TWE

The Boy Scouts is getting innovative in an attempt to bolster membership. They even have co-ed groups. Link [http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-sscoutsjul26,0,6997960.story?coll=sfla-news-front] . Excerpt: > Worried by a national membership drop of about 6 percent from 2000 to 2004, to roughly 3.

> Despite a sprinkle of rain and trees in full Nordic summer bloom, the St. Nicks from 10 countries were in a yuletide spirit Monday as they kicked off a three-day convention in Denmark, including a Santa parade and a chimney-climbing competition. > To the strains of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed

We find John Stewart too smug for pleasant viewing, but many people we respect enjoy him. Stewart asked a legitimate question a few days ago, according to this post by Thomas DiLorenzo at the Lew Rockwell Blog: > I caught a few minutes of "The Daily Show" with

> Bill Gates made a speech earlier this week where he said that he was surprised that more people aren't becoming computer programmers. Maybe that's because they don't want to move to India.

Just a reminder: The TDE Kiosk is up. It is meant to be the electronic equivalent of those big concrete pillars you find on college campuses, where people post messages about frat parties, apartments for rent, stereos for sale, whatever. We encourage commentary about our posts, new topics, advertisements for

We find this fascinating: > Suicide is the number one cause of death among people aged 20 to 35 in China, where an estimated quarter of a million people a year -- or 685 a day -- take their lives, state media said Monday. > Each year an additional 2.

"She Bangs" singer Ricky Martin has promised Arab youths that he will defend them in America: > "I promise I will become a spokesperson, if you allow me to, a spokesperson on your behalf. I will defend you and try to get rid of any stereotypes,"

A dermatologist says it looks like an outbreak of cold sores, but we're fascinated by the mere fact that there is a Scientology purification procedure. Can they purify a person after multiple partners? Maybe that's why Scientology does so well with the Hollywood set. > Celebrity

We like the trend in thinking, but we're not sure castration solves much. The possibility of no parole is probably the most effective: > Some members of the Alabama House say that violent sex offenders who prey on children should be forced to undergo surgical castration to ensure