From our readers
rogerWILLIAMS rwilliams@florida-weekly.com
Public radio

Roger,

As a former employee and occasional freelance reporter for WGCU - you had me rolling with laughter and recognition at your commentary...I imagine the impulse to be "unrestrained" is the secret fantasy of pretty much every business person and politico (and we're nearly all politicos at some time or another).

What an interesting slice-of-life or aural postcard it would make!

In encouragement of the "kick off your high heels" and "say it like you mean it" frame of mind,

Kathleen

Dear Kathleen,

I'll be listening for your next freelance story or feature on WGCU 90.1 FM - they're obviously very lucky to have you, from time to time. And we'll all be wondering just how far you'll kick off your high heels.

By the way, I should mention that my wife, Amy Bennett Williams, is not only an unrestrained columnist for public radio here, but a writer and "Tropicalia" editor for The News-Press. I hadn't mentioned this fact in the column.

Going green

Roger, I greatly enjoyed your article in Florida Weekly. Being a country boy raised in Eastern Kentucky, our family had a two-seater outhouse until I was in the 8th grade. In a family of six children with four boys we often took a pee off the back porch after dark rather than walk to the outhouse. Dad was a coal miner, we were poor but we had lots of care. Today five of the six of us have either a master's or doctor's degree. So taking a pee outdoors resonated with my childhood.

I would like to suggest a thought for a future article for those males who do not live in the country or for those who do but cannot take matters in their own hands and take a pee outdoors. My thought is that if we saved a one- gallon empty milk or bottled water container and kept it by the commode in our homes to urinate in we could save a lot of water. The process would be very private, sanitary, and efficient. The container could be re-capped or sealed after each use so there would be no odors or mess. After the container is filled or partially filled it could be emptied underneath your trees and shrubs. I have planted over 200 palm trees on my property here on the Cape in the last four years and I am implementing this process. Each tree will get its gallon of urea on a rotating basis.

Also in keeping with the theme of Going Green, if the makers of detergent, bleach, milk, bottled water would market their products in green containers with a diagram of the various size holes to cut out to the preferences of the various types of song birds we could then greatly aid in their reestablishment by hanging these bottles in the trees in our yards and woodlands. They would make for great nesting sites for our birds, would not be unsightly as you could not see them from any distance, and would be almost impenetrable to snakes and other predators.

Johnny

Fort Myers

Roger,

I am a big fan of your work. Also a fan of Amy's work. But I have never taken the time to write. However, your article "going green" is just too funny to let go without an email. I am going to get my wife to read it as she constantly reminds me that "the world is not your urinal." Great work, Roger.

Keep it up.

Dick Anderson

Dear Johnny and Dick,

Those are wonderful ideas, Johnny. Practical, too. Unfortunately, I can imagine a lot of people sniffing at some of them, and figuring they would never do it - peeing in a bleach container or a milk jug? But the world would be a better place if they did, because we'd waste a lot less water.

And Dick, thank you for the flattering note - on behalf of my wife, as well as myself. I think there's no denying it: the world is the urinal of all 6 billion of us.

Roger

A War's Toll

Roger,

I looked at local maps and directories and could not find Marc Anderson School or Miles Henderson Park or any other such tribute to these fallen heroes. I do see many memorials to former and even current government employees, who have been monetarily compensated for their service. I believe our local leaders need to speak on behalf of the citizens of the community in recognizing that although they did not return, their spirit can live on to inspire others and be recognized as living on in some small way.

Luke

Dear Luke,

I agree completely. There are a few remote roads, way down in the bowels of Lehigh Acres, for example, named after former generals or admirals, such as Eisenhower and Nimitz. But no reason for naming a road or park or public building could be more virtuous, perhaps, than to honor the spirits of war dead who were once breathing the same air we do here in Lee County, like Marc Anderson or Dan Eggers or Miles Henderson, to name a few. So, let me take your idea, and ask county officials: When will we see these names marking our shared public places?

Roger