Poor Bob Lancaster (Book section: Dec. 1). He has never received a book he liked as a Christmas present. Even the mere thought of receiving such a distasteful present seems to make him angry and unhappy. And please, don’t even suggest a gift card. Those annoying things are an abomination. They are hard to use and keep up with, and the amount is always too much or too little. Papa Bear Bob wants his things to be just right. I guess he would much prefer a gaudy tie or pair of argyle socks; perhaps an ill-fitting golf shirt or set of Old Spice toiletries will do the trick.

If any of his friends (assuming there are any remaining) or family members read this letter, please do not shop for him at WordsWorth… we certainly don’t want him mad at us.
David Cockroft
Little Rock

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Clear-cut decision
I live in NLR and work downtown; everyday I cross over the Broadway Bridge on my daily commute to the office. The last few days as I pass by the future home of the Travelers I have gotten a sick feeling to my stomach. The lot where the new stadium is to be built has been leveled. Sadly, not one of the beautiful old trees was spared in the quest for progress. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful that the new ballpark is coming to my side of the river but surely somewhere in the plan they could have kept at least two or three of those giants on the lot. I’m no tree expert but some of those trees had to be at least 80 years old and specimens like that can’t quickly be replaced. It appears that in the race for progress we lost a little treasure by the river.
Marty Sullivan
North Little Rock

Biker’s lament
I recently walked the section of the bicycle trail behind Bowman Curve. The wooden bridges are quaint and tolerable enough, but the bike surface itself is rough asphalt gravel and crusher fines. Good enough for balloon tires on slow moving bikes, but terrible for commuter and touring bikes. Not all the wood bridges are finished either. If you want a challenge, try crossing the beams on an unfinished bridge.

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I have a Peugeot PX-10 that I bought in 1974. I have ridden it for 31 years. I have replaced nearly every part except the frame. I’m not a fashion cyclist. I don’t puff up with the latest colorful styles, and I don’t jump dirt mounds. I use my bicycle to commute, almost every day.

My commute consists of dodging cars, trucks, SUVs and big yellow school buses on Chenal Parkway. About half of the drivers are using cell phones. The others are late to work, late getting home, or mad at anyone who would be dumb enough to ride a bicycle. Let me be specific. I have to ride a 4-inch-wide strip of asphalt between the white line and the drop-off shoulder. If I ride to the left of the white line, I can be clipped by a busy contractor, tired from a day of deforesting. If I ride to the right of the white line, my narrow tires drop off the shoulder and into the tire-puncturing glass and gravel.

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The saying that comes to mind is “The path that leads to life is narrow, and few are they that find it.” However if we want to help the rest of humanity, Mr. Chenal could add a paved shoulder for minimal cost. This would help walkers, runners, joggers, and bicyclists to stay alive and truly benefit from their exercise. Bicycle commuting conserves fuel, reduces obesity, and improves the fitness of the city. Every day I ride I wonder if this day will be my last. You would think if they can put all that money into deforesting Chenal, they could at least add a bike path to the shoulder of the road.
L. Van Warren
Little Rock

Veterans Day hypocrisy
I’m sure you remember that a great many Republicans sneered and jeered when then-President Clinton laid the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier each Veterans Day, because Clinton had avoided the draft.

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I thought of this on Veterans Day, when Bush, who was out politicking, sent Vice President Dick Cheney to perform this function. Cheney was the all-time champion draft dodger, as you know. I thought this was the ultimate hypocritical thing that this administration could do.
Manford H. Levy
Maumelle

Wrong chief justice
John Roberts’ record poses a serious threat to some of our basic rights — like equal voting rights, property rights, reproductive choices and protections for workers. During John Roberts’ hearing, he directly refused to answer over 100 questions from senators and evaded countless others — leaving many fundamental issues unanswered.

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The Bush Administration refused to turn over any records from Roberts’ time as deputy solicitor general, where he played an important policy-making role. The people deserve to know why Bush and Roberts kept us in the dark.

John Roberts was the wrong choice for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Ronald Stanley
Mountain View

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Republicans whine and threaten to change the Senate rules if Democrats demand complete knowledge about a potential judicial nominee even though, according to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, 67 of President Clinton’s judicial nominees were never allowed a vote on the floor of the Senate. It is my understanding that at least 95 percent of President Bush’s judicial nominees have been considered by the full Senate.

Can any of you tell me what is wrong with this picture?
Frances Grace Block
Little Rock

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