OMG! Funny

(That is the only text language I know as I am over 55). I laughed so hard reading the article by Anne Vance (March 7).

So many truths; I went one step farther with my phone and had the thing disconnected! I do call my 13-year-old granddaughter to figure out how to use my cell phone. My fingers are too big and can’t seem to only hit one number at a time; that is, if I put my glasses on so I can read the numbers.

Oh well, thanks for getting those views out there; it adds humor to our lives in a time where we need all the laughs we can get.

Jan Wallace
Mt. Hood

Spiritual peace

I read Kristy Sargent’s letter (May 11) this morning with sorrow.

Death of loved ones challenges all of us in different ways. I was also saddened as I read your letter because it inferred you hold anger and other strong emotions related to death.

Many cultures, both in our own country as well as outside, share very different views about life, death and the transition between the two. You can look at the New Orleans culture, where music and a celebratory walk sometimes honors the dead and the joy they brought to the mourners’ lives.

There is a common theme surrounding the transition to death shared by many cultures and faiths around the world. The commonality is a preparatory process to ease the soul into the next place with a sense of comfort and readiness.

I believe this is the purpose of services such as hospice and other healing arts. Tragic and traumatic deaths do not permit the aforementioned preparation to occur. I still support the notion that peace of mind, body and soul aids the transitional process for both the deceased and the survivors.

I would encourage anyone struggling with the issues of death and illness to use any resources available to them. These would include local physicians, clergy, hospice services and support groups, among others.

Peace to you, Ms. Sargent, and others with similar struggles about death and the inequities of life.

Steve Kaplan
Hood River

Help stop abuse

Three articles in a single issue of the Hood River News (March 7) described disturbing family violence and abuse involving children.

While we actually saw a decline in child abuse and neglect rates in Hood River County last year, stories like these have recently surfaced. Deputy District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen was astute to note that “the economic recession could be creating an added level of stress in many troubled households.”

It is well-documented that multiple family stressors put children at greater risk of being abused or neglected. As we observe our neighbors struggle with finances, strained relationships, single parenting, and drug or alcohol abuse, we need to watch out for our community’s vulnerable children.

Be a friend to a parent you know — offer to help with the kids or run an errand.

Be a friend to a child you know — take a special interest and show them you care.

Support local programs that help vulnerable families, such as New Parent Services’ Healthy Start program, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Head Start, Helping Hands Against Violence, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Commission on Children and Families.

Remind your legislators that we need to keep these programs funded.

Know that anything you do as an individual, and anything we do as a community to support families will reduce the stress that can lead to abuse and neglect.

Karen Enns, program director, New Parent Services
The Next Door

Barrels of pork

Rep. Greg Walden and the Party of NO! I am appalled at the hypocrisy of the Republicans and the 2009 Budget Act just passed that was “loaded with pork.“

If you review Rep. Walden’s Earmark Requests listing, aka “pork,“ the list is around $260 million. And yet, he voted against the pork-laden budget. However, he will surely take credit for the “pork projects funding we Oregonians will receive” in the budget that President Obama just signed into law.

Rush Limbaugh is right; all Republicans should just vote no as they are doing in lock step. Rep. Walden does not represent my centrist views.

Dale Nicol
Hood River

Save sea lions

In Baja, you can swim with these curious, playful mammals. In Oregon and Washington they kill them. I am appalled at the plan to shoot 85 California sea lions at Bonneville Dam each year for the next five years.

The Environmental Assessment is that the sea lions eat from .4 to 4 percent of the spring salmon, which the ODFW considers to be a “significant impact” on salmon recovery, while the fishermen are allowed 13 percent, considered an “insignificant impact.”

The dams alone kill 10 percent of the adult fish. It is obvious that the sea lions are being unjustly scapegoated by government agencies; the real threats to salmon populations are caused by humans — over-fishing, dams and habitat destruction.

Killing sea lions does not address these core problems; our money is better spent on conservation strategies. Columbia River cruising has been a $50 million-per-year business, bringing people from all over the world to see the wildlife and natural beauty of the Gorge.

I can imagine a cruise ship plowing its way up the river through a maze of fishing boats and the cruise director saying, as they pass through the Bonneville lock, “and over here you can see the sharp shooters killing the ‘federally protected’ sea lions.”

Melba Gohl, owner,
Adventure Cruises
White Salmon, Wash.

Most wanted

Every few years an article shows up that I can’t believe. Last week’s gem was the parking violator article and all the tough talk about enforcement. Given the serious tone I thought “America’s Most Wanted” was filming in Hood River.

In perfect contrast was the great article a few pages later which depicted the reality of the Guantanamo parking gauntlet in town where the senior citizen dropping off donations for the needy was busted for her parking.

This week’s news should be that there is no big conspiracy of parking spot thugs who thrive on getting a few free minutes on the back of the City. The real criminals are all of us parents, seniors and others who wanted to throw a few dollars at our downtown and simply lost track of time.

Ron Reynier
Underwood, Wash.

ANOTHER VOICE

By DARYN FOGLE

No Interest. No Payments.
No More.
    Have you ever been in the situation of a household appliance failing at a time which was just not financially convenient?

Most of us have. You would go to your local store, purchase the item needed; and if you qualified for store credit, you took advantage of the store’s “no interest, no payments for 12 months” offer. Man, did that soften the unexpected blow of a major purchase. Many of us consumers are already feeling the effects of our slumping economy and need financing options for purchasing big-ticket items, not just appliances.

So why am I writing this today? On Dec. 28, 2008, the Federal Reserve System (Fed) published new regulations intended to improve disclosures in connection with credit card accounts. There are two new regulations within the many which will affect us all.

One is issued under the Fed’s authority to enforce the Federal Trade Commission Act prohibiting unfair and deceptive acts and practices; the other implements the Truth in Lending Act provisions related to disclosure of credit terms and costs originally enacted as part of the Consumer Credit Protection Act of 1968 (Reg. Z).

Included in these regulations are provisions which ban deferred-interest financing such as “0 percent promotions” offered by many local retailers today. The FED had previously sought input from retailers on the disclosures related to such offers, but in the end banned them altogether!

The new regulations go into effect on July 1, 2010, but could directly affect offers that expire after July 1, 2010.

In essence, as early as June 1, 2009, this will impact your ability to obtain such financing! Without options like deferred-interest financing, many Americans could be forced to pay a great deal more in interest payments, pay cash, or go without altogether.

In my opinion we should be encouraging consumers to spend money (within their means) to stimulate the economy by making it easier for them to purchase products; not putting up roadblocks.

Weak sales and one of the worst holiday seasons in decades has already resulted in widespread job loss and store closures. Lack of promotional options on expensive products will only exacerbate this shopping trend and force retailers to consider more layoffs in a time when jobs are sorely needed.

I believe this ban by the Fed is a knee-jerk reaction to the housing market/financing debacle, and it is a misdirected attempt to save consumers from themselves. The fear the Fed has is that the general public does not understand the terms of paying back the loan on a “no-interest, no-payment” structure.

So let’s eliminate it and let the consumers suffer with the new regulations is the final result. The elimination of these promotional offers could result in further sales declines which could put the viability of many local retailers and those across the nation in question.

Please call, write, or fax Rep. Greg Walden or Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with your concerns regarding this vital issue. Their mailing and e-mail addresses, phone and fax numbers can be found on this page of the paper.

n

Daryn Fogle and his wife, Sue, own Sears Hometown Store in Hood River.