LOOKING FORWARD TO STRESS-FREE COMMUTE

My husband and I live on the Waianae Coast and commute into Honolulu. We both strongly support rail.

At this time, the drive from our home to downtown can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the traffic conditions at any one of four critical merging or congested areas. This makes planning for meetings, appointments and work very challenging: every trip must be planned with an hour's leeway to allow for traffic conditions. We look forward to being able to plan our time more effectively and enjoy a stress-free commute by rail.

We've both experienced rail in different cities and believe it is a win-win for our community.

DORIEN SMITH McCLELLAN | Mäili

FURLOUGHS

PREP DAYS DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE

I graduated from McKinley in 1962. There were no teacher prep days or shortened Wednesday when I went to school. Though there has been some debate about it, I turned out fine.

Correct me if I am wrong, and I'm sure some will, but I believe students receive only perhaps six hours of instruction a day; less for lower grades with recess. This does not take into account short Wednesdays, fire drills, assemblies, field trips, physical education, ROTC and so on. It would seem teachers would have maybe a few hours in an eight-hour day to do the things S. Darrow (Letters, Dec. 3) wrote about.

I do not have a degree in education, but I have been an instructor for shipyard apprentices, Navy enlisted and foreign military students on technical subjects. Before teaching you create a lesson plan and the subsequent quizzes and tests that go along with that plan. In some cases the textbook manufacturers may have a "teacher version" which may include lesson plans and tests. If not another teacher can share her copy of the lesson plan. Worst case, you do it yourself. Not easy, but once it is done, there should not be a need for prep days. After all, most subjects are like algebra, same now as when I got a D in it. Maybe if my algebra teacher had prep days

PETER CHISTECKOFF | Mililani

RAIL TRANSIT

PROJECT TEAM IS IN NO WAY OUT OF TOUCH

Scott Wilson's letter to the editor stated that the City's transit team is "out of touch with current developments in rail transit." I am one of many City transit team members. I've been a project manager on three recent light rail systems that Mr. Wilson claims are more advanced that the Honolulu system. I sit on the industry association's Light Rail Technical Forum and on its Automated Transit Task Force. I don't believe I am "out of touch" with current developments nor do I believe are any of my senior colleagues on this Project, many of whom have similar credentials.

Since the planned system for Honolulu is a fully automated transit system, most of us in this industry would consider it to embody a more advanced technology than the light rail system that Mr. Wilson advocates. I believe that surface light rail has its appropriate applications, but after considerable study, the City's technical team and its consultants recommended that automated rail would be the most suitable application for this particular corridor and travel characteristics.

By the way, in nearly three years of working on this project, I can categorically state that I have never been told to make any specific recommendation on technology or any other matter pertaining to this project.

SIMON ZWEIGHAFT | Managing consultant, InfraConsult

HANSON

DRIVEL AND NONSENSE SIMPLY AMAZING

One never ceases to be amazed with the pronouncements of noted "classicist and historian" Victor Davis Hanson.

In his most recent column he criticizes President Obama for his "apologies abroad for past American behavior." What on earth could we have done for which we should apologize? Apparently when you are anointed to be one of the neo-con's chosen people at the Hoover Institution, you never have to say you're sorry for anything (including advocacy for the Iraq war).

Hanson goes on to say that we are sending "peace feelers out to former enemies like the Castro brothers of Cuba." Horrors! Obviously Cuba is a dire threat to the very existence of the United States, although not being a classicist and historian, I'm not sure how they still threaten us.

Next we learn that Obama "bowed to the Japanese emperor" and the Saudi King. This is really serious! Next he may be kissing the pope's ring.

However, Hanson saves his best for last. He concludes his column with the observation that "we should consider a blockade of Iranian ports." A naval war with Iran makes eminent sense, especially since the Navy has been almost totally left out of our ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I can't wait for Hanson's next installment of drivel and nonsense.

PETER KNERR | Kailua

GOVERNOR

FURLOUGHS PART OF RECENT SCORECARD

The governor is pointing fingers at the HSTA?

A reminder is necessary that it was the governor who brought up furlough days. A reminder is necessary that it was the governor who restricted the funds to the DOE by 14 percent to equal furlough day savings. This should imply that she wanted furlough days. Her statement that she and the Legislature have consensus on a solution ignores the fact that there is a contract that she agreed to in force. She further ignores the fact that the employer requested those professional development days.

What are the consequences of asking teachers to give up their planning and professional development days? Will other state departments give up their planning days? Will the DOT, DOH, DAGS and B&F do their planning outside the workday? Will they give up their professional development and not be responsible for knowledge of new technology or research in their fields? Does the governor believe things can improve without planning or improving? Does her administration recommend not planning or improving? I believe that is how we got to where we are.

Entering the last year of her administration the governor's recent scorecard is the recent audit of DBEDT, furlough Fridays, state government layoffs, a projected tenfold increase in unemployment insurance taxes and the closing of 97 voting precincts. A proud set of accomplishments. Remember when pointing a finger at someone else there are three pointing back at you.

EGAN KAWAMOTO | Ewa Beach