dsteele

Hey, everyone, take a deep breath. In fact, take three or more. Jason is gone and so are his other identities. We've all read through a pile of a pile and we're all a bit jumpy. This thread probably should never have resurfaced, but that doesn't mean it's time to jump all over one another. We're supposed to be friends here. At least that's why I participate. Can we all agree that hypocracy in and of itself is wrong? I think so. Can we all agree that Strom Thurmond is dead with or without regard to what he did in his lifetime? I think so. Regardless of what you believe in the form of an afterlife or not, can we not agree that Strom Thurmond will do no more else on this earth to change things one way or another? Then what is the argument about? Our own personal views. Which, in my humble opinion, should remain personal. Unc.

Eamonn: I think the thread confused you, old friend. He was referring to the "Great" Eamonn. You're the White haired Eamonn. Different birds. And who was this Steele guy, anyway? Anyone who tries to defend DE's is, himself, a nitwit. Okay, just kidding all around. Glad to "see" you old china. Unc.

BadenP -- I hope you were not trying to be sarcastic in that previous post. Hops is a great Scout and many of us admire him greatly, myself included. Why would you imply that it's of any importance that OGE received more replies? What possible difference does it make? I'd like to know. Unc.

Where does one get a good mic? Thanks for the help, FOG. Any idea what the name of the software is? I haven't done theater since college and haven't done children's storytelling since I took second place in the state in high school forensics. Unc. PS -- both parts of my life were a while ago . . . UG

Jim: Welcome to the electronic campfire, friend! Pull up a log, grab a cup of joe and join in the conversation. I'm not a dad, but if it is advice you seek to give or get, you'll find plenty of it here. Mostly good, but keep your own judgement handy. Welcome! Again. The fire is nice and the company is welcome. Unc.

My nephew is the closest thing I will ever have to a son. I'm okay with that, actually more than okay. He loves Unc's stories and the way he tells them, but he lives 300 miles away from me. I'm looking for a way to record the stories onto cd's and send them to him by mail. He's three years old and a very visual boy. He doesn't need to see Unc. on a DVD to get the story -- and his parents don't need to see Unc. either. I don't want the lousy sound quality my camcorder would produce, nor do I want his parents to have to fast forward or rewind to find the story or song the boy wants to hear. I would like to be able to go from voice to cd and have tracks they can jump to. Is there such a thing as a voice cd recorder -- money isn't really an object. Does anyone know where I can find such a thing and about how much it costs? Unc.

OGE -- Thanks for the link. I'll try it and put Green Grow the Rushes Ho back into my repretoir (sp.) You're welcome for the rat poem. I recommend the book. The guy is good. There are some poems in there, both long and short, that are sure to produce a snort! Okay, who let Suess in here?!? Unc.

OGE -- I was kidding about the songs. I hope you know I enjoy them. FOG -- Thank you for the lyrics. They're slightly different than the ones I remember and there are more verses than I ever knew -- I appreciate it! I will modify parts and sing them with joy to my nephew. Do either of you have a resource to the lyrics to the now forbidden Mountain Dew? Thank you to both of you. Perhaps I should change my nickname to an easy to type 3 letters . . . Oh yeah . . . Unc.

FOG: I could live with that compromise. Unc.

My sleepy smile just got wider. MR. OGE is an excellent choice. I think you've done the right thing in the right way and with the right people. It doesn't get any better than that. MR. OGE -- just don't use the position to sing more bad songs to us -- although the words again to Green Grow the Rushes Ho and the Cat Came Back would be most welcome right now. I'd love to sing them to my nephew, even if only by tape. Unc. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Scouter Terry -- I can not believe you did this! Actually, I mean that in the best sense of ever word. To name an honorable Scout such as Hops as a Moderator is a stroke of genius! Well Deserved, Sir Hops! I'm elated. That doesn't happen very often, but I'm elated. I can think of no other word. A Scout salute from me to you both. I'll sleep with a smile on my face. Hops -- You DA MAN! Unc.

Fog: I'll pass on the song, thanks Who knows or wants to know how well you may or may not sing? The troop spirit should be just that. Troop spirit. Same with Patrol Spirit. Like it or not, in recent years the view of community has been expanded beyond local municipalities. As a witness, I call . . . you. Different council strips for each county, you suggested. I'm not opposed to that idea -- but is there only one community, town, or other govermental jurisdiction in each county? Unc.

Dave: No more fire in the hole! It's okay to stay up here. That wasn't your shadow you saw. It was simply a dark spot in the mud. Unc.

Before anyone makes age jokes, I have to admit that community strips were around during my father's time as a Scout, but were long gone by the time mine came around. I hear what you're saying about community identification -- but you have to remember that community strips were around during a bit more simple time -- geographically, that is. As a kid growing up, I think a community strip would have worked just fine in the town I lived in. However, take a look at any major city that has suburbs, and you'll find that in many cases, a kid from town XXX may well be in a troop in YYYY that meets at MMMM school. Which community strip does he wear? Hometown, Troop's town or School's town? If they all wear different strips, how is that uniform or unifying? If they all wear the strip of their troop's community, how does that build pride in the Scout's own community? Do you have kids in your troop who live in the next door town? I know many in the district I serve do. I like the council strip concept. I think it provides a large enough area to have many Scouts wearing different unit numbers, united under a larger banner (the council) working together and meeting one another at district and council activities to realize they are part of a bigger picture. It also avoids the idea that Thistown, USA is better than Thattown, USA. Unc.

In my haste to post last evening after reading hundreds of lines of text (ok -- scanning) I forgot to give you the Cliff's Notes version of the book of Financial Security: Spend less than you take in Unc.

OneHour: Thank you for mentioning my name, but there's no way I could ever fill Eamonn or Bob White's shoes. I'll do my best and contribute what I can, however. Dan: I read some of this WHEELER's stuff. I didn't like the threads. Is that what drove the #3 resource person you mention out?

I received a nastygram from one of Jason's identities as well. He seemed to accuse me of getting rid of him. Would that I had such power, but I do not. If he thinks I'm Scouter Terry, he's very, very far afield. I agree that the man needs help beyond what we can give him. I find it interesting that while WHEELER's posts were more literate, the themes and words are strangely parallel. But, in the end, what difference does it make? He's about gone if not heard from at last . . . I suspect a different angle with a similar style will appear in a month or two. Please trust me that I have no forgone knowledge (in other words, when you read my stuff, what you see is what you get) of anything like that. This is the internet after all, and the off seem to find their way on whether we want them to or not. I do extoll Bob White and Eamonn to rejoin the boards. If I can do it guys, so can you. Unc.

As long as we're exchanging poetry, I thought I'd toss this one out. It's from "Something Big Has Been Here" by Jack Prelutsky. I hope Mr. Prelutsky doesn't take offense. Indeed, I recommend purchasing this body of work. It's one kids and adults can both enjoy at bed time: I MET A RAT OF CULTURE I met a rat of culture who was elegantly dressed in a pair of velvet trousers and a silver-buttoned vest, he related anciwent proverbs and recited poetry, he spoke a dozen languages, eleven more than me. The rat was perspicacious, and had cogent things to say on bionics, economics, hydroponics, and ballet, he instructed me in sculpture, he shed light on keeping bees, then he painted an acrylic of an abstract view of cheese. He had circled the equator, he had visited the poles, he extolled the art of sailing while he baked assorted rolls, he wove a woolen carpet and he shaped a porcelain pot, then he sang an operetta while he danced a slow gavotte. He was versed in aviation, an authority on trains, all of botany and baseball were contained within his brains, he knew chemistry and physics, he had taught himself to sew, to myu knowledge there was nothing that the rodent didn't know. He was vastly more accomplished than the billions of his kin, he performed a brief sonata on a tiny violin, but he squealed and promptly vanished at the entrance of my cat, for despite his erudition, he was nothing but a rat. Editorial -- if this poem makes you think of someone, don't blame me. Unc.

I only like peanut butter three ways: 1) spread down the chute of a piece of celery 2) baked in cookies 3) "Anything tastes good if it's sittin' on a Ritz!" Unc.

I prefer the Cliff's Notes version. Unc.

this thread is asking the question, what do you love most in Scouting? In other words, what charges your batteries and why do you keep going? In this recent era of some contention on the boards, I thought it might be good to remind ourselves and us each other, what it is that keeps us in the program. I can tell you that I'm very much looking forward to getting out to our council's Boy Scout resident camp tomorrow and seeing the boys in a natural scouting setting. I know I'll come back recharged, reinvigorated and without weight on my shoulders. Would that I could spend the rest of the week out there, but will enjoy my time with the boys and the troop leaders. What do you love? I also get to visit a Cub Day camp and spend the day next week. That will also recharge the batteries. You have to love kids that fish with no bait and don't really care . . . Unc.

Leprechauns. Definately believe in them. You can't go wrong with a good leprechaun. Of course, when it comes to medications, I suggest you follow your doctor's advice. That's what I do. Unc.

No. I may get mad at you, but you are human. You have needs and if I can help, help I shall. Send me a PM if you need to talk. You are not okay, and I will not cast you adrift. Unc.

Jason: All other stuff aside, you're not okay. You're seeing enemies where there are none. You have turned Laurie into some sort of monster -- and she isn't one. Go see your minister or other professional. This thread has become way too personal for you. Please, get some help. Wishing you the best, Unc.

Youth or adult, Whether you joined the BSA as a kid or as an adult, what do you remember? I remember watching a commercial in the ealry '70's. A cartoon Snoopy and Woodstock followed a bunch of older kids across a lot and into the woods. I don't remember if they were Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts. But I do remember shouting, "Mom, I want to do that!" I remember Mom signing me up at school. I walked out the door with her and said, "I'm a Cub Scout now?" She said yes and we went directly to the store to buy my uniform. I slept in it that night. It was soooo cool. I remember dreaming of earning Eagle. I did it . . . eventually. What are your early memories. If not your own, what are your memories of joining as an adult? Unc.