Readers Respond

Ridgely not only school with faulty windows

I was very happy to see that someone is fighting back about the new windows installed at Ridgely Middle School ("Parents, officials feel the heat at Ridgely school," June 9).

My daughter teaches at Chase Elementary in eastern Baltimore County, and they also had these windows installed. Chase is an old, un-air-conditioned school, so the teachers and students are now suffering worse than with the old windows. In addition, I would ask if in an emergency, could the new windows be used for escape? Not easily.

Being a cynic, I would like to know what type of contract were these windows installed under, what justification can be given for the style, and lastly, what engineering and safety oversight was done before the final selection, and what type of review was performed before the air conditioning units were cancelled?

It is no wonder citizens are distrustful of government solutions to any problem. I would bet there are many schools stuck with these "new" windows.

Faye Zydalis

Surprising benefit of digital TV

I work for the state of Maryland in a fairly large office. Many of my co-workers have televisions on their desks, so they can watch the talk shows in the morning, news at noon and soaps in the afternoon.

Now that analog TV is a thing of the past, their TVs are useless. They're really angry, but there may be a silver lining. Who knows? Maybe productivity will increase and these folks will stop wasting the taxpayers' money.

Yawp7657

Red-eared sliders are not dangerous

I feel the need to publicly set the record straight about the risk of contracting salmonella from red-eared slider turtles ("Two charged with selling illegal turtles," June 11).

All reptiles carry salmonella as part of the normal bacterial population in their body. Sliders are not unique in that regard. The risk of getting infected with salmonella from a reptile can be greatly reduced with common sense hygiene practices. In fact, the incidence of reptile-borne salmonella infections is much less than salmonella infections obtained from improperly handled poultry products.

Red-eared sliders are indigenous to the eastern United States and are a popular pet for turtle lovers. It is not illegal to own this species. It is illegal in the state of Maryland to sell a slider that is less than 4 inches in diameter. It was felt by advocates for this law that 4 inches was the size of turtle that children could fit into their mouths. Of course, if you lick a turtle, the risk of salmonella infection is greatly increased.

No one who owns a slider should be concerned about breaking the law.

Jeffrey L. Rhody, Laurel

The writer is doctor of veterinary medicine

Reforming health care? Consider Medicare

With regard to universal health care, we have a simple and proven solution right under our nose - Medicare. This system with a 5 percent administrative cost (compared to 25 percent to 35 percent under private insurance) uses the government to collect premiums and pay providers with reasonable caps and requirements. Patients can continue to consult with private physicians of their choice.

When I transferred from private insurance coverage to Medicare, my physicians were pleased because they said that now they would be paid more promptly, with no second guessing about the appropriateness of treatment used. Jack Kinstlinger, Baltimore

Palin crosses the line

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has every right to complain publicly about David Letterman's joke abut her daughter and Alex Rodriguez. But she carries it too far and undermines her complaint when she brings politics into it.

David Letterman does not report to President Obama. And the political right is just as demeaning to those on the left as Gov. Palin complains about the left being on the right. Rush Limbaugh made fun of a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton for no other reason than that she was the president's daughter. I don't recall the Clintons taking to the airwaves over it.

Is Gov. Palin complaining so hard to make political points? I think at best she is proving why she should never have been considered for the office that is one heartbeat away from the presidency, and certainly should not be a presidential candidate.

Joseph Costa, Baltimore