THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS OPINION

The Latest News, Updates and Opinions from Flint-Area Communities

Your Postings: Words from the Web are your comments on articles, blogs, columns and more on The Flint Journal's Web site. Here are the Words from the Web published in The Flint Journal on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008: (Give your opinion on any of these views in the comments' area below.)

• Regarding an article about a woman who wants her dog back after agreeing to give it up to avoid criminal charges related to keeping 18 cats and the dog in a Grand Blanc Township storage unit after her house was condemned:

"How come no one has tried to help this woman? She and her son are living in their car. Something is wrong with this picture. I really feel bad for the animals, especially the cats (which had to be euthanized), but at least they're not in that horrible condition any more. ... I can't believe the way people treat their pets. If you can't afford to take proper care of your pets, then find a good home for them, or better yet, don't get a pet in the first place."

-- Posted by neisey

John W. Adkisson | The Flint JournalEmergency personnel tend to the victim of a construction accident Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 at the Durant Hotel in Flint. The fall results in fines against some companies involved in the project. A letter writer objects to comments made about the fines.

Here's a Flint Journal letter to the editor for Wednesday Nov. 19, 2008: (Give your view on this letter in the comments area below)

Flint Journal extras: See below for more articles related to the Durant Hotel project.

I am writing in response to the article that appeared in The Flint Journal on Nov. 11 regarding the fines that were issued as a result of the injury that occurred at the Durant Hotel ["Durant site logs $162K in fines," Local News].

I feel compelled to take issue with State Sen. John Gleason's conclusion that the fines are "another indication that when we use low-skill, out-of-town contractors, these things happen more often."

While I am a fervent supporter of unionism and hiring local contractors, I fail to see the connection between the fines and Gleason's reasoning.

Here's a Flint Journal letter to the editor for Wednesday Nov. 19, 2008: (Give your view on this letter in the comments area below)

Instead of giving the automakers a pile of money that would be just a Band-Aid, the government should take that money and offer rebates of $4,000 or $5,000 to either the car companies or the individual, for the purchase of a new American-made car.

Paul Sancya | The Associated PressJournalists roam around the displays of cars at the North American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 in Detroit. A letter writer says the auto makers need to scale back the lavishness of the shows.

Here's a Flint Journal letter to the editor for Wednesday Nov. 19, 2008: (Give your view on this letter in the comments area below)

I have to question whether the big car parties called auto shows are really a legitimate expenditure for failing auto companies.

I read recently that General Motors has decided to reduce its participation in the Los Angeles Auto Show but that GM participation in the big Detroit auto show bash in January is still planned.

Ford, meanwhile, says it has no intention of reducing its presence for the L.A. show ["Putting brakes on auto shows," Business, Nov. 12].

Curiously enough, in that same article Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Suzuki will not be in Detroit spending money. Suzuki said in the article that "spending money on the Detroit show no longer made sense."

Now if these foreign companies (who are not asking for bailout money) see the costs of these shows as not making sense, how is that two troubled U.S. companies, which are losing money faster than my Individual Retirement Account, could possibly afford to be at these car parties?

Does this tell us something about the decisions of our U.S. auto execs who have gotten their companies into this mess?

Flint Journal's
David Smith

Read more by him

As a caution to parents, this column contains a mature theme, and so if you plan to read it aloud to your kids, be prepared to explain a few things, like the word 'crepuscular'.

I write this warning because I know parents will appreciate it. I also know that when people see the word 'mature theme' in the opening paragraph, they are more likely to read the column.

There is no Internet dating service for deer. I know this must surprise everyone because it seemed you could find anything on the Internet, but I think we may have finally plumbed its limits.

Flint Journal's
David Smith

Read more by him

As a caution to parents, this column contains a mature theme, and so if you plan to read it aloud to your kids, be prepared to explain a few things, like the word 'crepuscular'.

I write this warning because I know parents will appreciate it. I also know that when people see the word 'mature theme' in the opening paragraph, they are more likely to read the column.

There is no Internet dating service for deer. I know this must surprise everyone because it seemed you could find anything on the Internet, but I think we may have finally plumbed its limits.

Here's a Flint Journal letter to the editor for Tuesday Nov. 18, 2008: (Give your view on this letter in the comments area below)

On Sunday morning, Nov. 2, I read the editorial, "No grab bag," which detailed the use of senior millage money. I am grateful for people in our community that show support and concern for our elderly population in making sure the senior millage money is being spent properly.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Department, Probate Court and the Prosecutor's Office were awarded $758,000 in grant funds to support the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program.