One of the reasons I became a blogger is I got tired of my local paper, The Atlanta Urinal and Constipation not publishing my letters to the editor. I mean, not a day goes by that there is not something in the paper that sets me off. (Gwen, I really struggled over this last sentence. Is it grammatically correct or not? Double negative...so every day something lights my fuse ) Usually, it is a letter to the editor, an editorial, an op-ed column, or a syndicated column. Molly Ivins doesn't count as I never take her seriously, anyway.
So we've established that the person at the AJC (it should really be AUC) who screens the letters is unable to recognize my superior intelligence and analytical skills, therefore, I blog. I think, therefore I blog. Cogito Ergo Blogo.
Quick, conjugate to blog. blogo...I blog; blogas...you blog; blogat...he/she/it blogs; blogamus..we blog; blogatis...you (plural) blog: blogant...they blog. Hey that's pretty good. I took Latin over 40 years ago. Any one want to correct me, you know where to reach me.
It's off to Reader Opinions from the Tuesday AJC. This letter really caught my eye U.S. should follow Italy's lead on transportation by Neville Anderson of Snellville.
Neville, I've been to Italy. I love Italy. I'm German and English, but I think somewhere way back when, some Roman Centurion had his way with one of my German ancestors. Let me tell you, when it comes to Italy, we don't want to be following them on anything, especially transportation. Do you know that Fiat stands for fix it again Tony? But, let's read some of his letter.
I recently returned from a trip to Italy and noticed several significant cultural differences from the United States.
They spoke Italian and used their hands a lot.
The Italians walked more, drove smaller vehicles, used more public transportation, rode mopeds to work, rode bikes to work and had work/shopping/social communities established around their homes. I was particularly impressed with the public transportation and especially the train system between Rome, Milan, Venice, and Florence.
Neville, do you know why they drive mopeds and small vehicles? Two reasons: Gas costs $4 a gallon and there's no place to park. I have never seen more creative parking than in Rome. 'Luigi, looka there, there'sa two feet by thata tree. We canna squeeza our Cinquecento inna there. Iffa not, we canna surely lifta the backa da car onna the sidewalk.' Look, they did it! And I love the bus system in Rome! You buy this ticket at a magazine kiosk and when you get on the bus you're supposed to put it in a machine and cancel it. Watch the Italians. They don't. So I don't either. There's a big sign that says failure to cancel the ticket will result in a 20,000 Lire fine. But since I don't read Italian, and I'm a dumb American, what can I do but when in Rome.... 'Uh, you talking to me? Uh, uh, non capisco, uh, uh, io sono,uh, uh, Americano', (dammit why don't they speak English?) while rapidly paging thru the Italian phrase book. I was in Rome for over a week, rode the buses the whole time on the same ticket and never got caught. What a country! And Neville is right about the trains. The Italian train system is really great.
I am not a transportation expert, but I believe some simple solutions to our traffic problems are right before us. Employers could promote and give incentives for telecommuting. Motorists should try driving smaller vehicles or even scooters or other more fuel-efficient vehicles and live closer to work.
What do you want to bet that Neville owns an SUV? Most of the people who are big advocates of mass transit want transit for the masses not themselves.
We need to continue to plan smart communities built with entertainment, work, shopping, and dining options as part of the master plan. And we should develop more public transportation.
Yeah get those masses on busses and stuff so the highways are free for me.
In Wednesday's AJC they had a real 'man bites dog' editorial. It was titled Atlanta should roll back taxes. Posted without comment as I am totally speechless (or wordless as the case may be)!
In the same issue they had the usual obligatory anti-Israel letter sent in by Husam Jamjoum. Here is the last paragraph:
I have to agree with Zak that "unclean hands" are not entitled to relief, but a country built with the purpose of subjecting its inhabitants to a brutal occupation simply because they do not share the same religion is a country that is not entitled to peace and security.
I'm sorry, I'm trying to understand which country Husam is talking about. In Israel, Arabs have full rights of citizenship. They can vote and eveything. Is there another Arab country where Arabs can vote? I'm waiting. No hands? C'mon, there's gotta be one. In Israel, Muslims can practice their religion. Name me one Arab country outside of Egypt and Jordan where Jews (or Christians) can practice their religion. I'm waiting. Still waiting. C'mon, Husam, just name me one.
I thought the AJC Reader Opinion page had to be just about the worst in the country right behind the San Francisco Chronicle. They must have some really funny stuff in the water in the Bay Area. But, my home town newspaper, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, has to have published one of the most rediculous letters I have ever read in my entire life. I got this off the site of the Midwest Conservative Journal. This site is run by Christopher Johnson. He lives in Webster Groves, where the grouchy old cripple grew up and spent his formative years. Maybe if he follows links back, he'll read some of my stuff and send some traffic my way. Here is the letter:
Modern American business has given us two abuses that cry out for relief. The first is miniprint. Miniprint is routinely used for contest rules, warranties, disclaimers and other contractual provisions. The miniprint is so small and the lines so close together that even a person with 20/20 vision finds it impossible to read. I have tried using a magnifying glass, but reading and understanding miniprint is still a daunting task.
The other abuse is rapidspeak following commercial announcements
on radio. After a glowing description of the seller's product or
service, incomprehensible rapidspeak is used to cover the limitations,
restrictions and warnings that the seller really does not want the
listener to hear much less understand. Often the rapidspeak is so fast
that all the listener hears is incomprehensible noise.
I am not one who thinks that every problem can or should be solved
by governmental intervention. However, miniprint and rapidspeak
provide a fertile field for remedial legislation at the federal level.
Ralph K. Soebbing
Brentwood
What can I possibly say? I'm with you all the way Ralph. And I'll tell you what else we need to fix while we're at it. Those darn pesky telemarketers are starting to leave messages on my answering machine at home. Now there's a fertile field for remedial legislation at the federal level. And while we're at it, let's do something about those booger eatin' moh-rons on their cellphones in front of me in the grocery store checkout line. And how about late at night when the TV commercials are lots louder than the regular programs. I want a federal law about that also.
And for sure I want some remedial federal legislation that requires everyone to read my blogs. Let's get little Dickie Gephardt (I think Brentwood is in his district) and little Tommy Daschle right on this. Chop! Chop! Hop to it boys!
And put in the legislation that I want to get paid.
Posted by denny at June 6, 2002 09:16 PM