TRIB TALK

Published Thursday, October 2, 2008

Jim Robertson, managing editor
Call 815-1776 to contribute.

"It’s 9 Thursday night, and we just came from downtown Twilight Festival, and it had to be the most horrifying, fearful time since we’ve been here going anyplace. Now I know why they’re getting rid of the Twilight Festival. It was horrible. Every corner had masses of kids yelling at each other, jumping, screaming, saying hateful things to each other. My friend uses a cane, and they were trying to kick the cane out from under her. Believe me; we will never go downtown again for something like this. It’s a good thing they are dropping the Twilight Festival. I don’t understand why the kids got to do this. Where are the parents to teach them that hate is not the way to do it?"

"I was just watching a morning news program, and they were talking about 30 million Americans having migraine headaches and one the main causes was flashing lights. Flashing lights like the flashing that takes place between commercials and between segments of television programs. It might be television is causing a lot of Americans to have migraine headaches. And very frankly, I value your paper. One of the best things that I ever did when I came home from work was lay down and relax and read the paper. So my conclusion is people should watch less television and read more newspapers. Thank you, Tribune."

Robertson replies: Is that you, Mom?

"The stock market goes up or down every day, and the sun still comes out tomorrow. I’m in my late 50s and have seen stock market cycles for decades. I’m a longtime investor, and I’m not worried by this recent fluctuation. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the stock market failed to near 8,000, but within months, the market bounced back. The glass is either half empty or half full. If you’re younger than 50 and plan to be in the market for 10 years or more, this is a fantastic opportunity to buy cheap stock. I have encouraged my children to increase their 401K investments to the max in this window of opportunity."

"I’m calling to see if anyone knows why 18-wheelers are allowed to block Vandiver? I just came through there just east of Paris Road, and there were 15 at least vehicles, backed up on both sides of this thing. It was blocking the road; the traffic was nearly to Paris Road. I just don’t understand it."

"Lobbyists have a right to petition the government just like any individual. The problem is not the lobbyists, which everybody wants to blame, including both candidates, but the problem is Congress allows itself to be influenced by the lobbyists. And I don’t know why the media does not debate those issues. The number one problem we have in this country is an inept Congress, and all these problems we have today are a result of Congress, all the subprime loan companies and everything. And both parties are guilty."