SPEAKOUT

I THOUGHT THE eighth-grade Jackson band put on a great performance last night. The seventh- and ninth-grade bands were also pretty good but the eighth definitely stood out. Thank you.

GEE, I DIDN'T know the Southeast Missourian was going to put out a swimsuit edition but the photographer did a fantastic job. I already bought a new swimsuit this year so I'm anxious to try out that pose on the lawn chair. Do you think it will work with one of those lightweight, fold-up aluminum lawn chairs? The young man you had in the one photo was good looking but you dressed him in baggy shorts and a tank top. The next time someone has the bright idea to put in a swimsuit edition, please put in some photos of men in bikinis so the women will have someone to ogle at, too. Thank you.

KFVS INTERRUPTED "Dallas" for a special report on an earthquake that was felt all the way from St. Louis to Memphis and down in Arkansas. I have a daughter in St. Louis and I have a daughter in Memphis. It terrified me. What does mamma do? Of course, I called my daughter in St. Louis and I called my daughter in Memphis. Neither one of them felt a thing. Why do they try to terrify people by something so minor? I'm at a loss for words. It was ridiculous to interrupt "Dallas" for such a trivial thing that nobody in St. Louis or Memphis even felt.

ANYONE WHO SMOKES in an enclosed building has no consideration for others. Smokers aren't just worried about getting cancer; it stinks, it makes your nose run, it gives you a headache if you're not addicted. And, in regards to the man who complained about the old lady who didn't want him to smoke, he said he asked permission. Of course; he was probably lighting one up while he asked. Concerning Ronald Reagan, lay off him. Concerning Democrats, sock it to them before they sock it to you. Concerning the air in Cape Girardeau, how long are we going to put up with this foul, foul odor coming from Nash Road? Thank you.

WELL, I SAW on the television news where Dr. David Stewart was remarking about all the coincidences between the earthquake we had on May 3 and the earthquake back in September. There was one coincidence he failed to report: Dr. Iben Browning failed to predict both earthquakes.

THE OTHER DAY someone called from the Missourian to find out what the favorite part of the Missourian was. I was taken by surprise and could not think clearly. Now I'm giving what I really should have said. Jean Bell Mosley, Family Circus, and Royko's column are my favorites. Thank you.

WE HAVE GOV. Ashcroft to thank for his common-sense judgment on Griffin's $750 million education package. Can you believe the liberals we have in Jefferson City? The only thing they would know how to do with $750 million is spend it. Why do they always think the answer to our problems is taxpayers' money? If this package gets through, we had better get to the polls and blast it good. Thank you.

I JUST WANTED to say after watching "Dallas" for all these years, which I think was 13 years, I was never so disappointed in all my life. I loved to watch "Dallas" but when they put this finale thing on it just ruined everything over the past years. I have friends who are older people and they just turned it off because it was so ridiculous. I don't know why they had to do this to "Dallas." Thank you.

THE PERSON WHO is a reader of the Bible apparently has not come to the Ten Commandments yet. God said ye shall not kill, not ye shall not kill unless you choose to. It's true, abortion is legal in this country but everything that is legal is not sanctioned by God. It just means the legislators or the courts made the decision. Of course, we must love the sinners and hate the sin. That is exactly what we must speak out about the killing of unborn babies. I'm sure God did not want us to be a pro-choice Bible reader and keep the commandments that were convenient to us.

I THINK WE have some confused parents in this town. Streets are meant to move traffic; playgrounds are meant for safe playing for children, not streets.

I APPROVE OF almost everything that Peter Kinder says and I think his current opinion should be read by everybody. Thank you.

IN A SURVEY conducted by the math department at Southeast Missouri State University, 50 percent of the respondents preferred to have their pork 'n' beans heated; 11 percent preferred them cold from the can; 17 percent would accept them either way; and 22 percent didn't like pork 'n' beans.

I HAD A good laugh over the couple about eating pork 'n' beans cold or warm. I like them both ways but most of all I like them as baked beans plus your cornbread, a green onion, ice tea, and, if you have these, you wouldn't care if they were cold, hot, or baked. Thank you.