Posted: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:00 am
How biodegradable is sugar cane, really?
Congratulations to Local Boyz for their biodegradable carry-out food containers. That is the way to go! They have done the research. Now it should be easy for all the other restaurants in town follow their lead by providing food in biodegradable containers. Because the product is not petroleum-based, this is a way to move from our dependence on oil.
I do have one question. The 40 percent sugar cane, 45 percent reed and 15 percent straw containers are biodegradable. What exactly does that mean? Will they really decompose in a landfill? In order to decompose, most biodegradable products need water, oxygen or light. A landfill is densely compacted and is kept dry with no light. Will these containers really decompose in landfill conditions?
Louise Marquering
Corvallis
Truth about those right turns on red
This is regarding the gentleman in the red mini-van who on Monday, Aug. 11, at about
4 p.m. made a right turn off of Northwest Buchanan onto Ninth Street heading north.
I'm the guy who honked at him and, judging by the "What-the-heck-are-you-honking-at-me" look and the hand gesture, I'm guessing that he didn't know why I honked.
I was making a legal left turn off of Buchanan, heading north onto Ninth Street with a green arrow. He, on the other hand, was making an illegal right turn against a red light at the same time that I was making my turn.
Yes, drivers can make a right turn at a stop sign or red light. That is perfectly legal, but they have to do it after they come to a complete stop and only when they aren't interfering with someone who has the legal right-of-way.
Too many people apparently do not know this or choose to ignore this because I see drivers making right turns at a red light or stop sign without stopping every time I get out on the road.
By the way, to the gentleman's credit, the hand gesture wasn't the one-finger salute.
Kevin Burton
Albany
Piecemeal healing
is not a healthy plan
It was Sunday morning when I wrote this letter, and all across America, "a thousand points of light" were flickering, as a former U.S. president would have said. Candles and bake sales at churches, donations to "Walk For Life," and corporate sponsorship of benefit concerts reminded us of Americans' compassion and generosity to each other. Even local children were having a lemonade stand to help fight cancer.
As heartwarming as these events are, I can't help feeling we are missing something big. Should the less-fortunate have to rely on our gestures of charity to survive? Or could we all do better through more equitable social policies that narrow the gap between the haves and the have-nots? A mental or physical illness in any of us can impact each of us. So, shouldn't we (as individual tax payers and employers) do our part to improve the system for everyone rather than patch the holes for a few?
Compassion and morality may begin with the family Bible, and we can continue dispensing "feel-good" Band-Aids to stop hemorrhaging wounds. But a well-performing healthcare system is not composed of scattered acts of charity. It is a matter of human justice and common responsibility, enacted through progressive social and fiscal policies, for the good of all. In this political year, we must demand significant reforms toward affordable healthcare for all. Perhaps then, our children won't have to stand by a lemonade booth to help fight cancer.
Chinh Le
Corvallis
Bush didn't see irony of his words
On Aug. 11, George W. Bush, as part of his statement about the Russian invasion of Georgia, said: "The invasion of a sovereign nation in the 21st century is unacceptable."
Is he totally forgetful, or does he have selective amnesia? I believe history has accurately recorded that on two separate occasions, he and his administration have been responsible for the invasion of two sovereign nations in the 21st century: Afghanistan on Oct 7, 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom; and Iraq, March 20, 2003, Operation Shock and Awe.
Do I condone the Russian invasion? Of course not. However the hypocrisy (Greek: play acting) of this present administration is beyond unbelievable. The audacity of GWB to condemn the Russians is the "pot calling the kettle black." We as a nation desperately need a new direction in Washington with leadership that is committed to truth, honesty and openness.
Will we get it in November? I don't know. But I have the audacity to hope for and to vote for a change we can believe in.
Roger Paul
Corvallis
Why such a big deal over a love affair?
Re: The affair of former presidential candidate John Edwards:
Cool it! There are many things worse than having a love affair. Who have they sent to kill or be killed?
Jane Sivetz
Corvallis
Some intersections are just too risky
I'm just about to the point where I will go out of my way to avoid some intersections in town at key times of the day. The intersection of 29th Street and Circle Boulevard is one.
It's all too common that people will simply disregard all standards and courtesy as they barge through the intersection.
You know, sharing the right-of-way in an intersection isn't a complicated thing, and yet it seems that a lot of folks either don't care or are actually unaware of the rules and guidelines.
The Oregon Driver Manual states: "At any intersection with stop signs in all four directions, it is common courtesy to allow the driver who stops first to go first. If in doubt, yield to the driver on your right."
Could you do a story on worst intersections in the area, or the effect of so many drivers out there who have NOT had some sort of formal driver's education, or the relationship between the surge in the number of SUVs and minivans to the crash rate, or some such thing?
A driver safety story could be helpful, and there is plenty of data out there for it.
We need to get folks thinking more about safety on the roads, and you happen to have a newspaper that could help that project along.
Maybe after a share the road, or worst intersections story, we could talk about bicycle and pedestrian right-of-way in the built environment.
Jim Bowey
Corvallis
President finally getting respect
Corvallis is more beautiful since most of the negative and insulting bumper stickers have disappeared. Even though people in a free nation will always disagree and want to express their opinions, it need not be done with insults. Reason will keep us free.
However, maybe Chris Foulke hasn't gotten this message. His Aug. 8 letter to the editor, "Sen. Smith backed Bush all the way," certainly showed everyone that he is a master of the use of adjectives. But his accusations and character assassination were so over-the-top that only his political allies can condone his comments.
I am continually amazed at the way some individuals, trying to gain the upper ground, twist and misconstrue their election opponents' actions. How much better it would be if champions of a particular ideology would tell us why their candidate deserves our vote.
In reply to Mr. Foulke's assertions: President Bush is gaining appreciation as a man who has faithfully done his job of defending our country and our people, in spite of unrelenting insults and harassment. I'm pleased to see this recognition.
Jean Nelson
Corvallis