Rail isn't as ugly as all those overhead wires

People are calling the raised rail system photos "ugly"? Can't they even see the wires and electric poles in those photos?

The design of the support structures for the raised rail is a lot better looking than the creosoted poles and the masses of overhead wire, which is the same technology from the early 1900s and is as ugly as ugly gets.

Let's get rid of the existing overhead ugly before screeching about something that doesn't even yet exist.

School should accept more poor children

I don't know how the courts will rule on the admission policies of Kamehameha Schools, but one thing is clear: Those policies are not the wishes of Princess Pauahi, as expressed in her will. She clearly stated that the school should exist for orphans and children of indigent circumstances, with a preference for those of Hawaiian ancestry. Yet the vast majority of the students attending there are neither orphans nor poor. There has been some improvement in the past few years (due largely to scandals and a new public scrutiny), but even now the children whose lives she wanted to change are much less likely to be admitted than their more affluent peers.

The sad thing is that there are thousands of Hawaiian children living in poverty who will not be helped by her generous legacy, so that those who are well off can attend. I appreciate that they do love the school, but that is clearly not the school she wanted to create.

Crack down on those who disturb the peace

Regarding the stressed-out and sore ears of the residents of Ewa Beach ("Rude noise-makers ruin Ewa Beach peace," "Letters," June 25), we on Aawa Drive feel your pain.

Aside from basic consideration of others, isn't "disturbing the peace" against the law? Does anyone recall the actions taken in the 1990s to limit the use of obnoxiously loud boomboxes?

And if they can check window tint during vehicle safety inspections, why not overly loud mufflers?

All kinds of things can be hidden in NWHI

I kept wondering why President Bush would actually follow up on President Clinton's strong initiatives to preserve and protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Star-Bulletin, June 15).

Conventional wisdom has it that he's pleasing environmentalists without offending developers, so it's a win-win situation. But that explanation doesn't wash with me. It's not enough.

Then a friend put it, "Isn't it amazing what low approval ratings can do for the environment!" She was getting warm. But still not enough. Then I figured it out.

Imagine 140,000 square miles in the middle of nowhere, closed off to all of those without "authorized access." I think that means anyone but Bill O'Reilly.

Sounds like an ideal spot for "extraordinary rendition." Why go to Egypt, Jordan and former Soviet countries (where somebody might see us!) to torture our prisoners?

How about "Guantanamo West"? Cuba's too accessible. Try getting to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Then try getting access to the "monument."

If a couple of Guantanamo West inmates decide to engage in "asymmetrical warfare" against the United States by committing suicide, no one will ever know!

When you scream in the NWHI, no one can hear you. Except for the boobies. And the boobies don't care.

Public broadcasting is casualty of Congress

Earlier this month, the House Appropriations Committee slashed funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by more than 17 percent, refused to fund the service for 2009 and eliminated funding to convert the service to digital TV.

Is it not unconscionable that we squander upward of $300 billion on a horrible war in Iraq while cutting the CPB budget to $400 million and eventually doing away with it altogether? PBS produces creative programs that benefit public education and provide opportunities for professional development. What benefits do we get from the destruction of war and its resulting casualties? None.

I trust PBS more than any other source for news and informative programming.

I don't trust those members of Congress who complain about indecency on television while they cut funding for noncommercial educational programming for both children and adults that the CPB provides.