Letters From A Nut #8

Dear Editor,

While recently walking my dog, Scooter, down Lindsey Street, we were forced to walk in the street due to the lack of sidewalks between Berry Road and Pickard Avenue. Scooter does not like walking in the street because of the cars. I don’t like to walk in the street because of the same reason. So I carried him. His paws were very muddy, also because there are no sidewalks along Lindsey Street between Berry Road and Pickard Avenue.

I am considering sending my cleaning bill to the city of Norman and possibly Scooter’s grooming bill. He has to be groomed every six weeks because Scooter is a white toy poodle.

This occurrence also brought to mind the position of the light poles along Main Street, west of Berry Road. They actually protrude from the middle of the sidewalks, inhibiting anyone with limited mobility or people who might have their eyes closed.

I believe something should be done about the sidewalk situation in Norman. Scooter and I like sidewalks, particularly the ones without light poles sticking up out of them.

Thank you.

Tim Duncan

A Concerned Citizen

Published link at Norman Transcript

Letters From A Nut #7

This one was sent in anticipation of the Oscars last night - but it didn't make it into the newspaper - I guess it was too controversial to publish!

Dear Editor,

The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards (“The Oscars")ceremonies are coming up February 26. Included among the nominees this year are movies like “The Artist", “The Descendants", “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" and “The Tree of Life." Has anyone ever even heard of these movies before, much less actually watched any of them? Nominees for best actors and actresses are people like Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Demian Bichir, Jean Dujardin and Gary Oldman. I think some of these are made up names. I've never heard of these people!

Give me the good old fashioned Acadamy Awards where movies we actually saw got awards like “Ben Hur" and “Lord of the Rings". And people we actually know get nominated like Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt and Gary Oldman!

Thank you,

Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Letter Writing Challenge!

In case you were wondering about the letter writing challenge I've been referring to here and on Facebook here's the 411. I've taken up the task of mailing at least one item through the post every day it runs in the month of February. And writing back to everyone who writes to me! Month month is quickly waning but I challenge everyone to do the same for a week. It's been quite a challenge, since I didn't want to just send a plain old letter. I wanted to put some creativity into it, so if you were on my list you got a drawing, craft or something silly in the mail. For more info here's where I found out about it!

Letters From A Nut #6

It's been a while since we've posted anything here and it's been a while since I've written a letter to the editor! So in the spirit of the letter writing challenge I've taken for the month of February there will be 2, I repeat, 2 letters to the editor this month! The first is in response to a previous letter published earlier this month:

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Jack P. Smith's letter of February 16.

No offense to Mr. Smith, I do not know him personally, though I do know many Smiths in the area and they could be related, it seems to me that our local economy could use more alcohol and coffee consumption, bars, casinos, tattoo parlors and other locally owned businesses. And university football, though a thorn in the side of local motorists during the hours prior and after game time, seems to be a boon for economic growth in Norman. Particularly from traffic and parking tickets.

Eliminating iPods and electronic games would be like eliminating televisions and radios. As for Blackberries, I don't think anyone really uses them nowadays anyway.

If we were to eliminate these things from our lives, how could we look in the mirror in the morning and call ourselves Americans? I personally challenge Mr. Smith to get out there today, get himself a tattoo and season tickets and stop by the liquor store on the way home to play on his electronic games. Help get this great city of ours back on its feet!


Thank you,

Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Published link at Norman Transcript

Letters From A Nut #5

Speaking of letters to the editor, this one didn't get posted last year in response to a previous letter. I believe it was published September 26, 2009 in response to this letter which was a response to this letter. Whew! At least I think that's what happened.

Editor, The Transcript:

I feel compeled to write to you in response to a recent letter published in your fine publication from Ms. Joan Kozalowski. She questioned my truthfulness concerning a letter I wrote you about my neighbors. I can assure you that it was completely true. I do have neighbors and they are not figments of my imagination nor characters from a movie or television program, though I often enjoy watching television and movies.

I wonder if this response is a result of the growing cynicism in society. No one can be trusted. Everyone is out to get your money or pull a “fast one”. No one is willing to help their fellow man anymore!

I have seen a man at a busy intersection in Oklahoma City with a cardboard sign “Veteran Needs Money!”. Do I assume he’s not really a Veteran?

Someone in Nigeria e-mailed me an urgent message that his money was tied up here in America and needed my help. Should I assume he's trying to con me?

If we can't trust what is written in our local newspaper who can we trust? Who is Ms. Kozalowski going to tell us we can't trust next? Our own government of this great country that we live in? Shame on you Ms. Kozalowski!

If Joan Kozalowski (if that is her real name) does not believe me, I invite her to join my wife and I in my front yard. We've been watching the neighbors for weeks and we still don't know what they're up to.

Thank you,
Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Letters From A Nut #4

Published in Norman Transcript July 18, 2010 -
Link here. But here's the original:

Dear Editor,
I have a suggestion for the Norman developers who are striving to improve our fair city and I hope that you can pass this suggestion on to the appropriate city council member, clerk, alderman or whoever makes these decisions. If not, perhaps they read your fine publication or someone who knows who makes these decisions reads your fine publication and can pass on the information.

The road construction at Robinson and Stubbeman has brought a growing concern to my mind that has been there building like the continued development of Norman. This construction, like similar construction in various locales around town, has caused a serious bind in traffic. There's hardly a time I travel to Wal-Mart without feeling that there are far too many people on the road and most of them seem to end up at Wal-Mart. These various construction projects don't help.

I propose we build a cross-town ramp that bypasses the traffic altogether. We could have one end begin at the East-side Wal-Mart and the other end at the West-side Wal-Mart. In this way we can expedite travel to and from Wal-Marts without interference from construction on the various streets and thoroughfares in between.

It can be called the Norman All-City Bypass. Or you can name it after me.

Thank you,
Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Letters From A Nut #3

Published in Norman Transcript September 20, 2009 -

A 'Halloween gotcha?'

Editor, The Transcript:

After reading the letter from Tim Duncan "Missing my friendly former neighbor" only two things came to mind: The editor has been "had." Duh. Or the editor is clever and wants to see if readers are paying attention.

This has got to be a joke, based upon ideas from a dozen or so old horror stories, TV, and/or books. The "pipewrench" (Clue) hooks instead of hands (Urban Legend), crazy old man who thinks he is Santa (Old Twilight Zone TV), the gay couple, something buried in the backyard, strange cars around a silent house, etc. Hmmm and all on one block, one neighborhood...

Is this the first report in a series of such mysterious doings in Norman leading up to a "Halloween gotcha?" Are you having us on, Tim? Liar, liar, pants on fire.

JOAN KOZLOWSKI
Norman

Letters From A Nut #2

Published in Norman Transcript September 13, 2009 -

Dear Editor,

I am concerned about a problem we have in our neighborhood and I am hoping that you could help by making the general public aware through your fine publication. We have lost our friendly neighbor.

When my family and I moved into our current home 12 years ago, we were delighted to discover a friendly neighbor to our immediate west. He was most helpful. He would let me borrow his pipewrench when I needed it and I bought a pair of very interesting lamps shaped like an abacus from him. But most of all he was a fount of information concerning the life of our neighborhood. He knew the goings on of everyone from corner to corner. From the circumstances of how the gentlemen with hooks lost his hands across the way, to the schedule of the gay couple next door to the police record of the crazy old man who looked like Santa Claus down the street. He seemed to know everything one might need to know about one's neighbors, except for what was buried in the gay couple's back yard.

Unfortunately that neighbor moved away. And now I have no one to tell me what's going on. New people have moved across the street and I have seen as many as 7 vehicles parked out front at one time, but no "party noises" emanate from the house. In fact it is unnaturally silent.

What ever happened to our friendly neighbors? Have they all moved away? If so are they all living in the same town somewhere. I think ours moved to South Carolina.

Please encourage the readers of your fine publication to become better neighbors. And if you know what's going on across the street please let me know.

Tim Duncan
A concerned citizen

Letters From A Nut #1

Published in Norman Transcript August 15, 2009 12:15 am -

Bruised dad wants slug bugs on 'Clunkers' list

Editor, The Transcript:

After seeing many articles in your fine publication and other media outlets concerning the "Clunkers for Cash" Federal program, it occurred to me that it was far lacking in its inclusiveness. Not only could it be used as a boon to the environment and the economic stability of the automotive industry, but it could help stem the tide of rising violence in our great nation. A violence that has reached the keystone of our society: The family. It has reached my own family as it may have yours. From my dearest wife to my darling daughter. I have the bruises to prove it.

I would like to amend the list of eligible cars for the above mentioned federal program to include: Volkswagen Beetles (slug-bugs or punch-buggies); Chrysler PT Cruisers (bruiser cruisers); Volkswagen Jettas (Jetta jabs); and all models manufactured by the Chevrolet Motor Company (heavy Chevys).

Most recently I would like to include any and all vehicles that are predominantly yellow in color. My wife and daughter scream out "banana" as they inflict grievous bodily harm against my already sore and bruised arms.

After adding these vehicles to the Federal program there should be new regulations involving the manufacture of these cars. If the owners of said vehicles do not avail themselves of the monetary incentive involved, their vehicles should be subject to seizure. There is a yellow Volkswagen seen near our neighborhood from time to time and I believe this should be the first vehicle to be seized under the new regulations.

Please help stop this unnecessary violence in our society by writing your Congressman or Attorney General concerning this matter.

TIM DUNCAN
Norman