Scoutfish

"Thank you for pointing out the Amendment which added the distinction of "native born" to the existing "natural born" and "naturalized" " Actually, I didn't. The amendment DOES NOT say "Natural Born" or "Native Born" ! YOU put those words/ phrases in there. It says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." " BORN OR NATURALIZED" Now, there could have been a reference at the time.....somewhere about what that process or requirement meant.....or you could say you somehow just knew what they were thinking ( which I seriously doubt) , BUT.... The Constitution of the United States itself does not reference, distinguish, or list a requirement of "Natural Born", "Native Born" or the requirements or references to/of definitions of " born or naturalized in the United States" All you have done is speculated on your own, the distinction of Natural vs Native . But the Constitution did not and does not back up your point of personal distintion. For all we know, all you had to do was own property, or have one parent who owned property, or a sponsor who owned property in the US at the time to become naturalized as a citizen since at that time, immigants by far outnumbered the few who were born in America. More specifically, the writers of the Constituition would be declaring themselves to be non citizens by your standards and would make their own acceptance and ratification and the legality of the Constitution null and void. So ..." born or naturalized" it is. But as to what "Naturalized" means....well, congress could and has the power to change that to mean you could take a test to simply name all the characters from the Bugs Bunny/ Road Runner show.

14th Amendment All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article I read: "All persons born or naturalized in.." Not all natural born, nor Native born, or Obama born...".

Clarifying that they be "Natural Born" or clarifying what "natural Born" actually means? They also clarified that the right to bear aerms was meant for "well regulated" militias ( basically the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Police, etc..), but did not clarify for not every single citizen. Work that one first, abolish about 90% of violent crime by pushing it, then worry about who can be president. But then, think about a US citizen who is a US Serviceman, who with his wife are stationed overseas. They have a child. Are you saying that this child could not be a worthy candidate? Somebody who actually has seen the world beyond just our borders, who has lived the life under the roof of a VERY dedicated patriot devoted to America?

BS-87 Completely devoted has nothing to do with where you were born at or what country . Look at the founding fathers. I dare anybody to say that any of us would be more devoted to America than them. But go and see where some of these people were born at and to what country their citizenship would be listed as by your standards. But also, by the standards you list, two people could immigrate here, get their citizenship, have a baby the next week and he is qualified for president. Meanwhile, one parent could be a native citizen who married a person who was born here and lived here all their life, and years later, their son who lived his entire life in America , wouldn't be qualified . For example: If my dad was a citizen, and maybe my mom wasn't. I would be disqualified...even though I have spent my entire life in America? And as far as Devotions...that has no stipulatriuons in itself. That is up to and solely up to the individual without influence from the outside. Look at the many, many people who fit your qualifications who go to congress and spend their entire political career doing nothing but stuffing their own pockets and those of the lobbyests who helped put them their. Those guys were absolutely and completely devoted!

Living right next to the Intracoastal waterway, and less than a 1/4 mile ( as the crow flies) from the ocean...I sem to have a protective ocean wind buffer. Thew storms are moving at a ENE direction, but I have a SW wind constantly blowing all day. Honestly, it reminds me of one of those air curtains over the entrance doors to a grocery store or food Mart. But a few miles inland..they have had a few tornadoes on the ground.

There's a "catch 22 ", for yah: 1 10 year old minivan 1 18 pick up truck A brand new truck or at least newer will sabe money with better gas milage. Today's V-6's are just about as strong as yesterday's V-8's. I drive a 1995 Ford F-150 V-8 auto. A brand new truck would increase my milage A BUNCH! But then I'd have a truck payment of between $350.00 to $450.00 a month, plus the insurance wouyld be higher on a newer ( read more expensive) truck. Right now, my less than fabulous gas milage truck is paid for. Better gas at another $525.00 a month? Or pay for that milage with no payment at all?

I use a cell phone on a non contract plan- It's actually cheaper for me in the way I use my phone. Don't have a land line..cost too much and I'm never home to use it, plus, if you don't answer it, everybody calls your cell phone anywyas. I have cable, but it's my wifes more than mine. I jusyt watch the weather and morning news. I bet I have watched all of 10 hours of tv since Jan 1st, 2011 Internet? Gonna kep that one too. I do about half of all communication with my council, my pack, my DE, a ton of scouting info and forms ideas, etc.., plus I use it for my position of North East Cape Fear District - Camp McNeill Promotiuons. Then there is a great group of scouting guys I like to trade words and ideas with online! I quit smoking in Sept of 2009 after 20 years of a 1 1/2 pack a day habbit and I quit drinking MtDew as my primary source of water this past Nov 2010. I don't eat candy, or a ton of junk food, but finding my resolve being tested as a brand new Micky D's opened up last month 1 mile from my house anda Bojangles is about 1/3 of the way completed as we speak about 1 mile farther. (used to be the closeest fast food was 20 miles away). Granted, Cubs is different, than the Troop, but My son is a second year Webelos now...so it's not "If" for me, but "how soon " it all hits me.

LOL! Trump got trumpped! Trump is a joke! All this fusas about how he personally didn't get to see Obama's BC. I haven,'t seen my neighbors, W.Bush's , Beavah's or Mr. Trump's birth certificate either? But I do remember years back that Trump tried to use Eminant Domain to force a lady off her land, demolisth her house and make a parking lot for a casino under the guise that it was for the greater public good. The kicker is that the board that controls this was made up of a group of casino owners. Finally, good sense prevailed at SCOTUS and they told trump to shove it. Can't remember the exact date, but had to be about 15 to 20 years ago. That's the first thing I thought of when Trump started that Celebrity Apprentice show. So wether everybody you like shows you personally as to wether they have a genuine BC is a BIG FREAKING DEAL...but tossing a homeowner out on their but by use of a public toll in fradulent ways is okay? I hope this guy is NEVER elected to anything more than Silliest Toupee of the year!

I bet it's an eyelash! Hapens to me during certain moments. Makes me look like I teared up or something.

Well, used to, our pack would get together over the summer fun days to play on a slip-n-slide at the CO, go hiking around the CO, or have a water baloon fight at the CO. Typically, only one or two boys at most would show up ..if at all. WOW! Could it be any duller? I mean, we live on the coast. Half our pack either lives on the intracoastal water way, or within 1 mile of it. Slip-N-Slide? Everybody line up and take a turn, so you can get in line again? Why not just jump in the pools that 1/3 of our scouts have at home or jump in the waterway, get dad to pull you on a wakeboard, swim at the beach... I mean, there is no competition. So last year, I volunteered to take over running the summer fun day. In June, we had a fishing tournamnet and cooked hotdogs afterwards. It was at a soundside park, so there were plenty of piers and boardwalks over the water's edge. Lots of flat green grass for those who got bored to run and play in, and of course, slides, climbing tower, swings, etc.. They had a blast. July Fun Day, we went to Moorees Creek National Battlefield. Its free, had a great tour guide who "enlisted" the boys in the King's Army and we had fun while learning stuff. Period toys were brought out as well as non working( but original) black powder long rifles, french rifles, pistols and a stump cannon. Afterward we cooked hotdogs. August: WEnt to the Battleship USS North Carolina BB-55 Just happend that they were celebrating "Blue and Gray Days" Lots of people in period dress and displays of working steam engines, models of every USS North Carolina from a raft to the modern submarine. The boys climbed all over everything on the battle ship and had a blast. Afterward, we went to a buffet pizza place. So, I am not saying I myself did anything spectacular. The biggest reason for the sucess as compared to previous years was a fresh perspective. Do something fun, but keep it different than what you already did all year. Granted, scouting is about all kinds of stuff, but for summer fun days..make the "fun" the main priority. This summer, for June, we are going to a ball game as guests. WE are going to do the flag ceremony, pledge,and intro, and all scouts in uniform are getting in free. Parents and sibs get in for $4.00. Usual cost is $8.00 per person. They ( the ball club) are also shooting off fireworks that night! July: I'm leaning towards bowling. Still working out details. For August: WEll, I haven't even thought about August yet.

Plumber. WEll, I worked for a few different plumbers. One thought that he was perfect and if he made a mistake..it was your fault, even if you weren't there or around when it happened. TIme to go Next one did all new construction only, and I liked the job. He paid well, taught me alot because he was meticulous, but reasonably meticulous. Then he decided to move back home...6b states more north! Third plumber is the one who made me change carrers. Should have known when I came to his house at 10am to interview, and his wife said she would see if she could wake him up. Apparently, he was passed out in the bathtub from a party they had the night before. WEll, when you have to pay the bills, any job is a great job, or at least good enough to hold you til you find a better one. About a week of working for this guy who I still wonder how he got his plumbing license, and we get a call to a house where the homeowner thinks a pipe may be leaking under the house. Let me give a little background: It was the 3rd week of August in the humidity capitol of the east coast of trhe United States: NC We get to the womans house and find out she's "kinda" been smelling something for maybe a couple of months. We go around to te side of her house to where the access hatch is and see a fine rusty brown trickle of liquid coming out of the hatch. My boss opens the hatch and I almost threw up. The underside of the housr had almost 8" of raw sewage, grease, rotting food chuncks, what was pronbably at one time toilet paper, and a dead rat...I think..... under it. Evidentally, the ground under the house was about 4 inches lower than the outside ground level. Lie I said, I almost threw up. My boss then looks at me and says: "WEll, go find the leak." I told him there was no way I would go under there, aside from the smell and just the general nastiness of it - you had to consider diseases and such. I had a few scratches, busted knuckle of two , and maybe a cut from working in general. I look at him and siad right there and then: THAT'S IT, I'M DONE!" Got in my work truck, drove it to his house and got in my track and went home. Thye next day, I got a job installing garage doors. Been doing that for over 16 years now!

WOW! That's a DOUBLE honor! Now days, it's a rare thing to hear a guy ask for somebodies blessing. Add to the fact that he could have seen you as just a relative and nothing more...then it is a double bl;essing. Actually, It's a double blessiing with a huge dose of rspect and gratitude since you were askled to walk her down the aisle

I crack open two eggs into a 1 qt FREEZER bag and burp it. Then mash it up a bunch to scramble the eggs. Open the bag back up and add whjat you like.... I use Jimmy Deam pre crumbled/ pre cooked sausage, and I buy the plastic containers of fajita veggies that are pre chopped ( not diced) , and pre shredded taco cheese. You can use ham, onion only, peppers...whatever suits your taste. Then a dash of salt and pepper and then re burp the bag and drop it into the pot of water. I have the water already boiling and I have a lid on the pot too. With the lid, steam coats the sides of the pot so bag won't stick and melt to the pot. I have tossed in 6 bags at a time and cooked at 8 minutes and they were done, but not over done. Pull out with tongs, let them cool for about 1 minute and peel the bag back like you are eating a candy bar. Dump the clean empty water and toss the bag. Then clean up is done! The first time, it seems kinda hard, but it's just something new. I showed the leaders of my pack at our campout a weeka go and I made 6 bags in one minute. Kinda like tying shoes: Gets easier every time ytou do it. The biggest thing is to use only 2 eggs in a bag at a time. 3 eggs suits my big fat butt better, but 3 eggs increases the cooking time . You could easily end up with over done on the outside, underdone on the inside. It's better to make two 2 eggs omletts than one 3 egg omlett.

How about converting a charcoal chimney into a poop chimney? Make it, and take pictures the next time you camp, because I know..I mean, we all just know that - a minute or two after you light it, a scout or adult will come along and say something along the lines of: " I just love the smell of a good fire!"

I wonder if I could get one with me and Batman standing together?

Well...You could also take a spoonful of powdered eggs and a swallow of water from a water bottle, then shake your head furiously up and down and side to side and call it scrambbled eggs...but it just isn't the same is it?

You want to see how far somebody will go to fake something: http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/13254/06_2008/fake-id.jpg I don't know what is funnier...that they did it or that they thought it would actually work and be passable!

One comment I haven't seen here is this: Webelos isn'ty like the other cub scout ranks. You DO NOT have to accept anything a parent signs off on. Matter of fact, in a way similar to Boy Scouts earning Merit Badges, parents "CAN" be approved by the den leader to act as activity pin councelors..in which case they can sign off on the activity. But the key thing here is this: You still determine that. Now, I had planned ( before becoming CM after training for Webelos DL ))that certain things would be better signed off by mom or dad than to have me do it: Traveler, Family Member, and WEbelos Badge requirement's 8-D and any of 8-E. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't let parents sign off on anything or that you should have an " Iron Fist death Grip of Control" over signing off, but... I am sayinmg, you do not have to just accept a parents sign off as you did in Tigers, Wolves, and Bears. This leads to the next step - Boy Scouts where ..if you are not the SM ( or ASM) , an SM approved signer or a Council approved MB Counselor ( camp MB staff) ...then a signature don't mean squat! It ispossible to earn some pins in 2 days, but the final call is yours. EDITED TO ADD: My comments are based on the last paragraph , page 10 of the Webelos Handbook: "When I Tiger Cub, Wolf Cub, Scout, or Bear Cub Scout completes requirements, a parent or guardian signs his book. When a Webelos Scout completesrequirements, he takes his book to the Webelos den leader oa an adult *DESIGNATED* as the activity badge counselor( often this is the parent or guardian of a WEbelos Scout). For projects that are done at home or with family and are not easily transportable, the parent or guardian still may be *ASKED* to appove the Webelos Scout's completion of an activity badge requirement. Emphasis mine(This message has been edited by scoutfish)

One thing I have always felt isd this: I want the best qualified person for the job - to be the one with the job! I ndo not believe in Affirmitive Action because it is based on the diversity of who has the job instead of who uis most qualified. But ai will insert this too, as to be sure I am not misunderstaod: I do not believe in discrimination based on sex, race, ethnicity, or such either. Way back wehn, AA meant nothing to me either way. But as a young man who was planning on a long carrer of being a firefighter, I learned all about city and federal ( marine Coprs Base) policies of following AA. I along with 72 other people went to an physical agility test for a city fire Dept. After that test, only 12 of us were left. Then came several board of reviews, and deeper back groud investigations and checks( not neccisarrily cof the criminal type mind you). At the end, it was down to me and one oter person. Both of us were given the standard "Thank you, but.." replies as the FD had to hire a minority woman in order to meet the AA quota. Now, I do not hold it against the person who got the job..not their rule . But I hated the idea of the rule. Nowe, it doesn't apply to every situation eirthert, but some jobs..Police, medical, EMS, Bomb squad, phamacists, etc,... should not be subject to any AA requirements - it should be the best person for the job...PERIOD! So in this case, I completely support MoosetheItalianBlacksmith - if he is indeed the best candidate. Or at vthe least, the best candidate of those who nvolunteered to step up. But as a committee person, COR , or whoever I'd be in the position to make it happen... I'd consider something just as entirely important to the survival of the troop: Would the mom and dad's trust, support and allow their sons to be under the supervison of an 18, 19 , 12 year old or whoever it may be. I mean, let's get real...ALOT of mom and dads do not trust their babies witrh 45 year old Navy Seals who do nothing but oversee an indoor Eagle Mill. Sure, MoosetheItalianBlacksmith may be absolutely perfect for the job, but getting mom and dad to see it that way may be what's important!

"It is not the duty of the witness to investigate the incident but it is the duty to be sure of the situation. " I agree! I have no qualm about somebody reporting what they think is a YP issue( even if it turns out not to be), but I do think they need to reasonably belive it is a YP violation.

Crossing over should really be a joint effort as the pack sending them off and the troop is recieveing them. I don't think it should be one sided (pack or troop) as it is not so much an end or start, but a transition.

I agree with ScoutNut that the OA ceremonies are the best! The only downside...at least withour pack...is that the OA ceremonies are held inside. This past crossover , the AO was pre obligated so we did it without them. WE had our ceremony in oplace of a pack meeting . WE did this for 2 reasons: 1) The pack meets from 6 to 7 and the troop meets from 7 to... 2)WE wanted all the younger scouts to see what was in store for them when they crossed over one day. The ceremony we had was outside and a joint effort between the outgong ACM and the Boy Scout troop in our CO. One other troop that a scout was crossing into was there too and also had their input too. WE lit a few fires, and the Troop led the flag raising ceremony. WE had a tall ( 16 wide by 7 tall) bridge. The CM ( me) removed the scout's Webelos necker, the scout announced one part of the scout law before crossing the bridge to their new troop, and on the other side, they recieved their troop neckers which a PL tied on and Boy Scout handbook. The mother's pins and dad's tie tacks and certificates were handed out as well as carrer arrows were presented to each boy along with his AOL award if he earned it. Afterward, we had hamburgers, chips and drinks.Then the newest boyscouts did whatever the boy scouts were doing for a meeting. It worked out great, but would have been really cool if it could have been a combo of hwat we did , but with the AO leading it.

"should be thoughtfully evaluated on those grounds. " And you are saying they haven't based on that you do not agree with their conclusion ? Thing is, I do not agree with all of BSA's rules either. Especially those that determine what constitutes Good Morals baed on a narrow view by only a select group of religions. I have no issue whatsoever over a gay person being a leader any more than a heterosexual. Why has been debated too many times in other threads) But again, it's not "OUR" club whan it comes to ownership, just because it is "OUR" club when it comes to membership and association with that club. " nor do choices that are inconsistent with our mission and values" Yet another oxymoron in my opinion! Those values encourage some types or prejudiced while abhoring others. And good morals are subject to the people, the culture and the time at which they are followed.

The question is whether it is justified for the club to set a particular rule or not? Yes! The club sets the rules. Nobody ever said that you or I have to join that club. That club does not owe us the oppertunity to be a member. It is not crucial to our survival, a Constitutional right, nor is it even a God given right for us to be a member. Is the club justified? Absolutely as they own and are the club. Does it mean I have to like te rule? Nope! I can hate it all I want.

I used my firefighting as an example that I know tere are exceptions. BUT..... Lets be honest: Can I accurately and unbiasedly judge my own ability? Too many people think there are skilled enough, smart enough, ready enough to do "X". but they are not really ina possition to see themselves objectively. Again, I know there are natural born leaders and there are people who are just awesome people people! But I'd guess that vast overwhelming majority of us/them are not. "By contrast, Scoutmasters are people, and they don't "belong" to anybody" True, but they belong to a club. And that club said you must follow these rules to play the game. The members of that club signe a piece of paper stating they would follow the rules of the club! They don't have to be a member of that club because the club doesn't own them. You wanna play the game, either follow the rules or quit. And I don't see it being predjudiced any more than the states laws that say you can die for your country at 18, be arrested like an adult at 15, but cannot drink a ber after combat until you are 21. Yeah, there is a reson for it, even if I do not completely understand or like it.