Comments from our readers:

THE DEATH of a fairly young (50-year-old) person is usually sad, but why, why are the media going crazy making an old-hat, has-been weirdo into an icon?

RANT TO THE LOCAL radio stations. Why have the Michael Jackson on a Tuesday night with First Friday just three days away? That would have brought out tons more fans to honor him. This is poor thinking and folks wanting to be "first to fail" once again! All the bars and eateries can take part with music and MJ specials.

I FEEL VERY SORRY for the Jackson family. I'm sure Michael was a very good person, but let him rest in peace. I'll be glad when all the hullabaloo is over with. It seems kind of strange to me that the Chronicle had almost a whole front page of Michael Jackson. Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon each got a little tiny square. They were famous too.

CONSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEY John Harrell of Charleston says an anti-adultery law (which could be used against Mark Sanford) "hasn't been used in decades" and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division says "the agency can't waste limited money on ... such a charge." Is that how law is enforced nowadays? Some "expert" decides which laws should be enforced?

THE PROBLEM with politics: There is always an agenda, a dirty political agenda. Our city needs to be run by a professional management firm that can operate with a business plan, not contrived by idiot politicians. The mayor needs to have the power to govern the city with the assistance of the professional team under him. Now any so-and-so in the community that can garner the vote can control how our taxes are spent with no regard for efficiency or ethics.

THIS IS A BIG RAVE to the sports staff of the Chronicle. I love soccer, and I really appreciate how much you have added soccer to the section.

A RANT FOR the big hole at the railroad track on Walton Way. Bad hazard. Please fix that hole.

IF AUGUSTA-RICHMOND County would place overhead cameras at red lights on Washington Road and River Watch Parkway, the money it would get from the people who continually run red lights while talking on their cell phones would make tax increases unnecessary.

THIS IS A RANT to the white male in the silver car who almost wrecked me on Bobby Jones Friday. He also pulled a pistol and pointed it at my vehicle. What a scared little man he must be. Also a rave to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, which everyone always criticizes, and to the deputy who was there within three minutes. Keep up the good work.

I WOULD LIKE to thank the staff at Best Buy in Augusta for finding and returning my son's cell phone. We really appreciate it, and it shows that there are still good people here in this world.