Eagledad

>>Yep. The old southern socially conservative, pro-military democrats who defected from the Democratic party during the LBJ Great Society/civil rights years, and all the folks who adhere to that intellectual tradition. Since yeh have been with us for a couple generations now, you've gotten to thinking that you're "true" Republicans and conservatives. It's a bit funny, actually.

>>You're right, I don't want to give those up. Like all old-school conservatives, I believe there's a role for government in creating and enforcing laws so that unscrupulous people don't cut corners or try to shift costs of doin' business onto others. Law enforcement is the proper role of government in society. I don't believe it should be left to individual families to try to sue oil producers for damage incurred, any more than it should be left to private citizens to investigate and prosecute grand theft auto. We believe in a system of common laws, eh?

>>What yeh don't seem to understand is that oil is a commodity, eh? It's traded on a worldwide market. It doesn't pay for the oil companies to drill more here, because it's much harder (i.e. more costly) to extract oil here than in many other areas of the world.

>>Of course I also have to wonder at a claim that Christianity depends on a belief in Satan. Are you sure you want to make that claim?

>>It would be the most significant thing we've done in 20 years to safeguard national security

The idea has been proposed for a few years because cars are burning less gas. But it hasnt been pushed hard until recently by a couple of states. Nationally it wont go far because it is such an obvious tax grab and raising taxes isnt really politically correct right now. But the idea is going to stay out there for awhile. I think what you will see legislated before mileage taxes is a requirement for installing tracking devices in all cars. Most car manufacturing companies are already installing them in most of their cars, but there will be a push to do them all. Once that happens, then a lot of things will happen. Barry

I always looked for two possible DLs before I approached asking the first one to take a position. Its always easier for someone to consider a volunteer position if they know somebody else is covering their back. If you feel comfortable about asking one to lead and the other assist, by all means approach them that way. If however neither seems to feel comfortable as a leader, then ask them to be co-leaders. The true leader will take on more of the responsibility a few weeks into the job. Also, your odds are always better asking in person, not on the phone. Barry

>>My question is can the SM or anybody else sign off on the Unit Leader signature line on project completion and spare me from doing that.

We develop 80 to 90 percent of our behavior by the age 14 from watching those who influence us. So we are all role models to some degree. The more visibility we have to those watching us, the more influence we are as role models. So heck yah presidents, Scoutmasters, teachers, sports stars and Rock stars are role models. It was my scouts who explained to me what is meant by getting or giving a Lewinsky. Barry

I don't think any boy who is given the choice of waiting for the water to lower or take a HELICOPTER ride out would pass the chance to ride in the helicopter. I still get excited flying our Helicopter simulator. But then we don't have a hiking simulator to compare. I love that flying stuff too. Barry

>>I am wondering if just attending church is being reverent toward God if you don't believe there is a God? Can you be reverent if you don't believe?

I look at it this way, would the left had been quiet if the roles were reversed, no way. Would we have had this discussion if Obama, or any other president, had simply published their birth certificated at the beginning, nope. Was there a strategy for Obama, or any other president, to not show the proof citizenship or any kind of records that are important to judge weather a person is worthy of president of the United States, yes I think so. I have never been or ever will be a Trump fan, but he forced Obama to move when nobody else could and ended it. Barry

Welder for a cattle trailer manufacturing company. The building average 130 degrees. Barry

Gotta say the camp twinkie sounds like a lot of fun. Anything that requires whip cream and holding stick over a fire is perfect for scouts. I will have to try that one at home. Barry

Gorp is easy to make and taste good on campouts. Beary

Smores. Build a fire and hand the boys a stick and marshmellow. If this is an indoor event, find some burners and set them in some turkey pans. That is our pack's favorite snack. Barry

You need to figure out what you want in your tent first. I also wore out a beloved Temberline 2. What I liked about it was the fast set-up and the two doors. I used our troop Temberline 4s w/o a back door and found I didn't like not having a back door and it stood so high that it didn't hold well in the Oklahoma wind. So my personal backpacking tent has two accesses into the tent and a more rounded profile (although it is not a dome) to resist wind. Barry

>>In most cases these welfare kids get an inferior education and are not competitive in the marketplace after graduation,if they even graduate. Out of date textbooks, little to no equipment, teachers who don't really want to be there are just a few of the factors.

Paper Airplane contest is what we did. Barry

>>The only problem with your scenario with welfare/poor kids is that for one it was not their fault they were born to poor/welfare parents. Secondly, if we don't break the poverty cycle by giving them a chance at getting a good job with a decent education then like their parents they will be on the welfare dole supported by the state for all of their lives.

>>How about wind? In the summer we usually have a fair amount of wind here

I think everyone is missing question, he is asking why does a scout have to dictate it to pass a requirement, and I agree. I can't recall a teaching style was ever a requirement before and while we can discuss the value of EDGE, I dont see why a scout should have to recite it to advance. Of course I think the Webelos requirement to visit a SM and fill out a Troop application is also out of context with the program. Oh, and we do have the choice to participate or skip forum discussions. If a person finds they are so frustrated with a forum topic that they have to yell in text in a discussion, that is a red flag that maybe you are spending a little too much time on forums. Barry

Yes!

You did great with the scouts. You were not proactive enough with the parents. I learned through the same floggings from parents to inform what you are going to do and why before you do it. For example, when the scouts first join and you have all the parents together, you explain that the troop program cant possibly have one patrol of 13 new scouts because in your experience, it doesnt work well. Their sons will not enjoy it because everyone is running over each other. However, you have found that new scouts do very well in separate patrols provided they have a couple of friends with them. In fact, they will grow from the experience because they get to compare and compete with each other, something boys enjoy doing with their friends. I would never ask the Scouts to do anything or not do something just so that you dont get calls from their parents. One, it sets in their minds that its you against their parents and you dont want that. They must trust that you and the parents are a team that work together. You will need that trust down the road. Two, parent calls are red flags for you that something probably needs to change. I got calls every night my first years as a SM, I rarely got calls during my last year because I changed the way we did a few things and I learned how to be a proactive with the parents while being reactive with scouts. Keep up the great work 2cub, your scouts are lucky to have you. Barry

>>But my point in all this is that if one wishes to engage in science, there actually IS a way to find agreement that is not based simply on desire to believe. It is based on common experience and observation and evidence. Because this approach is available to anyone, I consider science a way to bring people together.