of hot air

So the man who would end America's dependence on oil is scrapping his plan for a huge Texas wind farm. After investing $2 billion in 687 giant wind turbines, T. Boone Pickens finds the cost of electrical transmission lines too high.

Brilliant! He'd better hold off investing in natural-gas-powered vehicles. If he thinks the cost of a few high-voltage transmission lines is high, he will choke on the cost of supplying natural gas to a nationwide refueling system!

Bill Seidt

Cinnaminson

There is

no free parking

Thank you for Monica Yant Kinney's column on police parking ("To serve, protect . . . and park illegally," Wednesday). I was shocked that Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey's suggested solution was to provide more "free" on-street parking for police.

During John Street's administration, several square blocks around City Hall were taken out of metered usage and designated for official vehicles only. These spaces were restricted even on weekends. These parking spots are not "free"; they are a lost opportunity for merchants hoping that people will drive in, shop, eat, etc.

If Philadelphia city government wants to provide free parking for its municipal employees as an employee benefit, the city should arrange to pay for parking for those employees in garages.

I don't think the city should be taking spaces away from its commercial district that should be used for commerce and turning it into a convenience for its employees.

Cherin Silver

Philadelphia

No idea

of a doctor's day

The letter writer who complained about waiting in a doctor's office clearly has no idea of what a doctor does every day ("Doctors, a patient's time is as important as yours," Wednesday).

First, there is no timer in the exam room. If a patient's problem(s) take longer than his allotted time, the next patient will have to wait.

Then there are many things we do throughout the day that we do not get paid for, such as respond to phone calls, refill prescriptions, fill out forms, deal with insurance companies, etc. Heaven forbid we have to use the bathroom.

Last, if we did not squeeze so many patients into our day, then the patient might have to wait weeks or months longer to get an appointment.

Brian Resnick, D.O.

Maple Glen

L.A. should spend

on real needs

In Wednesday's paper ("Honoring a peerless performer"), it was reported that Los Angeles "set up a Web site to allow fans to contribute money to help the city pay for [Michael Jackson's] memorial, which was estimated to cost $1.5 million to $4 million."

Why would a city plagued by crime, poverty, and a grossly underfunded public-school system spend that kind of money on a memorial service for a celebrity whose family and friends include some of the most famous and affluent individuals in the world?

While Michael Jackson's significance warrants recognition, surely less could have been spent than even the conservative estimate of $1.5 million. The city should be worried more about creating jobs for its citizens than about absorbing the cost of such an event.

Sean McLaughlin

Abington

Tributes

to real heroes

Kudos to The Inquirer and Melissa Dribben for the "Mourning After" series on the loss of our city's men and women in blue ("Life after the death of Phila. Police Officer Charles Cassidy," Sunday). Amid the nonstop, overhyped, sensationalistic coverage of Michael Jackson's death, it is appropriate and necessary to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by these true heroes.

Don't get me wrong. It is very obvious from the relentless media coverage that Jackson's life and death have affected millions. But the life and death of these officers deserve the true honor of a nation.

Kelly O'Connor

West Chester

The way

we're going

If anyone is wondering about the direction of American society, please note the deification of Michael Jackson and the demonizing of Sarah Palin. Speaks volumes.

Ed Welsman

Newtown Square