Open Bar: We're going to build a bar, and make the drinks pay for it!

[POFP]

Yeah, I forgot about dues. Might just go with my backup plan. Dues appear to me to be fundamental to scams and corruption. Especially since they may not do much for you at all in the long run. A few business connections, maybe? And they teach you The Way™? I don't think it's possible to be a Sucker™ and better humanity.

I've met a few masons over the years and knew a couple pretty well. It's expensive horseshit. The short version is that members are supposed to help other members above non members (By which we mean corruption). If anyone cares I've got a few anecdotes but they're generally a rather dull lot.

The question is, how lenient are they? I mean, if they are starving for people and do have connections that are worthwhile, and ones that are not easily achievable by simpler methods of contact, then it might be worth it. It sounds like they might have potential. If I got a few friends into the Masons, could we actually get shit done in a way that benefits society AND the group (Mostly Society.)? Or do you have to give more as you're capable of giving more? Because if I can get a few friends to surpass the bare minimum when it comes to dues, and we can take advantage of the connections and inner community, then the potential for greatness increases more.

If the Masons aren't really what I'm looking for, do you have any suggestions for organizations that would be?

I want to build a network of individuals who are patriotic, selfless, and willing to get involved in poor communities (This is obviously not a Mason kinda thing). I want a network of individuals that is truly dedicated to the betterment of humans, as a whole, and not just for the benefit of those within the group. And most of all, I want them to be branching out in all directions. I want people in the field of engineering, science, NOT Politics, community services, anthropology, and business. Polymaths with various skills and interests.

Why does patriotism have to be a part of it? The rest sounds pretty good, but patriotism is pure unmitigated bullshit.

Is it that strange to want your organization partners to be attached to their country? To care for their country, and to do anything to defend their country? I'm not saying they should be willing to lie and cheat other communities and countries to put us on a pedestal. But I want them to be willing to defend their country within a reasonably moral fashion. Be willing to make improvements in their country where it is failing. If the country is missing a link, they should be willing to fill in that space and encourage others to do so as well.

This sentiment should also extend to those of other countries who are innocent. This organization should only start out as patriotic, and extend to humanism by its peak. It should not be limited by borders. It should not be limited by authority. It should only be limited by that which its members are willing to sacrifice from their own wealth and energy.

Yeah, I forgot about dues. Might just go with my backup plan. Dues appear to me to be fundamental to scams and corruption. Especially since they may not do much for you at all in the long run. A few business connections, maybe? And they teach you The Way™? I don't think it's possible to be a Sucker™ and better humanity.

I've met a few masons over the years and knew a couple pretty well. It's expensive horseshit. The short version is that members are supposed to help other members above non members (By which we mean corruption). If anyone cares I've got a few anecdotes but they're generally a rather dull lot.

The question is, how lenient are they? I mean, if they are starving for people and do have connections that are worthwhile(1), and ones that are not easily achievable by simpler methods of contact,(2) then it might be worth it. It sounds like they might have potential.(3) If I got a few friends into the Masons, could we actually get shit done in a way that benefits society AND the group (Mostly Society.)(4)?

1 - Depends vastly on the lodge and many/any open seats. You may meet some interesting people but it really just a dress up excuse with ceremonial leanings and food/drink. There's the charidee angle, but you could easily take the dues, eat and drink well for a year and throw some at a cause yourself so ... meh. The last dues bill I can remember was about 8K for the year(2008-ish?). No idea if this is normal, high, low, whatever. It did strike me as a remarkable sum to pay for membership to a club where you basically pray and chant a bit while wearing a pinny. I can sort that out for way less than 8 grand.

2 - People are people. You'd be surprised how easy people can be to contact if you actually try so ... meh.

3 - Personally, no. I'm not a big joining things guy though.

4 - You'll probably struggle to do this and there's better ways to spend money. If you're really into aprons though, go for it.

Fair enough. I'm reconsidering my interest in Masonry. It sounds like there will be too much time-wasting bullshit for how much money and time I'd be putting in.

[Suu]

I know a lot of Freemasons and Eastern Stars, and have been present at several semi-public Masonic events because our friends have been trying to pull us in for years. Dues are based on income, and they do not discriminate based on it. If you're looking for philanthropy, the Shriners are the charity wing so to speak, and they do A LOT. One of my Shriner friends is never home on the weekends, he's always at a hospital, or a fundraiser. They pound some serious pavement.

The only real requirement is that you believe in a supreme being. That can be Satan for all they care, as said Shriner buddy is a self-proclaimed Gnostic Satanist, but rules of the lodge typically state, very quickly, that you do NOT discuss religion and politics, as they are dividing factors.

With that said, if you have a Mason buddy, talk to them about it. There's a lot of various opinions out there. My husband doesn't want to get involved because it's very hard to deal with while active duty, and he's more interested in working with the American Legion or VFW. But as an Eagle Scout, he can skip a rank or 3.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

So, it's rude to comment on my childhood best friend's facebook wall that her brothers may be enormously tall manbeasts now, but I can still remember when they were little dickwads who peed on the sidewalk in front of girls for giggles, right?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

So, it's rude to comment on my childhood best friend's facebook wall that her brothers may be enormously tall manbeasts now, but I can still remember when they were little dickwads who peed on the sidewalk in front of girls for giggles, right?

I'd be OK with that, and I'm not very tolerant.

[POFP]

I know a lot of Freemasons and Eastern Stars, and have been present at several semi-public Masonic events because our friends have been trying to pull us in for years. Dues are based on income, and they do not discriminate based on it. If you're looking for philanthropy, the Shriners are the charity wing so to speak, and they do A LOT. One of my Shriner friends is never home on the weekends, he's always at a hospital, or a fundraiser. They pound some serious pavement.

The only real requirement is that you believe in a supreme being. That can be Satan for all they care, as said Shriner buddy is a self-proclaimed Gnostic Satanist, but rules of the lodge typically state, very quickly, that you do NOT discuss religion and politics, as they are dividing factors.

With that said, if you have a Mason buddy, talk to them about it. There's a lot of various opinions out there. My husband doesn't want to get involved because it's very hard to deal with while active duty, and he's more interested in working with the American Legion or VFW. But as an Eagle Scout, he can skip a rank or 3.

I don't have any Mason buddies. Or, at least, the one that I did have was a manipulative psycho and potential killer (Killer of cats, blamer of brother, mentioned in convo with Cain).

Shriners sounds interesting. I may want a connection to that at least. But I don't want the main focus to be the medical field or anything in particular, really. I would want my organization to separate its focus into many fields and specializations.

As I'm thinking about it, I might want to just network into other organizations to get shit done. Maybe I shouldn't make a separate organization, maybe I should create the network that connects the organizations. Unify organizations on principle, instead of being a separate entity...

Be the network. Be the catalyst. All the manpower is out there. Maybe it just needs directed... fueled...

So, it's rude to comment on my childhood best friend's facebook wall that her brothers may be enormously tall manbeasts now, but I can still remember when they were little dickwads who peed on the sidewalk in front of girls for giggles, right?

If they can't take something like that, how much of a childhood friend are they?

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

So, it's rude to comment on my childhood best friend's facebook wall that her brothers may be enormously tall manbeasts now, but I can still remember when they were little dickwads who peed on the sidewalk in front of girls for giggles, right?

If they can't take something like that, how much of a childhood friend are they?

Not a very good one. She ditched me in 5th grade for a girl with some fashion sense who didn't want to dig around in the dirt and we never really reconnected. I have no idea why we're facebook friends.

[POFP]

So, it's rude to comment on my childhood best friend's facebook wall that her brothers may be enormously tall manbeasts now, but I can still remember when they were little dickwads who peed on the sidewalk in front of girls for giggles, right?

If they can't take something like that, how much of a childhood friend are they?

Not a very good one. She ditched me in 5th grade for a girl with some fashion sense who didn't want to dig around in the dirt and we never really reconnected. I have no idea why we're facebook friends.

Oh, then you should definitely say that and similar things as you think of them. The further you can push the envelope, the better.

It may have been the 5th grade, but anyone who doesn't wanna play around in dirt is probably a terrible person.

[Suu]

I want to do something with those stupid fucking baby chalkboards that the fucking Facebook moms and over 21 fucking pregnant women I know insist on showing off to me ALL THE FUCKING TIME.

I get it, you're proud of your baby. It was cute the first 12 times I saw it. But I don't need one every day while you measure your infant's age in weeks until their 7 years old, for fuck's sake. I don't CARE if they're shitting on the potty yet. I don't CARE how many teeth they have, and I don't care that the next one you've already gotten pregnant with is the size of an avocado.

I think I'm going to get one, and do it for dinner. Or booze. Or TV show spoilers. Or shit I buy at a discount on Amazon.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Airport:  109
Kitt Peak:  92
Ajo valley:  119 goddamn degrees oh fuck this isn't even survivable

[Suu]

Airport:  109
Kitt Peak:  92
Ajo valley:  119 goddamn degrees oh fuck this isn't even survivable

I've decided there is something fundamentally fucking wrong with Arizona. Even the folks I met this weekend from Tucson who were in town for a party also agreed that there is something fucking wrong.

I was also warned that this is still spring for us on the coast.

[Don Coyote]

Airport:  109
Kitt Peak:  92
Ajo valley:  119 goddamn degrees oh fuck this isn't even survivable

I've decided there is something fundamentally fucking wrong with Arizona. Even the folks I met this weekend from Tucson who were in town for a party also agreed that there is something fucking wrong.

I was also warned that this is still spring for us on the coast.

Have you hit triple digits yet?

When I was deployed, there were several days where it hotter in my home town than where we were in Kuwait.

[Suu]

Airport:  109
Kitt Peak:  92
Ajo valley:  119 goddamn degrees oh fuck this isn't even survivable

I've decided there is something fundamentally fucking wrong with Arizona. Even the folks I met this weekend from Tucson who were in town for a party also agreed that there is something fucking wrong.

I was also warned that this is still spring for us on the coast.

Have you hit triple digits yet?

When I was deployed, there were several days where it hotter in my home town than where we were in Kuwait.

Yep. 2 weekends ago it was 104.  I was told that it's too early for it, and we shouldn't see the 100s until September. Which basically means San Diego is going to go up in smoke by August.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Airport:  109
Kitt Peak:  92
Ajo valley:  119 goddamn degrees oh fuck this isn't even survivable

I've decided there is something fundamentally fucking wrong with Arizona. Even the folks I met this weekend from Tucson who were in town for a party also agreed that there is something fucking wrong.

I was also warned that this is still spring for us on the coast.

Of course there's something wrong with Tucson.  That much is obvious just from the stains on the bus seats.

[Don Coyote]

Airport:  109
Kitt Peak:  92
Ajo valley:  119 goddamn degrees oh fuck this isn't even survivable

I've decided there is something fundamentally fucking wrong with Arizona. Even the folks I met this weekend from Tucson who were in town for a party also agreed that there is something fucking wrong.

I was also warned that this is still spring for us on the coast.

Have you hit triple digits yet?

When I was deployed, there were several days where it hotter in my home town than where we were in Kuwait.

Yep. 2 weekends ago it was 104.  I was told that it's too early for it, and we shouldn't see the 100s until September. Which basically means San Diego is going to go up in smoke by August.

Ugh.

[Trivial]

After being in the world of IT for awhile, I'm amazed that neither a natural disaster nor a particularly driven human haven't permanently f'd up several companies.

It might take lots of effort to say, steal the money, but absolutely no effort to just delete/lose the money.