‘Finest health-care system in the world’ a recipe for financial ruin
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:19
To the Editor:
My husband went to urgent care two weeks ago last Saturday. He was having trouble breathing (he has COPD that he was already being treated for), but he didn't let on to me how serious his condition was. I could tell on the way in the car this was not going to turn out well. He was taken by squad from Holzer Clinic to O'Bleness emergency. After O'Bleness worked on him for nearly five hours, he was med-flighted to the ICU at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, where he had a heart cath and a stent put in. Before that day, a heart problem was not suspected. Yet that day a change in his EKG detected a problem. Turns out he had a left artery leaving his heart that was 95 percent blocked.
Snow removal a good example of government’s positive role
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:18
To the Editor:
Now that we seem to have survived a more than usual snowy February here in our southeast Ohio community, belatedly I wish to thank all those good state, county, city, university, and perhaps some private road, street, sidewalk and parking-lot clearers who enabled us to continue functioning during and after Mother Nature’s recent beautiful white artistry.
8 Things about the Tea Party Movement most people don’t know
Written by Chris Littleton
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:16
1. What is a Tea Party?
A group of people who come together, just like the original Boston Tea Party, to protest problems in government.
In the winter/spring of 2009, people held rallies or “tea parties” throughout the United States. Organizations were formed to host these rallies and have continued to evolve ever since.
If you point a gun at someone and then pull trigger, it’s murder
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:13
To the Editor:
When a person gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle intoxicated, wrecks the vehicle and kills someone, should this be murder? Was there an intent to kill someone?
This person, being intoxicated, more than likely had a license, which means he should know how to operate a motor vehicle. Being intoxicated, he should know not to get behind the wheel. Is this still murder? Of course. Should he go to prison? Yes.
Sorry, Athens, about that high-speed driving around town
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:11
To the Editor:
My friend Jet and I do apologize to the public and police. I think many people have seen my black Nissan GT-R and Jet’s silver one driving around Athens with a fast speed, and many people have complained about this. I use the radar detector to avoid speeding tickets and race on the highway. We are too young, and we didn't realize how serious our behaviors were. Now, we know we were breaking the law and causing many people to be upset. We are here to apologize to everyone, and hope people who have fast cars drive slowly and legally. Athens is a quiet area, and we feel so sorry that our speed and noise break the calm. We guarantee that we will drive normally and legally.
Zack Space does some dizzying flip-flops on greenhouse gasses
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:10
To the Editor:
The workers in the 18th District are getting dizzy from the swirling winds of Congressman Space. Last year, Space voted for cap and trade, which would regulate greenhouse gases and control every aspect of our lives. The Congressional Budget Office reported that this bill would cause significant job loss in many industries including coal mining, transportation, oil production and construction. Space denied this report and claimed that jobs would not be lost. Therefore, Space voted for it.
Two-part ‘Editor’s Notes’ – sex & violence and more tea
Written by Terry Smith
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:07
This edition of “Editor’s Notes” is a two-parter — first half about sex and violence (oh boy!), and the second, um, yep, more on the tea parties.
Gore = bad / Skin = good
Channel-surfing Sunday night, I stumbled upon a horror movie on the SyFy Network. The 2008 movie “Midnight Meat Train” stars Bradley Cooper, the actor who recently got a big break in “The Hangover,” so I decided to give it a few minutes of my attention.
Watch out, University Estates, you’re in for a load of trouble
Thursday, 11 March 2010 03:05
To the Editor:
I can sympathize with the residents of University Estates about their street issue.
I own three parcels of land on Columbus Road. Fifteen years ago I built a building on the access road that now leads to New to You, Abbey Carpet & Tile, Deddens Professional building, one vacant lot, and an accounting firm. I too inquired about city services for this road only to find out it was never adopted into the city. I was told by then city street director Roger Bail that it would never be adopted by the city as it was not up to city standards.
Slamming struggling citizens doesn’t reflect well on slammer
Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:44
To the Editor:
Several people talked to me about my letter in this op-ed section last month, claiming my description of middle class’s woes as either whining or just out of touch. Four dollar milk, the cost of college, and paycheck-to-paycheck living seem to be off the radar of a few of our fellow Americans. It was even suggested that if people are stupid enough to work a low-wage job or be given a pink-slip, than they deserve to suffer. I must unabashedly admit I do not agree with these perspectives. I challenge everyone holding the above opinions to live the lives of a single person who has these struggles from day to day. Then we will talk.
There may be more to the Tea Party movement than one suspects
Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:41
To the Editor:
Regarding Terry Smith’s op-ed of Feb 25 — “OK, Maybe These Tea Partiers/Liberty Bells Are Different”: In totalitarian countries, signs advocating the hanging, offing, gelding, etc., of politicians — or calling them sexual deviants or traitors — at rallies or on street corners or even in private letters are typically banned.
Ironically, First Amendment rights are often attacked in the media. The mostly middle-aged or senior Libertarian/Independents who make up the tea-party movement (often called tea-baggers — a form of sexual deviance — by Bill Maher, Ed Shultz and other media pundits) are expressing “self-indulgent” anger.
Editor misstated character & background of Tea Parties
Written by Jack Lundberg
Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:37
I respond to Terry Smith’s op-ed (Athens NEWS, Feb. 25), wherein he mistakenly attributes a number of distasteful behaviors and associations to members of the Tea Party. It is abundantly clear he has not attended even a single Tea Party event but rather, seems to have relied entirely upon “reporting” of these events by traditional (read: mainstream) media outlets to form his opinions and views.
Threatened with severe cuts, the OU Press must be preserved
Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:32
To the Editor:
I hear that contemplated budget cuts may actually threaten the very existence of the Ohio University Press. This is simply unthinkable! While I speak from a slight angle of bias, having many years ago served on the Board of the Press and having published several books with them, I do not now have a book contract with the Press nor am I connected with it in any other way.
Letter contained misinformation about Athens Public Access 23
Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:30
To the Editor:
In response to a letter in the March 4 edition of The Athens NEWS, I would like to take a moment to correct some misinformation. The letter stated, “All the folks that were producing shows that you do not like, well, they do not seem to be encouraged to produce anymore.” I say this is a misleading statement that was cast into our community. All community members are encouraged to produce local television programs.
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