perdidochas

I think at around the same price level, the conventional bow would probably be of slightly better quality than the compound bow. My boys use the conventional bow that I was given 38 yrs ago as a youth. I doubt that a cheap compound bow would have lasted as long. That said, the advice about the arrow rest was great. The bows our scout camp uses have horrible rests (which is worsened because the staff won't string the bows as recurve, which is how the bows were designed).

"So, the question here is, what information would it take to change your mind that Homosexuality is/is not deviant/unnatural/wrong, whatever your view is " Nothing. Homosexuality is a disordered thought/behavior pattern. There is nothing that can change that. However, as long as it's not being pushed on children as being normal, I have no problem with it. Do whatever you want in the privacy of your own home. Have a civil union with a same sex partner. As a gay man, adopt children. I'm ok with all of those, but that doesn't mean that I think that homosexuality isn't abnormal. Evolutionarily, homosexuality is a dead end.

Most single shot .22's used by scouts (in my observation) have been bolt-action .22s that were manufactured without a magazine.

According to G2ss http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss08.aspx#b Boy scouts can only shoot single shot .22 rifles in terms of rifles. They can also shoot shotguns and muzzleloaders.

The only age restriction I'm aware of is if it's by state law. My 11 yr old got to shoot .22 and shotgun at summer camp almost 2 months ago.

What's wrong with playing games 5 nights out of 6? Our troop does that. Now, the games aren't the whole meeting, but they are an important element of it. Usually, we have a opening--present colors, say Pledge, Scout Oath and Scout law. Then we get to the business of the meeting--often it's the older boys teaching the younger boys rank advancement skills (knots, lashing, first aid, fire safety, etc.), or planning the next campout. Then they play a game. then we have a closing--announcements, prayer, Scoutmaster minute, advancement announcement, and retire the colors. Games are an essential part of Scouting. Without them, the boys get burned out with school part II.

Why do National Scout Shop stores not let troops pre-buy badges? It seems like a silly policy.

Think of all the former slaves and all of the immigrant factory workers. Stats on it show that about 20% of people 14 and over in the U.S. in 1870 were totally illiterate (80% of blacks were). Now, that is less than 1% overall. There is no way to compare more than that. Functional illiteracy is a different matter. The good old days weren't all that good.

I agree with Mike Rowe as Chief Scout. He's what we would like our boys to be--personable, hard-working, cheerful (even when cleaning up a sewer plant), etc., and an Eagle Scout to boot. No evidence that either of the Dual Survival guys or Les Stroud were Boy Scouts

In terms of personal vs. troop tents, our troop requires below First Class Scouts to use troop tents. After First Class, they can use personal tents.

Acts 2:44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. Being generous with Scouts who through no fault of their own can't pay for everything is very Christian in nature.

Joebob: 1) But the percentage of people who could not read/write at all was much higher. Yes, those who could write could write well, but think of all the people that were not taught at all. 2) True

Lisabob: Exactly. It's not a matter of freedom of speech (which basically means that the government can't stop speech) but a matter of being courteous. Yes, the Scouts had a right to boo, but they should have been courteous enough not to boo.

Most state constitutions make free public education a right in the state (or the providing of education a responsibility of the state). Feds should stay out. That said, a certain amount of socialism is needed to keep a country running smoothly. The military, the police, fire departments and libraries are all examples of socialism, but I wouldn't want to get rid of them. Education is no different.

It could be that many have CO's that would only permit limited outside MBC's. Our CO is a Catholic church. The Diocese has regulations that any volunteers that work with other people are required to go through fingerprinting/background check and training. Hence, we could only use MBC's who have been through that process.

Re: outgrowing uniforms: I bought my boys uniform shirts when they were tiger cubs. I bought them large enough, so they didn't outgrow them until they were first year Webelos (at which time, I bought them khaki shirts to grow into)

Our Pack wants the Cubs to wear uniforms to Pack meetings--most do. Most also wear them to den meetings. We are a shirt only (for the most part) Pack--leaders and cubs. Although it's a little late, I plan to get uniform pants and wear them until my Web 2's crossover (I'm Advancement chair in the troop they will go to, hopefully). My oldest crossed over in March, and I have been converted into the ways of the uniform.

Yes, I am truly surprised. In terms of the President in front of troops, I'm even more surprised. I think this is just one symptom of how removed from real life politicians are. I think we might be better off taking the risk than having the President far removed from everyday life and people.

Just a couple of points to make: 1) I'm sure the President could have appeared on "The View" anytime he asked. It didn't have to be the day that he was asked to speak at the Jamboree. 2) It's scary to me that there would be a single security concern for the President at the Boy Scout Jamboree, other than the travel to and from the Jamboree. 3) I didn't vote for Obama and I disagree with most of his actions (including choosing not to speak in person or at the least live), but had I been there, I would have shushed the boys around me that were booing. As others have said, A scout is courteous. The only appropriate public booing is at Renaissance fairs and professional wrestling matches.

Wasn't sure. I would have ended the sarcasm with something I really liked about scouts. Why do you think your son would have more friends without scouts?

One other thing: If it weren't for scouting, I wouldn't have heard the Webelos in the tent next to me scream in terror as I began snoring.

Engineer, Are you sure you need to stay with scouting? It sounds like you have ill feelings towards it, unless I missed some sarcasm there.

I wouldn't have the opportunity to see my sons interact with a variety of other adults and children. I wouldn't have seen my oldest take lessons I've taught him and teach them to his peers. I wouldn't have done the Teapot Dance in front of 100 cubs, parents and siblings in order to get my lost tent pole back.

I'm a new advancement chair as well. I think the best thing would be to ask the scouts to report whatever advancement they want recorded to you. In my case, our troop has a laptop, and I record whatever advancement the scouts report to me. I also occasionally run reports for the Scouts or leadership.

Maybe not all boys, but most.