This is a letter that was sent to Dr. Ruth but was never published in her syndicated advice column.

It has been two days since the children have started school. So the last few days have been quiet at the neighborhood center. No more children yelling and screaming. No more summer camp counselors with the IQ of a door knob getting in your way while you are trying to work. And no more surprises awaiting me as I come in to work in the morning. Or so I thought.

As I approached the front door of the recreation center this morning, I noticed the American flag folded up and placed on top of the bushes near the door. Tucked inside the fold was a letter. It reads:

"In 1965 I stayed in a foxhole for five days in a row. I lost 28 friends that week. Took two bullets in the arm and leg. This flag means so much so please don't leave it out all night unless you have a light on it. God Bless."

I know the flag is to be taken down at night. Unfortunately, there are employees at the center who are too lazy to take the flag down at night. Too busy on the computer looking at girls on my.space dot.com or too busy watching rap videos on the television. I have no problem putting the flag up in the morning, and I will talk to the facility supervisor about having the employee who closes at night take down the flag.

And to whoever took the flag down and left a note tucked into the fold last night, you have my apology.

Orlando:The City Beautiful

In June, 2006, Governor Jeb Bush passed a law in the State of Florida allowing people to take their dogs to restaurants that has outdoor seating. This was an issue that was backed by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioner Patty Sheehan. Commissioner Sheehan's district includes downtown Orlando, where many young professional people live.

Fast forward to July, and the Orlando City Council passes an amendment backed by Commissioner Sheehan to ban non-profit charitable groups from feeding homeless people in public areas, such as parks. One such park is Lake Eola, where many of these young professional people with money live.

So let me get this straight. You can take a dog to a upper scale restaurant, but you cannot feed a homeless person in a picnic type environment sponsored by a charity.

Is it me, or is there something wrong with this picture?

Commissioner Sheehan claims that much of the crime in the downtown area is due to the homeless people, and that feeding them only encourages them to stay in the area and look for handouts. As the area's population grows, crime increases in the City of Orlando and Orange County. Is all that crime committed actually done by the homeless? I think much of the crime committed is more related to drugs and other issues, such as economics.

I see signs around town with the city motto, "Orlando:The City Beautiful" in bold letters. I go to the state parks, and I see signs with an alligator on it, and the sign asks people not to feed the alligators. I am wondering if signs will go up in Lake Eola park with the words PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE HOMELESS on it with a graphic of what appears to be a transient pushing a shopping cart with the universal "no" symbol slashed across it.

Any day now, I am going to be driving downtown, and I am going to see the following sign with the new city motto:

Orlando:For Rich People Only

Once in awhile I will write about television. I do not watch much television, and I do not have cable. During the summer, there is not much on but reruns and reality shows. I don't care if someone can dance. If I want to see someone dance, I will go to a nightclub and watch someone who has had too much to drink try to dance. That's always fun.

And there is a talent show, as well as a show with people showing off inventions. And you know that some of these items will become featured on infomercials.

"And if you act now, we will also include this..."

I'm not interested.

Anyway, WPAX 56 in Orlando televises the Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball games. I enjoy watching baseball, and I am glad that a local television station broadcasts the Devil Rays. The game tonight against the Red Sox was televised. The Red Sox won, 3-2. There was a promotional giveaway tonight at Tropicana Field as T.G Lee Dairy gave away Devil Rays cowbells.

Just what this world needs, more COWBELL!

The fans rang those cowbells, but it didn't help. It looks like they had a fun time though. I have been to the Trop for a few games, and I have had a great time.

After the Devil Rays game, I turned the channel to WRCF 29. This a fairly new television station that has been on for over a year, and the reception is not that great. Especially when an airplane flies by as they approach the airport for a landing. Not that many people know about this television station, and it is not even listed in the television listings in the newspaper.

In the evening, WRCF broadcasts games from the Canadian Football League. Last night I watched some of the Toronto Argonauts-Montreal Alouettes game, and tonight the British Columbia Lions are playing the Edmonton Eskimos. Hamilton and Winnepeg played earlier this evening.

I have always enjoyed watching the CFL, especially after not having watched football for several months. It has always made me more excited about the NFL season starting up. A warm up to the NFL's regular season, if you will. The majority of football fans in the United States have always looked down upon the CFL, saying that the league is made up of a bunch of players that could not make it in the NFL. There is also the argument that the quality of football is not as good as the NFL.

People may say what they want, but I enjoy watching it. I enjoy watching live sports, even if it is something not as popular in the United States. Such as soccer. And if anyone missed the recent World Cup, you missed some of the best soccer played. When you go into a sports bar and see several people from France or Mexico gathered around the televisions wearing their home country uniforms and waving their country flag, you can see how exciting it is to them.

And as you watch the CFL games, you will see the fans wearing their teams' jersey. And some of those fans will be wearing face paint. And they get just as excited when their team gets a touchdown. I will be waiting for the season opener as I wear my Cleveland Browns shirts. But for now, I'll be glad to watch Ricky Ray and the Eskimos.