Scotts are best landlords

October 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

I originally rented the other cottage on the Scott Estate in 1968 from Mr. Scott?s grandmother, Mrs. Louise Scott.

At the time I occupied the dwelling it had no indoor plumbing and was in need of serious repair. However, the rent was next to nothing so over the years, with the help of my family, I set about putting on a bathroom, new floors throughout, tiles where appropriate and extensive landscaping. As a result, I ended up having a comfortable, cosy home.

I believe this has been a good arrangement for both parties ? I continue to pay a very affordable rent and the Scotts have a greatly upgraded rental unit.

I am prepared to state without the slightest hesitation that the Scott?s have proven to be the best landlord I have ever had.

Get help, young man

October 12, 2005

Dear Sir,

I am one of the ?victims? of the road stalker. This young man was recently brought to trial in Magistrates? Court for a series of incidents in which it was alleged that he intruded on the privacy of a number of women on public roads and parking lots. His case was dismissed on a technicality, which I accept.

The facts of the case were never in dispute. This young man behaved in a very peculiar manner and I hope that his family and church will take this opportunity to see that he gets some counselling. He needs to understand why he behaved in this way and to learn some strategies to help him cope with similar urges that he may feel in the future.

Who messed up?

October 7, 2005

Dear Sir,

Let?s see if I have got this right.

?Super Mechanic? is able, sometimes in the dark, to spot bikes and cars leaking anti-freeze or with insufficient air in their tyres, and suggest that they follow him to a secluded spot so he can deal with the problem. He manages to spot over 30 vehicles exhibiting various mechanical faults and, by some strange coincidence, they all happen to be women.

The judge dismisses the charges but suggests, in effect, that if the Crown had used a different argument that ?there may have been a completely different outcome?.

So that begs the question, who on the Prosecution side was fired, or even reprimanded because, in all honesty, Bermuda cannot continue to put up with the total ongoing incompetence exhibited by this branch of the judicial system?

If, on the other hand the judge erred, are they going to appeal?

What evil looks like?

October 15, 2005

Dear Sir,

There it was on the front page of today?s (October 15) newspaper! So large that I had to unfold it to view the full picture ? ?the face of evil,? the face of a black male. On Page 11 of the same issue, I saw an even larger picture representing ?the face of beauty? ? that of a white female. So beautiful was she that she was ?burdened? by it. On page 12 was the face of the new James Bond, a white male, but for the ?face of evil?, a black male and on the front page, no less. It is interesting that the caption did not say ?the man who committed evil acts,? but the ?face of evil?. By focusing on how the offender looked links ?the face? to all those who look like him.

Sir, given your newspaper?s definition of what evil looks like, I can now see the errant e-mail episode in a new light. If the black male represents the ?face of evil?, the white male must represent the ?face of good?, (even if he doesn?t have shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, and occasionally wears a gown with a piece of rope tied around it.)

So this is what really happened. The ?face of good? sent the ?face of evil? an e-mail which the ?face of evil? found disrespecting. The ?face of evil? got upset and drafted a response which, after thinking it through, determined that it, too might be deemed disrespectful and decided not to send it. However, the ?face of evil?, not being technologically savvy, did in fact send the e-mail to the unintended recipient, ?the face of good?. The ?face of good?, upon receipt of the e-mail did indeed find it offending, and sent it off to the weekly newspaper, whose editor also represents the ?face of good?.

The decision was made to release the e-mail, knowing that it would potentially put the ?face of evil? in a bad light. The response was predictable. When others, representing the ?faces of good?, saw the comments of the ?face of evil?, the ?face of evil? was demonised. Many of the ?faces of good? called for the ?face of evil? to resign his position because he was behaving like the ?faces of evil?.

Sir, I know it was not your paper?s intent to characterise the black male as the ?face of evil.? However, in many respects, and in ways you probably may not understand, your caption was spot on.

I find myself wanting

October 10, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have looked deeply into my vitals and found that I am most wanting. Yes, Mr. Editor! I am one of those wretches who signed the Referendum Petition and I know not what I did!

Have I crawled in shame before our Premier and craved forgiveness and intellectual enlightenment? No! Have I lain prostate before the Reverend Bishop Lambe and anointed his feet with rare and sacred oils and begged spiritual guidance? No! O woe is me, Mr. Editor!

I humbly sit before my peers in sack-cloth (ashes are not available as I am currently living in a ?no-smoke? zone) and I would surely have gnashed my teeth if I had any.

Don?t close off street

October 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

I have just read the notice from the Corporation of Hamilton pursuing plans to make Reid Street (from Burnaby to Queen) pedestrian-only. Is everyone in agreement with this?

Parking is a major problem in Hamilton. There is nowhere to park as it is and if you close that portion of Reid Street then you will make it even more difficult. I don?t get into town very often now, especially with Trimingham?s and Smiths closed which is really a shame as I believe the other stores in Hamilton are very much trying to cover the loss of those stores.

But I can honestly say that I will be coming to town even less then I do now if you take all those parking bays away on Reid Street. I don?t really see the need to close off that portion of Reid Street permanently ? yes, close it off when you want to do special events but not permanently!