FreeStylin' Feedback

TV shows are too fast

What is it lately with all TV shows, from car races to wild animal documentaries? The background pounding noise (it may be music to some ears) all but obliterates what the announcer or commentator is saying, and the spastic camera operator is waving the camera around and snapping the focus in and out at a dizzy rate so that you never get a clear picture of what you think they wanted you to see!

Get back to having TV as an educational, entertaining, and informational medium, not a showcase for what some yahoo considers his "artistic expression".

-Name Unknown

FEEDBACK TO: Can't handle the stress? Get out of the classroom

I just finished reading your article on teachers needing a year off of work to "de-stress". Once more I find it incredible that so many members of this profession appear to have deemed themselves as so very overworked, underpaid and unappreciated.

My opinion? Pay teachers based on those "soooo many hours" that they put in. If they run out the doors of the school at the same time as the children...pay them for those hours; If they stay until 5 or 6 or even later....pay them for the time they actually put in.

Personally, I think that is the problem with many union jobs now. Employees seem to receive wages which are based more upon their seniority than upon their actual work habits and ethics. Start paying them based upon their actual individual contributions rather than as a "group". Wouldn't that be an eye-opener for many?

I'm not against paying teachers well... providing they are worth the money. As for the year off with pay? I agree with you - if they can't handle the stress, get out of the job - and don't expect me to pick up the tab. There's plenty of work to be found in other areas.

-Vivian

FEEDBACK TO: Canadian jails a joke

I couldn't agree more with your comments about sentencing in Canadian courts. I am an American living in Canada and just recently read about a guy who embezzled $58,000 from his employer and the judge gave him a sentence of something like one year of house arrest. I continually read in the papers about the light sentencing criminals receive in this country. I conclude this is a great country to commit a crime in as it is unlikely you will be caught and if you do get caught you will soon be back on the streets ready for another go at it. Wow. When I was in business in the U.S., my secretary embezzled 5,000 bucks from my business. She got two years in a women's prison and served all of it.

-John

FEEDBACK TO: I don't get "Baby On Board" signs

I was pleased to read your article concerning “Baby On Board” signs. These have irritated me for years. I have always assumed that people put these in their cars either because they are arrogant drivers or because they have a feeling of superiority in having produced offspring. But your comments were more eloquent. (I have two myself, by the way – offspring, that is, not BOB signs – so I am not speaking from jealousy.)

-Gary. New Zealand

FEEDBACK TO: What's the fuss about babies?

Often I think the same thing as your thoughts in your column. I don't have any kids of my own but I just don't understand the point of fussing over a baby. If someone did the same thing about their car and showed it off and polished it and kissed it and talked to it like it understands what we're saying, people would think we're crazy, right?

-Tom