Welcome to HickoryRecord.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

HickoryRecord.com - Hickory Daily Record

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Reader comments produce changes

Our Voice

Hickory Daily Record Editorial

Published: September 24, 2009

We hope readers noticed the changes in the Sudoku and Wonderword features.

Recent changes in the Record reduced the sizes of the puzzles. Readers noticed immediately.

Too small, many readers complained.

We heard you, and the sizes have been increased.

We try to act positively on every request from readers. Some are simple. Others are not.

We are happy we could respond quickly to readers who took issue with the puzzles' sizes.

The Record invites your comments. We want readers to speak out, and we appreciate all those who do.

No cure for Gadhafi

If you haven't heard about the abominably long, drawn-out speech Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi made at the United Nations, take a look at the AP news extra on this page today.

The report shows two things:

1. There is a powerful group of leaders who are willing to take on anyone, any organization and any nation. They are not friendly to the West.

2. There is no cure for megalomania. There's no topical ointment to lessen the symptoms, either.

No to premium increase

The U.S. House should vote in favor of eliminating premium increases for Medicare Part B next year.

The vote is scheduled today.

According to an Associated Press report, Democratic leaders said older Americans shouldn't have to pay higher Medicare premiums because they are not expected to get a cost-of-living increase from Social Security.

Most Medicare recipients already are exempt from premium increases for Part B, which provides coverage for doctor's visits, because they won't get an increase next year. The House bill would exempt everyone on Medicare.

We agree recipients should not be subjected to higher premiums. The federal government should not create a hardship by canceling cost-of-living increases in 2010 and then increase the actual cost of living.