House Update and Scary Internet Stuff
First, scary 'tube stuff:
This article from MPR makes me a bit nervous. Basically, the crime lab in St Paul is not practicing good science.
This article about the BSA makes me really angry. It's not exactly a surprise, but that doesn't make it any less aggravating. They are sticking with "don't ask, don't tell." But what kind of message is that sending, really, to boys who are growing up in families with openly homosexual members? Sure, they say "Scouting believes same-sex attraction should be introduced and discussed outside of its program with parents, caregivers, or spiritual advisers, at the appropriate time and in the right setting. The vast majority of parents we serve value this right and do not sign their children up for Scouting for it to introduce or discuss, in any way, these topics." But what about publicly excluding homosexuals? Doesn't that introduce the topic? Doesn't that exclude people--good people--who want to contribute to the organization but don't want to have to lie about who they are in order to do so? It's not that I disagree with their quote here, it's that their logic is flawed.
House update: we had our inspection yesterday. It went okay. We're looking at some major financial outlays over the next 5 years, but nothing so expensive that we'd have to do something crazy like take out another loan or put it on credit. There is a foundation problem which will be cheaper to fix than we were assuming and a new roof will be needed over the next 3-5 years. Otherwise? Pretty minor stuff! In a house that age, that's a really good thing! Now to wait for the appraisal and closing....
This article from MPR makes me a bit nervous. Basically, the crime lab in St Paul is not practicing good science.
This article about the BSA makes me really angry. It's not exactly a surprise, but that doesn't make it any less aggravating. They are sticking with "don't ask, don't tell." But what kind of message is that sending, really, to boys who are growing up in families with openly homosexual members? Sure, they say "Scouting believes same-sex attraction should be introduced and discussed outside of its program with parents, caregivers, or spiritual advisers, at the appropriate time and in the right setting. The vast majority of parents we serve value this right and do not sign their children up for Scouting for it to introduce or discuss, in any way, these topics." But what about publicly excluding homosexuals? Doesn't that introduce the topic? Doesn't that exclude people--good people--who want to contribute to the organization but don't want to have to lie about who they are in order to do so? It's not that I disagree with their quote here, it's that their logic is flawed.
House update: we had our inspection yesterday. It went okay. We're looking at some major financial outlays over the next 5 years, but nothing so expensive that we'd have to do something crazy like take out another loan or put it on credit. There is a foundation problem which will be cheaper to fix than we were assuming and a new roof will be needed over the next 3-5 years. Otherwise? Pretty minor stuff! In a house that age, that's a really good thing! Now to wait for the appraisal and closing....