Letters to the editor for Sunday, Jan. 13

I can't believe what I read in the Star Tribune last week. High school students get disciplined by their school for posting pictures of themselves drinking on Facebook, and some parents are considering legal action against the school for punishing them (front page, Jan. 10)?

Parents, do your job! At least someone is disciplining your children. Stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.

SHAUN MCNally, Chokio, Minn.

University of Minnesota officials are rightly concerned about running light rail up Washington Avenue ("Council must whittle options for Central light-rail line," Jan. 10). That street is jammed now with cars, trucks and pedestrians from the river to Oak Street. Fortunately, the new Interstate 35W bridge is being built to hold light rail.

Running the proposed light rail along the north side of campus makes sense both for students and the new U stadium attendees. Coming off the 35W bridge the new rail line could run through the Dinkytown trench alongside the existing railroad lines and around the new stadium, back to University Avenue and on to St. Paul. Shuttle buses could get those who can't or don't want to walk to the U hospital edge of campus. Using the 35W bridge would serve the campus and citizens far better. Taking time to redesign would result in long-term savings, possibly including lives and property.

ARVONNE FRASER, MINNEAPOLIS

Regarding all the hand-wringing about the sesquicentennial party: Why do we feel the need to spend more than Wisconsin? What is the goal and theme of the party? Would a successful party be about the number of politicians and celebrities we can attract? And finally, would we consider it a success if we simply reflect on and give thanks for all the good things Minnesotans enjoy? That theme could have the greatest long-term effect at a modest cost.

Your Jan. 6 front-page article concerning declining CD sales didn't address the recording industry's culpability in its own demise. The Recording Industry Association of America is making criminals out of their customers. Right here in Minnesota a woman was prosecuted, convicted and fined $220,000. She was accused of sharing 24 songs online, which comes to $9,250 a song. Currently in an Arizona case the RIAA is claiming that it is illegal for a person to copy a legally purchased CD onto their own computer.

That's right folks, if you copied a legally purchased CD, a CD that you thought you owned, onto your home or work computer you are guilty of a heinous crime. If you can't afford $9,000 a song, watch out.

Oh, and don't get me started on the declining quality and increasing cost of today's CDs.

KEN HAYES, MINNEAPOLIS

David Brooks' Dec. 6 column brought up an interesting and resonant element of Barack Obama's political approach: "[Obama] seems at first more preoccupied with changing thinking than changing legislation." Obama seems to know that without changing national priorities and mind-set, we will continue to let fear and divisiveness define our priorities. We all know where that has led.

MARY CLAIRE O'BRIEN, ROCKFORD

A Wall Street Journal article reprinted in the Jan. 6 Money & Business section spoke of lowering hiring standards because of the airline pilot shortage.

The two pilots in the picture are calmly flying their Boeing 737 in an apparent turn because the captains' radar shows they are heading into some weather and a large buildup ahead of them. They must be super pilots because the engines are not operating, the thrust levers are at idle, the start levers are "off," the airspeed is "zero," and the turn and bank indicator shows they are in level flight. All this in a clear sky with weather approaching and the gear is down.

But, as the article says, "There is no substitute for experience, particularly in a cockpit."

RICH OSBORN, EDINA

This description fits the Bush administration to a T. From the tax cuts for buddies, to the billions poured down the earmark rat hole, we can label our leaders as no better or worse than those in Kenya.