scoutldr

I can see it now: SM: Johnny, come in here and lets do your Board of Review Johnny: Sorry, Mr. SM, but I'm one day short of the tenure requirement and it just wouldn't be right! I'll have to come back next month. Yeah, right. The SM/Committee screwed up 2 years ago...they owned up to it, so what's the problem? Move on.

"Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned by the community as a whole. Like how we all, through the government, own Amtrak, AIG, a large portion of da financial industry, and pretty soon a few inept and bankrupt automobile manufacturers." Yeah, that's it, and I'm a'gin it, no matter who does it. What I am is Libertarian...citizens (including stockholders) should succeed or fail on their own merits and abilities. Taxation is a necessary evil, but should be used only to support common infrastructure such as roads, police and fire. I believe that's what "general welfare" means. It should NOT go to support those won't work, or who can't figure out how to keep from getting pregnant, or for those who think they can afford a $500,000 home on a 30,000 salary. Ed, your state is now Blue, but you're in that racist, redneck backwards western end, so you probably didn't notice. The problem with the stimulus checks is that I didn't ask for it, didn't need it and don't want it. It didn't "stimulate" me in the least. In fact, it's still in the bank...I may need to give it back when I file my tax return this year.

I went to very good schools, Beav and I know Socialism when I see it. I am not condoning the ineptitude of the Bush administration. But swinging the pendulum all the way to the left is not the answer either. Charity is when I prayerfully decide how to redistribute my wealth, which I manage to do very liberally on my own (more so than Biden did). Socialism is when the Government decides how I will donate my money, and I will fight that to the death. Too late now. We'll get the Government we deserve.

Yeah...we're just going through some Class 4 rapids right now and getting soaked...it's that roar in the distance around the bend that concerns me.

Go back to sleep, Gunny. We'll wake you when it's your turn...

I didn't vote for "four more years of what we have now"...I didn't see that candidate on the ballot. Nor did I vote for the liberal socialists who are going to destroy this country (if they actually DO what they promised).

Being a reasonable person who regularly sits on Eagle BOR, I would read your explanation, and schedule the EBOR. No scout should be penalized for the honest errors of adults...especially over 1 day.

I work at a Navy command as a civilian, and the new uniform has started appearing as people transfer in (it's being phased in at selected locations). The new "camo" uniform is similar to the Army's, but in shades of digital blue and gray. The first thing I thought of was if the poor boy falls overboard he will be invisible. The working uniform is now khaki shirt and black pants for all E-1 thru E-6...you can't tell who's who unless you get really close and inspect the small collar devices. The Service Dress uniform for them remains unchanged ("cracker jacks")...CPO's, WO's and O's wear to khaki pants. They've also brought back "Service Dress Khaki"...the WWII style khaki coat with shoulder boards that you see in the old John Wayne movies. Around here, most wear "working khaki" (khaki shirt and pants w/ribbons) year round.

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/11/our-pows-locked-6-years-he-unlocked-spirit-inside This story is about George T. Coker, active Scouter, Eagle Scout, Distinguished Eagle Scout, who was awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star and Purple Heart. I knew him for several years before I knew his story. These heroes walk among us every day. They don't consider themselves heroes...just doing their duty. My own father was a WWII Submarine veteran of the Pacific theater. I didn't realize the enormity of what those men did until I was well into adulthood. Half of them didn't come back from patrol. Dad was a hero in my eyes...but to him, he was just a scared 17 year old kid from the farm, who enlisted to serve his country. Thank you for your service.

I was in Sam's Club the other day, and my wife said "Hey, there's a Scout"! I looked and it was a gentleman about my age 50-something, with a khaki shirt and blue jeans. Looking closer, the patches on the sleeves were a different color, and when I got around to the front (he probably thought I was stalking him!), I noticed Captain's bars on his collars and military-like ribbons (about 4 rows). Then I saw the sleeve patch said "Royal Rangers". A little research on the internet tells me this is a Christian organization that many denominations have adopted. It also tells me that they also have a problem with proper uniforming! (blue jeans are not part of the uniform!) What I do not understand is why a church would choose the RR program over the BSA program. Any thoughts?

The question should not be "how bad do you want it", but rather "how well do you live it?"

::scratching head in amazement:: Terry said "Put forth a conservative balanced budget; temper Congress, especially from liberal excesses." Which candidate did you say you voted for??? (You voted for a liberal socialist and now you think he'll change his stripes????)

"He completed the requirements so we have to pass him". -Absolutely not true. The decision must be unanimous. The mistake made was continuing with the EBOR when it was clear the scout was not prepared. Being an hour and 15 minutes late for your own Eagle board is unacceptable. This has nothing to do with LDS/non LDS. The BSA requirements and standards are the same. An Eagle Scout is an Eagle Scout and the badge is now a little more tarnished for the rest of us.

I earned Eagle at age 16, but was in an Explorer Post and never got to wear the rank patch. The left pocket on the Exploring uniform had the Explorer emblem on it. So I just wore the RWB square knot with dark green background. The rule is that 18 year olds are adults. Adults do not wear rank patches.

Welcome back Frank, and best wishes for a good recovery. I, too had unexpected surgery in March (diverticulitis) and it does give one pause to reflect and reprioritize.

Sorry...my bad.

"although we only get the knot if he is continuing as an adult leader" That's just wrong. The kid earned Eagle. Why in the world would you NOT present him with the medal? (Adults can wear the medal too, on formal occasions).

I want to pay a "Fair Tax". There is a cost for freedom...and everyone who lives here should pay their fair share.

"Not any more, by law gift cards for which the merchant has taken money cannot expire. Gift cards which are given by the merchant as part of a promotion may expire." I'd like to know the source of that info. Merchants around here, particularly restaurants (inlcuding my son's) are still putting expiration dates on their gift certificates (some as short as 6 months).

Aww, milwscout...you had to go and push that button, didn't you.

The ads on this page are driven by what we're discussing. Right now there's an ad at the top for "pictures and videos of 1000's of beautiful LDS Singles" and "Family Tree History". If we were talking about tents, there would be ads for tents and camping equipment. I can put up with that if it pays the bills for Terry, the owner of Scouter.com. And I don't think the guys on bikes are doing "volunteer" work. They are on their year-long mandatory "mission" which is to knock on doors and convert people. I don't like talking to them or Jehovah's Witnesses...so I don't answer the door.

We had RT at an LDS church for years. The only difference I noted was we were not allowed to serve coffee. :-(

My boys and wife got me a 32" HD tv for my birthday, in spite of me telling them I didn't want or need ANYTHING. When my son walked in with the box, I was actually ticked off. My reasons were that my MIL now lives with us and I have no storage space for anything what with oxygen tanks, wheel chairs, and her stuff all over the house. Now the perfectly good 27" Magnavox that I inherited from my Dad 13 years ago sits on the floor in the spare bedroom. I'm not impressed with HD...I watch the news and the Weather Channel...that's about it. Don't care about sports or movies and I don't pay for any premium channels. It's like giving a Ferrari to someone who takes the bus everywhere. I try to live very frugally, and I would never buy a new TV until the old one croaks. Yes it's a little larger, and the few HD channels available on cable look nice, but now all the non-HD channels look crappy and stretched out. I would rest much easier if I knew that their Roth IRA's were fully funded. At ages 30 and 26, they have managed to save ZERO towards retirement...nor do they seem to care. For Christmas, I will repeat my request for NOTHING...I need nothing...especially more things that I need to find space for. I don't want clothes...I am extremely hard to fit (short and fat) and always have to take it back or give it to the Salvation Army a year later with the tags still on. I don't want "gift cards"...because usually I forget I have them and they expire. My wife's family has a tradition of "exchanging names"...you write what you want on a piece of paper with your name and draw from a hat. THen whoever pulls your name goes and buys it and gives it to you. No thought involved...just taking orders. I don't get it. I always suggest...let's just keep our own money and lessen the stress on everyone. Then I'm called Scrooge. One year I pulled my own name and didn't tell anyone. I don't get it. Happy Holidays? Bah!

I fear Socialism more than Mormonism.

I'm not a lawyer, like some here, however...if you don't accuse her of anything, what's to sue about? Just state that her services will no longer be required. No one has a "right" to membership in a particular unit or the BSA. Employment laws don't apply. Seems to me that the Pack Committee are the ones who have grounds for a complaint...starting with slander and defamation. Got to be able to prove it, though.