”
Hi Red Phone. How can the Dispatch keep a straight face while
asking web poll questions such as this: ‘Right now, are you the
most fearful about your personal economic future as you’ve ever
been in your lifetime?’ ‘Most fearful?’ ‘Ever been in your
lifetime?’ It’s been a while since I’ve taken a statistics class,
but this is a text-book example of a biased and poorly-written
question! Certainly the web polls are not meant to be taken as
statistical gold, but nonetheless, could you dial down the
apocalyptic tenor of the questions? I’m starting to worry!
”
“Hi Red Phone. How can the Dispatch keep a straight face while asking web poll questions such as this: ‘Right now, are you the most fearful about your personal economic future as you’ve ever been in your lifetime?’ ‘Most fearful?’ ‘Ever been in your lifetime?’ It’s been a while since I’ve taken a statistics class, but this is a text-book example of a biased and poorly-written question! Certainly the web polls are not meant to be taken as statistical gold, but nonetheless, could you dial down the apocalyptic tenor of the questions? I’m starting to worry!”
Dear Biased,
Thanks for the critique, and we’ll promise to dial down “the apocalyptic tenor” when the stock market hits 11,500 again and the foreclosure rate becomes normal again …
GHS fireworks too loud for families
“I want to comment on the fireworks after the Gilroy High football game. We live behind Christmas Hill Park and the fireworks were overly loud. Fireworks are great, we love fireworks, but it seems like they’re progressively getting louder and louder and louder. It scared the living daylights out of my whole family. Fireworks are great, but there’s got to be some kind of limit as to how loud they are. Thank you.”
Dear Concerned Family Man,
Red Phone contacted Scott Barron, Gilroy’s code enforcement officer, who confirmed that loud noises that disturb another residence are prohibited between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Gilroy Fire Marshal Jackie Bretschneider added that all fireworks display are done by a state licensed pyrotechnic operator and the set up is done prior to the start of the show. She added that the high school had a permit and the correct firework mortars sizes. The fireworks might have just seemed louder because they were set off at 9 p.m. instead of the intended 8 p.m.
So, reader, Red Phone feels your pain. Perhaps the next time it would be a good chance to go out and see the newest movie in theatres or take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese’s.
Public urinating bothersome, unlawful
“I have called Scott with the City of Gilroy before about people urinating in the back of the lot at the ‘little corner store’ on Farrell Avenue and Monterey Road. They used to have garbage and brush and have since cleaned the garbage but the brush is back and enough to allow men to think they can stop there and urinate. These are both men walking and stopping in their cars. We sit in our front yards and our children ride bikes, skate and play there daily and see men urinating DAILY! Please ask the owners to do something about this. Thank you.”
Dear Disgusted Parent,
Red Phone contacted Scott Barron, Gilroy’s code enforcement officer, who encourages you to call the Gilroy Police non-emergency number, 846-0350 next time you see a public urinator. Barron said it is illegal to urinate or defecate anywhere except in a restroom. Red Phone understands that these kind of nuisances are not encouraging in a town you are raising children, but it may be a good opportunity to teach your children proper etiquette.
One man’s worry, another’s unconcern
“I feel people have nothing better to do with their lives and think they can fix something that doesn’t pertain to them, for instance the people selling fruit. If you don’t like it, go down a different street and don’t buy the fruit. Write about something important like traffic lights, necessary stop signs, parks, children riding bikes without helmets, something worth reading and doing something about. Just because YOU don’t like it, all of a sudden it’s ‘important.’ Get real!”
Dear Venting,
Red Phone is here to respond to all questions. Whether or not Red Phone believes the issue is important. Obviously the person who wrote felt it was important.
Remember good caller, what may be important to you, say more parks for the children, may not be important to someone with no children. And just like beauty, importance and relevance is in the eye of the beholder.
