Garage-sale signs soon become eyesores

Some people think mobile billboards are a problem, but how about the plentiful garage- and moving-sale signs? The signs should come down when the sale is over. Every Monday -- and sometimes throughout the week and the next week -- plenty of signs are still up. I find that inconsiderate and merely disrespectful to others.

The city should photograph these signs -- with date and time -- and cite these violators with littering. These people are not too smart, either. They let everybody know, via their signs, who they are.

Life takes its toll on men in their 80s

Sen. Daniel Akaka and I are in our mid-80s, both in good health, fortunate to be enjoying life as seniors. He is ready to assume the heavy responsibilities of his Senate office for another six years, ending when he will be nearly 90.

I am just plain jealous. He and I know that "good health" in our mid-80s and "good health" in our 50s and 60s are as different as day and night. Memory, stamina, response time and physical stability are not what they used to be. Eyes, ears and bladders are becoming problems. Ability to recover from illnesses has diminished, and surgical operations have taken their toll. And most importantly, we have difficulty in keeping abreast of developments in today's rapidly changing society.

Best of luck, Senator. I wish I had your confidence, but I don't.

Don't fear the Navy or its research

The article about the objections of University of Hawaii professors to the proposed University Affiliated Research Center does not tell me what their objections really are (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 13).

If the university can allow a coach to change the name of "our team" from the Rainbows to the Warriors and put them in uniforms that make them look like hostile invaders, we should not be shocked at some professors' silly, petty objections to UARC. Educated minds should be more open minded about what a UARC presence will do both in research and monetarily for the university and all residents of Hawaii.

The Navy presence in the Pacific is, and will continue to be, enormous as the biggest command of our military. The Department of Defense and those serving the Navy should not be feared. Their job is to protect us. Research is part of that protection. So, what is this fear? How can we let this huge resource with the future monetary gain and new job or careers for all be excluded? The school's motto, "Hawaiian Place of Learning," does not mean to exclude, or it would be like Kamehameha Schools and require blood lines for entrance!

Kona coffee should be more than 10 percent

Kona coffee should be clearly labeled 10 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent, 100 percent or whatever it is and priced accordingly (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 12). One bean out of 10 does not make coffee "Kona." That's deceitful.

Live-fire training is an urgent need

The Star-Bulletin errs in opining that live-fire training is "not an urgent need" ("Our opinion," Feb. 6). You might not be so quick to embrace so cavalier an attitude toward combat readiness if he or she -- like troops now forced to shoot blanks -- had a son or daughter headed into harm's way.

According to the editorial, the federal judge who decided to hobble essential training of combat troops also made a statement to the effect that "adequate training is undeniably critical" for soldiers to be prepared for war. What rank hypocrisy! As is the notion that concern for the environment is anything but a fig leaf to cloak brazen contempt for the well being of those serving on active duty to defend us in a hot war.

To its credit, the Star-Bulletin acknowledges this hypocrisy by noting that completion of the environmental statement is not likely to end the standoff with a group that remains resolutely hostile to the armed forces on any pretext, a group "which undoubtedly will challenge its conclusions."