to include Repair and Reinvent.

Recently I ordered the UK contingent supporters badges, I was shocked to discover that they are all individually wrapped. Inside two further layers of plastic bag.

In a World where we are becoming ever more conscious of the affects of our continued bad consumer habits and the affect that plastic has on wildlife to have them over packaged was a complete travesty. The 5 key principles of the 24th World Scout Jamboree are adventure, friendship, leadership, service and especially sustainability.

I try to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.

Lots of restaurants now only give you plastic straws if you ask for them and many restaurants use paper straws, but these often coated in plastic. On a recent visit to a well known Asian based chain of restaurants I had a smoothie and it came with a paper straw which shows even big businesses are trying to cut down, (Although before I’d finished the drink the straw had disintegrated!)

Given our Unit fundraising badges aren’t individually wrapped I don’t see why these ones needed to be. Hopefully this can be rectified for future batches. How about it UK Scouting?

A Slip-up Knot

So recently, I was running late to the Beaver meeting which I’m a Young Leader at. I grabbed my necker which didn’t have a woggle and quickly did a friendship knot in the car.

Here’s a photo of the finished knot- can you spot the problem?

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Yes I did really tie myself to the seat belt!

So, I had to redo it.

Here is 84’s guide to doing a friendship knot if you do not know how to do one:

Roll your necker and lay it out in front of you facing you as in the photo
Fold the side on your right up
Place the left side over the folded side (in step 2)
Tuck the left side under the right side
Fold the right side down
Take the left side and thread over the end of the right side and through the loop formed by the right side (in step 2)
Tighten it up and voila!

Friendship Knot Instructions.jpg

Out in the sun

The sun has got his hat on,

Hip, hip, hip hooray

The sun has got his hat on

And I’m going out to play.

In case you haven’t guessed yet

I’ve been lazing in the sun

I had a brilliant blog post

But the writings not yet done.

(I’ll catch up tomorrow it’ll be too hot to be outside!)

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend

#RAF100

I was recently lucky enough to represent Scouting at the RAF 100 stem residential at RAF Wittering, having had to apply and be selected earlier this year. There were 100 students from uniformed organisations that converged for a week long ‘boot camp’.

It was a drive of over 2 hours to get there so when I arrived I knew no one, until I boarded the coach to take us to our dorms, I was greeted by one of my fellow Jamboree members! Neither of us knew the other was going until we saw each other on the coach.

The original information said I would have to share a dorm with 3 others, so I was surprised to find out I had my own room. This was luxury compared with the tent in the snow I was in last month. I made some good friends with those in my corridor and we have already made multiple group chats.

The food they fed us was amazing, nothing like a Scout camp food. Three hot meals a day in giant portions.

Over 4½ long days we completed ‘Op Falcon’ an exercise designed to show us a range of roles in the RAF that involve STEM skills. Activities included cooking with ration packs, the various logistics behind operational planning, and bomb disposal! At the end of the course we were awarded with the Silver Industrial Cadet Award and will also receive a Silver CREST award.

#UNPLUGGED

This week I will be going undercover and back to the 80s. I just hope I don’t end up with a perm and shoulder pads!

I will be completing the #UNPLUGGED challenge by turning off my mobile phone for a whole week and not using social media.

It’s a great opportunity to be sponsored and fundraise.

So here’s to getting through the week. I should be so lucky, I’m never gonna give you up …