Unfettered Letters

A slice of entertainment

For the past several months, during many rush hours, there has been a young man standing on the corner of a busy intersection near my home. He works for a local pizzeria and wears a placard advertising pizza prices. He doesn’t just stand there. He performs an air guitar routine that is extremely good and quite entertaining. He elicits smiles, waves and happy honks from those traveling by while simultaneously advertising for his employer.

I would like to publicly thank this young man for the wonderful job he’s doing. He seems to have such an upbeat attitude that we can all benefit from. He certainly brings a few moments of joy to the multitudes who have the pleasure of seeing him, along with many stops at the pizzeria. I’m sure his employer appreciates him, too. Bravo!

Angela Zumbaugh
Shawnee

Calling out rudeness

To some people, rudeness is poor table manners, being loud in public, interrupting conversations or Larry Johnson interviews. For me, the top of the rudeness chart is call screening. I hear people’s phones ring and watch them look first to see who it is before deciding whether to answer or even respond to voice-mail messages.

We are teaching our children from an early age that when the phone rings, you don’t have to answer if it’s someone you don’t feel like talking to. The message is “don’t accept responsibility,” even for something as small as answering the phone.

When my phone rings I answer it and deal with whoever it is, whether it is a child, grandchild or sales person. Don’t give your number to people you don’t want calling you.

Nancy Ludy
Kansas City

Liberty Tax Service wavers ‘distracting’

To North Kansas City: Thank you for looking out for the public interest and keeping the roads safe from the Liberty Tax Service wavers (1/10, Local, “Tax service wavers may be forced to wave ‘bye’.”). I know that I, for one, am an incompetent driver who is easily distracted, and the sight of a live Lady Liberty waving at me is bound to have me careening off the road.

Franchise owner Arthur Griffin should have realized that his marketing strategy puts many of his fellow citizens at great risk. Those waving Uncle Sams are just a hazard.

I also know of several Liberty Tax Services that are owned by immigrants. What a great picture of the United States to have an immigrant dressed as Uncle Sam waving at you. But let’s stop that foolishness. It’s just not safe!

On another note: Can anyone do something about those darn trees changing color every fall? I find the beautiful foliage very distracting as I am driving.

Dave Harrold
Shawnee

We already know about DTV

Am I the only person who has had it with the reminders that digital TV (DTV) will take effect next month? I can’t believe how this one issue has taken over our TV and radio programs every single day.

The sad fact is the people who are not on cable or dish are the only people who need to know about DTV. I can’t believe more people are not expressing the point that we all understand the DTV deadline date (Feb. 17), how to get our government coupons and how to hook up a converter box.

Local Kansas City media: It’s time to unplug the digital TV reminders! I will never complain about months of election commercials ever again.

Thomas M. Edmondson
Kansas City

What do all those car commercials cost?

I am guilty of criticizing our car companies and government officials for the problems our economy is in. Too many of us are not suggesting answers.

Here’s one: Would some reporter find out how many billions are used on advertising for the car industry? It has to be enormous and a place to cut one of the biggest expenses. I firmly believe most people would agree we do not need to be bombarded hourly with ads.

Hire more floor salespeople to sell the cars and trucks. We need and like the personal touch. Put more profits into the pockets of salespeople, the dealers and the manufacturers, not advertising.

Duane Hubble
Riverside

A nation of fast talkers

Congratulations and thanks to all the candidates who spoke slowly and distinctly during their campaigns so that senior citizens like me could easily understand their words without straining.

My point is that so many people speaking on the radio or television are in a race to see who can say the most words per minute. This trend is being picked up and practiced more and more widely, especially among the younger set.

Please slow down your words per minute so we can better grasp what you are saying. Either you are speaking too fast, or I am listening too slowly. This is not only my opinion. Others are noticing it, too.

Not too long ago, advertisers began employing fast talkers to do their commercials. Since their cost is based on air time, more words per minute make sense. With my slower-listening problem, I sort of liked those commercials, because they are quick, and since they are said too fast for me to understand the words I’m spared from listening to them.

How about you?

Vince Fellner
Belton

Humanists’ ad will offend

The ad on Washington, D.C., buses saying, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake” (11/12, A-9, “Humanists’ ad campaign rankles Christian groups”) will rankle more than just Christian groups.

As the article points out, a recent poll reported 92 percent of Americans believe in God. Why on earth would a bus company want to take a chance on offending so many people for the sake of (in the words of the American Humanist Association spokesman) “agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion?” If an ad on a bus tore at the very heart of any other groups’ holy celebration, it would be condemned.

Historically and theologically, the purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ so Christians have a right to preserve the true meaning of their holiday. The ad on the bus, however, will not only offend Christians but anyone who believes in God.

Carol Williams
Kansas City

Sick of pharmaceutical ads, too

I am grateful that we don’t have to listen to any more political commercials — an irritation that has thankfully ended.

Now, if there were some way to get rid of the pharmaceutical companies’ commercials. Maybe there ought to be a law.

Bernard Fremerman
Prairie Village

It’s high time to recycle signs

Now that the election is over, will everyone who put political signs in their yards and in public places please remove them? They are an eyesore!

Please dispose of them responsibly (11/6, Local, “Now that the election is over, put those signs to good use”). Cardboard signs can be recycled, and the metal can be taken to a scrap metal drop-off at area recycling centers. Unfortunately, the plastic signs will have to go to the landfill.

Diane E. Capps
Kansas City

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

Now that the election is over, I’m looking forward to fewer yard signs around town. Hopefully, the people who put up all the political posters will kindly take them down posthaste.

And, while I’m on the subject, I hope the city will take action and remove all the pesky signs advertising everything from poop-scooping to maid service.

I don’t mind a sign or two that advertises a special event, but promoting services on yard signs is mucking up the beauty of our city streets and boulevards.

V.A. Schaefer
Kansas City