Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

"Hobbled oversight," Star-Advertiser, July 3:

» Shame on all of us! We Americans live a great life, go to school, join the work force and then retire at 65 or 70. Then when our kids can no longer take care of us or we can no longer make it on our own, we enter a nursing home. We are abused, intimidated and neglected for the last six months of our life. This is a shame on all of us. Regrettably many do not know or want to know the elderly are abused, intimidated and neglected until they themselves are in a nursing home. Then it is too late. Shame on all of us!

» People need to take responsibility for their own health. Live a healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise, and sleep are the most important things. Foster homes for the elderly are the worst. The care homes don’t fare much better.

"Peace eludes governor and unions," Star-Advertiser, July 4:

» I get the impression union leaders haven’t got a clue about the current economic conditions across the USA. They act like there is plenty of money, their buddy Neil will just raise taxes to ensure unions are well paid, more than others.

» Reality check. Union leaders were shocked Neil did not roll over to them, stood up and told them there is no more money. This is the best the state can do. Take it or leave it.

» The negotiation process is supposed to be conducted outside of the media. I don’t much care for HSTA, but at least they have conducted their negotiations in a professional manner. It has been Lingle and now Neil who have abused the process by going public and bypassing the workers who are supposed to have the final word.

"Mineral-rich ocean mud stirs environmental fears," Star-Advertiser, July 6:

» Our species has continued to suck resources from our lands faster than we can replace it, just for our own selfish "quality of life". Now we want to take more resources from a fragile environment which is soon to be fought over due to an inevitable water shortage, and our mucking around will no doubt contaminate and pollute it further. Although this may seem minor right now, the after-effects that will trickle through our ecosystems will affect us dramatically and once the seal is broken, there will be no stopping it.

» I hope an American firm mines this area as they follow the EPA guidelines. If a foreign firm mines this area, they will put the environment last and profits first.

"Cab heist suspect violated probation," Star-Advertiser, July 8:

» To career criminals, they don’t care. They know how to play the system and know the consequences for their actions will be minimal. Until something drastic can be done to either increase their jail time significantly and/or put them to work during their incarceration, we’ll continue to get repeat offenders. If the reason for early release is due to overcrowding, pack ’em in some more like sardines. Make their stay in prison as uncomfortable as possible so they think twice before committing another crime.

"Many pleased with quieter, safer sandbar," Star-Advertiser, July 3:

» DLNR has to create rules because none really exist right now. Having said that, we wouldn’t have seen the deaths and spring break lawless mentality had the DLNR made an attempt at a physical presence in the past. This certainly proves it.

» A shame that some people can’t enjoy life unless they have their liquid courage.