News-Record.com

I cannot believe the absurdity in some of the bills politicians are drafting and discussing. This issue should have been resolved between the offending schools and the student body parents. I think a major cleanup project should start at home and in the community. Where has common sense gone?

This is just stupid. If you don't want to watch cheerleaders, don't go to the games, or don't watch the television.

As a part of the geek nation, I'll just voice what all the nerdy people have said about this already. This is a classic act of some senator having his hands down his pants while watching TV and his wife caught him in the act.

Next thing you know, people are going to be banning porn. Oh wait... they wouldn't do that. It might be immoral, but it brings economic growth! *sigh* politics.

OK, Ben. You say you're a geek, I'll admit to being a prude. That reference to the hands and the pants is a little bit over the line for our standards here. Hope you might be a little more diplomatic in future choices of words. But I certainly get your point.

Sorry about that. Was early in the morning (for me) and was basically quoting from another blog I read (ForeverGeek). I'll keep it more tame. I apologize.

Not to worry, Ben. I appreciate your comments.

How else will the jocks know sack potential?

I MEANT to say WIFE potential . . . Sorry about that, it was late in the afternoon (for me) and I was basically saying what I really wanted to say (that free speech thing). I'll keep it more tame. I apologize.

Steve was responding to an off-line e-mail from me about his, uh, colorful choice of words.
Don't get me wrong, folks. We want the atmosphere to be open and relaxed here, not too buttoned-down.
But only to a point. Thanks to Steve and the rest of you for understanding.

Mr. Johnson,

With all due respect to your responsibilities as editorial page editor, I'd like to add something:

Being the moral filter to virtually anonymous bloggers is going to make you an old man. Install the software to delete profanity and let an intern delete potential slander.

Start a blog where people can report criminal activity and be there with cameras when the guns are pulled out. You'll find that this part of your job was a picnic. It's understandable that this particular blog is a reflection of your public accountability, but let a player play.

The News and Record is a very good family paper. I like to see those pages thoroughly edited and have clean content. This forum needs to be more "off-the cuff". With all the control mechanisms stifling free thought, let your readers know you believe the best of them.

I do, Steve. That's why I communicated "off-line" with you in an e-mail.
Notice, I didn't edit or delete your comment; I just asked about it.
When you replied in the blog, I felt an obligation to let others know the context of your response to my e-mail.
Be as off-the-cuff as you wanna be. Just please be clean. Thanks.

I just took a shower.