toledoblade.com --

In the May 4 letters to the editor, two contributors infer that the great age of the Earth has not been established as a "fact."

Over 40 years ago, geophysicist Fred Vine linked symmetric magnetic anomalies across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with the chronology of geomagnetic reversals recorded in igneous rocks, and concluded that the floor of the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland is spreading at the rate of about 2 cm per year. It is a fact that he published this deduction in Science magazine (Volume 154, pages 1405-1415, 1966). Global positioning satellites today provide a direct measurement of Mr. Vine's sea-floor spreading rate and confirm that he was correct. Because the chronology of geomagnetic reversals relied on radiometric dating of many lava flows, radiometric dating apparently provides accurate and useful information.

I can understand how a physician might have skipped studying geology while in college and might well remain unaware of the multiple lines of robust evidence for an Earth that is almost unimaginably old. Biochemistry, anatomy, genetics, and other classes keep future doctors very busy. I cannot recall ever having a pre-med major in my introductory geology class, much less in upper division field courses or graduate seminars where data are collected, organized, examined, and new theories generated.

Yes, gentlemen, it is a fact that the Earth is billions of years old, despite what you may have seen in Kent Hovind's slick videos or theme park.

Don Stierman

Associate Professor of Geophysics
University of Toledo

Read between lines for hidden humor

I really enjoy the hidden humor in some news stories - like the one about the guy who had to get rid of his Lexus sport utility vehicle because he couldn't afford the gas.

How on Earth could he afford the Lexus to begin with?

Hank Rybaczewski

Douglas Road

Bill protects families with autistic children

There are many families in Ohio with autistic children, and they all face the same issue when it comes to insurance companies. Care for an autistic child can be very costly, approximately $20,000 per year, which is why insurance companies have shied away from covering the treatment for autism. This cost can drive many families to the brink of bankruptcy.

A new case of autism is diagnosed approximately every 20 minutes, which equates to 72 new cases daily. Within the last 16 years, cases of autism have risen from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 150. Ohio House Bill 170, if passed, would help these struggling families by prohibiting insurance companies from excluding treatment for autism. Other states such as Indiana, Michigan, Florida, and California, have, or are looking into, passing similar laws.

Ohio House Bill 170 has had three hearings, which included many personal testimonies. If you would like to see this brought to the floor of the Ohio House for a vote, contact Rep. William Batchelder (R., Medina), chairman of the House Insurance Committee, at (614) 466-8140, or you can write him at 77 South High St., Columbus 43215.

Tim Wiseman, sr.

Washington Court House, Ohio

TARTA, truckers can save on fuel expense

Fuel savings can be realized by TARTA and over-the-road truckers with a change in operating procedures. TARTA continues to operate large buses over Toledo routes with few passengers, sometimes only the driver. Why not use smaller buses, as in Call-A-Ride, and combine their operation with city bus routes for a more favorable operation? Save the big, expensive buses for Mud Hens games and other special occasions.

In the case of big-rig truckers, the railroads have been hauling containers and truck trailers on flat cars for years. Why not offer flat cars to truckers on long-haul traffic for their tractor trailers and provide a Pullman car for the drivers? I wonder what the fuel savings would be, plus the lower flat-car charge by the railroad on a cost-per-mile basis.

Just a few suggestions from a retired industrial traffic manager who operated contract and private trucks.

Robert Gardner

North Holland-Sylvania Road

Think before we act on global warming

The recent Blade editorial "Feeding unrest" correctly identified a crisis of global proportions: sharp increases in food prices. The rise in food prices has been driven in part by conversion of corn into ethanol.

The technology to convert corn into ethanol is not new. What is new is that celebrities and politicians frightened us about global warming resulting from greenhouse gases. Then agri-businesses and politicians sold corn-based ethanol as a means of reducing oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions.

A problem with corn-based ethanol is that is takes about as much energy to produce as it yields. Further, production and use of corn-based ethanol probably releases more carbon than is released by burning oil.

Corn-to-ethanol subsidies were enacted as a solution to global warming. It is now clear that this is not an acceptable "solution." It is further evident that many agri-businesses have profited handsomely from corn-based ethanol subsidies, and using corn to produce ethanol is contributing to higher food prices for everyone, and starvation for some.

Most "solutions" to global warming will likely be profitable for some, yet have costly unintended consequences. As a nation, we need to think before we act on global warming solutions.

Douglas Oliver

Associate Professor
Mechanical, Industrial,
and Manufacturing Engineering
University of Toledo

T-shirt ban violates First Amendment

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the freedom of speech, religion, and the press. As a senior at Anthony Wayne High School studying government, I had to learn this inside and out. But I don't think my principal understands what is meant by freedom of speech.

On April 21, several students wore T-shirts with the message "Abortion is homicide" printed on the front and "You will not silence my message. You will not mock my God. You will stop killing my generation" on the back. They were asked to change the shirts. Why? The principal found them offensive. Even though some may find any message offensive, that doesn't make it right to punish others for voicing their opinions.

When they refused to change their shirts, they were told if the shirts weren't replaced, they wouldn't walk across the stage on graduation day, wouldn't go to prom, and wouldn't be privileged with senior skip days.

I believe that this was a gross violation of our First Amendment rights as U.S. citizens. The T-shirts did not contain any reference to drugs or alcohol. There was no foul language. Only three little words in white on the front of a black shirt and a quote on the back.

Students should be allowed to wear these shirts to school. Anything else denies rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

Katy Gibson

Perrysburg

Enforcing ban isn't bar's responsibility

Bar owners and their employees were never given law-enforcement credentials under Ohio's constitutionally questionable smoking ban. Therefore, to expect them to enforce this law is not logical.

Also, if the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department wants to sing the blues over enforcement costs, perhaps funding should be found at the other end of the complaint procedure. Charge the complainants $50 per violation alleged. That would cut down on the amount of frivolous complaints as well as the cost of investigating them.

Paul Wroe

309th Street

Nice work if you can get it

The good old boys are at it again. A city employee retires, runs twice for office, and is twice defeated. She worked as a volunteer on Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's re-election campaign, was hired as a staffer, has now been appointed assistant chief of staff at $92,000. Pretty good reward for volunteering.

Jim Ray

Boydson Drive

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