Creation of jobs a reason for rail

I don't care about the rail project one way or the other. I live far from the route and will probably never ride a train. But I do care about fixing our economy and creating jobs in this recession. If rail construction can create 4,000 jobs next year like Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in his “;state of the rail”; speech, then I will support rail for that reason, and that reason alone.

Guam looking better all the time

I've been unemployed for the past six months. Before that, I worked for two years for a construction firm at Kapalua. I have been waiting to go back to work but there aren't any construction jobs out there.

The new military base that will be built in Guam could help many of us construction guys out. Many people think that workers from Hawaii wouldn't go to Guam, but I would. A job is a job, and even though I lived in Maui my whole life, I would move to Guam if that meant work again.

I'm glad that Congressman Neil Abercrombie worked so hard to make sure that American workers can get these jobs and get paid a decent wage. If the U.S. government is paying for the military base with U.S. taxpayers' money to support our troops, then it only makes sense for American workers, including Guam workers, to have the chance to build the project at decent wages.

Smokers urged to be courteous

On the next Great Smoke-out Day as well as the third anniversary of the public smoking ban law here, let's cheer on smokers who have the gumption and will to quit altogether. For many it's no easy task to go cold turkey.

For those who cannot or will not quit, the next best thing you can do is to show courtesy around nonsmokers. Before lighting up anywhere in public, please ask people in your immediate vicinity, especially those waiting in a line outdoors or at a bus stop, if they'd mind if you lit up. I am sure you would mind if someone coughed or sneezed around you without covering her mouth or farted under your nose. So why not extend the same courtesy in smoking? How often I and my nonsmoking friends were forced to move away from a sheltered bus stop and be exposed to the burning sun or pouring rain! You never know if the person around you is asthmatic and might suddenly choke, develop an allergic reaction or is trying to quit himself and avoid temptation.

Also, please don't smoke in front or upwind of areas where people are dining outside. Your courtesy will be much appreciated.