Applebees
As a Vietnam vet, I would like to thank Applebees for honoring all veterans by giving a free meal. For me, it wasn't the meal, it was just being recognized for serving our country. As all people know, Vietnam vets were not honored in any way. The manager even went around and spoke to all veterans. This touched me and I want to say from the bottom of my heart "thank you" to Applebees.
Layoffs
I can't believe that one would compare Bombardier to Wyeth. Bombardier is a temporary layoff; Wyeth is a done deal. Quit crying! You will have a job back; we won't.
Purse
I'd like to thank the wonderful lady that turned in my purse yesterday in the mall. It is men like you that make this town such a joyous place to live in.
Parking
In response to the person who ranted about the parking spots for parents with toddlers and moved to ask what's next "special parking spots for blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, etc." You are obviously a very young, white person that doesn't know much history. There were special "spots" (segregation) for minorities. Definitely, don't want to go back there!
Affair
I cannot believe that someone would actually blame the husband. It does take two people to have an affair regardless of who is married. Sometimes marriages fall apart, and it's not anybody's fault. People grow up, grow apart and fall in and out of love. So whose fault is it actually — it's nobody's — it's life. Unfortunately, it is an unpleasant experience, but life will go on.
Instructor
I recently took a road test to get my license. As I took my road test, I was screamed at by the instructor about many things that I did not even understand. Small things like not stopping at a stop sign for 5 seconds? I can understand raising your voice if I was about to run someone over. But for small things I feel as though I was mistreated severely and that the instructor was very unprofessional. If you are going to take the road test go to Elizabethtown. They treated me very well.
Cheater
In response to cheating, I don't understand why the "other woman" is always the one to blame. Men know exactly what to say and how to act to get a woman interested in them. I recently fell for this — the comments, the phone calls and the visits! He was still with his girlfriend when he was telling me that "things aren't as good as they once were, and we are on the outs!" I fell for it hook, line and sinker. I told his girlfriend about his extracurricular activities. She blamed me. Wake up, ladies, once a cheater always a cheater!
Surcharge
New surcharge (tax), Albany in their great wisdom has now passed a new bill giving big business a free gift. In this day of hearing how we need to save energy, they pass a new bill to make you use more to pay less. No wonder the state of New York is in the trouble it is today.
Marriage
Little came up big on this one: a big "yes" for marriage. Well done, Senator.
Senate
I'm not gay, but if 51 percent of New Yorkers want gay marriage, shouldn't 51 percent of the Senate have voted for it? More and more, they represent us less and less. I hope they at least vote in civil unions. Put it on the ballots for us to vote on. While you're at it, put everything else on, since they can't ever get the budget done on time. This year they said they did (recently), it wasn't even the entire budget. When can you do only part of your job and claim it's done?
Gays
No marriage for New York gays equals no support for Sen. Betty Little. We can all thank the Republicans for this dastardly move to silence us yet again. Republicans need to put aside their religious beliefs, for once, come out from under the rock they've been living for the past century, and grow a backbone. Where is the support? I am tired of watching ignorant people run this country with a one-track mind. The day will come for New York gays to marry and adhere to the rights we so deserve. I can't believe it's taken as long as it has.
Unfulfilled
To "cheating." If your husband is cheating on you, it could be your fault. Letting yourself go, constantly complaining or not fulfilling his needs are all reasons why he could cheat. Don't blame the other woman, she is merely being the woman he wants at home but is not getting it.
Clique
Promises, promises. I've been working at a local business for 24 years, then it got taken over by new people. This first year they owned the business, I was told I would be full time, year round. Well, that lasted the first year then they laid me off and kept someone else. Of course it was a friend of the manager, and, in order to be full time at this business, you have to be a friend or in their "clique."
Religious
Congratulations to the Beekmantown Central School Board for its position on mandatory recitation of the "Pledge of Allegiance." No school child should be forced to pledge to anything, including a flag, regardless of its symbolism, especially when this pledge contains religious undertones as does the "Pledge of Allegiance."
Announcer
I have been going to the men's hockey games since I was a little girl, and it gets better every year. Last week, I went to a Montreal Canadiens game, and they seriously need to make a call to the Plattsburgh State announcer, he makes the game so much better. This is my 21st year going to the Field House and he has been there ever since. Make the call, Montreal. Oh, by the way, he can sing, too.
Bundy Aid
Thanks to the Press-Republican for reminding us of Bundy Aid from our state government to private universities. (Editorial 12/3). To strip our once great public university system of necessary funding before the amply endowed private universities face cuts in public moneys is unconscionable. I certainly hope our Mrs. Little and Mrs. Duprey are defending Plattsburgh State in this time of such great need.
Merger
Please be advised that it was proposed in open council that if MLD cannot become solvent, it would be sold to a commercial utility such as NYSEG, which would undoubtedly raise electric rates for the city. The underlying rationale for this idea may be that the sale would clear the path for a merger of the city and town, and the merged entity would then be eligible for federal funding of various sorts — a political coup for the administration. Would this move be good for the average city resident who would experience much higher electric bills? Perhaps not!!
Biased
I must agree also that the Press-Republic has an obvious bias toward supporting unions. Whether it's the state workers, teachers, SUNY or health-care unions, they have all significantly contributed to the demise of this state. This newspaper is doing a disservice to the community for not questioning all of the unions' negative impact on our state economy. Fair and balanced? Hardly!
Doctor
I was sick and called the doctor's after hours. I spoke with a lady from the answering service. I asked to see if the doctor could call me at my house. She replied, the doctor doesn't like to be disturbed unless it is an emergency! Usually when people call, it is, sometimes it might sound silly to you or you don't want to hear about it. You get paid to do this. Maybe you need to retire if you don't want anyone to call you. Oh by the way, it was around 7 p.m. Thanks for your help!
Piercing
I'd like to know if the so-called "professional" ear-piercing establishments go so far as to explain the long-term outcome of gauging (stretching) the earlobe. Yes, it is the trend among young people these days. However, do these "professionals" inform their customers that they may need the help of a plastic surgeon to reconstruct the lobe once this "trend" has vanished? Also, any needed reconstruction is at the expense of the customer because this is considered elective surgery and no health insurance covers this option. Kids, think really, really hard before defacing your bodies!
Action
It seems to be a weekly thing that people are complaining about law enforcement driving too fast. Well, I have a solution for everyone. Every law enforcement vehicle has a number on it somewhere identifying the vehicle. Get the vehicle number and call the appropriate agency to complain. Yes you will have to leave your name with the complaint so the bosses can get back to you with their investigation results. Stop complaining on Speakout and take action!
Ultimatum
I'm just curious how some coaches are allowed to continue on their power trips. My son was fortunate enough to make an "elite" hockey team which plays throughout the year. We paid the $950, and he has had a wonderful experience. Now, he is playing for a local high school only to be told he needed to choose which team he was playing for, even though the schedules do not conflict. Where does a high-school coach get the audacity to give players an ultimatum? Does the administration support with this tactic? What's wrong with playing both teams?
Frustrated
I am greatly disappointed to read New York has passed a bill that fails to address the budget crisis, while once again giving in to the big special interest groups represented by the state employee unions. The rest of New York taxpayers struggle, while the state employees prosper. The new pension deal is the latest disaster for the rest of the taxpayers. It is time for our local representatives to support the rest of the taxpayers by supporting defined contributions pensions plans, and other measures that address the budget crisis. Gov. Paterson is right to be frustrated.
Peacekeepers
Our highest priority in this country should be the economy and unemployment, not fighting a useless war in Afghanistan that has been on going for eight years. Now with no new tactics this will not be over in three years. It's time the Afghanistan people take care of their own problems. It's time we stop being the peacekeepers of the world.
Buying
The buying up of more land in the Adirondack Park should stop. The state cannot pay its bills now and is resorting to layoffs and funding cuts. Why spend tens of millions of dollars to buy more land? The money would be spent more wisely on reducing the debt.
