(Brian: Could not agree more. This has long bugged us. Perhaps this gets us going. It has something to do with property rights, but it seems crude and like you say, undignified. Someone will come up with a better way, and a solution! -eeb)

2/25: Upset over suggestive lyrics with children around

Editor, the Forum:

On Saturday's Karaoke Night at BAILEY'S in Duluth, there are parents who bring underage children (teenagers) to an adult Karaoke show, which at times features dirty and questionable lyrics.

These lyrics could be substituted for when being sung. Most often the lyrics appear in suggestive form on large TV monitors for the audience. I myself sing songs that have "Beetle Bailey" form slang indices like "#*&#!@*", or questionable phrases, but appropriately change their form when these inappropriate wordings come up in lyrics. Many younger singers don't substitute the language. They often include offensive profanity in songs at any opportunity.

What I really don't understand is that conservative-appearing adults with ordinary (not hoodlum) looking children continually attend the shows for hours well towards midnight. Even more difficult to understand is the fact that adults seated with the children participate in the off-color lyric usage. Is there something being precipitated?

Religious movement? Dirty politics? Just plain inappropriate conduct? A group trying to muddy Karaoke participation, at one of the few safe and pretty much wholesome nightlife opportunities in Gwinnett?

I am baffled. It does appear to me that this deserves scrutiny by someone. But who?

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer/photographer appeared at the venue to take photos on a night when the youth were not there. Is there a connection between publicity and mysterious activity? I really hate to think I'm being used as a pawn and at the expense of my recreation.

-- Randy Stephens, Duluth

2/21: Florida post office flew flag upside down all day

Editor, the Forum:

Although not an excuse for not flying the flag half-staff upon the passing of a former postmaster, please remember that our postal workers are often over-worked, under-paid, and sometimes under-educated, at least in some of the finer points of flag etiquette.

Example of a past breach of flag etiquette: For an ENTIRE DAY, the flag was flown upside down (a sign of dire distress) at a post office in Florida. There were no special circumstances or happenings in our nation or the town or the facility (no postal workers going "postal").

It was a wonderful day at the beach, postal delivery trucks were going in and out making normal deliveries, customers were being served at the front counter. Still, no one corrected the flag position the entire day. (Of course, even though having driven by several times that day, I didn't make the effort to stop by and point it out to the postal workers, either.)

There are several good sites on the Internet with information on proper flag etiquette.

Here are two of them:

* http://houseandhome.msn.com/improve/experts/BasicFlagEtiquette0.aspx

* http://suvcw.org/flag.htm.

-- Annette Gelbrich, Norcross

2/11: Rolling story story took him back years

Editor, the Forum:

Thanks for taking me back to my childhood and remembering the thrill of the rolling store coming by our house in rural Crawford County. I would bet that the rolling store was not nearly as large as I remember it. You have done a great job with the Forum.

-- Charlie Hudson, Duluth

2/11: Upset over governor changing rules for students

(Editor's note: this following letter was sent to us after it was also sent to the Georgia governor, Dr. Sonny Perdue. -eeb)

Dear Governor Perdue:

You have breached a contract with the future leaders of the State of Georgia. As stated in the following document from the National Governor's Association, Georgia's Governor's Scholarship program seeks to retain our "best and brightest students". Your proposed actions have put the future of Georgia in jeopardy.

As with any contract, there is an offer and acceptance for the sake of mutual consideration. There are students currently enrolled in Georgia's universities who accepted your offer in the Governor's Scholarship Program in consideration of the stated benefits for their achievement. They have relied upon your offer for all the years of study in completion of their chosen major.

You cannot change the rules in the middle of the game. If you wish to forsake the future of Georgia and decimate the Governor's Scholarship, that's your call, but you cannot pull the plug on the kids already in the program. The State of Georgia has made a commitment to these kids and the minimum of ethical standards demands that this obligation is fulfilled to the completion of the educations of the kids already enrolled.

The immaterial dollars you will save now with your proposed actions against Georgia's "best and brightest students" will entail a future loss which will far outweigh the quick fix you seek.

We have entrusted you with the future of Georgia. Please lead us with vision.

-- Brian Luders, Duluth

2/11: Can't believe jazzercizing for three hours straight

Editor, the Forum:

I can't believe this, but I signed up to do jazzercise for three hours straight. Years ago, pounds ago, I did this for six hours.

But, I want to do this in memory of my late sister-in-law Barbara Brinkman. Every day she is my thoughts and prayers and her influence remains on all of her children and me and John.

And I'm doing this because my cousin-in-law is reaching for remission time and time again from breast cancer and he is going to win this. Yes, I said "he". Men and women can get breast cancer. And it teaches us all the lesson that our time on earth is borrowed so we must make the best of it while we are here.

So, I'm collecting $5 to $10 from as many people as I can reach. You know
how much I would appreciate your help.

Course, you can send more, but you need to do this quickly since we're doing this February 16, this Sunday.

If you can join me in this search for a cure for cancer via the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, send a check payable to:

SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

and mail to:

-- Elaine Fuerst
262 Sunset Hills Drive
Norcross, Ga. 30071

2/4: Little known fact concerning the butterfly

Editor, the Forum:

Did you know that the original name for a butterfly was "flutterby" ? Makes one wonder if politicians were involved. Do they not, even in the simplest of matters, try to reverse part of what the other side says?

-- Jerry Queen, LaFayette, La.

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