Comments by hogan77
Page 1 of 13 | Next
Posted on September 6 at 1:14 p.m.
I think this whole thing is ridiculous. I have said it before, and will say it again...
It truly makes me sad to hear that so many parents in our community are so close minded that they will not allow a speech given by our President of the United States to be heard by our children. I believe there IS a place in education for speeches and discussion. It is called government and/or history. I like very much the idea of a more interactive way of learning, like watching speeches directed towards the students, and having discussion afterward. Perhaps our children will learn more, or learn better than their standard text book reading.
That being said, I see no problem in letting our children listen from our President. From every source I have read, there is nothing said that he is going to shove "socialism" down our kid's throats. He is going to ask the students to stay in school and do their best. And you know, with the current drop out rate at so many of our schools, obviously the parents aren't doing THEIR job right; let's see if he can get the point across.
Posted on June 16 at 10:11 p.m.
crack, you said:
Vehicles are (usually) operated outdoors where the exhaust can dissipate easily. Cars, unlike cigarettes, also provide a useful service to society. With cars, the benefit clearly outweighs the harm.
I don't see how cars are benefiting anyone. It would be much more beneficial if everyone would walk or even ride bikes... better for their bodies. Cars only allow people to get where they need to be faster. Since you are the almighty health guru on here, you know.. telling everyone how bad SHS is for you and everyone else, I would expect you to understand my reasoning here. Please explain to me how a car is beneficial again? Using up natural oil supplies, causing our nation to go farther and farther in debt, keeping Americans from getting the exercise they so desperately need, to lose weight, remain healthy and live LONG prosperous lives.
BTW, I'm not stupid. I know the ban is for indoors. But now seriously, what purpose would it serve me to smoke indoors, when you are outside trying to breathe your fresh air? You are so giddy you got your way, best thing I could do was to try to dirty your almighty fresh air, just a little. Of course, EPD wouldn't have stopped me (if it were illegal to smoke outdoors)... they don't even stop the people who really ARE breaking the laws!
Come to think of it, cigarettes can serve a purpose to society as well. The smokers have to buy the cigarettes, which means revenue to local businesses. Then of course, they have to have health insurance to cover medical costs- which we will need years later thanks to the endless cigarettes we smoked. That provides more money to companies, and more jobs. We have to have people to work in the insurance industry, as well as the medical. Let's not forget the bars. Because you know, some smokers like to drink, and some drinkers like to smoke. This means more revenue for local taverns, then on to alcohol distributors, and on to producers... and let's not forget to mention the police. They get paid to break up the fights in the bars, and issue tickets to drunk drivers, etc... the list goes on and on. Geeze, and here you thought cigarettes were worthless!
Hmmm, I love my reasoning!
Posted on June 15 at 1:31 a.m.
Hey crackinsack... I like you and your comments so much, guess what I did a couple weeks ago while in town? I lit up a cigarette, and blew it out into the open, just for you!
Selfish, you are. Thinking you are the only one with any damn rights. This whole smoking ban is a piece of crap. And you know, since I don't live in Emporia, and I didn't get to vote, it doesn't apply to me. Isn't that how that goes? Ask any college kid, they will tell ya.
BTW: I was right across the street from the police department when I did this. Where is your precious EPD when you need them? Point is, I would love to see how this law is going to be enforced at all, when they aren't even around to stop people!
I was born an American. Hell, I was born an Emporian. I have this one body, this one mind. The constitution gives me the right to do with it as I choose. There was not a single person around me when I lit my long Marlboro Light up, no one around me when I blew the smoke into the air. I fail to see how that is hurting anyone. I also fail to see the difference between my lonely trail of smoke in a completely empty parking lot, compared to an old clunker passing by me as I was driving through town... throwing thick black smoke from it's exhaust into my car, where my children were. Can you explain that to me? Yep, I could have kept the windows rolled up. Just like you keep out of the bars if you don't like the smoke.
My grandfather died from emphysema. He was a car mechanic. Never smoked a day in his life, nor was he around people who smoked. Explain to me again what the difference is.... please. Because I simply cannot wrap my feeble mind around your logic as to how SHS is bad.. but vehicles aren't.
Posted on March 27 at 2:08 a.m.
Observation: The point of Earth Hour is not to make it convenient for you. The point is to learn some responsibility for your actions, and try to learn to conserve energy.
Sorry it would take you away from sitting here, blasting your comments all over the Gazette website, or whatever else you would be doing for that hour. Why don't you just try to join in? It isn't that hard to turn off the lights for an hour, unplug the toaster (who in the world makes toast at that hour anyway?), or to read a book by candle light.
I think these two boys have the right idea, writing a letter to the Gazette in hopes that some people will read it and actually participate. Kudos to them! All of you old dogs who are set in your ways could learn a little something from these teens.
On Earth Hour
Posted on March 27 at 1:58 a.m.
My question for the day is this. If the ones wanting the ban are doing it "for the children", explain to me just why in the hell a child is in a bar to begin with.
Smoking is not allowed inside schools, retail stores, restaurants, hospitals and most places like the library, museums, etc. You say you do not want teenagers to start smoking Mary, but what is going to stop them from seeing it when they walk by Mr. Joe's house, and he is on his front porch lighting one up?
As far as the health issue part of it is concerned, I believe that it is pretty well taken care of. All of the important places are smoke free. And really, I fail to see how someone standing 5 feet away is going to catch SHS- especially outside. In bars, we are all adults. It seems as though Emporia is offering a couple of smoke free establishments already. For those not wanting to get an iron lung due to someone else's habit, go to the smoke free bars. It is a pretty simple fix really.
Everyone, use your own common sense and vote however you want. But seriously, can we just move on already? There are more important things in life than worrying about a smoking ban- whether it passes or not. Spend that time with your families, instead of on here arguing like a bunch of small children.
Posted on March 3 at 9:19 a.m.
Sorry, but I just do not see Obama as being that type of president. If you see him as being that way, then I am sorry you feel that way. But, I see him as being the man who stepped up to the plate to clean up America's big mess. So far, I think that he is doing everything he knows to do to fix it. I highly doubt that old man McCain would have even gotten this far.
You see things one way, I see them another. We can agree to disagree on the man we have as president, but I still believe that people need to learn to live life as simply as possible, and get themselves out of whatever financial messes they have made, without waiting on a government handout. I will happily leave my comment as that, and go on with myself. I have a month's worth of grocery shopping to get done today, and it isn't going to do it on it's own. Have a good day.
Posted on March 3 at 1:22 a.m.
open_eyes:
I have yet to see how the government is trying to take everything over. In my eyes, I feel that President Obama is doing everything he possibly can to help out so many Americans- which he really shouldn't HAVE to do, but is. You may think he is taking away from us, but I certainly do not. I see him as cleaning up a mess that never should have happened in the first place. And evidentally he has seen the irresponsibility of many Americans, otherwise he would not have seen a need to pass a stimulus to bail these people out. I'm surprised you haven't noticed the HUGE mess that we are in. Perhaps that is why he has felt the need to revise things? Because others are irresponsible and careless, and have messed up so much? Hmmm, think on that one for a while.
In the meantime, while he is trying to figure out things for everyone, why don't we spend a little time and a small amount of money to improve our lives on our own? Relocation is sometimes necessary, to find a job. So is returning to college, learning a new trade. Go flip hamburgers for a while if necessary, instead of staying on unemployment and food stamps. Sure, you may not bring home as much, but learn to downsize. Get rid of the internet and TV, and save a bundle. Play board games with your family, or learn to read a book for entertainment. Why buy a home when you can rent for a while? At least then you can have a roof over your head. Learn to walk to work, ride a bike or even carpool to save money on fuel. Sure, you may only save $25-$30 a month, but that is quite a chunk of change at the end of the year. Don't have medical insurance? Learn to use the health department at a reduced rate. Stop eating out, it isn't healthy for you anyway- and that should also reduce your need to see the doctor to begin with, that along with exercise. I visit the doctor once a year, for my healthy woman check up. Which, I get at a reduced rate through our women's health fair. It is actually cheaper then than it is with my co-pay. Try doing solar or wind to power your home. Or replace things like your water heater, use a ceiling fan instead of the AC, keep your heat down to 70 degrees on a winter night and put an extra blanket on the bed. All ways to save money.
Living out here has enabled me to not be in the same kind of trouble so many others are. My husband works full time, just recently quit his second job in fact, we just didn't need the money anymore. I work part time at my local church. We are paying off our home, a three bedroom mobile home which we have slowly been remodeling. We own our car, a 1997 Ford Contour. We just put new tires on it with our state tax refund. We do not live beyond our means, the most expensive thing we have recently bought was a Wii, which my husband worked the second job to save up enough for it. We have no debt, we pay off our medical bills as we go. People could learn something from us.
Page 1 of 13 | Next
Posted on September 24 at 11 p.m.
I think the real problem is that Emporia is lacking jobs for students. Everything has been closing, and the remaining employment spots are and were probably filled when the students left at the end of last year.
Pure and simple... Lawrence and Hays both have more employment opportunities for college students. Why struggle in Emporia when you can go elsewhere?
On ESU enrollment declines