GernBlansten

There is no scientific fact that Bush got the most votes in Florida. None, because the supremes stopped the count. All subsequent recounts are irrelevant because they didn''t allow due process. Florida should have been allowed to conduct the recount as they saw fit (following the US Constitution), to completion, and then the result could have been challenged to the SCOTUS if necessary. But instead, Bush preempted the process and took the case directly there, thus short circuiting the process. No way about it, the SCOTUS, by stopping the recount, selected Bush. They should have denied reviewing the case until due process was complete. At least all the votes would have been counted by the rules Florida set for themselves. Bush will always have an asterisk next to his 2000 election results because of it.

"BTW with all the independently funded recounts of the disputed Florida 2000 presidential ballots, did Gore ever end up with a majority? My thought was he didnt, but I could be wrong." How many licks does it take to get the chewy center of a Tootsie Roll lollipop? The world may never know. The Supremes saw to it. Bush was selected, not elected.

You know, all this bile being spewed towards Al might tarnish his Oscar and Emmy awards too!

Hey, back off my buddy BA. He is of course completely and correctly uniformed and that adds lots of stuff to his arguments.

Although technically never sworn in as 43 president, he was elected until the activist supreme court stepped in and took it away from him. Good on Al! Good on Americans! We are the good guys.

I think you are all focusing on the outcome, not the travels. The character rejected everything we as a society hold dear. That''s whats interesting and worthy of a story. Family, wealth, occupation, possessions. He clearly was intelligent and motivated. Not your typical wino bum or panhandler. When I read the book, I kept being reminded about the materialistic world which we live in. He rejected that. I can''t say as I have. Was he right or wrong? I don''t know. But he had the focus to live his life as he saw fit. He made a bad judgement testing himself in the Alaskan wilderness but so be it. I don''t disparage his journey because of it, but view it as another example of such a great country we live in that allows someone to do what he did.

Kudos to the Gore man! The fourth American president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Joins the ranks of Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter. Glorious day to be an American isn't it? I sure like it when our guys do good.(This message has been edited by GernBlansten)

I read the book last year whilst on a Krakauer bend and during a tour of Alaska myself. We stayed at a lodge probably within 50 miles of the bus. Haven''t seen the movie, but probably will soon. I don''t think Krakauer portrays the main character as a hero, but as just an interesting person and life story. Tragic ending no doubt. Many Alaskans think he is just a stupid kid out of his element, others may view him as a free spirit searching for the meaning of life. In the book, he navigates the Colorado to the sea in a canoe not a kayak. Even more amazing if true. In any case, the story is compelling and worthy of telling.

Oh man did you hit a nerve with the car thing. Ok, It was a dark and stormy night..... Ok, not so much. But, we were heading to the Grand Canyon to hike down to Havasu Falls on the Supai reservation. I got 4 scouts and me in my pickup (quad cab), pulling the troop trailer. Its morning, they are having a grand old time. We hit the rim and unload the backpacks after I park the truck and trailer in the parking lot. We lock it up and head down into the canyon for a few days. Well, upon return, remember this is Arizona, I get back to the truck, pop the locks and open the door. WHOA Nelly! What died! Seems one of the scouts was enjoying a banana on the trip to the rim and lost most of it on the floor boards. Well it got smashed, mashed into the carpet and seat rails and seat belt and everything else, then baked for three or four days. Well, needless to say I wasn''t too happy. Note to self, in my next life, get a truck with rubber floor mats. Still can''t get that rotten banana smell out of it.

I too have heard the comment (from both sexes) that anything less than 400 thread count sheets is roughing it.

"a woman cannot even come close to teaching a boy about becoming a man the way a man can." I''m not sure I agree or disagree with you. Too general a comment. Perhaps you can regale us with specific teachings only a man can accomplish. I just want to make sure I''m covered with my son.

In the aerospace realm where I have carved out a living, its very difficult for a male to advance to upper management due to the efforts by the corporation to reverse the discrimination it practiced for decades. So now, many women are being elevated to high positions and those youth who are not accustomed to feminine authority figures will have a difficult time adjusting. So if Scouting is designed to prepare boys to be men, it certainly would seem appropriate for them experience female leadership early on.

They can have my lead based Philmont patch when they pry it from my cold dead hands.

Is this part of the todays recall of chinese made toys due to lead based paint? I did notice my Philmont patch had a made in china sticker on the back of it.

Our CO is a church, lets us share a storage shed for our gear along with their landscaping/maintenance equipment. Its crowded. They wanted an eagle candidate to build them another storage shed for the scout gear so they could use the entire existing shed for themselves. The new shed will be just for scouts, but benefits the CO too. Allowed?

So women should be viewed as second stringers, bench warmers?

Always the eternal optimist, I think America''s future is bright. Any of the candidates from either party will easily be able to out perform the current guy. Not one of them could do worse.

The Naval Observatory is blurred out on Google Earth. The lair of Darth Cheney. Coincidence? His dark powers have no bounds.

Aw Brent, don''t go away mad.

20 miles for a newly crossed over???? Do a 5 miler first, then a 10, then a 15. Gotta take baby steps. Longest day a Philmont for us was 12 miles with 55lbs packs. Last day too. The Tooth of Time Death march. Not fun, even for hardened hikers. Longest day I ever did was 26 miles and 7000ft gain/loss elevation. But I was dumb and 19. Just older now.

I might add that I think it prudent to restrict the presidency to only one member of a family twice removed. I''m getting tired of the Bush/Clinton dynasties.

I''ve seen towers in excess of 40 feet at a camporee erected by a troop with scouts climbing all over it. Didn''t ask the proud group of adults who erected it for their scouts if there were any rules about height.

Brent, you mentioned in another thread that you just started your unit this year after leaving another that failed to meet your expectations. How many traditions does your new unit have? Who established them? My unit is celebrating its 50th year. Even with our sloppy uniforming, we seem to keep coming back for more.

Brent I need a favor, please. I checked my Scoutmaster Handbook and I can''t find the Scout Law that says a scout is uniformed. Its late and I''m not feeling very scout like. You have been uncourteous, unkind, unhelpful, uncheerful and unfriendly in discussing this issue with me. I have described my perspective on the uniform method and how it fits in our program. You have indicated that we have a failed program and do BSA a disservice delivering it. In your mind, I am a bad leader and every adult in our unit is a bad leader. We should quit scouting. I disagree. We have good scouts. We have good leaders. We have Eagle scouts. You will eventually have Eagle scouts. Deliver your program as you see fit, I''ll help deliver ours as we see fit. Get it?

Lighten up Brent. For review... A scout is... HELPFUL A Scout is concerned about other people. He does things willingly for others without pay or reward. FRIENDLY A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs other than his own. COURTEOUS A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows good manners make it easier for people to get along together. KIND A Scout understands there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. He does not hurt or kill harmless things without reason. CHEERFUL A Scout looks for the bright side of things. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.