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Unsure who's calling? Let the machine pick up

Re: Who are the scam victims? July 18

I get regular calls "inviting" me to participate in these sort of scams. They always come from "Unknown Name" caller IDs. This makes me wonder! Most times, I don't answer.

Unfortunately, I suspect that most people who are targeted don't have caller ID. My advice is that if there is a delay before anyone says something when you answer the phone, hang up. Or let the answering machine take the call.

Thanks for your excellent column. I always value your advice.

Aled L. Hughes, St. Petersburg

Outback loses out on quality, ambiance, price

Re: Outback chain president, July 18

I am in total agreement with you regarding OSI (parent of Outback Steakhouse), with the exception of Carrabba's, which I happen to like quite a lot, at least the one in Sunken Gardens. However, for at least the past eight to 10 years, I will not step foot into an Outback Steakhouse because of food quality, ambiance and price.

On the rare occasion when I crave a Bloomin' Onion, I will go and have just that and nothing more. And that is only because the Outback is within walking distance of my house.

Your article is right on the money and I just wanted you to know that there are a lot of people who agree.

Edward M. Campbell, St. Petersburg

Insurance should cover spinal decompression

Re: Insurers back off, July 17

Congratulations on staff writer Kris Hundley's article on the insurance situation with the new developments in spinal decompression and the relief of chronic pain from back problems.

My wife has suffered from severe neck pain caused by a herniated disc for 25 years, and despite regular chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, massage therapy and pain medication, nothing has been beneficial over the long haul.

This fairly new treatment opens the door for the relief of constant pain without surgical treatment. This surgical approach was considered by an orthopedic surgeon as a last resort treatment for her condition. She has now received 18 treatments using a DRX-9000 machine and has for the first time been pain-free. Life has taken on a new meaning for her.

The problems begin to arise when dealing with insurance companies who consider this form of treatment "experimental and investigational" and hide behind this phrase to avoid payment. I believe the reasons are more political as surgeons lobby the insurance companies to continue the lucrative payment for spinal surgery regardless of the success.

Please keep up your journalistic efforts to bring to the public issues such as this.

Raymond J. Atkinson, Hudson

Work force boards can help veterans find jobs

Re: Young veterans' new battle: the job front, July 16

I was surprised to see that the local work force boards were not mentioned as a source for veteran employment services. I'm sure you're aware that each work force board in the state of Florida has staff dedicated to helping veterans find employment, as well as providing other necessary services to aid in their job attainment. WorkNet Pinellas alone serves an average of 4,000 veterans each year. We have a program that targets recently separated veterans, just like Mr. King, and helping them transition back into civilian life.

Your article was helpful in opening the eyes of the public to what challenges young and old veterans are facing, but it neglected to offer the direction they all seemed to be lacking. We appreciate your attending our recent job fair to gather information. We are a nonprofit organization that is here to help.

Jacqueline Skryd, marketing coordinator, WorkNet Pinellas Inc.

Kmart is making strides in customer service

Re: Sears-Kmart merger yet to take hold, column, July 6

I was very disappointed in a recent article in which a reporter gave our company almost no credit for what we have accomplished in a relatively short time.

In just more than a year, we've integrated two huge, 100-plus-year-old organizations, introduced products in stores that hadn't carried them before, tested new formats and made customer-focused improvements to those formats as we learned what was working and what wasn't, and made progress in defining our company's new culture, which will assist us in becoming a great company. And all the while, our associates have worked hard to improve our customer service levels.

The article also suggested that I wouldn't "even guess if the chain (Kmart) would survive," and that for Kmart the "future is uncertain." Those are words I never have said and never would say. I believe that with our focus on the customer and our hard-working associates, we can and will be a great company. Millions of customers count on Kmart every day and appreciate the service we provide them.

In the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index survey for retailers, conducted in the fourth quarter of 2005, Kmart had the highest percentage increase from the previous year's rating, jumping 4.5 percent, showing that (according to the survey) we're making moves to stay competitive. We have work to do to reach our goals, but we are headed in the right direction.

Don Germano, senior vice president, Sears Holdings Corp., Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Beware of attacks on Internet neutrality

I'm writing to applaud Sen. Bill Nelson for his heroic stance in support of Internet freedom. Sen. Nelson is among a handful of senators who are standing up to the largest phone and cable companies that want to turn the Internet into a private toll road. Sen. Nelson is a supporter of "net neutrality" - a concept that allows Web users to go where they want and do what they please online. This democratic principle is why the Internet has become an unrivaled force for economic innovation and new ideas.

Large cable and telephone companies like AT&T, BellSouth and Comcast are planning to do away with net neutrality. They're pushing legislation through Congress that allows them to undermine consumer choice and control which Web sites get priority over everything else. Anyone who cares about preserving the free and open Internet should demand that all of Florida's elected representatives vote against any telecommunications legislation that doesn't offer meaningful protection for net neutrality.

Jeffrey Platteis, Tampa

Net neutrality inspires innovation and new ideas

Net neutrality is the single most important aspect of the Internet for allowing innovation and new ideas to take hold. The "megacorporations" are trying to curtail these freedoms so they can become all the more powerful.

Frank Julian, New Port Richey

[Last modified July 23, 2006, 01:23:17]