July 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

I just read the front page Sport section of your paper, and felt ill! Poor Mr. Bromby's aching muscles! My heart is aching for the poor man ... give me a break!

Do any of these people ever consider that they have just destroyed one of the most exquisite creatures in the sea for absolutely no reason! Why is it that after these magnificent animals are slaughtered, everyone stands around their broken bodies with stupid grins on their faces, waving their arms in the air as if they have just accomplished something truly heroic? This is the most absurd, inane, moronic behaviour that repeats itself over and over and over again.

What is it with a bunch of rich guys putting up a whole pile of prize money, and then heading off en masse to kill these fish, and then acting as if they are heroes when they do so? I simply don't understand. Am I the only one who feels this way? Is doing this some kind of Viagra replacement or what? Could someone please explain this to me?

ANNOYED

Warwick

July 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

In light of the recent upsurge in violence in Bermuda by juveniles and young adults, maybe it is time we in Bermuda adopt a program similar to one which was very successful in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the late 1990s.

The programme is/was known as Turn Off The Violence ... it engaged and enlisted the help of local print and electronic media to convince residents that violence is an unacceptable way to resolve conflict. The campaign also encourages the media to re-evaluate its own violent entertainment programming. This grassroots initiative, which required limited funding, has successfully spread throughout Minnesota and was adopted by other States and cities.

Highlighting successes and sharing positive information about youth violence reduction efforts serves as a catalyst for encouraging community residents to address juvenile and youth violence problems in their own neighbourhoods.

The local media (print and electronic) can bring attention to the complex issues that surround juvenile and youth crime and violence and can play a role in publicising positive youth activities.

Young people can create and distribute newsletters, produce a TV TeenTalk show, or plan and implement an annual event such as a drug awareness fair or show.

Elected Officials and community leaders can write opinion and editorial pieces or sponsor radio/ TV public service announcements.

Together, these efforts can help to get the message out. To support these efforts by the community and the media, the GOVERNMENTAL action should:

(1) Disseminate Public service announcements that help to influence the young people's choices to live healthy lifestyles and make all residents aware of the critical roles they can play in reducing delinquency and youth violence.

(2) Develop a document or action Plan on ways community residents can reduce juvenile and youth violence.

(3) Produce a TV/Radio commercial on reducing violence.

(4) Produce a specific media message on violence committed by using bladed weapons and the penalties for using such.

(5) Highlighting successful local community initiatives and linking them with a national public information campaign.

In partnership with the media, the Law Enforcement agencies, the community and the Government, I am positive that Bermuda can and will TURN THE VIOLENCE OFF.

SOCABABB

Devonshire

July 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am writing an open reply to the many employment ads this paper runs for Live-in Housekeepers/Caregivers.

To those running these advertisements, please accept this as my written rejection of your generous offers to be your domestic slave. Your advertisements do prove alluring, though. The idea of doing all your cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, and dog-walking, whilst taking care of one to five kids (for one to two families), does seem like a dream come true. You generously let me know in advance that in addition to the 40-hour work week (not including those days you are late, and not counting the fact that there will be no time for breaks due to the children and pets that are screaming at my feet, or the fact that I would live with you so there would be NO escape), I must be available for evenings, weekends and travelling with your family. You can't say you didn't tell me so!

As a basis for my rejecting your kind offers, I would like to suggest that you consider that in the past, an individual seeking such help would have advertised separately for the posts of housekeeper, chef, governess, and groundskeeper. It is a sad fact that in this day and age it is socially acceptable to look for these duties to be performed by one individual, and that because said individual doesn't tend to live amongst us, we must oftentimes look abroad to more impoverished nations, such as the Philippines and Ecuador to accept such working conditions and pay. While I reject your kind offers, please keep up your search.

Reading your ads is like reading the abridged version of a Dickens novel, as the picture you paint is so memorably horrible. Although I do ask you to consider one other option: do it yourself! I know this is not what you want to hear, but truly, it is a novel approach to raising your family. Let's face it, if you have enough money for a nanny/domestic slave, then you have enough money for either the father or the mother to take a leave of absence or quit your job and stay at home with your little darlings. Ask your parents how they managed this feat.

"We sacrificed," they will probably say. And you can too ? skip vacations for a year or two, downsize your living accommodations, don't eat out, and instead of paying someone to polish your silverware, sell it! And if you don't want to stay at home with them, how about stop breeding them? Don't have kids! Have just one, a nice manageable number, and quit while you're ahead. The species will somehow survive.

STAY AT HOME MOM

Paget

July 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

There are so many positive and negative occurrences going on this Island. The good happenings and the ideas given by the public for helping to make things better are great. Here I want to highlight some of the goods like the great recent cricket and Island Games successes. The ideas of footballer and entrepreneur David Bascome are motivating, and a potential gain for sport here. The singing, theatre, dancing shows, the new entertainments in Flatts, Snorkel Park, Horseshoe Bay are so positive. When a person travels by the South Shore in Warwick the Vendors are on the beaches offering snorkelling, and other beach goods for any person's use. By the way. the Culture Shock Reggae concert up at Somerset recently was magnificent. A smooth running show, highlighting the quality of Bermudian singers, especially Twanee and poet Ras Mykkal, plus the great Jamaican Artist like Big Youth, Freddie Macgregor, Glenn Washington to name a few, a great show. Thank you The Keith Simmons Company, Sponsors, and the Public for a safe show too.

Yes entertainment is bursting on this "Rock' and with Cup Match coming, more entertainment is coming, Hot Hot Hot.

Another area of safety is the concern of motorist driving and riding around the Island talking on the cell phone. This has become entertainment on wheels. That calls for better care, and safer driving habits, but we know another hedge or wall is down each new week. A number of accidents have happened because of talking on the cell while motoring. Was it true that the runner who was struck by a vehicle in Riddell's Bay during 24th May Race was because of cell talking and speeding by the driver?

The Road Safety Council talks of safer driving habits with cell phones, to which I agree. Why has there not been a media blitz by that Council, insurance companies, and cell businesses to encourage people to buy cell phone head pieces for safer driving? People will talk. I paid $25 for a simple head piece recently, and $20 for the same one a month ago. That's a 25 percent rise and done quickly. People need to be encouraged to buy these head pieces now, but not at quickly rising prices.

There is so much to do in Bermuda, and with safety acted on, we can all have a HOT fun time all year round.

ROGER & OUT

Devonshire

July 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

Well, looks like Bermuda is finally a World Cup country in cricket which is cool (for those who watch cricket, that is) but, you really have to wonder how long will Bermuda stay amateur in soccer? Of course the men's basketball team, did OK too (when are those guys going to be selected for the NBA though is unknown).

NBA FAN

Pembroke

July 13, 2005

Dear Sir,

If Disgusted (Yacht ruined my day, July 13) reports this incident to either Ports and Marine or to the Marine Police, then the culprit could be brought to justice. The offending yacht captain is responsible for damage or injury resulting from his/her vessel's wake.

STEVE MOFFAT

City of Hamilton