Letters for Tuesday, November 30, 2010

• Questions about clouds • Don’t fix it

if it’s not broken • Try doing the natural drugs

your body makes

Questions about clouds

Tuesday’s (Nov. 23) front-page had a picture of “contrails or chemtrails?”

Government agencies say that these clouds made up of ice particles “pose no direct threat to public health,” but “may contribute to human-induced climate change.” Some questions that immediately arise:

— What exactly is the chemical makeup of these clouds of ice particles?

— Do they contain particulate matter?

— They pose no direct threat, but are there long-term effects on public health? 

— And, lastly, why are humans inducing climate change?

Can someone please address this?

Erika Hahn, Kilauea

Don’t fix it if it’s not broken

To this writer, the problem with councils in these past several decades has not been the county clerk’s office, presently headed by Peter Nakamura, but rather the County Council and mayor’s office creating the primary obstacles denying “Best Managerial Practices.”

Problems have emanated most definitely from sitting council chairmen and there subservient blocks of majority cohorts.

The council needs to function with the thought of what is best for the community, not what is best for a few very rich and controlling “investors” willing to change the business and government landscape for their own financial, personal egotistical agendas. Fortunately, at this point in time, there is an opportunity to correct this situation.

 The recent election has cleared a path toward balance for the community from one favoring a corrupt, special elitist few. To be brief, this writer suggests a postponement of any attempt to spend another couple of hundred thousands of dollars searching for a new county clerk.

Until proof can be brought forth that Peter Nakamura has violated some rules and regulations or has failed in his responsibilities, why not “cut this spending idea” and observe his performance of duty over the next two years. Let’s not condemn Mr. Nakamura at the whim of our mayor who is not, according to our Kaua‘i Charter, suppose to interfere with the hiring or firing of the county clerk or the chief of police.

This writer has had few contacts with Mr. Nakamura over the past decade and I will admit that every opportunity I have had to call upon his assistance has proven to be nothing but professional, pleasant, and productive and the same goes for his office staff.

I cannot say the same for the county council or the mayor’s office. Mr. Nakamura never participated in refusing to consider a $100,000,000 infusion of capital to fix Kaua‘i’s solid waste dilemma and bring a new industry to Kaua‘i as did the council and the mayor.

Many readers are aware that this writer has had run-ins with our governance body on many issues — too vast to mention here in this venue. My complaints and concerns have never included the county clerk’s office but rather the county council and the mayor’s office. That is where the damage originates and where the “fixin’ needs to be done” — not the clerk’s office or staff. Perhaps this new council will prove to be a turning point. Let’s hope so for our children and grandchildren!

Let’s try continuing for another term before spending hundreds of thousands of dollars needlessly then have a vote of confidence next election and see what the voters want. Wouldn’t that be a novel idea: the voters being listened to for once!

John Hoff, Lawa‘i

Try doing the natural drugs your body makes

There have been a number of recent TGI “Letters to the Editor” related to “the war on drugs,” decriminalization of marijuana and “positive uses of hallucinogenic drugs which include many physical and psychogenic purposes.”

There are drug houses everywhere — yes, everywhere. I am speaking about the human body, and the potent chemical cocktail induced by exercise. During exercise, even in a bout as short as 10 minutes, a mix of brain chemicals are released, including 20 different types of endorphins, and norepinephrine, serotonin, testosterone and dopamine — all having many positive effects on mood.

Beta-endorphins, secreted during exercise, have the most powerful effect — a “high,” which creates a prolonged feeling of euphoria, invigoration and enthusiasm.

Exercise is prescribed to treat depression and anxiety, improvement of memory, concentration, alertness, and growing more neurons in the brain. Chemicals from exercise are prescribed for insomnia, to help fight cancer, to resurrect a flagging libido, and strengthen the immune system.

It is reported, over and again, people who exercise on a regular basis have “a greater perception of acceptance by others, reduced frustration with daily problems and more constructive response to disappointment and failure.”

There it is, the answer to any wanting of legalizing any other synthetic or herbal drugs. Everything anyone could want for is at their finger tips, almost instantly, and at no expense.

Deborah Morel, Kapa‘a