From readers

ROOF STRESS

Rant: A note about unscrupulous contractors from a reader: “Beware of roofing contractors approaching you, telling you they think you have hail damage on your roof and they will get your insurance company to pay for it. I allowed a contractor to inspect my roof this spring, but I did not accompany him during his inspection of my roof. This turned out to be a big mistake because the guy took a ball-peen hammer and mechanically installed hail dents all over the roof! My insurance company saw through this ruse and investigated me for insurance fraud. I had to give a deposition to an attorney and a court recorder and had to wait several weeks to find out what my fate would be when this all washes out. Luckily, the insurance company believed that I was innocent and in fact will be paying for the mechanical damage on my roof. This contractor put me at Level 8 of the stress chart for almost two months. When it comes to roofs, it’s best if you call them rather than they call on you.”

FLAG FLAP

Rant: A reader has this message for a local business: “the Holiday Station Store in Prior Lake should change its American flag. The flag is frayed and tattered at the edge. The flag should never be flown if it is torn or frayed like that one is.”

From staff

THE RACE IS ON

Rant: I can’t seem to get ahead of the book-to-movie trend. I’m busily reading the second book in the Bourne series by Robert Ludlum. “The Bourne Identity” novel pulled me into the action series, which is an unusual pick for me. I’m trying to refrain from watching the Matt Damon movies and to finish “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” books. The last film in the series hits theaters in early August. With my personal race to finish the spy series before the movie spoilers are everywhere, I’ve completely missed the boat with Harry Potter. I wish they’d put out a film-to-movie list in advance, so I could read the books (which are always better) in advance. – Joanna Miller

NEW POLITICS

Rave: The CNN-YouTube.com Democratic debate format spiced up a traditional debate setting and made the candidates accessible to voters through submitted video questions online. While no debate is perfect, I think the YouTube idea increased the interest level for average viewers. A Republican debate in the same format is slated for September, and I’m already curious to hear those candidates’ responses and to see what questions YouTubers submit. I’d love to see a bipartisan debate in the same style down the road. – JGM

WORDS FOR TROOPS

Rave: Last week I had the chance to briefly speak with U.S. Army Specialist Amber McFadden of Prior Lake as she returned home after spending 22 months in Iraq. The smiles and energy I saw in McFadden, her family and her friends who welcomed her home were great. I would like to thank McFadden and all the troops who serve in the military. I would also like to say welcome home to all the others who have returned. Thank you for calling and allowing me to photograph the welcome home celebration. If you have something you would like to say to the local troops, post a comment at www.plamerican.com/node/2731. – Shawn Hogendorf

NO PICK FOR VICK

Rant: I thought the Vikings had character problems. OK, they do, but their issues aren’t anything like the problems the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Vick are facing. I read the 18-page federal indictment against Vick, the Falcons’ star quarterback, and it is sick. I find dog fighting a disgusting crime. The fights aside, he and his partners have been charged with electrocuting, shooting, hanging and beating the losing dogs against the pavement until they died. If guilty, Vick and his partners deserve to spend the maximum penalty in prison. If guilty, Vick should be kicked out of the NFL. This behavior is unacceptable. I know one man who won’t be on my fantasy football team this year even if he is allowed to play. – SCH 

Do you have a rant or a rave? Send us your musings:

E-mail: rantsandraves@swpub.com

Address: Prior Lake American, Attn: Rants and Raves, P.O. Box 538, Prior Lake, MN, 55372

Guidelines: Reader rants and raves must be no more than 100 words. The deadline is noon each Wednesday.

Rants and raves that are potentially libelous will not be printed or will be edited.

Submissions will not be refused because staff disagrees with their content. Anonymous submissions are acceptable; however, including a contact name and/or phone number is helpful for staff, who may have questions about the submission.

Rants and raves may be edited as space requires. All publication decisions will be made by the editor.