Kiota

Ok, so, yes this is a pet peeve: I can't stand it when my neighbor's cat walks in my yard. I keep a garden, and I don't feel it should be MY job to keep her cat out as though it had some RIGHT to be there; I feel that should be HER responsibility, quite frankly.

So, when I see it trespassing, I break into a run, yell at it, and chase it off my property.

I own two cats myself, which I keep indoors. Thus, my cats do not impose on anyone else's property.

I would never physically harm her cat, because obviously it doesn't understand property lines and doesn't know any better.

But just the same, I don't want it marking in my yard or pooping under my plants if I can prevent it.

Today, my neighbor happened to be outside, and after observing my behavior, she actually accosted me for "scaring her cat" (which was on my lawn at the time.) Is it just me, or has she got some nerve?

Am I not within my rights to yell at someone else's cat, to scare it off my own lawn? Sheesh.

There is no leash law in my town, but if push came to shove, surely as the property owner, my rights would supersede hers where my land is concerned... Right?

What would you do to keep the peace, while at the same time making it clear that I CAN and WILL continue to terrorize her cat every time I catch it on my property, and that the onus is on HER to prevent it if that bothers her so much, by keeping her cat where it belongs?

I've been invited to a wedding reception and I'm ambivalent between choosing the salmon or the prime rib dinner. I'm not a huge prime rib fan, but then again the wedding is in a landlocked state and as such, the salmon probably won't be super-fresh. The salmon will be encrusted with pistachios or somesuch, and the prime rib will be served in its own au jus style sauce. I am polling the Yahoo! community for suggestions. I will eat whichever gets the most votes!

My direct-vented propane wall furnace (an Empire DV-35-4SG) has begun making an ear-splitting high-pitched whine as it heats up (the fan is not yet going at this point). The gas comes on, and then it sounds like a bus screeching to a halt. The entire thing lasts 15-20 seconds and has been occurring every heating cycle. My impression is that the metal chamber where the combustion occurs is resonating as it heats up.

I have lived here for 8 years and this is the first year the unit has made any abnormal noise at all. This just started a few days ago, and got progressively louder each day. It is going to cause hearing loss if it keeps up; it is that loud. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have. Thank you.

I'm a Red Sox fan, but I have a real problem with how many votes Red Sox and Yankees players get in the All-Star ballot. It's a total sham. There is no way Dustin Pedroia, Julio Lugo, Manny Ramirez, or even David Ortiz should be among the top vote-getters this season. Yet if you look at the current leaders in the AL, there is no ballotted Red Sox or Yankees player who isn't somewhere near the top.

Incidentally, A-Rod and Jeter totally deserve to start this year, and I voted for them. I did not vote for any Sox, because the only ones playing All-Star caliber baseball are Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis; Lowell is overshadowed by A-Rod, and Youkilis isn't on the ballot because of Ortiz.

I know this debate is brought up every year. Maybe MLB should come up with a stat-based formula and whoever is highest on that index at every position, earns a spot?

Clearly as fans we are not capable of voting objectively, and believe it or not, I am tired of it always being a two-team show

I know racing is a time-honored pastime for spectators and gamblers. But what makes it interesting to you? As an outside observer I see people staring at cars going around and around a crowded little track on TV and I wonder, "how can this be interesting?" Yet obviously it captures the attention of millions of my countrymen.

So I am curious. What hooked you? Why do you care who wins a race? Is there a dramatic back story to your favorite driver that found its way into your heart?

Also, do different things happen in races that vary the action up and make it interesting? All I can think of is: a) Someone passes someone else, b) Someone drops out of the race due to technical difficulties, or c) Someone crashes. Is there more to the in-race action? What dynamics am I missing? Is what happens off the track (between races) more interesting than what happens on the track? Is that where the drama that keeps you interested occurs? Thanks for your input.