Give digital a chance
According to my mother, I learned to read with this newspaper. It seemed I was more interested in the Sports section than the Dr. Seuss books we would read in school.
When I called to renew my subscription recently, I was shocked when I was told the paper would no longer be printed. After being told of the iPad plan, I was skeptical. I had been receiving emailed articles for some time, and it wasn't the same. I decided to give it a shot, and when the paper sent a team to Hot Springs, I received my iPad and was shown how to access the newspaper.
I will miss waiting for the paper in the morning, or sharing a section with a friend while I finish the front page. I won't miss walking outside in the cold or the rain to fetch it. With this tablet and the new app, in many ways it's better.
Although I was told by the gentleman who gave me the tablet and instructions that at 43 years old I was his youngest customer since January, in many ways I am more resistant to change than all of my older friends. I am pleased with the new digital paper and the free iPad, so if you are a longtime reader and have not given this version a chance yet, give it a shot.
JAMES POWELL
Hot Springs
Don't limit education
I'm a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas. But I'm concerned about our youth. The U of A system approved another hike in tuition. These increases have been an annual event. The tuition hikes have been higher than inflation. The cost of tuition at Fayetteville has increased by almost $3,000, or 31 percent, per semester over the past 10 years.
The cost of higher education is out of control and is making it more and more cost-prohibitive for students. I have witnessed many talented young people not reaching their fullest potential because of the high cost of furthering their education.
Limiting an education is never a good strategy. It's not good for the students nor the state of Arkansas.
JIM LEWIS
Lincoln
A tribute to carriers
I want to say thank you to Walter Hussman for my new iPad. I enjoy reading the newspaper online and have done so when my husband and I have traveled. I do understand why this is necessary. But we have had very loyal people who have delivered our newspapers through the years in Hot Springs Village.
Our carrier during the last eight years is Christy Kicliter. She has been super. She has been faithful and diligent in our delivery, which in the Village is not easy, particularly before sunrise with our narrow, hilly, curvy roads. Unfortunately, she will now be looking for another job.
I hope that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette will recognize all these carriers who have been faithful for so many years. They are the ones who have to sacrifice so that we can still have a newspaper.
PATRICIA SHAHA
Hot Springs Village
Pregnancy statistics
In response to the recent passage of the Alabama state law banning abortion in cases of rape and incest, I would like to offer some statistics to shed some light rather than heat to the ongoing discussions.
At the time of birth, a baby girl has about two million eggs in each ovary. At menarche (puberty), about 200,000 remain in each ovary. During childbearing years about 200 eggs will be ovulated. Therefore, about 99.9 percent of the original "eggs" will atrophy and die.
Infertility research has shown that of 100 eggs exposed to sperm, an average of 84 are fertilized. Of these, 69 will implant on the uterine wall to produce the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. Twenty-seven will promptly abort, known as a menstrual abortion, or "late period." Forty-two will survive and become a clinical pregnancy. So simply put, fully half of the embryos are lost before they are recognized by the mother or clinician.
Of the 42 clinical pregnancies, a quarter will threaten to abort and half of these (about five) will be lost, commonly called "miscarriages." From the original 100 exposed eggs, about 30 will progress to full-term pregnancies.
Some people have a religious conviction that at fertilization, the embryo is not a "potential" human, but rather "fully" human, including a soul. If ensoulment does indeed occur at fertilization, and unborn babies go to heaven, then the majority of souls in heaven have never walked on this Earth.
If a woman believes a fertilized egg possesses a soul, then it seems reasonable she can choose to bear the child of her rapist. But if she believes otherwise, then termination of her pregnancy also seems a reasonable choice.
JIM CHERRY
Fayetteville
Important exhibits
As the curator of the exhibit "Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away" on view through Jan. 3, 2020, at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York said at the opening: "Auschwitz didn't start with the gas chambers. It started with hateful words and small acts."
Here in North Little Rock we have the touring exhibit "Anne Frank: A Private Photo Album" and the accompanying documentary now showing at Pulaski Tech in the Center for Humanities and Arts Theater. Every person should see it, especially when we have people still denying the Holocaust.
ANNCHA BRIGGS
Little Rock
Editorial on 05/29/2019