Does Abercrombie really want to be gov?

Congressman Neil Abercrombie has all but announced that he wants to be our next governor. How curious.

With his seniority in a Democratic Congress and the presence of a “;local boy”; like Barack Obama in the White House, it would seem that Abercrombie would be able to make some major contributions to both our nation and our state in the coming years. But Abercrombie, who has been living away from Hawaii for years and has little, if any, experience as an administrator, now decides he wants to be governor of a state in real crisis. Go figure.

Prevention key to coqui frog problem

The majority of Big Island residents have made clear that they are unhappy with coqui frog noise. It is therefore our responsibility on Oahu to prevent them from establishing here. Oahu previously had a naturalized population of more than 125 calling frogs in Wahiawa, but with adequate funding and interagency cooperation, that infestation has been eradicated from the area. Coqui frogs do arrive on Oahu quite frequently, but with the public's help in reporting coqui frogs to the pest hotline (643-PEST or 643-7378), they have been caught before they could become established.

Prevention and rapid response to small infestations is the most cost-effective way to deal with coqui and that is exactly what is happening on Oahu. Oahu's Coqui Frog Working Group—made up of the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources/Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Oahu Army Natural Resources Program—monitors for coqui frogs across the island, responds to coqui frog reports and conducts joint control operations.

If you like coqui so much, come get them

I don't know Soma Grismaijer, author of a “;Gathering Place”; column about coqui frogs on Sunday's editorial page. I have no idea where she resides and if her “;frog sanctuary”; is a legitimate claim. Does she also maintain hills for fire ants?

The tiny little buggers chirp at a very high pitch all night in search of sex. They multiple rapidly and they start their obnoxious sounds from nightfall and last until about dawn. They make sleeping difficult.

I am allegedly hard of hearing and even with my hearing aids removed, the coqui frogs awaken me. My wife works early morning shifts and her sleep is disturbed. Our Neighborhood Watch has spent more time on this problem than any other, including burglars. We have individually and collectively spent money on so-called pest experts who have captured a few. I suspect our cats have caught more.

If Grismaijer wishes to come and get mine for her silly frog farm, I will give her permission to cover every square inch.

I await the outcome of the ongoing Oahu invasion. Then I suspect coqui will become a real crisis.

Court failed in attempt to redefine marriage

The issue of Proposition 8 and gay marriage might and should come down to the definition of the word “;marriage.”; In its simplest and lowest common denominator, marriage is defined as a union of a man and woman. By the dictionary, by most states, by the federal government with the Defense of Marriage Act, by the IRS, the spouse is of the opposite gender. The Bible, too. The California Supreme Court tried to throw the word “;marriage”; out the window. For time immemorial, when a man says he is married we know his spouse is a woman and vice versa. So if they allow gay marriages, when anyone says they are married, no one will know what gender. The meaning will be lost. But I believe in the saying that the “;word is mightier than the sword,”; and the word marriage is mightier than the Supreme Court of California or any court.

Disrespect worsened pain of husband's loss

Regarding the entire argument on same-sex marriage, it recently once again became very personal for me. I hope those against it are pleased with the extreme insult I received at one of the worst times in my life.

When filling out the various government forms when my husband (we were married in Vancouver), Bill Woods, passed away, I could be listed only as “;friend.”; It meant much to me when referred to as Bill's spouse in notes, newspaper articles and from certain elected officials. I only hope that at some time, such respect can be fully offered to the couples that will follow.

That call-center voice might be very far away

Fascinating! With the first lunar probe from India successfully landing on the moon the other day (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 15), does this mean the next time we call a company or airline for information we will hear a foreign accented voice from “;the man on the moon”;?