MacKinnon should be ashamed
I am shocked and embarrassed to have read Sen. Anna MacKinnon's commentary.
The survey she quotes has no scientific validity as it meets no known criteria to be meaningful.
Likewise there is no scientific peer-reviewed data in a known, respected scientific journal that documents negative health consequences of daylight saving time. To cite a Swedish study without referencing is the height of ignorance.
I could care less about DST. Its been around since WWI. It's no wonder our Legislature gets nothing done when it remains fixated on an almost 100-year-old issue when so many more relevant, contemporary pressing issues abound.
She should be ashamed.
— Steven Tucke, MD
Anchorage
Hold chronic inebriates accountable
Regarding public intoxication law or violation:
I am hoping the Anchorage Assembly will act on this endeavor. First, enforcement should be left up to police officers' field decisions as Anchorage is a party town, but the area between Ninth and Medfra to 13th and Gambell to the Brother Francis Shelter and Bean's Cafe needs to be cleaned up.
These constant and consistent street inebriates are not held accountable for their actions. They constantly shake people down for cash, cigarettes, etc. They have made our public bus stops their personal bars as they have an overhead shelter and seating. They are guaranteed a place to sleep at night — Brother Francis — or if they are too drunk they will be given a free ride to sleep-off.
Make them accountable. My suggestions are: first offense, 3 days in jail; second offense, 30 days; third offense, 90 days; etc. I personally have been physically accosted four times at our bus stops for not giving up cash. I have called APD five times to get these sleeping drunks off the bus stop benches so our disabled could sit down. Enough is enough. Anchorage Assembly, do something about this please.
— Jack F. Tatum
Anchorage
Thanks to West High writer
Here's an overdue "thank you" to West High student Barae Hirsch, who wrote a thoughtful and encouraging commentary ("Youth need a voice in Alaska's future," Feb. 21) that brightened my day and gave me a needed burst of hope for our state's future. I absolutely agree that Barae and other young Alaskans need to have their voices heard, especially since they will be inheriting the changing world (and climate) that we older folks are influencing so greatly. I greatly appreciate the "alternative perspective" that she presents and would like to assure Barae that although we may be in the minority, many of us older Alaskans share her perspective.
I agree immediate changes are necessary; We Alaskans must address the "daunting issues" she mentions when considering the well being of our state's people as well as the health of our lands and our wild neighbors. I hope Ms. Hirsch and her peers will continue sharing their perspectives and prodding our state's adults to do better.
— Bill Sherwonit
Anchorage
Please keep daylight saving time
I love daylight saving time. Please don't take it away! Some ask why we continue it. I say because it gives us more light in the evening so that we feel more like getting outside and recreating at the end of the workday, instead of wanting to go home and go to bed early. I look forward to starting DST and dread its end. Sure, I dislike losing an hour of sleep when it begins, but who doesn't? Does that ever stop us from traveling to different time zones?
Alaskans are tough enough to buck up to an hour of time loss in the spring and we love our evening light. Light in the evening means summer to me. I hope to see you all on the Coastal Trail or on the trails in the Chugach State Park. I've waited all winter for this.
— Cheryl Myers
Anchorage
Psychological research offers insight
Kathleen McCoy reported on psychological research by UAA's Professor Yasuhiro Ozuru (ADN, Sunday). While people often think that an idea or statement cannot be evaluated until it is understood, Ozuru's work shows that evaluation may come before understanding. Could that explain the ongoing rejection of climate change research and evolution theory? Could it explain certain aspects of world politics? Could it explain bad business decisions? Keep up the great work, Professor Ozuru, and thanks to Kathleen McCoy and the ADN for keeping us informed.
— Bill Streever
Anchorage
Chuitna damage would be irreversible
The heading for a letter to the editor, (ADN, Saturday) by B. Marlow, was quite misleading. In fact, "Chuitna damage could be irreversible" would be factually incorrect. Damage from the proposed Chuitna coal mining project — only 45 miles across Cook Inlet from Anchorage — would be irreversible.
There is no scientific evidence that damage caused by any similar project has been or will be reversed. And, approval of the water rights in favor of PacRim Coal, the project developer, or approval of the proposed project would "trade one resource for another" and set a horrid precedent of destruction of a salmon stream in favor of some short-term development. (You can send comments to support water rights for fish resources to david.w.schade@alaska.gov at ADNR.)
— Bill Hauser
Anchorage