Too many phone books end up in the trash
In my mailbox Wednesday I received my 11th phone book. Between separate yellow pages books and white pages books, I have four sitting in yellow plastic bags in my garage, I have four in a white bag at my doorstep (in addition to the one received today) and two more actually at my phone. What an environmentally wasteful product. I will feel guilty, but I will toss them all the garbage. We have no use for them. We am not listed in any of the books, the friends we call are not listed but are stored in our personal files or phones.
If someone feels they have a need for a phone directory, it should be by request only. But are 11 phone tomes necessary or useful for a single-family residence?
M.H. Au
Honolulu
Players, community lack sportsmanship
I was shocked at some of the Kahuku football and community members' behavior concerning embattled Kahuku football coach Reggie Torres (
"Kahuku cancels football practice," Star-Bulletin, Oct. 5). Is this what a state championship gets you? More to the point, it seems Torres is trying to impart sportsmanship and some of life's bigger lessons on these young men.
One player said, "Reggie has a lot of rules, and players just want to have fun." Well, guess what? Life has a lot of rules and it's not always fun.
And sportsmanship? It never goes out of style. I'm reminded of what John Madden said about NFL Hall of Famer Earl Campbell when he would gracefully hand the ball to the official after a touchdown: "Acts like he's been there, like he's going there again."
Pat Kelly
Honolulu
Who are the unnamed community members?
As a longtime Red Raider fan and parent of former Kahuku High School football players, I am concerned about the football controversy at Kahuku. Who are these "community members"? It is time to name names. They know Coach Reggie Torres' name, so they can tell him what they don't like about what he is doing to the football team. I want their names so that I can tell them what I think THEY are doing to the football team.
Londa Chase
Laie
Don't let wealthy malihinis sway you
People of Maui and Kauai say they are worried about invasive species invading their islands. They need not worry anymore because invasive species are already there. They are settled in all the exclusive properties ranging from five to 100 acres. You can't stop progress. They will be coming because they can afford it. The sad thing about this is the locals who can not afford the taxes will suffer eventually and one day became homeless. Even without the ferry this will happen.
People of Hawaii, don't let these malihinis influence your way of thinking. These people are like the missionaries. They came to do good and they have done very well. You all know what I am talking about.
Lloyd Y. Yamasaki
Wahiawa
Tampa toll lanes move more cars quickly
I was disappointed to read your
Oct. 1 editorial that included references to our reversible express lane project that were completely inaccurate.
Your comment that "The Tampa tollway is open only during rush hour, receives little use and is costing more than was expected" paints a picture that is not supported by the facts.
The Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority's reversible express lanes project has just won the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association's Toll Excellence Award as the Best Toll Operations Project in the World for 2007. IBTTA recognized the project because it provides one of the world's best combinations of time savings, convenience, safety and reliability for the price.
As opposed to what you wrote, the lanes operate 24 hours a day and currently are running more than 30 percent above first-year projections for traffic and more than 50 percent above first-year projections for revenue.
Drivers do pay $1.50 toll for a trip on the express lanes, which is $.50 more per trip than was contemplated when the lanes were planned in 1999. However, the increased toll cost is directly related to the higher capital cost of the project, which was due entirely because of a construction accident that is now being litigated.
Martin Stone
Planning director
Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority
Bush has naive view of nation's health needs
In vainly attempting to defend his veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan, President Bush actually said, "No one goes without health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room."
That's about as ridiculous as anything else he's said to date.
Gene Bridges
Honolulu