My, oh my... <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

(CNN excerpt)

He had two thoughts going through his head all the time," she said. "Toby's always told him that 'if you get lost, stay on the trail.' So he stayed on the trail.

"We've also told him don't talk to strangers. ... When an ATV or horse came by, he got off the trail. ... When they left, he got back on the trail ."

Sorry, but... That makes me <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well I guess that whistle wouldn't make any difference then. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> LOL

What's this about Darwin awards . . .

Interesting tidbit on CNN about a half hour ago.
Soledad O'Brien was interviewing a guy from the National Parks Service...your typical not-very-enlightening rehash of what's already been known about the boy's time in the woods.
However, CNN made time in the interview for her to ask the guy about what people could carry to be found and survive if lost in the woods.
He mentioned a whistle, then said some other good things that could be easily carried include a flashlight or glowstick, a signal mirror, extra clothing/water/food, and perhaps Goretex. She said "so basically carry a big backpack?"
And he said no, basically most of this can be carried in your pockets, perhaps in the pockets of a Goretex coat tied around your waist.

Any of this advice sound familiar? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, he went on to say that other good advice is to plan out what family members will/should do in case of problems in the woods, and tell kids to stay in one place if lost, avoid getting wet/find shelter, or learn how to devise a shelter (he couldn't really go into much detail, but gave the example of getting under a rock overhang).

And if a kid hears a helicopter searching overhead, they should learn to find a clearing if possible, and make themselves large and visible, and move.

Overall, a lot more good info packed into one of these usually vague and pointless morning chats.

Bottom line for this incident - God looks after drunks, fools and little children ... most of the time, anyway. This lad was very, Very, VERY lucky. Remember, another Boy Scout that disappeared last year in the same general area has never been found.

Parents need to rethink, or at least expand on the old saw about avoiding strangers. Creating such a mindset may keep them safe from sexual predators, but as this incident shows makes for a xenophobic mindset. We have enough Boo Radleys casting shadows on porches. I was also dismayed the kid found solace in a electronic game on a rescuer's cellphone. This deux ex machina we communicate on is a marvel, but when it's blue ectoplasmic reality supercedes the songbirds outside I'll shoot it with my Colt <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bruce Schneider, a security consultant, has a good take on this:

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/06/talking_to_stra.html

Roger that on both counts, Chris. I look at the kids around me today, and I'm not sure if anything that isn't on thier computers is really real to them.

And we all know that no one lies on the web, don't we.

Lessee... take a variable level of detail mesh of a representative of the species, throw in some random variations in geometry, size and texture (of course we'll use normal maps and pixel shaders to achieve near photorealistic renders at interactive frame rates), stir in a reasonable flocking algorithm with appropriate environmental goals and influences (flock toward food, away from predators), display on multiple, floor to ceiling edge matched super high resolution projectors. Mix in some randomly selected song bird audio samples, and burn some pine scented candles....

Don't shoot the screens, that'll just make holes. Aim at the noisy boxes in the ceiling. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

These parents must be real mental midgets. They trained this kid so well that they've virtually induced paranoia. But if they think their "don't talk to strangers" mindset is going to prevent him from being molested, they didn't even get THAT right!

Someone needs to explain (in small words) to these cretins that most child molesters are known to their victims. Most molesters are family members, friends of the family, church members, sports coaches and others who have deliberately put themselves in places where they can find victims.

That tired-looking guy with the hat pulled low, wrinkled clothes and a 3-day growth of beard is probably the SAR volunteer who gave up his 3-day weekend to look for the idiot kid who was hiding from him 20 feet away.

But what's even worse, is that this kid is 11 years old and has never been taught to think. In 7 more years, he's going to be voting, and will be out in the big, bad world, and he won't have a CLUE!

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Hawkins -- you've done a bang-up job of raising your kids! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Sue