Having just returned from a trip to an impoverished part of the country, I am reminded that Cary is a terrific place to live, and The Cary News does a superb job of reporting on events in our town. Still, there are times when I think I’ve awoken on a parallel planet, like astronaut Glenn Ross did in the 1969 science fiction classic “Journey to the Far Side of the Sun.” Intending to explore a newly discovered planet on the far side of the sun, Ross’ mission ends with a crash and him waking up in a hospital, only to realize that he has in fact landed on the planet, where everything is identical to the Earth, except that it is a mirror image. Take for example the articles in The Cary News from last week, gushing over the recent visit by the gray-haired pop-star, former President William Jefferson Clinton. I wonder if as many would have attended his talk if it had been billed as a visit from an “accused rapist, admitted philanderer and adulterer, a disbarred attorney whose perjury before a grand jury ended in his impeachment.”

Then there’s Ms. Keister’s proposal to turn off our lights and burn candles for one hour this coming Saturday, to “save the planet” I suppose. Since our electricity is produced by the Shearon Harris nuclear plant, whose sole emission is water vapor, it is not entirely clear to me how turning off my lights and PC for one hour on Saturday will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Apparently, Ms. Keister is not aware that our planet just experienced a one-year reduction in temperature that has wiped out the temperature rise of the past century, and increasingly scientists are finally admitting that all that global warming talk is a bunch of hooey. Thank goodness some smart folks at Progress Energy know better and have (finally) begun plans to add two advanced nuclear units to Harris.

Lastly, attorney Janet Ward Black claims that “almost 30 percent of North Carolinians live in poverty.” Don’t lawyers ever look at facts before making such statements? The U.S. Census Bureau reports a poverty rate in 2006 for families in the entire state at 10.7 percent and in Wake County at only 5.3 percent; that’s far below her claim of 30 percent.

In the immortal words of President John Adams, “Facts are stubborn things.” Today I really feel like Colonel Glenn Ross, though.

Kent Misegades, Cary

Move to animal shelter is an outrage

Regarding the recent news that the SPCA will stop taking Cary strays and the recent letters published opposing it, I wish to add my opinion to the list of concerned people opposing this. Below is a copy of an e-mail that I sent to Cary’s new elected mayor and members of the town council. To date [March 26], not one of these elected officials have even bothered to acknowledge my e-mail. So much for connecting with your constituents: And to think I had such high hopes for this current administration. Frankly, the way I am feeling right now, I’m sorry that I voted for and/or campaigned for any of you. An article in today’s Cary News states that the towns of Cary and Garner are ending their contract with the SPCA to take lost and stray animals in order to reunite them with owners or put them up for adoption. Naturally ... the bottom line is saving Cary and Garner some money, and obviously not the welfare and well-being of animals. An official with the Town of Cary did concede that the SPCA has a stronger and fostering program than Wake County ...” Gee. You think?

The expected rise in animals going to the animal shelter is expected to dramatically increase the rate of euthanasia there, currently at 67 percent. Compare that to the SPCA’s, which is much lower. Wake County now reimburses the SPCA $60 for each animal sheltered there. But because of the increase in animals expected at the Wake County Shelter and an increase in staffing, we as taxpayers will be paying about $95 for each animal. Go do the math.

My biggest concern is not the money. It’s the welfare of the animals. If you take the time to visit both facilities, the differences are glaringly and sadly obvious. And you can quickly realize it’s the SPCA that has the best environment and facilities. I quote a spokeswoman for the SPCA, “The only real mandate the animal shelter has is to protect public health by rounding up stray animals.” Remember, these are paid county employees and this is their job — not the welfare and well-being of the animals who are literally at their mercy.

The other big concern is that the SPCA euthanizes animals much more humanely, by lethal injection. The animal shelter? They still insist on the good old-fashioned gas chamber, a method that even our normally staid state legislators are trying to ban. Ever see a film of animals being gassed? It’s the stuff of nightmares. No unwanted animal, probably facing its fate because an irresponsible owner didn’t both to spay or neuter, deserves this.

Please try to get this message out to all of your friends, family and co-workers who care about animals. Contact your local government to protest. I plan to, and immediately. I am afraid it is too late but I want as many folks as possible to know about this outrage that our “new and improved” City Council has visited upon us.

Susie Putnam, Cary