Kudos to Megan Quivey for what I have known for a long time: There are many dedicated teachers, guidance counselors and staff at Schenectady High School, and they go the extra mile for their students. Both of my children graduated from Schenectady High. One is now a teacher who earned two master's degrees at a prestigious school, and the other is an attorney. They are both proud alumni of SHS. They were involved in chorus, theatre, Key Club and other things. They were not the top academic achievers while they were at SHS, but they did get the foundation they needed to succeed. Did some of the students have issues? Absolutely. Who doesn't in this day and age? The SHS teachers (and those at the other Schenectady schools) should be proud of what they do every day. It's not an easy job. I don't want to hear about "they get so much vacation" and "they get summers off." As the mother of a teacher who works long hours--way after the bell rings--and pretty much all weekend, I can tell you that a teacher's work does not end when he or she walks out of the school's front door.

While I can appreciate your concerns about teaching college students basic skills (e.g., learning to read, write and basic math skills), the need to navigate social media in job hunting in today's market is essential and has nothing to do with socialism. It also has nothing to do with "getting them to the unemployment line"; rather, it's the opposite. It helps them to get on the employment train. Employers today are not using the traditional routes to select candidates. One example is the federal government. One can no longer simply send a resume to a federal agency. One has to apply through the USA Jobs Web site. Candidates who apply via online means demonstrate their savvy in today's technology-focused world. Without computer skills, which will need to encompass not only word processing, Internet research, e-mail and other adeptness, today's job seeker will go nowhere. Networking via LinkedIn has helped many people open doors that may have been closed to them. And all of this has nothing to do with socialism!

I belong to this church, and I have to say that the people who participate in activities really make it special. From bringing handmade Christmas trees to people who can't make it to church to collecting warm socks for those in need, the people of St. Margaret of Cortona know how to put their faith in action. This is a wonderful group of people, and I am thankful that the Gazette sent a photographer to capture this commemoration of the Christmas story. The kids were terrific!

The Cantys are amazing people, and the community should be thankful for their commitment to continuing this scholarship in memory of Michael. Michael would be--and is--proud of his parents and siblings, as they are of him. They spoke eloquently of him at his funeral (which I, among hundreds of others, attended) and celebrated his all-too-short life. What an incredible family. We should all take a page out of their book. They turned their tragedy into an investment into the future. Thank you, Kay, Ed, your children, and all of the people who have come forward to support the Michael Canty Scholarship Fund.

And Lois--for those people who DO make a commitment to a pet: Please SPAY and NEUTER your dog or cat! It is NOT cute to breed your pets! Your children do NOT need to experience the birth of puppies or kittens! Your female dog or cat does NOT need to be bred in order to make her feel "complete." Pet overpopulation is a serious problem. Also, I feel so sad for people who lose their homes and can't take their pets with them. They who might have been committed to their pets and have to be separated from them--how heartbreaking is that?

Thank you, Will. I have my facts straight, and I am not a sinner, a pervert, or a hypocrite. I also don't pepper my posts with name calling for other people who put their opinions on this page. As Joe Scarborough, who's one of the most dyed-in-the-wool conservatives on the airwaves today (and who doesn't yell and scream, because he's thoughtful and listens to people who have different opinions than the ones he holds), you are entitled toyour own opinions, but not your own facts.

Good luck with Florida's governor Rick Scott, who perpetrated one of the biggest health care frauds in the history of this country when he was the head of Hospital Corporation of America, and now is the governor of Florida. So if you think that a "secular progressive" like Andrew Cuomo has ruined this state through "sin and immorality," look no further than yor own capitol of Tallahassee for a crook. I will take someone who believes in the rights of people any day of the week rather than someone who can commit fraud and then write a check to the government to pay the money back without batting an eyelash.

The founding fathers had no idea of the kind of technology that would be available vis-a-vis firearms. I agree, twohands, when they wrote the Second Amendment, I'm not sure this is what they meant by "a well-regulated militia." No one is asking you to give up your guns and stop hunting for recreation, or for having your guns for protection. But there is no reason whatsoever for a private citizen to have the kind of weapon that the Colorado shooter had--and the plethora of ammunition as well--unless he or she is going into military action (as in "a well-regulated militia"). Where's the "regulated" part?

And when did Bill Ayers "blow up the Pentagon?" You are entitled to your owon opinion, but certainly not your own facts.

Will Romney also release his college transcripts? Did George W. Bush ever release his? Obama was the first president in my 63-plus years of following politics that has ever been asked to produce a birth certificate.

From FactCheck.org:

Q: Did Barack and Michelle Obama “surrender” their law licenses to avoid ethics charges?

A: No. A court official confirms that no public disciplinary proceeding has ever been brought against either of them, contrary to a false Internet rumor. By voluntarily inactivating their licenses, they avoid a requirement to take continuing education classes and pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees. Both could practice law again if they chose to do so.

And I don't call people names because of the political candidates they choose. If you want to call people stupid, that's your choice. I don't engage in name calling.