Motorized vehicles should have a park

I think making a park for motorized vehicles such as pocket bikes is a good idea. It could have cement and grass areas to ride on. They can set rules regarding safety equipment, speed limits, no racing, age limits, maybe even charge riders to ride, or have memberships and pay by the month to keep the place clean.

If you think about it, it would benefit rather then worsen things, because it would be a safe, clean and legal place for people to ride motorized vehicles. There would be no cars and it would keep kids from riding on the street. The place could be fenced in so there could only be one way in and one way out. The park could have security guards to keep an eye on the place.

Best wishes for Iraq, U.S. in the new year

Here is my wish list for Iraq in 2005:

Most Iraq Humvees have armor plating

Ed Sullam's letter ("U.S. soldiers deserve the best equipment," Dec. 27) illustrates the error one can make when he relies on bits and pieces of news (sound bites). A little research would have revealed that of the 19,000 Humvees in Iraq, 15,000 already have armor plating. The remaining 4,000 are not designed for patrol duty and hence do not need that heavy plating.

The soldier who posed the armor plating question to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was not reading a question he wrote himself but rather a question composed by a reporter. Having caught Rumsfeld off guard with such an unnecessary question, that reporter later said, "I just had one of my best days as a journalist today."

Regents scared off other forward-thinkers

Regarding "Board navigates outcry over firing of Dobelle" ("10 who made a difference," Star-Bulletin, Dec. 26): Sadly, this issue will forever taint the political and management process of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. There are still too many half-stories about what went on that caused an abrupt, knee-jerk decision by the regents. The professional relationship between Evan Dobelle and the regents leaves an impression of a canoe without a rudder from the beginning.

The regents have demonstrated their command over the state's university system, but to the detriment of future forward-thinking academic stewards and presidential candidates. This is not good for a university system already working smartly to take care of its people here at home, as well as reaching across the miles halfway to the mainland and beyond.

Lasting impressions and confidence are extremely important. Fix it!

Keep dogs inside on New Year's Eve

The Hawaii Dog Foundation (www.hawaiidogfoundation.org) wants to wish everyone in the state a very happy and safe new year. While we are enjoying our fireworks, it is our hope that we all consider the effects they have on the dogs in Hawaii. Each year dozens of dogs are reported missing on New Year's Day. The explosive sounds of fireworks are magnified many times over for our canine buddies. Frightened dogs run for their lives to escape.

Please make sure your dogs are safe and sound inside your homes. If possible, keep them in cool areas where the fireworks will be out of their hearing. An ounce of prevention will save a lot of heartache. Mahalo and Happy New Year!