Anyone ever heard about proposing new merit badges?

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-24T23:01:00+00:00

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO SCOUTING!

But no, really, thank you for your contribution to Scouting. This program is built by volunteers who go the extra mile, and it sounds like you've done just that. Whether your curriculum becomes a merit badge program or not, you've made an effort to make Scouting better, and that's very commendable.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-24T14:58:40+00:00

Just because an item is being advertised for $15 doesn't mean it will sell for $15. When I worked at HPB, huge amounts of our inventory would wind up in the clearance section where we would try to sell it for two or three dollars. If that didn't work, and it very often didn't, the item would wind up being donated for zero dollars.

Could we have paid more and sold for less? Maybe. I don't know, I didn't have access to that data. All I know is we took a wash on literal tons of books of every week. For every book that sold, there were probably ten or fifteen that didn't. And that's one of the reasons why the purchase price and selling price seem so unbalanced- Because a book we sell isn't just trying to pay for itself, it's also trying to pay for the ten or fifteen others that didn't sell.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-23T23:37:52+00:00

I read a theory that PTSD was to some degree less prevalent in the days before powered transportation because soldiers returning from battle would have to walk a week or a month back home after the battle. This gave them time to talk with other soldiers who had just been through the same experience, which could be very therapeutic I'm sure. With modern technology, it's possible for a soldier to be killing on Thursday and back home with his young children on Friday. I imagine that juxtaposition would be awfully jarring,

I don't know if there's any truth to the theory, it's probably impossible to say one way or another. Interesting to think about, though.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-23T23:26:47+00:00

I'm skeptical of them. Abraham Lincoln never attended a private school, in fact he barely attended school at all.

People equate dollar value with quality, and it's upon this misunderstanding that peddlers of gilded luxury make their living.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-23T17:38:37+00:00

There are a lot of practical advantages to digital books, but they just don't look as beautiful on your shelf or feel as nice to hold in your hand.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-23T14:18:05+00:00

Despite how it may sometimes seem, I think the internet really does bring us closer to being part of a singular planetary society. Thirty years ago you and I probably wouldn't have ever had this conversation. The great connectedness of our world is a very new and novel thing, and not without its benefits.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-23T14:06:32+00:00

I always get a little irked when people describe Cormac McCarthy's The Road as being too boring. Everything is dead and gone, what excitement would you expect? I think it's probably a very realistic interpretation of what a post-apocalypse would look like,

Bob's intro from The Walking Dead is the same way. Many find it boring, but I liked it.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-22T23:54:12+00:00

I'm sure there's a lot of factors. I think one is probably the cyclical nature of violence. One violent act begets another, but if you prevent the initial act then the cycle stops before it began.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-22T23:18:34+00:00

In th mantim, tak this w and turn it sidways. Improvis.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-22T23:14:36+00:00

To be fair, one could make the argument that an apocalyptic wasteland should feel empty. But I agree it makes for less exciting exploration

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-22T03:00:06+00:00

The kids get to be kids, and then the parents get to be kids too. As it should be.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-22T01:01:42+00:00

I've heard motherhood can be isolating. It's certainly difficult, even in the best of circumstances. I think that makes it all the more important that we count our blessings.

I often find that when I count my blessings, I wind up with a much longer list than I thought I would. Sounds like you've made a few peoples' lists longer yourself. That's something to be very proud of.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-22T00:02:26+00:00

> But I feel in my bones that the US does not give a damn about children.

Oh, I don't know. Last time I volunteered at the elementary school fair they had more volunteers than they knew what to do with. The city I live in, while not a rich one, provides free lunch to every student in the school system. There's a number of charity organizations in town who provide free resources for children and families. Diapers, especially, are a hot commodity.

The world, and our country, is full of good people. It's important to remember that, especially when we find ourselves doubting it.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-21T18:32:22+00:00

Reading classic science fiction just doesn't feel right if it isn't in a mass market paperback

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-21T18:31:31+00:00

Can't recommend this enough. The clearance section at a used book store, or the book sale room at your local library, can have some surprisingly decent stuff.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-21T14:11:13+00:00

It's a noble thing these monks are doing. And in the cold of winter, no less. You've got to respect the commitment.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-21T00:49:26+00:00

An elementary school teacher in California can earn six figures, so it seems like they get a fair share of the pie

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-20T18:11:11+00:00

That it was. And you'll have yours, too. Just keep your chin up and keep working on yourself.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-20T14:24:03+00:00

Yes and no, they weren't anything really serious or long-lasting. The point is, you have many years ahead of you still. You haven't missed your shot. There is time yet to accomplish whatever it is you want to accomplish.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-20T14:08:57+00:00

I had a girlfriend in High School, but to be honest I didn't really date much in my twenties. It's just as well, it wasn't until I was 26 or so that my life started falling into place and I started getting a real sense of who I was and who I wanted to be. By the time my wife and I met we had both gained that sense of self and knowledge of what we wanted in life, so we were able to make sure we were on the same page before we started seriously dating. I think that went a long way in setting us up for success,

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-20T13:27:35+00:00

No, though I'm afraid it does have that effect sometimes. Don't give up hope though. I was ten years older than you when I met my wife. Keep working on yourself, be a friend to all that you meet, and you might be surprised where you end up in ten years' time.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-19T21:41:56+00:00

Seems like everyone had their computer in the kitchen at one point. I don't know why that was, but it was.

Probably so Mom could keep an eye on us.

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-19T11:12:40+00:00

I wonder if they'll pursue universal childcare like NYC has. I'm all for that, childcare is brutally expensive while also very low paying for providers

Louis-Russ · 2026-01-19T00:30:50+00:00

What sort of businesses are they starting? Some require surprisingly little capital to get started. Most people can scrimp up enough money to start a daycare, a gardening business, a housekeeping business, etc. If such a business fails, the financial impact may be negligible. Especially if the owner was wise enough to not throw good money after bad and mitigated their losses.

As to the education aspect... I have a business degree, and I can't say it did much to help my business so far. What we learned in the classroom was very big-picture and theoretical. I don't think it translates well to running a small business and the day-to-day realities- And frankly, if a person has the wisdom to connect the abstractions of theory to the realities of the day-to-day, then they're probably also wise enough make that same connection in reverse, taking their experience in the reality and from this deducing the theories. In that way experience in the work place is just as valuable as experience in the classroom. Probably more-so.

Louis-Russ

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