So, don't deprive yourselves of what will be the best live performance ever. You'll just end up kicking yourselves the day after.

REP. HARBIN

A TRUE EMBARRASSMENT ON MANY LEVELS FOR US

What will it really take to have Rep. Bev Harbin out of office?

Maybe if 10,000 or 15,000 constituents rally in front of her office to say, "No, we don't want to be represented by a delinquent; we deserve better than that," she would leave.

She is embarrassing the hard-working small-business owner; she is embarrassing the state of Hawai'i at the federal level; and she is embarrassing the state Legislature by lowering the standards of work ethics.

Ms. Harbin, step down and start working on a plan to pay your taxes back.

Any politician ready to rally against her?

GIVE HER A CHANCE IF SHE HAS CLEARED HER DEBT

Auwe, so the Democrats once again are finger-pointing to Gov. Linda Lingle. Our governor who was voted into office is a human being just like you and me.

It was Rep. Bev Harbin who failed to disclose misdemeanor criminal convictions nearly two decades ago. The concerns that should be addressed are:

In life, we are not all perfect. Many times things don't go the way we would like them to. I, myself, have a different outlook on life and have certainly come a long way. If Harbin has cleared her debt or she is making payments, why not give her a new chance at life? After all, she did seek employment to get her life back on track. At least she is not standing in the welfare line to receive a check each month.

TRAFFIC WARNING

PUBLICITY MISSING FOR TRIATHLON THIS SUNDAY

Honolulu is hosting more than 200 triathletes to compete in the World Age Group Triathlon. Bikers and runners are everywhere.

What is absent is publicity. The public is totally unaware of the reason for all this activity on our roads and highways. We have thousands of bikers using Kalaniana'ole Highway.

On Sunday, this highway from Kapi'olani Park to Hawai'i Kai will be used as the bike course for this race — and not just for a few hours. It will be used from 6 a.m. until at least noon.

The public has not been told the triathlon is going to disrupt our Sunday activities.

Who is responsible for notifying residents of these inconveniences? Is it the event or the city and/or the state who issued event permits?

It seems to me that someone should publish something or send out letters. If we knew in advance, we could plan alternative routes. Why can't notification be part of the permit process?

This is a great opportunity for Honolulu to showcase itself as an athletic destination and these athletes are adding much-needed monies to our state. All this will be wasted on those inconvenienced drivers sitting in traffic on Sunday morning.

GAS CAP

PUMP PRICES ARE BEING ARTIFICIALLY MANIPULATED

The gas-cap law is a political and economical nightmare. The price of gas is being artificially manipulated so that the only ones benefiting are those legislators seeking to gain their pensions after 10 years of being an elected official. As long as they secure their pensions, they care less of the damage the gas-cap law is causing small businesses, who have to either close their businesses or are forced to pass on some of the "extra costs" to stay in business.

The gas-cap law is another aspect of the general excise tax pyramiding scheme. It is no doubt that costs of goods and services do go up, but not to the extent the gas-cap law is causing artificially high prices in a relatively growing economy.

The gas-cap law needs to be repealed in order for individuals to have money to spend, keeping Hawai'i's economy moderately strong.

WAR STORIES

VETERAN'S MEMORIES A VALUABLE RESOURCE

Last month, my wife and I were visiting the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and had the occasion to visit with Elmer Akau, who was tending the grave of his wife.

The conversation with Akau was most edifying. He is a World War II veteran and his description of the events of Dec. 7, 1941, was spellbinding.

We certainly hope that schools in Hawai'i take advantage of the experiences and stories of veterans like Akau while you still can.

Mr. Akau, thanks for sharing your memories.

EDITORIAL BIAS

OP-ED PIECES 'CRUMBS FOR THE CONSERVATIVES'

In spite of your editorial mission — part of of which reads "to be diligent, truthful, accurate and fair" — it is, and has been for as long as I can remember, plainly obvious as to your political stance.

Your occasional op-ed pieces by the likes of Victor Davis Hanson and Charles Krauthammer are basically "crumbs for the conservatives." And even though you frequently print erroneous stories and follow agenda-driven falsehoods, you rarely, if ever, account for your mistakes.

You should probably also let your "cartoonist" Dick Adair, who never seems to let the truth get in the way of his opinions, draw a whole-page rendition of President Bush as the devil since he seems to be portrayed (with your blessings) as the cause of all evil in the world.

ARMY

RECRUITMENT PROCESS TARGETS THE VULNERABLE

So the Army is going to target more low-achieving, young people as potential recruits ("Army to change recruiting policy," Oct. 4). The term "cannon fodder" comes to mind. These are among the most vulnerable — non-English speakers, recent immigrants, those of low socio-economic status — and often less capable than others of understanding and withstanding recruiters' pressure and promises.

The fact is that the Army is not the place to "be all you can be." On Oct. 3, The Advertiser ran a wire story on the tens of thousands of jobs that are coming on line and that require less than a four-year college degree. Many of these jobs offer self- esteem, advancement and good pay, with none of the negatives of military service. Let's hope that high school career counselors take note.

LIFE BEHIND BARS

LET'S 'PUNISH' OUR PRISONERS

If I were governor, I would seek to double Hawai'i's prison capacity, cut cost and save land with a simple solution. Cut prison terms in half for crimes that do not involve killing or maiming, but:

STATE'S EMERGENCY SHELTERS SHOULD NOT LEAVE OUT PETS

Currently in Hawai'i pets are not allowed in emergency shelters during a disaster. However, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have taught us many valuable lessons about pets and their people.

During the emergency evacuation of Katrina, many people refused to leave without their pets, and the thousands of pets abandoned became a nightmare for Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

The Hawaiian Humane Society sent three of our very experienced staff for two weeks to assist shelter workers from across the country with this overwhelming task. At the temporary animal shelter in Gonzales, La., more than 10,000 animals have been cared for over the course of several weeks, but it will be many more months, at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, before this situation is brought under control. This is a disaster within a disaster that need not have happened.

During Hurricane Rita, Texas allowed people to evacuate with their pets and provided shelter for them, thereby preventing many of the problems generated during Katrina.

The Hawaiian Humane Society strongly believes that accommodations for pets must be part of all emergency evacuation plans in the state of Hawai'i.

It is estimated that 56 percent of O'ahu's population has pets. That translates to about 160,000 homes that have more than 330,000 cats and dogs. Ninety-six percent of O'ahu's people believe that animal companionship is important to their quality of life.

If pets were allowed in emergency shelters, rescue resources could be focused on saving people, pet owners would be more likely to evacuate their homes and pet owners would be less likely to return to dangerous areas to retrieve their pets. Families would also have the comfort of knowing that their entire family survived together.