Scout has been hearing a lot of people whining lately.

Scout doesn't like whining. Scout likes action. Action sounds so much sexier than whining.

And action gets things done, too.

But everywhere else Scout goes, Scout hears whining.

Scout was reading Tuesday's Daily Illini and saw more whining.

On the topic of possible FCC media deregulation: "It's corporate bull----. The small companies aren't going to win here," said Bob McChesney, a professor with the Institute for Communications Research.

And on Monday, Champaign County Clerk Mark Shelden sniped at a county board member, "He's renowned for giving half-truths. I wouldn't trust what he says." The board member was criticizing Shelden for how he has handled student voting in the past.

And then Scout had to listen to a girl on the bus last week whining about how her roommate only goes out occasionally.

But Scout understands that whining is part of being human. So Scout has an idea to turn whining into action.

Scout would like the readers to help Scout help them. Send Scout your whining and Scout will investigate, uncover and expose the ills or joys of the situation. Scout's contact info is:

SCOUTINGUI@hotmail.com

Scout is pretty good at scouting. Scout is actually going to school for that.

And Scout can help readers solve problems so they can stop whining. Or Scout will tell readers to suck it up and stop whining.

Either way Scout wants to stop whining.

For example, Scout's friend got a drinking ticket and was whining about how the state government thinks it's OK to take away driver's licenses to punish underage drinkers. That law has been on the books since Jan. 1.

Scout doesn't quite understand how being caught drinking under the age of 21 has anything to do with driving. Scout thinks bureaucrats and government glad-handers are just picking on young people.

Scout thinks that Scout's friend was wrong to have been caught imbibing alcohol against the law. But the possibility that Scout's friend could lose the ability to drive really angers Scout.

So Scout did some digging. And Scout found a small slap in the face of state government marching on young adults.

In Champaign, underage drinkers can pay by mail, which avoids an official conviction on the record, which means the city is not required to forward Scout's friend's identity to the Secretary of State's Office, which means that Jesse White can't abscond unfairly with Scout's friend's license.

Scout thought people should know about the inefficient government and loophole in Champaign law. While Scout doesn't like legal loopholes, Scout gets equally steamed about the state government being dumb.

Take that state government.

Alas, Scout wanted to get some reaction from the Secretary of State's office, but no one would return Scout's phone call.

So while that chapter is over, Scout would like the readers — just like Scout's friend — to give Scout questions, comments, concerns and stories.

Remember, SCOUTINGUI@hotmail.com. Whine to Scout, Scout will act and then whine less.