Ignorance

When women have pre-wedding jitters they shouldn't ignore them, according to researchers at UCLA . New research shows that doubts, particularly the woman's, predicts higher divorce rates and less marital satisfaction years later. “People think everybody has premarital doubts and you don't have to worry about them,” said Justin Lavner, a UCLA doctoral candidate in psychology and lead author of the study, in a statement. “We found they are common but not benign,” he said.

Let me get this straight: a spontaneous movement arises and takes up the name "Tea Party" based on historical actions and the acronym "taxed enough already," amasses a very large number of either followers or sympathizers, and literally reverses the party breakdown in the U.S. House of Representatives and state-level assemblies, but it is not worth receiving any reporting. When it is reported upon, the items are buried deep within the pages of The Sun and are usually flippant or derogatory in nature.

Speaking last week at a regular meeting of the Edgewood Community Council, Jansen Robinson touched upon one of the greatest disgraces of American civic life, namely that too many people just can't be bothered to vote. Robinson, who has been an Edgewood community activist for a number of years and has made an unsuccessful run for public office, also hit the nail on the head when he enumerated the penalty for not voting, namely being neglected by the government. As Robinson eloquently put it: "If we lived up to our potential we would never have to ask elected officials for anything.

Ever heard of the Green and Libertarian parties? I have, and the American people have a right to know who is running and what they propose. I would also like your support for them both to be in the presidential debates, along with the Republican and Democrat. If they were in the debates, the people would have a better idea of who is running and what they do propose. Question: What party was Jessie Ventura (former professional wrestler, Navy Seal, author, actor, etc.) in when he was governor of Minnesota?

The Ravens were ready to break the team huddle to start practice recently when Joe Flacco took off his helmet and his teammates erupted in laughter. "The guy was wearing a [skull] cap," wide receiver Torrey Smith said. "You know, the thing that Ray Lewis wears. " For the past four seasons, the quarterback has been scrutinized more than any other athlete in Baltimore. His body language has been interpreted and critiqued. His quotes have been dissected and, at times, mocked. And his performance every weekend during the football season has ranged from acceptable to terrible, depending on whom you ask. As he enters the most important season of his young career, Flacco is supposed to be feeling the pressure that comes with increased expectations and responsibilities.

Pertaining to the Perry Hall shooting, I have sympathy for both the victim and the shooter. When are parents going to teach their children not to be bullies? In this day and age when bullied victims bring guns to their schools, it would be a good idea not to be a bully. I have absolutely no sympathy for the bullies, but the true tragedy is when innocent victims are in the shooter's path. Every school and every parent should view the documentary "Bully" and then discuss it after.

The father of a Perry Hall High School student shot on the first day of school in Baltimore County told parishioners at his church on Sunday that his son is "pretty darn close to the road to recovery," and implored parents and children to watch for warning signs among teens to help prevent future incidents. "We as parents, it is our responsibility to know what our kids are doing. You don't have to be intrusive or anything like that, but we should know what our kids are doing," said Daniel Borowy's father Milton Borowy, who spoke to the fellow parishioners at the Perry Hall Family Worship Center.

I would like to respond to "No amount of spin can explain Obama's abundant failures" (letter, Aug. 2). The letter states that the country is not better off than it was four years ago. Now, I know telling people that things are really, really bad and that it's all President Obama's fault is Fox News 101 mantra, but if you examine the facts, things are gradually getting better. If we can step into the "way-back" machine and return to the Fall of 2008, the economy was hemorrhaging jobs, financial institutions were reeling with bad debt, foreclosures were running in the millions.

Being outraged that the salary for the position of Harford County Council Administrator went from about $72,687 a year before to the retirement of the last person to hold the job to $116,000 in less than a year since the current council administrator took office is a natural. Plenty of people in county government jobs make $46,000 a year or less, and awarding a raise totaling that amount to a person who has been on the job for less than a year is something every taxpayer in Harford County should be concerned about.

With Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri refusing to leave the race for the U.S. Senate seat, the distractions are guaranteed to keep coming ("Akin fights on, says he's 'standing on principle,'" Aug. 23). Despite his apologies and retraction, and despite Governor Mitt Romney's condemnation of the remarks, the focus for the next week will be on abortion. It doesn't matter that the Romney ticket has stated that they support abortion for victims of rape and incest, they will be lumped together with the more rabid anti-abortion faction of the Republican Party.