Pipe-smoking story totally senseless
Your recent Life section cover story documented the rise in popularity of pipe smoking, complete with photos of a young woman "enjoying" lighting up and explaining how "appealing" it is to clean, pack and light a pipe. A sidebar covered how choosing your pipe tobacco is a "personal choice" like deciding on a coffee. It describes some varieties as having a flavor like "sweet oatmeal or caramel."
My images are different. Like watching my 49-year-old Dad die from nasopharyngeal cancer after being a pipe smoker. Or my friend's grandfather, who was never seen without his pipe until he had to have most of his lower jaw removed.
Shame on you for printing this senseless article!
DAVID HOLT, Hixson
Demand action to halt violence
As a citizen of Tennessee, I am writing my senators and congressman and demand that action be taken to prevent any more tragedies like the recent school killings. I implore all Americans to write or call our government representatives: Sen. Lamar Alexander, 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 202-224-4944; Sen. Bob Corker, 185 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 202- 224-3344; and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, 511 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202- 225-3494, local 423-756-2342.
SALLY SCHOLZE
Agencies make payments difficult
I was a programmer during the '70s, '80s and '90s. This statement was the one I heard the most often that sent chills down my spine.
I set my bank account up to pay my property tax via EFT. On Thursday, I got a receipt from both the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. But one of the agencies had a history of two payments, and the other had lost a check, which was mailed, from the bank, on time.
Neither agency accepts EFT payments. "Snail Mail all the way!"
So they say "we have to raise taxes again." But they also have people making mistakes doing jobs which can be done completely hands-free. Receive the EFT, post the account and email my receipt. This is not rocket science.
Companies (which have to show a profit) do it every month. And yet I was advised by the bank that it was safer to "snail mail" a check to the government. Business licenses are done much the same.
Fill out a form and mail in a check.
My question: Why, why, why?
STEVEN SMITH