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So, there's really way too much to cover on this topic, but I'll try to touch on what I've seen, both as a boy who went through scouting and now as a Scoutmaster, and based on reactions from parents and other adults in my district how it will affect scouting locally.   1. Homosexuality in scouting.     a. It already happens, and those troops that are willing to accept it and have a charter organization that will accept it, do. Those organizations that will not, do not. This applies from the top down, adults through youth membership.     b. Predatory behavior can occur at ANY age. From same age youth/adults, older/younger youth, and adults/youth.     c. Youth Protection should be enforced on ALL fronts. Be it bullying, sexual advances/abuse, harassment, or physical abuse.   2. Scouting as a Religious organization     a. This is up to each individual troop's Charter Organization     b. Each charter organization "owns" the troop that it charters. Yes, it is the "boys' troop", however the organization sets the rules under which it may operate.     c. This national decision attempts to force individual organizations to accept membership of individuals who do not subscribe to the same faith of the aforementioned charter org.   To quote Hershemeister, who quotes from the BSA's own website: Here we find that yes, the BSA does proclaim any specific faith.   However   It is overlooked that "Its policy is that the home and organization or group with which a member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life." This statement allows for a Charter Organization to set the rules for how a troop will operate with regard to religion.   Indeed, a troop that is chartered with an American Legion post or Rotary Club will be run and have potentially differing faith principles than one that is chartered by a Baptist or Methodist church. Even those that meet at one church will have different religious principles than another that may even be of the same denomination or basic faith.   3. So, what about this new policy?      a. Face value: scouting as a whole now accepts openly gay youth.              i. There will be an eventual push for openly gay adult leaders. Boys who age out at 18 will want to stay involved.             ii. Is there some magic change from 17 years 11 months and 29 days to 18 years that really changes a person that much?            iii. Why is a gay leader not ok, but a boy who is almost there and is serving in youth leadership roles in his troop ok?      b. Individual troops should be able to restrict membership according to their charter organizations rules and beliefs.              i. The current wording of the new policy doesn't state this.             ii. I suspect we'll get this confirmation later. We'll see.      c. A lot of troops in my local district will either disband or continue restricting membership, and these same troops will likely choose to not participate in activities with troops that allow any boy.      d. Overall membership in my local district will decline or appear to decline as troops stop participating in events with other troops/ disband.   What does this mean for me? No idea. Will I stay in scouting? Can't tell at the moment, but I'll probably stay. Too much good to be done.  What is my Charter Org doing? We haven't met yet.   That's really all I've been able to muster with regard to this policy. I don't know anything about corporate or individual donations affecting the top level. I don't know polling statistics. I'm not here to talk right or wrong, or to slam one faith or another based on how they choose to discriminate.   I can say it's been interesting reading everyone's comments. I'll get back to my seat now and keep reading.   EDIT: fixed a sentence fragment.

    It's an event called "The Main Event". Here's more info.

If you're in/near Nashville, really ought to give the guys at The Safe House a call.   That said, the Winchester is also rated to 1400 degrees for 30 minutes. It has a limited lifetime warranty, and TSC has a link to that warranty on the more information page.   The winchester is UL listed for burgulary. The Cannon doesn't appear to be.   Internal hinges on the Cannon mean the door clearance is less. Basically reduces the ease of access to the safe for you. Don't make getting into your safe a chore.   If I had to choose, I'd buy the winchester.   BUT - as I said first, contact the guys at The Safe House. My buddy has bought from them twice, and now that he's on his third safe, he hates that he's moved to Memphis because he can't reasonably buy from them. Heck, even then you might want to call em. They know their safes.Way better than I do.

Well, I don't have your exact problem, but I am near sighted. Had an old pair of backup glasses that were -2.00, my rx(contacts) was -2.5 at the time. Nothing extreme, but the XS Big dot definitley made shooting easier than stock glock sights.   I was able to maintain a good fist sized group out to 15yds with the XS big dot front and rear. At 25, things took a lot of getting used to, but once you've learned the sights, they're fast.   Wish I still had that pistol, and those sights. Whatever happens, good luck!

  Dig around ARFCOM for more on RGuns.   Personally, I've only had one dealing with them. Ordered an "in stock" upper, that definitely wasn't. Waited 8 weeks with ZERO communication from their end, cancelled my order and went elsewhere. Sure, they didn't charge my card at the time of order, but I still had to treat that money as "spent" and missed out on a couple of great deals.

    HAHA That's hilarious. I just watched my BIG Bro walk and get his Doctoral, same arena!   Congrats Dr Smithra89!

... Wow I'm thickheaded. Thanks!

Primed 50 cases of 6.5x55 before sizing. Whoops. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do so I don't have to waste these primers, they're too hard to come by.

Another vote for TW25b.   Been using it for a couple years now, awesome stuff.

Probably do. I may be mistaken, but the last mark on the barrel [ / ] is indicative of an arsenal rebuild. It is not unrealistic to believe the barrel and potentially the receiver are from a reworked dragoon. I have a 1929 hex 91/30 that I got last summer. I was able to make out that the mag floorplate and bolt had been "force matched" during a rebuild. That said, it'll be one I keep, unless I can come into a very early contract mosin for a song. Edit. 300 sounds wayyy panicky. Maybe mosins will dry up eventually, but they still only have about 100-150$ value, depending on condition and cosmoline.

POOF. Oos. Thanks for the heads up, missed it.

Love the fire in the background. Looks like it's emanating from the hammer!

Check out Hiking Tennessee it's a Falcon Guide. ISBN 1560443944   It's a little out of date, printed in 96, but it's a good resource to be sure.   EDIT: if you can meet me on Friday, I'll let you borrow my copy.   EDIT2: if you're interested in a -really- neat test of your compass/pacing skills, there is also the compass course at Shiloh, I've got GPS info for the orienteering course as well. It's overland - almost no trails to follow though, and definitely not "easy". Also, not a backcountry or campout spot. Start early, eat lunch at halfway, end at dusk. Great fun though.

Best recommendation I can give is to just spend more time sharpening. Sure, you could pay someone, but with practice you'll be better off.   I started sharpening knives in cub scouts, then as a boy scout, and finally now as an avid camper and scouter. I'll take out a stone, sharpening block, or mousepad and sandpaper and work on knives while watching a show/movie. It keeps my knives super sharp, and has improved my skill.   Check out youtube, Turley Knives has some sharpening videos on his channel, one that I used to learn (and is now my favorite method) is this video on how to use wet/dry sandpaper and a spare mousepad.   EDIT: When a knife needs a bit of extra work, I wet down the sandpaper. The slurry that forms in the water speeds the process. Just go slow, it doesn't take much pressure at all.

Talk with your hands.   If you use up extra space by waving your arms about (not wildly, mind you; but be expressive) that same space won't be available for them to occupy.

I've been rocking Platypus bladders for a good long while. I prefer them over camelbaks - they don't seem to impart as much flavor into the water and dyring is easier because they hold open easier on their own.   I also used an nalgene "canteen" 48oz until I left it too close to a heat source and melted the cap threads. It's got a nalgene cap, so it works with my msr, but it's a nice lightweight flexible body that packs small once it's empty. These come in 32,48, and 96oz varieties. There are also some lid/hose kits for them if you want to turn 'em into bladders, they are kinda hard to drink out of at first; being all flexible and whatnot.

Unfortunately, bitcoin exchanges have their own myriad of problems.   It's been hacked. Not just once. Oh, and again.   That's enough to turn me off, at least for now. It's too young for me to trust it much.

http://allensrepositoryofstuff.com/   Made it click-able for ya.

Good watch. Pretty simple execution, could definitely come in  handy. I know there have been times I didn't have a can opener so I had to improvise, never came up with such an easy solution either. (Generally came up with a cut finger from prying too hard).   EDIT: also for the wine bottle opening:   Cavitation. Same principle will blow the bottom out of the bottle if you leave a space in the top.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77gWkl0ZUC8   and an XKCD comic that would explain whats happening, with an amusing premise attached   http://what-if.xkcd.com/6/

It's faint, but legible.There is a comma used after State. Look for "Article the Fourth"   http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Bill_of_Rights_Pg1of1_AC.jpg

+1 for the CMMG kit organization. Makes assembly crazy easy.   I didn't like the coil spring pins they use in place of the split spring pin I'm used to. Ended up bending one, and having a hell of a time removing it. Finally went down to my hardware store, bought one the right diameter and ground it to length before installing.   The CMMG trigger was better stock than the PSA trigger.   I really like my Armalite lower kits, the plastic boxes they come in are quite useful after the build. I've got one filled with Vaseline coated cotton balls and a flint and steel. The other is holding random springs from various sources.

Black Hills leather J Frame front pocket holster for my 442.   http://www.bhlstore.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=947

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwIBJQo4qeA"]Here's a video on how to install a samson evolution rail on uppers with both fixed and removable flash suppressors[/url]. Not sure if that would work for whatever option you're looking to go with, but I'd think the process should be able to translate to other rails. Cutting the weld/driving out the pin is a lot of work, with a lot of potential for collateral damage to the flash hider/barrel.

I don't carry full size or compact around my nephews. Only my airweight. I'm very confident in it, and am more accurate with it than with my pistols. It goes in a Black Hills leather j frame pocket holster, and then into my pocket and doesn't come out. I carry it in jeans, loose and straight fit (nothing tight though), cargos, khakis, slacks and a suit. It conceals very well. Granted, it owns the pocket, nothing else goes in with it. The leather has been tough on the finish of the gun, But only the high spots and sharp corners show much wear. Also, I clean and oil the gun regularly to prevent rust, as pockets carry has been picking up moisture and lint for me, no matter the season. In my other pocket I've got a knife and a speed strip with 6 extra rounds, as well as a pen. Back pockets get my wallet, knife and cell phone. A lot to carry, but it can be pared down easily. I don't particularly like things in my pockets, but as the day goes by, you get used to it being there. Never able to forget it's there, but it becomes less of an aggravation. EDIT: Nephews are 1 and 3, and we run/climb/wrestle, etc,. and it's never fallen out. I do take care to keep them from bumping into the pocket though, as it's a big peice of metal. But that's no different from keeping them from running into a bookcase/coffee table or what have you.

Quick search didn't find if it had been posted, but for ammo I use [url="http://www.ammoengine.com"]www.ammoengine.com[/url] from time to time. Doesn't calculate shipping, though. Also, some of the best deals on ammo I've found were through [url="http://www.sgammo.com"]www.sgammo.com[/url] Found some solid deals on firearms at [url="http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com"]www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com[/url], I bought my smith 442 through them and had it the next week (bought on Thursday, arrived Tuesday following week) It can be hard to tell if something is in stock. Have to click on an item you're interested in to actually know if they have it - and "temporarily out of stock" sometimes never changes.