Comments from our readers:

OK, I'M VENTING HERE. Michael Jackson's death has taken up all the TV stations since yesterday. Last night was filled with it on all major networks. This morning's news was all about Michael. Tonight's news was nothing more than talking about Michael. Evidently nothing else happened in the world today. I'm a huge fan of Michael (his singing and not his personal life), but enough is enough.

A RANT FOR double standards. Mark Sanford is being impaled by the press, yet little more than an editorial note, much less multi-day coverage, of John Edwards' cheating on his cancer-stricken wife.

WONDERFUL. Gov. Sanford resigns from the governors association to "save embarrassment" to the organization. Yet he has no plan to resign his governorship to save his own constituents from the same embarrassment.

SO VERY SICK of people defending Mark Sanford's affair and saying he's only human and we shouldn't get so upset, etc. Whether or not he is "forgiven" for his affair is up to his wife and God. My personal concern is that he betrayed the trust of the people of South Carolina and did not have our interests at heart when he left this country and no one apparently knew where he was.

RANT TO THE lowlife who set fire to the North Leg Family Restaurant. Not only was a family business destroyed, but maybe 15 people are out of work. If you wanted to steal the food, there would have been no reason to set the place on fire.

A HEAT WAVE rave to the 25 volunteers that braved the 96-degree heat on Saturday to cut grass and pull weeds at the former Augusta Golf and Gardens. These selfless volunteers are the true heart of the city.

TO THE PARENT that wrote in response to the rant about children quitting team sports: You completely mistook and obviously misread my rant. I am not complaining about children that quit a team with a medical illness or legitimate excuse. My complaint was about the parents of the children that just don't show up for practices or games for no apparent reason and do not call their coaches to let them know they won't be there, which leaves the rest of the children on the team hanging.

THIS IS A RAVE for the man who shot the fugitive running through his yard. A fugitive is a fugitive. It's just too bad more law-abiding citizens don't help the police apprehend these criminals. Maybe there wouldn't be so many of them running around. I say let the guy out of jail and give him a medal.

MAYBE SOMEONE should check to see why Aiken does not have to hire a trolley to bring people downtown. Every night its downtown is full.