MOURN ALLEN'S

Oh yes, we must mourn the death of Allen's, because yet another place in Athenstown winds up torn down for its price, its value be damned.

Andrew Davidson
Paris

LET'S ACTIVE

In response to "Protest Wisely" by Chad Cooper. Chad, in your letter, you state that you are against Critical Mass, and also the FTAA and IMF protests because they "damage the cause." For someone who is "all for civil disobedience," it sure seems to make you uncomfortable. Later on in your letter, you express distaste for the pollution caused by our military. How then, can you sit there and criticize people who care enough to risk their necks protesting the militarization and political repression in Latin America? Against pollution and militarization are you? Maybe you should focus your criticism on the FTAA and IMF and World Bank rather than criticizing the activists who engage in protest. What exactly is your idea of the "time and place" for civil disobedience? Did you ever read about the Civil Rights movement? Activists engaged in sit-ins, boycotts and massive street protests while police wailed on their asses. Do you really think they could have gained an inch by strategically voting or spending their money a certain way? A couple months ago in Bolivia, almost the entire population protested for weeks, braving a violent U.S.-backed Bolivian military, and eventually forced their repressive U.S.-puppet president to flee from office (he's now being sheltered comfortably in Miami). Do you really think they could have ousted him by bloc voting? Maybe you're right. Maybe people shouldn't "waste [their] time congregating in public."

Trevor Almon
Email

USE BRAKES

Thanks to the city for putting in brighter crosswalk signs on Prince Ave. and moving them farther from the crosswalks so that drivers can see them before they're right up in your face. Now all we need is for drivers to pay attention and learn that they're supposed to, d'oh, stop for pedestrians in crosswalk. That really shouldn't be too hard for somebody to learn, and the life you save could be mine.

Gretta
Athens

DUMB? UNDERHANDED?

Pardon me, but I still don't understand why Congressman Burns didn't use his influence on the Transportation Committee to get us the rails/trails money that was just sitting there waiting for us to say what we needed here in Athens-Clarke County. The mayor and commission clearly indicated their priority, and then Cong. Burns just threw it in the hopper with no hint of what we needed? Is this dumb or underhanded? Looks like to me we could do a whole lot better up there with somebody who listens to his constituents and knows how to get something done for them. Just in case it's true what they say about Homeland Security, sign me,

Name Withheld
Athens

CRY FOR HELP

THROUGH THE COURTESY OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, I TAKE LIBERTY ANCHORED ON A STRONG DESIRE TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND RISKFREE TRANSACTION WHICH I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE YOUR URGENT ATTENTION.

I AM MR.SESAY MASSAQUOE. I AM MOVED TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER. THIS WAS IN CONFIDENCE CONSIDERING OUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATION.

I ESCAPED WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN OUT OF SIERRA- LEONE TO GROU-JIRNSSUM, A VILLAGE IN THE NETHERLANDS THROUGH THE AID OF THE UNITED NATIONS EVACUATION TEAM WHERE WE ARE NOW PRESENTLY RESIDING ON TEMPORARY POLITICAL ASYLUM.

HOWEVER DUE TO THIS SITUATION I DECIDED TO CHANGE MOST OF MY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS DEPOSITED IN SWISS BANK AND OTHER COUNTRIES INTO OTHER FORMS OF MONEY CODED FOR SAFE PURPOSE BECAUSE THE NEW HEAD OF STATES AHMED TEJAN KABBA MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE SWISS GOVERNMENT AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO FREEZE ALL MY TREASURES DEPOSITED IN SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. HENCE I AND MY WIFE ALONG WITH MY CHILDREN, DECIDED LAYING LOW IN THIS OUR TEMPOERY POLITICAL ASYLUM CAMP HERE IN GROU JIRNSSUM IN THE NETHERLANDS TO STUDY THE SITUATION TILL WHEN THINGS GETS BETTER, SINCE PRESIDENT TEJAN KABBA TAKING OVER GOVERNMENT AGAIN IN SIERRA-LEONE ONE OF MY CHATEAUX IN SOUTHERN FRANCE WAS CONFISCATED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, AND AS SUCH WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR IDENTITY SO THAT OUR INVESTMENT WILL NOT BE TRACED AND CONFISCATED.

I HAVE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF THIRTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$30,500,000) WITH A SECURITY COMPANY FOR SAFEKEEPING.

THE FUNDS ARE SECURITY CODED TO PREVENT THEM FROM KNOWING THE ACTUAL CONTENTS.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO NOW IS TO INDICATE YOUR INTEREST THAT YOU WILL ASSIST ME AND MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY BY RECEIVING THE MONEY ON OUR BEHALF.

THE ACCOUNT REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT CAN EITHER BE PERSONAL, COMPANY OR AN OFFSHORE ACCOUNT THAT YOU HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER. YOUR AREA OF SPECIALISATION WILL NOT BE A HINDERANCE TO THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THIS TRANSACTION.

ACKOWLEDGE THIS MESSAGE, SO THAT I CAN INTRODUCE YOU TO MY FAMILY AS OUR FOREIGN TRUSTED PARTNER WHO SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF OUR INVESTMENT ABROAD WHERE WE NOW PLAN TO SETTLE.

I WANT YOU TO ASSIST US IN INVESTING THIS MONEY, BUT I WILL NOT WANT OUR IDENTITY REVEALED. I WILL ALSO WANT TO BUY PROPERTIES AND STOCKS IN MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES AND TO ENGAGE IN OTHER SAFE AND NON-SPECULATIVE INVESTMENTS.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL TURMOIL, HENCE WILL NEED YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ASSISTANCE.

MAY I AT THIS POINT EMPHASIZE THE HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALLITY WHICH THIS BUSINESS DEMANDS AND HOPE YOU WILL NOT BETRAY THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE WHICH WE REPOSE IN YOU. I SHALL PUT YOU IN THE PICTURE OF THIS BUSINESS, I.E TELL YOU WHERE THE FUNDS ARE CURRENTLY BEING MAINTAINED AND ALSO DISCUSS OTHER MODALITIES INCLUDING REMUNERATION FOR YOUR SERVICES.

I SHALL INFORM YOU WITH THE NEXT LINE OF ACTION AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE.

IS THIS PROPOSITION ATTAINABLE? IF IT IS, PLEASE KINDLY FURNISH ME IMMEDIATELY BY E-MAIL WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ENHANCE THE CONFIDENTIALLITY WHICH THIS BUSINESS DEMANDS.

MR.SESAY MASSAQUOE.
HARLINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS.