3rd World Power Grid To The Editor:

In reference to the recent blackout crisis in Queens, Con Ed CEO Kevin Burke seems at a loss for words to properly explain things. Maybe he should have listened to Jon Toigo, author of Disaster Recovery: Preparing for the Unthinkable.

I thought you might also want to hear from Jon what KeySpan, the energy company on Long Island, is doing that might prevent a Queens-like disaster.

Back in March of this year, at a disaster recovery event in Times Square where Jon spoke, he pointedly predicted that a blackout, much worse than 2003, was bound to happen if proper precautions weren't taken.

To get the point across, reporter James Rogers of the New York City-based technical publication Byte & Switch wrote a full article on Jon's discourse: http://www.byteandswitch.com/document. asp?doc_id=90962

"You're looking at a major possibility for disaster this summer," said Jon at the time. "I have talked to a lot of energy firms and they are concerned about this."

Concerned, but apparently not enough so to take the necessary precautions to avert what just happened in Queens.

In Jon's estimation, the United States is a superpower with a Third World power grid, unprepared to meet the rising energy demands that come with drastic climactic changes. With summers getting hotter, and a particularly hot one predicted for New York as far back as March of this year, Jon correctly predicted that such power grid inadequacies were a setup for disaster.

"If they have separate [backup] facilities, make sure that they are on a separate grid," said Jon back in March. "Putting them over the river in New Jersey may not help."

Almost five years after 9/11 and almost three years after the NYC Blackout of 2003, the question remains, why has more not been done to improve and protect our power grid?

Jon can discuss some of the politics, economics, and technology of power grids and what needs to be done to have a 21st century power grid for all of New York and surrounding areas. Sincerely, Emilio Dabul FastLane Communications South Plainfield, New Jersey

Query For Con Ed To The Editor:

Con Edison is hiding a secret. Eighteen years ago, when we had the last power outage, Con Ed increased our electric rates, stating that they would purchase new equipment so that a power outage wouldn't occur again.

There is one question that Con Edison should answer-did they acquire new equipment?

The major portion of their equipment should be 18 years old, or newer; if not, what happened to the money from the increased rates? Sincerely, Athan John Christodoulou Elmhurst

What She'd Like To Say: Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

Thank you for going to Astoria Park to hold your "photo-op" yesterday evening [July 20]. My fellow Astorians are quite upset with Con Edison and our elected officials, with good reason. As you know, our electric power went out on Monday evening, July 17. We are currently [July 21] without power, despite paying a big rate increase since December 2005. That being said, a new power plant has just been completed in our neighborhood, that we do not benefit from.

Con Edison is to present you with a report in two weeks regarding this problem. I hope you and our elected officials also accept your part in this growing crisis. Many of our oneand two-family homes are being torn down and replaced with bigger luxury apartment complexes, condos and co-ops. You are allowing this expansion by granting Building Permits, hence "your part". How is it just, to expect us citizens to save every food receipt, so we can claim our losses? Some stores do not offer receipts. I am told to "get use[d] to" the "paperless era we are now in." Con Edison knows the problem was caused by their trying to supply power to all the new multidwellings and electric-run businesses recently added to our area. The demand for electric power far exceeds Con Edison's supply ability, as is now evident despite rate increases.

Our elected officials make accusations and talk about cover-ups, while we the people suffer in silence, well, no more. There are numerous problems afflicting this community as well as others thruout [sic] the five boroughs. We are not unique. However, this is the straw that has broken our backs. Being angry only makes me sweat more, so instead, I will remember who is holding what office, when I decide where to place my vote, at the next election. Seeking Accountability, Cathy Burch Lifelong LIC-Astoria Resident

Agrees With Ferrari To The Editor:

I would like to comment on the letter sent to the "Letters to the Editor" column by Frank S. Ferrari, which appeared in the July 26, 2006 issue of the Queens Gazette.

I totally agree with most of his comments and find it quite unsettling noticing the influx of aliens, legal and illegal, who do not want to learn to speak English and seem to know just where to go to get "free" help. I continuously notice people in front of me in the check-out lines at the supermarket who are purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of food and then when it is time to pay, they present a NY State Benefits card. What do they have to pay? Zero -absolutely nothing! All the time on the line they are talking in Spanish on a cell phone, or speaking in Spanish to the cashier. One such person was in front of me yesterday in line at a supermarket and she was in her 30s and her bill was over $200 and she also spoke to the cashier in Spanish and presented her with a NY State Benefits card. What did she pay? Zero! After I paid for my food I went outside and saw this same woman loading her groceries in the trunk of a new 2006 SUV. If I am not mistaken, my taxes are paying for these free programs for legal and illegal aliens, including the NY State Benefits card. Or am I mistaken? After calming myself down after this incident, I went to the local pharmacy to pick up my medication. Once again, the person in front of me was speaking to the clerk in Spanish and when he opened his wallet, I noticed he had two (2) NY State Benefits cards. One of which he presented to the clerk. His bill, I believe was either Zero or fifty cents, I don't remember which. How could this man (in his 40s) have two (2) NY State Benefits cards? What kind of checking does the NY State Benefits Department do prior to issuing these NY State Benefits cards?

How does someone in their 30s, who doesn't speak English, get a NY State Benefits card which allows her to receive her food (and prescriptions) for free, while I have to pay full price for everything I get? I have worked my whole life in NYC and retired from a job where I was paying taxes continuously until I retired. It seems quite real to me that aliens, legal and illegal, are receiving more benefits than me, while most are undocumented and do not pay taxes, most of whom do not want to serve in the armed forces, who do not want to learn English and who receive food, health benefits and prescriptions free-ofcharge.

Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? And don't tell me all of us are descended from immigrants. Yes, but there is a difference between legal and illegal, learning English and not wanting to learn English, etc., etc. There is a right way and a wrong way to become an American citizen. This is the WRONG way! Robert Conrad Jackson Heights

Talent Show Turnoff To The Editor:

On a recent evening. I was switching the major network channels to see what was on. Every channel seemed to have contestants performing before an audience and "judges" evaluating, critiquing, and eliminating them. In fact, there were five stations all on at the same time featuring people singing, dancing, modeling. and performing other acts to impress these judges. Maybe some folks actually enjoy watching this on television, but I surely don't. Certainly five stations on within the same time period showing off the talents of these participants is a bit overkill, if not superfluous.

If I want to see people whose special abilities have not made them household names. I'll watch reruns of Ted Mack's original Amateur Hour. I will take the Gong Show over these gifted exhibitionists, thank you. Bring back the Ed Sullivan Show, PLEASE!!! As far as these hyped up "talent" shows go, they don't get my vote. Mark Lane Little Neck

Flag Burning To The Editor:

Flag Burning is not free speech (in spite of what the Supreme Court ruled). The four dissenting justices agreed with us.

You'd think with all the serious problems facing our country the United States Supreme Court would have found other cases to deliberate in 1989, knowing how emotionally-charged flag burning is.

They say "one picture is worth a thousand words." Well, I'll demonstrate this. Picture two persons standing side by side both holding an American flag. One person says "I'm going to burn this flag," but doesn't, he just stares at it. However, the other person almost on cue takes out a match and proceeds to burn the flag without uttering one word. If you look close enough you'll notice the expression of delight on his face as though he had just eaten a delicious meal.

The first person was obviously exercising free speech, whereas the other was committing a physical act by burning the flag. This was an act devoid of words. And unless you utter words, it cannot be described as speech, as simple as that. They are as different as night and day.

The First Amendment clearly, specifically states speech, words, not physical action of any kind. If the founders wanted to include physical acts, they would have mentioned them.

However, the five assenting justices saw it differently. Flag burning may not have been protected under free speech even though the act was symbolic. But how can a physical act, where there are no words spoken, be considered speech? Yet the high court ignored it.

We'll go to the dictionary and it says that a symbol is "an object used to represent something else by association; a material object used to represent something invisible." If the Founders wanted to use symbols, they would have done so.

A symbol may be a thing or an object, like summer or a tree. A flag is also a thing or an object, but the American flag becomes more than just a thing or an object and therefore placed in a different category. And when it is burned, it loses its symbolic reference and becomes a physical act, which is not speech.

For instance, a dove is a symbol of peace. A dove is a living bird. It is a symbol but not speech. The two are not the same.

Socrates and his student Plato called this logically reasoning, the highest form.

But more importantly and we touched on it briefly at the beginning-I'm afraid it's been either overlooked or forgotten what the American flag really represents: men and women have died since the country was founded. The legendary Mrs. Betsy Ross made the first Stars and Stripes June 1776 at the request of a committee composed of George Washington and others.

Regardless of the birth of the flag, it goes back to the time of the new nation.

Although the flag is only an inanimate object made of cloth, it tells of a marvelous story of our fight for independence.

The discontent and disgruntled have many issues to attack, but why in heaven's name would they pick on one that means so much to most Americans? From its inception, there was only one purpose for the flag and that it should wave with honor, not be disgraced by burning. Our enemy is expected to burn the flag, but not Americans. Why would he or she want to cause such harm and pain?

Another point which should have been considered before the Supreme Court made its decision: that flag burning might incite a riot. If not a riot, then trigger some nasty action by the viewers. Which we don't condone since that would be unacceptable and objectionable as flag burning.

You can call the flag anything you want, tear it up, drag it in the mud and destroy it, which would be covered under free speech. You can even burn it in the privacy of your home. but nothing you can do will erase its meaning. Robert Green Ingersoll, an American orator (1833-99) said it best: "It is indestructible because this piece of cloth is sewed with the fiber of freedom."

I still don't understand what these flag burners gain by such a despicable act. What kind of bizarre pleasure is derived from such a stunt? Don't they have any sense of shame? We can understand an unbalanced person doing it, but not someone who has all of his marbles.

If for no other reason have some respect for those who have given so much to their country so that you are free to act as a jackass, plain Jane or Joe, or a genius. John Favicchio Flushing