Narraticong

John- I guess I'm just in the dark when it comes to that darn arrow! Where, oh where, could it be? Geekster, we have indeed been messing with you. But we all love you and we hope you love us, too!' Ken(This message has been edited by Narraticong)

Once upon a time, we held our elected officials in high regard. Whether we agreed with them or not, we repected the office. And so did they. The President, Representatives, Senators, etc. were considered very important people and were treated with great respect. And they were expected to act appropriately. I know times have changed and we live in a much more casual world. But is it a good thing when our president goes on talk/comedy shows? When a former majority leader goes on Dancing with the Stars? Seems I remember it started with President Nixon going on Laugh-In. Some may s

Please listen carefully to the words of "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen. The proper pronunciation of the admonition is found in the third verse. Clear as day. By the way, how many native Lenape speakers are around? In all the years I lived in New Jersey, I can not think of having heard of any. Ken

I do stand corrected. President Carter used the words "overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man" rather than "majority". I guess we can quibble over the meaning, but I think maybe I was close... Yesterday Carter went on to speak about a radical fringe element attacking the President. He referred to some saying we should "bury Obama with Kennedy". He was likely referring to the thousands of people protesting in Washington. In the video, I saw no signs saying we should bury Obama with Kennedy.

I have a 15 year old daughter who recently earned her Silver Award. She goes to an honors high school, and has tremendous faith in God. She is all a father can ask for in his child. I love her more than I could ever express. But I also know that every day she is one bad decision away from having her life changed forever. Nobody says it is OK for a child to have a child. My guess is the girl would likely be the first to agree. Her life as a teenager has changed drastically. She now has new priorities. Her baby needs to be the focus of her life. We all know that and I think we agree

Now we have President Carter entering the fray. According to Mr. Carter a MAJORITY of the animosity toward the Health Care Plan is due to racism and hatred of President Obama because he is an African American. Please note that Mr. Carter did not say "some" of the folks opposing the plan are racist, but a "majority" are racist. I am afraid Mr. Carter has gone way over the edge on this one. What on earth could his basis be for making that statement. Sure, we all know there are still some people out there who make decisions based on race. But I dare say they fall on both sides of the pol

It seems the hacks on the left like to point out the kooks on the right and the hacks on the right like to point out the kooks on the left. The goal being to make the kooks appear to be the norm. Both major parties play to the lowest common denominator. I believe that most people who get involved in politics do so with good intentions. But in order to get elected they must sell their soul to the devil of the political machine. Sadly, our media go along and report this nonsense because WE like to read it. How do you think the tabloids have stayed in business?

Lisa- As to the value of longevity in the Senate, I agree the benefit to his home state in terms of funding is great. Senator Byrd and Senator Stevens were great examples. Due to their long terms in office, they became powerful Committee Chairman. A more junior Senator could not expect success without paying homage to these grand poobahs. Thus the famous "bridge to nowhere" debacle. Your tax money and mine is wasted on the pet projects of these key Senators while more important projects go by the wayside. Our Constitution still stand as the greatest government document ever

While I tend to agree with Vol in regard to leaving the business of a particular state to the residents of that state, the particular case of Mrs. Clinton is another thing. As far as I know Mrs. Clinton had never lived in New York before deciding to run for the Senate. She found a place she could likely win from and get herself into a powerful office from which she hoped to vault to the White House. No more nor less than a stepping stone. No history with the State of New York. Pure politics with a personal agenda. In this case, I would think she should be fair game for money from

Some people are trying to do something about it. But some of these guys are so firmly entrenched that they won't leave until they die. Ted Kennedy, Strom Thurmond as examples. They no longer listen to their constituents, but feel they are above the people. Sheeple just keep voting the party line and keep voting for them. Opposing party doesn't waste money fighting these political machines, thus enabling them to get more powerful. Term limits are a good thing! Question Lisa...how many times have you voted for Carl Levin? Ken

The previous post speaks volumes. Yes, this girl will know she now has tremendous adult responsibilites. But in a sense of compassion, can't we try to help her retain something of her childhood? Girl Scouts would seem to be a perfect place for this young woman. I would hope girls who are Scouts would be a little more accepting of her. Obviously Grandma is willing to help out. If Girl Scouts can provide a few hours now and then where this new "Mom" can still be a girl, then thank God for the Girl Scouts! I have made many mistakes in my life. I am grateful that I am not made to remem

Let's not forget that Mr. Obama has been calling those who oppose his health plan "liars" for some time. Indeed he did so in his speech, just before being called one himself. Oh yes, he is politically correct enough to instead refer to those who "misrepresent" his program. And he did indeed specifically refer to some of those folks being present in the chambers. If it walks like a duck... well you know what he meant. How does Mr. Obama know whether his opponents are purposefully being deceitful- telling a lie, or merely expressing what they believe to be facts? He does not. But for p

Smithgall is on the right track. Scouts today are seen as being uncool, nerdy, weenies. And to some extent that is true. When you have an adult run program where boys only do what the adults "allow" them to do, only do "dangerous" tasks when surrounded by an army of adults, that is what you get. But when you have a gang of boys who really know how to live in the outdoors, using knives, saws and axes, you may see they are proud to be Scouts. Scouts started being "uncool" during the 70's when young people decided the same about any form of authority and anything representing traditional

Wingnut- You are right on target! Besides being dark and scary on the golf course, one of the course workes was out there adjusting sprinklers. The boys said they didn't want to get caught...or maybe they did! Ken

I have a good friend who is a hardcore Democrat and until recently was an elected member of his local school board. So I have been carefully following his take on this via his Facebook page. It has been very enlightening to say the least. Between his comments and the folks adding their comments, anyone questioning the speech is a moron or an idiot. We need to be dealt with harshly. How dare a school district not play the speech, but yet take federal education dollars? What are we going to do with Democrats who do not follow the state and national party line? We must stop extending o

The right tool for the job. Our young SPL transferred in from another troop about a year and a half ago. Apparently they took the BSA line on sheath knives to heart. None allowed. He and I got into a discussion this summer about knives, axes, and saws. Our SPL is the best Totin' Chip instructor I have seen. When I told him I have no problem with sheath knives, his jaw dropped. It's a pretty simple thought process. If an axe is the correct tool, use it. If a saw is the correct tool, use it. If a pocket knife is the right tool, use it. If a sheath knife is the right tool, u

Outstanding. This weekend our family was staying at the campground where we are seasonal campers. The campground has a golf course attached which is just across the street. My 12 year old son and his buddy decided they wanted to go for a late night prowl with their airsoft guns. It was 9:15 and I said "Sure, but be back no later than 10:00". My wife gave me a little bit of a look, but she trusts me. I told her they would be back no later than 9:30. Like clockwork, right at 9:30 they came back. They wouldn't admit it, but a golf course is a big, dark, scary place. But they expan

"The Right fears that the Presidents message of personal responsibility and staying in school will actually take." Uh, I don't think so. Please let me know just which of the "changes" Mr. Obama has thus far proposed encourages personal responsibility? In reality, his entire political career is based on the premise that government needs to take care of everyone. Isn't that essentially what a traditional "community organizer" does? Since the days our government began getting involved in "public welfare", I can not think of a program which has caused people to be more responsible for

I have no problem with this President, or any other President addressing children. But I, like many others, did not vote for him, nor do I agree with any of his policies. My suggestion would be to have this address be in the evening when families can sit down together and watch it. Parents and children can then initiate a discussion of his message. I want my children to hear what he has to say. I want them to be exposed to all viewpoints. But as an involved parent, I reserve the right to be present when they are exposed to those messages. At noon, I am at my job and can not be there to b

This really hits at one of my pet peeves. I've been a Scoutmaster for over two years and active in my current council for about eight years. I have done FOS presentations and serve on the council Religious Relations Committee. I am not shy, and I am at least familiar with most of the active "Scouters" in the council. But I look at the members of our Council Committee, and I don't recognize many names. I wonder what their Scouting experience is? How many have spent a night in a tent with a unit in the past five years? Valid questions, I think, since these are the folks making decis

Way back in the '70s we closed every troop campfire by singing "On My Honor". As a Scout back then I didn't take much in life very serious. But that song always meant something to me. Today as a Scoutmaster, it means even more. Thanks so much for jogging my memory of the old days! Ken

When I was a Scout in the '70s, our Scoutmaster was "Mac", his last name being McMahon. This was the man I respected most in the world, but I know I never once called him "Mr.". You knew if someone else called him "Mac" they most likely had been one of his Scouts. Today the Scouts in our troop generally call me "Mr. Ken". I'm happy with that and feel more distant when they use my last name. I think the "Mr." part shows an expectation of respect, either for authority or age. But as I think about my old Scoutmaster I wonder about the "Mr." He didn't need it because his actions and

Catholics, Lutherans, bash 'em all! I'll never forget being in a conference of Lutheran Scouters at Philmont Training Center in 2008. In the next classroom was a conference of Catholic Scouters. Lots of bad history between those two groups, and very different thoughts on Faith. But the brotherhood between the two groups overwhelmed the differences. We sang to each other, we laughed with each other, we shared meals. We could all agree we had a passion for Scouting and a love of God. Sometimes I think God will just shake his head and say "None of you ever got it. I said you ha

Although I grew up in the Episcopal Church rather than as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, I am pretty much in agreement with the way the Missouri Synod looks at things. Yes, worshipping with others in Scouting is a difficult thing for us. Scouts Own, inter-denominational, non-denominational style "worship" services all make me pretty uncomfortable. I would be much more comfortable worshipping with like-minded Lutherans, or just spending time with the Word on my own. I have no need to "inflict" my beliefs on others and I don't care if other Scouts wish to "worship" together. I just ask

I wonder what this will mean for the National Lutheran Association on Scouting. Made up of ELCA and Missouri Synod Lutherans, our group has managed to get along and work through our differences for the greater good of Scouting. But I think this may be a major sticking point for those of us among the membership who belong to the more conservative Missouri Synod. Should be interesting to see what comes of it. Ken