Speakout: March 11, 2010

Choking
Let's legalize pot and outlaw hotdogs. According to the AP: Choking kills more than 100 U.S. children 14 years or younger each year and thousands more — 15,000 in 2001 — are treated in emergency rooms. Food, including candy and gum, is among the leading culprits, along with items like coins and balloons. Of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006, 61 were food-related. Food is bad — it kills, Pot is good — no overdose deaths. Get real.

Streets
A while back someone sent their comments on city streets and not being enough room to drive onto. Well take a look at Johnson Avenue before and after Richard's Store. What a pitiful Shame. Why can't someone do something about this?

Saranac
People of Saranac that are upset that the building improvement did not pass, yes, New York state has said they will give money to help sway the cost from the taxpayers, but what happens when they can't (because if you haven't heard they are closing everything that is north of Albany because N.Y. is broke.) and the projects are done? It will be the taxpayer paying for it all. So I am glad it did not go through, and by the way, they can use the Cadyville School that was redone before it closed.

Lights
The Route 374/Route 22 intersection needs a simple fix to save future lives. Many people don't look at the actual light, they just wait till the color of light in their peripheral vision changes to green. Going into the city on 374, the right-hand turn arrow is over the lane going straight. Put the green arrow over the right-hand turn lane. Otherwise, people going straight see the green light from the green arrow and run the red light. I'm sure this is responsible for a recent accident and probably many others in the past. This will prevent future fatalities.

Tipping
I'm sorry, but in this area everyone seems to think we the customer owe you the establishment a certain standard amount — call it 15 percent. When you work out of town all week and get great service with a smile and no attitude from the staff only to return home to Plattsburgh to a snotty doesn't-care-about-her-job waitress and you have the audacity to ask for a larger tip. Get a grip.

Wind
Mr. Pribis should know that the Rand Hill windmill site lies in the Saranac School District. The only way the town of Beekmantown could actually know what the majority of its taxpayers really think about windmills is to have a public vote. That would stop the speculation.

Waitress
Waitress, please don't complain, for no one has to do anything or to leave a tip. It's a luxury tipping, for you doing your job, but don't expect it every time. It's not a requirement, and what you get you should be satisfied. It's better than nothing at all. Stop complaining. There are worse things to complain about, and not tipping is not one of them.

Service
In response to tipping. Does the waitress not get paid by the restaurant to do their job? They shouldn't act like every customer must tip them 15 percent of the bill. Tips are a "gift" for good service. How rude to demand that gift or the amount! The customer is not obligated to line your pockets further. I tip according to the quality of service. If you were rude, too busy chatting with other employees or other service was bad, you don't deserve much, if anything. Most jobs don't get tips. Be thankful.

Drivers
Snow tires don't entirely prevent accidents, and the soft compound they are made of would be ruined in one season on the bare roadways we have had most of the season. I am working my way though college, and I have many other more pressing bills than optional snow tires. I think it would be more responsible to spend $50 on a driving class instead of $200 on tires that will be ruined. Please think before stereotyping all college students as irresponsible drivers. I see a lot of older drivers in unsafe vehicles practicing bad habits also.

Dogs
This is for the irresponsible dog owners who don't contain their animals. We have spent a lot of money to keep our dogs safe. We purchased an underground fence so they can roam around the yard. It angers me when my dog is being attacked by the another dog on our property. I have called the animal-control officer twice, and still the same dog is back again. If you are not able to control your animal, find someone who can.

Placement
Press-Republican Monday 2/22 - Section A front-page news, huge picture promoting violence, fake wrestling; Section B, better, USA hockey team victory; Section C, great, economic development in North Country. It is sad the paper does not know its "ABC's." Let's hope and pray their readers do.

Coins
How is it, or who gave the authority, for the new dollar coins to be minted without "In God We Trust" inscribed on them? These coins must be rejected if offered as change. Make sure to reject them by asking for U.S. currency that has "In God We Trust" inscribed on them. It is your duty as an American to do that. The government will have no choice but to melt them and re-mint them if we all do the same. I dare say that some liberal socialist had something to do with God being removed.

Brush
If you have missed the highway crew's new approach to cutting brush from the roadside, you need to hope they don't use it on your road. They are using a brush hog that reaches way off the road and high up into the trees, where it then rips off branches and limbs and leaves an unsightly mess. Everything is left where it falls. There is no rhyme or reason to the way it is done. If you want to see this mess firsthand just drive up the Hemmingford Road in Mooers.

Tips
Tips, this is to the one who put the write-up about tips in Speakout. If you are working in a restaurant just for the tips you receive for your income, then you better get a different job because I do not mind paying for my food, but I do mind paying for your income. Let your employer do that; you're working for them, not me. Sorry.

Athletes
Why are some athletes allowed to get into trouble with little or no punishment? Aren't rules in place for a reason? Or are they just there for a certain few? Coaches and administrators need to prepare these students/athletes for the real world where they are held accountable for their actions and not exempt from punishment because they have the right name.

Tiger
Thank you, thank you, thank you — for the Feb. 24 editorial about Tiger Woods. Society's obsession with the rise and (especially) fall of celebrities is just a lame excuse for us to blame someone else for our own shortcomings. I don't care what they do other than play golf, football, act, whatever their profession. Their sins are between them, their families and God. He apologized; now let's all move on. And did you hear about the bimbo who's upset because she thinks he should apologize to her?

Road
Just an FYI to the people that frequent the Indian reservation in Altona. People do use the road on which it's located to travel to and from work every day. Please don't assume that everyone is pulling in to get gas or cigarettes. Follow the rules of the road, such as yielding to oncoming vehicles, using your signal light, etc.

Bargain
Some people look on teachers as expensive babysitters. Do the math, and you'll see teachers are a bargain! Do you realize that a teacher is paid less than $2.25 an hour to teach a student? Here's the average figures I used: $50,000 per year less 30 percent for taxes, 180 days, 6 hours day, 15 students. If you can figure this out, thank a teacher!

Snowstorm
Today, Feb. 24, Plattsburgh got hit with a big snowstorm. I would like to give praise to the DPW men. I think they did a great job on the roads. Keep up the great work.

Rules
I think some of the schools in Clinton County need to sit down and take a good look at their rules. Preventing a child from using the bathroom as a form of discipline is cruel. Not allowing a child who is failing two or more classes to use the library? Who makes up this stuff, really? If a student bullies another student they get disciplined, as they should, but if a teacher bullies a student they get paid. Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful teachers, but there are some who need to find a new occupation.

Pot
I love when people say that pot has never killed anyone. The funny thing is, it's still illegal, and the officers who arrested those involved in the most recent bust here in Plattsburgh did an amazing job. If you are going to partake in any criminal activity, regardless of how "harmless" you may feel it is, you deserve to do a considerable amount of time in prison. I hope each and every one of you pay for the crime you have committed, and maybe someday you will learn to be contributing members of society.

Treatment
I understand that tipping is how you make your money/wages, but when I go out to eat I expect to be treated well and not have to ask for plates, menus, napkins and silverware. If I or my crew don't have good service, your tip will be cut. That being said, we will tip very well (20 percent) when we get good service. I thank all those who do the thankless job of waiting on people and delivering pizza. Don't forget to tip your delivering person well.

Names
I guess I am an uneducated Satan-worshiper, as I totally agree with the comment about kids' names. Probably not the full religious support of that poster. However, I do agree that some parents have lost their minds. The spelling of these names leaves kids bewildered, as well as their friends. Being unique is one thing, but Brian is Brian, not Brahiyan. Sarah is not Sarrhahh. Remember that these kids will carry this label around for a lifetime. All hail the uneducated.

Ticket
To the writer of "Officer." Christmas spirit? Since when does abiding the law take a holiday? That is such a silly admonition from/for those within the "higher education" community. Next we'll be hearing requests from those running a red light, and speeding. I can hear it now — "But officer, it's Christmas, and I'm late! Don't be such a scrooge!" Oh please!

Treasure
Denise Nephew is a treasure to the working people of Plattsburgh. She defends the contract ferociously, which is her job as a union president. It's too bad the mayor can't get his ego out of labor relations and deal with this woman respectfully.

Contracts
Honest businessmen respect contracts as sacred. Most officeholders agree. But, for some reason, the mayor of Plattsburgh is not among them. When it comes to labor contracts, he simply can't bring himself to honor contractual agreements. He has cost the city tens of thousands of dollars in grievance settlements because his ego will not allow him to treat the woman who heads the city union with respect or even common courtesy. Then he personalizes their dispute, which he caused, by accusing her of hating him. How unprofessional can he get?

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