• Support the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act • Extremist propaganda harmful • Kicking the habit • Ruskjer a ‘genius, not a sociopath’ Support the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act With a five-year survival rate of just 6
• Support the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education
Act • Extremist propaganda harmful •
Kicking the habit • Ruskjer a ‘genius, not
a sociopath’
Support the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act
With a five-year survival rate of just 6 percent, pancreatic cancer has the lowest relative survival rate of all the cancers tracked by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
The good news is that there is currently a bill, the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act (S362/HR733), that could change these statistics by requiring the NCI to develop a long-term comprehensive strategic plan to combat this insidious disease. The dismal survival rates have changed little over the last decades. We cannot continue to wait for the status quo to produce new results. We need a new game plan. We need the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act passed.
Fighting this disease is personal for me because my grandmother has been battling with pancreatic cancer for about five years and she actually had just passed away less than a week ago.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, our U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye wields enormous influence over the fate of the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act. We need his support.
Please join me in urging Sen. Inouye to co-sponsor S362 today in order to give hope to the 44,000 Americans who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. Together we can make a difference.
Jeremi Guillermo, Kapolei
Extremist propaganda harmful
Extremists never self label themselves as such. Extremism is left to be revealed in language and argument. Typical of an extremist, Ms. Ashkenazy (“Know the truth,” Letters, Sept. 28) proclaims to possess “the truth.”
Typical of extreme views, there is plenty of empirical evidence that using language like: “The American Empire,” or assigning intentional war crimes and profiteering to our government and military is a stance taken by a small minority.
For example, it is not a stance taken by either of the two political parties that make up an overwhelming majority of voters. Typical of an extremist, Ms. Ashkenazy recognizes no middle ground and assigns the opposite point of view to anyone critical of hers; such as myself.
I neither wrote of, nor do I hold, any pro-war or pro-military views and am equally skeptical and critical of those as well. I will take the position that it is the middle ground of American politics is where anything of value is accomplished and that the potential for that accomplishment is harmed by the propaganda from extremists like Janet Ashkenazy.
Pete Antonson, Kalaheo
Kicking the habit
Dale Gearhart is rightly outraged at the gouging by oil companies who raise prices faster and higher than their costs for a barrel of oil (“Footing profits,” Letters, Sept. 27).
There are, however, alternatives to oil company bullying. I, for one, am kicking the addiction to non-renewable finite filthy fossil fuels!
In August, I took delivery of my 100 percent electric Nissan Leaf. Now, I can plug it into my solar panels powered by the free gift of energy from the sun gods, and smile and wave as I drive past the gas stations. I have now logged more than 1,200 miles and haven’t stopped at a gas station in more than six weeks.
This is no hybrid. 100 percent electric with no gasoline backup!
No gas. No oil changes. No tune-ups. No transmission, transmission fluid or shifting gears to interrupt acceleration. No radiator or coolant or hoses to maintain. No regular powertrain maintenance. No smog checks ever.
Just say No to gas stations! Come home, pop in the charger, and ready to roll the next time out!
Of course, there are the things we miss. The sweet smell of gasoline odor begins to fade from olfactory memory. And none of those letters from gas card companies announcing how many dollars you pumped down the tank this month.
For my friends in Kaua‘i, where the farthest trip distance is barely half a charge on country roads, an electric car seems ideal. And apparently the Kaua‘i County Council agrees, as The Garden Island reported Oct. 6 that the county has acquired five Nissan Leafs for use by employees.
Douglas Dunn, Escondido, Calif.
Ruskjer a ‘genius, not a sociopath’
Dave Ruskjer is a hero not a criminal. He operated his organization for four years without a single complaint and actually afforded his clients a way to get ahead in these times when we all know how crooked so many banks are. And God forbid that The People might get an opportunity to make out better than the oppresive U.S. banking system.
I knew many of Mr. Ruskjer’s clients and not one expressed dissatisfaction only elation.
Apparently, it all began with a disgruntled wife of one of Dave’s employees who stirred up the pot and reported Dave.
Now everybody loses, especially Dave.
Mr. Ruskjer was very careful and received written authorization by the Securities Exchange Commission and other agencies in order to conduct his business.
After one year with Ruskjer, I withdrew my loan principle without a hitch and re-invested months later and then all the assets were frozen.
Almost 3 years later he was found guilty (so much for a speedy trial) and none of his lenders were given the opportunity to testify.
Mr. Ruskjer is a genius, not a sociopath. May justice soon reign again in this country.
Miles Greenberg, Kapa‘a
