I am getting so tired of having to wash my hands and furniture every time after I read the newspaper. Has anybody tried to solve this problem? Newspaper ink rub-off
a problem still unsolvedYes, they have, and the rub-off problem is not as bad as a few years ago, said Bill Bogert, vice president of production for the Hawaii Newspaper Agency, which prints the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Advertiser.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get away from inky fingers under the current printing process used by the HNA.
The HNA's letterpress process "is not perfected to the point where we get no rub at all," Bogert said. "The black is a little worse than the colors and it does not ever dry. It dries by absorption into the paper. ... Nobody has developed an ink, or the technology doesn't exist, to give a totally rub-free ink, except with different types of printing processes."
But there are ways to mitigate the problem. The ink HNA uses is soy-based, rather than petroleum-based, producing less "rub off," Bogert said. "We pay a premium for this."
However, plans are to change the printing process within five years. Until then, Bogert said, "We work with the ink companies, who are always developing formulations and improving on it, but I don't see the day where we have a totally rub-free ink."
Several weeks ago, I read where one guy was almost hit by a car in the 1200 block of Alewa Drive because of palm trees planted in the unimproved sidewalk. The answer was that the owner had gotten a variance to plant them. Well, I almost hit someone at the same place because someone was walking on the road. I was lucky. What if I hit that person!
The full answer was that although a variance had been granted, inspectors were checking to see what was allowed.
It turns out that for 1246 and 1248 Alewa Drive, a "surface encroachment variance" was issued for only two trees, said William Deering, chief of the city Building Department's housing code section. A citation was issued to the owner of those two properties.
Inspectors also found a newly planted tree at 1252 Alewa Drive. No variance was issued for that tree, Deering said, so the owner was cited.
In front of 45-1141 Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe, there is a utility pole, No. 79, which has a puka along the pole. It's been over a year in this hazardous condition. Whoever's in charge, can't they cover it permanently? Call GTE Hawaiian Telephone at 483-8087 if it's a telephone pole or 548-7961 if it belongs to Hawaiian Electric. If it turns out to be the city's, either utility company will pass on the complaint.
Re the complaint about a neighbor's extra bright lights in the Dec. 2 column, here's a tip from a reader: "We have a similar problem with our neighbor, who has two 500-watt lights trained on his garden that shine directly into our eyes. We are installing adjustable plantation shutters (louvers). It's not a perfect solution, but allows ventilation and can block off much of the light." Too bright lights
Kokua Line had a rash of complaints this time last year about sophisticated panhandlers at work. This must be the season because the complaints are again starting to come in. They're basically the same: People are approached by a man saying he's an assistant coach with some high school or college/UH team and needs $7-$20 for gas/a gas can, etc. He promises to return the money/double the money and gives a bogus name and phone number. There are variations, including scammers saying they're related to someone well known who will vouch for their character. One guy also promised UH football tickets. Beware panhandlers
