Blood donors
After six months of "retirement" as a platelet donor, I was able to donate a double unit of them at Blood Assurance on the day after Thanksgiving.
I did so because I was concerned that during that dour day - Black Friday - donors would be few.
Now I am hoping that during the days leading up to Christmas area residents will step up to donote platelets, plasma, whole blood and red blood cells to their community and beyond via Blood Assurance.
Harry Geller
No jihadists under my bed
Do you believe us or your lying eyes? That is what the majority of our Tennessee state legislators seem to be asking when they want to use our tax dollars to fight a terrorist threat that does not exist. I haven't seen any jihadists lurking under my bed and, 50 years ago, I did not see any communists there, either. What I do see on a regular basis are mentally ill and confused Americans killing and wounding other Americans in the name of pro life, Ku Klux Klan and God.
We are seven times more likely to be struck by lightning than encounter a terrorist attack. Maybe we should allocate some state resources to lightning strikes. Until then, ask yourselves who you believe, the politicians or your lying eyes?
David Clark
Tullahoma, Tenn.
Growing glaciers will melt again
The Free Press editor (Nov. 6) makes the reckless claim that, because part of the Antarctic ice sheet is increasing in size, it "has challenged the thinking of climate change alarmists."
The principle author of the NASA study cited in the article recognizes that glaciers are melting, that sea levels are rising and that it is a serious matter. He estimates the increase of the glacier will be reversed in several decades, a fact omitted by the editor.
Everyone knows that warm air bears moisture, which creates snow, which becomes ice. Is it preposterous to suppose that planetary warming might cause part of the glacier to expand while it causes melting elsewhere? The glaciologist who performed the study understands this and says it is the fact.
The Free-Press editor apparently reviles those who reject this transparent disinformation. But without some understanding of climate science, calling oneself a climate-change skeptic is as meaningless as calling oneself Mickey Mouse.
Barbara S. Arthur
'Fact Check' needs to check its facts
The Nov. 23 front page article "Fact Check," relative to scientists and presidential candidates, raises some questions. How many of the climate and biological scientists are funded by tax dollars? It's difficult to be objective when your research grants are at stake. The photograph illustrating smoke streams is very misleading. Germany has strict regulations for power plants. These plants have high efficiency emission controls. What is called smoke is the condensation of water vapor from the cooling towers and the wet scrubbers that limit sulfur oxide emissions from coal combustion. This is not smoke.
Marco Rubio is actually more nearly correct about our contributions to greenhouse gases than is implied in the article. Mankind contributes between 1 and 2 percent of the Earth's carbon dioxide emissions, the remainder coming from things beyond our control. Both India and China generate significant amounts of carbon. Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas. Methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gas and water vapor are contributors. If we totally eliminated our carbon emissions, this would be a small portion of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the Earth.
Grady B. Nichols
Signal Mountain
No more fees for seniors, please
Older people cannot afford another fee. We pay for our pet tags and shots. We pay a $10 fee for each car, $150 for water runoff. Councilmen Chris Anderson and Jerry Mitchell should find out how this will affect older folks. Where is our council representative? Help us, Council, to vote down what is proposed. Folks, call the City Council and get them to vote this down. We have a small, sweet dog who is like our kid who helped me get over my cancer. Dogs are the only thing a lot of older people have.
Bettye Thomas
Hixson
Pondering patriots, politicians, Paris
The blackmailer succeeds because of fear. The same is true of the terrorist. If nothing else comes from the tragedy of Paris, it is that it exposes politicians who will cower to some public pressure just to appear to be patriots.
The question is: Are these leaders who will solve American problems or are they a part of the problem?
George Duncan
Rossville, Ga.
Build horse trails; they will come
The city's reluctance to go ahead with horse trails at Enterprise South causes much concern to those who have waited a long time for these trails. About 10 years ago, I was involved in the original planning for the proposed trails on this site. The discussion results were published in the master plan as a reality. Since then, the hiking and bicycle trails have been built, but the horse trails have been consistently postponed.
Equestrians travel for good trails, and they purchase fuel, food and drinks. Since local riders now drive miles to reach other trails, they spend their money elsewhere. Enterprise South horse trails will be for horses only and thus become a great attraction to this area. We have waited too long for these trails. The promise to us needs to be kept. Build it and they will come.
Lynne Walsh
Ooltewah
A real amateur in White House
I guess Cokie and Steve Roberts have arrived at their position on amateurs ("No place for amateurs," Nov. 24 Times page) based on the past seven years of "leadership" coming from the Oval Office. If not, where were they before the 2008 election?
Where were they at that time, questioning flawed credentials? I would guess that right now, many if not most Americans would take an amateur using their definition who surrounds him or herself with qualified experts who give straight advice and facts, and then uses this information to make competent decisions in favor of the citizens of this great country.
As to Congress being held hostage, I take offense at the Roberts' assertions if there ever were a group holding Congress back, it is the likes of Harry Reed and his ilk who continually play games and obstruct the business of the Congress. Cokie and Steve Roberts seem to like obstruction when it is done by the left; they should take off those rose-colored glasses.
Jack N. Callahan
Cleveland, Tenn.
Trust in God for protection
Fear and panic grip our nation, causing a call for drastic measures to protect us from the terrorists and religious extremists. We live in an age of uncertainty and worry about our safety. But when in history was that not so?
Matthew 10: 26-28 tells us that we should not fear those who persecute us or those who can kill us.
We are admonished to not fear this world or to dread what can happen but to place our trust in God. "The Lord is my light and my salvation so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?" (Psalms 27:1 NLT)
People of God need to do some soul searching whether they truly trust God or not. I believe in taking reasonable measures to protect our nation from those who seek to harm us, but ultimately my security comes from my faith in Christ.
Tom Ray