Letters to the Editor:
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:33 AM PDT
Searching for alien life a waste of time and money
Editor,
The Argus’ Horizons magazine had an article titled “Searching for alien life.” It stated that several well-known scientists have found billions of stars exist in the universe. The article also said that “bizarre microbes” have been found in very harsh Earth environments in the depths of a South African gold mine. The depths of the deepest parts of the oceans, 20,000 feet deep or more also contain bizarre life forms.
Based on this gold mine information the article says that it is enough evidence to fuel the reason to spend hundreds of millions of dollars for space programs whose main goal is to search for planets Earth-like that might have supported these extreme bizarre forms of life at one time.
It is beyond me to understand how anybody can justify conducting this kind of tremendous interest, effort and great amounts of money on such slim, thin evidence as found in a deep hole in Africa. Where would it lead if it was found?
It sounds like this kind of activity is being driven by the belief of evolution that says that life and humans developed over millions or billions of years from microbes, spontaneously. Most scientists and people have now discounted the evolution theory, including Darwin himself in statements and said that people have made a religion out of it. In the Bible, Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 it says “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Then God goes on to describe all he does with the earth. He does not mention any other places to which directs his interest but the Earth. So why should we think there would be life any where else but on Earth?
Gerald F. Haines
Ontario
The kindness of strangers makes it all better
Editor,
On July 22, my brothers and I were outside riding our bikes when it started to rain. By the time we made it the 200-or-so feet across the parking lot, hightailing it toward Four Rivers Cultural Center, we were stinging, freezing and positively drenched.
That monsoon turned all three of us into drowned rats. Even after attempting to dry off, we were very wet. Then, to the rescue, with a little help from Ms. Glynna Day, came Sandy and the TVCC book shop. The wonderful people from the store took pity on three soaked ragamuffins and gave all of us new, dry TVCC Chukar T-shirts. Finally, we were warm and dry, not to mention extremely grateful. I know that in my memory, I won’t record the storm as much as the kindness of strangers to make it all better.
Aimeé Fritsch
Ontario
River users beware!
Editor,
Last year the city of Boise put a halt to alcohol use on the Boise River. From what I’ve heard it has made the floating experience more enjoyable for the majority of users.
Nothing better on a hot day than a cool float down the Payette River, and nothing better on your float than an ice cold beer.
I spend a considerable amount of time on our local rivers and have made these observations concerning river floaters.
They leave large amounts of trash at every staging area. They routinely throw their cans and bottles in the water or fill them with water and sink them to the bottom. On a recent trip near Letha, a group of floaters went by me as I was fishing with several beer cans floating right alongside of them.
With the alcohol ban on the Boise River, there is a new group of people using the Payette sporting 1A and 2C license plates doing the same things here that got them in trouble in Boise.
It doesn’t bother me that people drink beer on the river but by their actions I urge the commissioners of Payette and Gem counties to take a hard look at an alcohol ban on the Payette River. It’s a beautiful resource and doesn’t deserve this kind of abuse. There has to be consequences to this illegal trashing of “our” river.
If an alcohol ban doesn’t stop the litter problem, I wouldn’t be against a total ban on floaters. They are the problem.
The Snake River is pretty much a dead river. We cannot allow the same thing to happen on the Payette.
Dave Tuning
Fruitland
Executive branch should be accountable
Editor,
As a citizen and taxpayer of Oregon, I am extremely dismayed at what I consider to be disregard for fiscal accountability and responsibility of the executive branch of government of Oregon.
At a time when the economy of our state could be considered in recession, the decision to increase salaries of directors and mangers of state agencies despite knowing that the funds for the increases were not completely funded, is not based on sound fiscal judgment. No private business could or would make such a decision and remain stable.
The median income for Oregonians is $36,000 per year. Salary increases authorized and promoted by the executive branch are at least equal to the total income a worker receives for the year, and there are certainly Oregonians receiving less than the median income.
Since these large increases, running as high as 24 percent, are not funded, agency budgets will need to be adjusted to supplement the funded increase which is only about one-fifth of the total increase. The shortfall will amount to approximately $500 million. It would appear possible that agency programs will have be cut, and fees increased to balance the budget.
The front page of my weekly newspaper states the need for increases in food bank items, and food stamps because families have no income and no jobs are available. Another front page story speaks to the increased fuel costs and the necessity of limiting even trips to the grocery store.
In other parts, the state law enforcement has been cut back, employees have been laid off, libraries have been closed and schools are reducing programs.
I would like to see some concrete justification from the executive office supporting the move forward with these 16 to 24 percent increases that are not funded. If any of my figures are incorrect, I would certainly invite information regarding those that lack credibility.
My concern is not with the agency directors and managers receiving the large increases, it is with the executive branch responsible for the increases. The executive branch needs to rethink the increases and return to fiscal accountability for the people of Oregon.
Sharon Livingston
Long Creek
Jerry wrote on Aug 12, 2008 4:18 PM:
After a fruitless search for alien life, a friend told me that several well-known scientists have found billions of stars exist in the universe. He went on to say, “bizarre microbes” have been found in very harsh Earth environments in the depths of a South African gold mine. The depths of the deepest parts of the oceans, 20,000 feet deep or more also contain bizarre life forms.
Impressed by this gold mine information, my friend is persuaded by the evidence to support a tax plan to fund space programs whose main goal is to search for planets Earth-like that might have supported these extreme bizarre forms of life at one time or, even now.
It is beyond me to understand how an intelligent social worker would abandon a lucrative career of doling out condoms, for a greater scientific challenge and a chance to play in the big leagues at NASA. What difference can we appreciate if extra-terrestrial life was found?
Then, he pulled out a little bible and showed me the way. Later, I tried to find the quoted scripture but couldn't find the same edition he had and, had to settle for someone else's edited and abridged version which left the translation open to interpretation. Suddenly, I felt like a mouse in a maze trying to find the cheese, until I found my self-respect and decide not to play that game.
I would like now to thank Man for creating oil, electricity, and all the luxuries of time to expend it upon solving all our social problems like, homelessness, disease, predatory lenders, real-estate speculators and other self-serving trolls who post at forums and message boards across the vast cosmos of the Internet.
Well, ok, I confess to becoming weary of the same old stories that repeat incessantly here on good old planet earth. Would you please indulge me and my fellow scientist as we cast our gaze outwards to the stars. While the realm of what we understand might expand and, some of the stuff we learn may seem impractical, I hope one day that it might all come together to make sense and that I can camp out on the asteroid Eros for a thousand years and come back today and tour the planet of the apes. "