I’ll stick with my landline, thanks

Manhattan: My phone company is Verizon. I have a landline. A cable in the street needed repair, so I was without service for several weeks this spring. The last time this happened I was given a “temporary voice solution,” which is a gadget with an antenna you plug into an outlet and then plug your phone into. When service is restored you return it. This time, when I called the repair number to order the gadget, they transferred me to the sales department, which told me: “This is an ideal time to switch to wireless service.”

There seems to be an ugly trend these days to force people into buying stuff, like health insurance. Verizon sees a cable problem as an opportunity to force me into a different phone plan by refusing to give me the gadget and leaving me stranded just to satisfy their dictatorial business strategy. Only by writing a complaint on my bill did I finally get them to send me the box, from Pittsburgh.

I like my landline. During 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, I never lost service. I am a senior citizen with limited income and this is my one and only phone, and all I can afford. It took my repeated pleas for the temporary voice solution in order to get a response. Verizon’s business scheming amounts to depraved indifference. Diane Moriarty Seaside Heights, N.J.: So when are the school shootings gonna stop? It’s been going on long before Columbine, but let’s just start there. It’s been almost 20 years and yet no one in Congress or anywhere else is doing anything from what I can see. Where is everybody? Listen real quick to this solution: Put metal detectors at the entrances, then hire some legit people to use wands at the other entrances. This will protect the children in school, employ people and deter these people from shooting up a school. Then have at least two cops outside school when the children let out. I have a 10-year-old son and am terrified to send him to school. Even he’s afraid. I guess it’s time to homeschool! Hackettstown, N.J.: Why do baseball statisticians continue to use the decimal system to determine a pitcher’s innings pitched, when they should be using fractions? For example: 6.1 is not 61/3. And 8.2 is not 82/3, etc. I think they still teach in school that the decimal point indicates tenths, not thirds. South Richmond Hill: Wow! Matt Harvey pitches a win for the Reds! Was that his position all along — to get traded so that he could show the Mets they did him wrong? Spoiled brat that he is, he is only looking after himself. He didn’t want to be a Met anymore — going out at night when he is supposed to be rehabbing and doing good for the team. I, for one, am glad they got rid of him. Just look at who we got for him and what Devin is doing! Let’s go Mets! I am almost 70 years old and have been watching the Mets since they came to be. New Rochelle, N.Y.: I just want to thank the Daily News for the Yankee tickets I won. I gave them to my son and daughter-in-law and they enjoyed the game, even though the Yankees lost. Belmar, N.J.: Kudos to the Daily News. We had a great time at the Yankees game on April 4. Tickets I won in your contest were great seats, in Section 233A. My son and I got to see Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez hit home runs. I read your paper every day. Thanks! Long Island City: Cab driving 2018: Desperation, despair, destitution, death. Leesburg, Va.: I hope I don’t die suddenly. I’d like to tidy up a bit first. Brooklyn: May 19 was my birthday. I turned 80 years old. The wedding in England was very nice indeed. I have one question. The voice of Joy Reid was heard, but she was never seen. How come? I would like to know. Bayside: Prince Harry didn’t even shave for the royal wedding? Forget the preposterous trend. He could have and should have shaved! Staten Island: Mike Lupica is 100% wrong on the national anthem (“NFL dishonors the flag,” column, May 24). We all have the right to protest because of the soldiers who died defending our freedom. Every American should stand during the anthem to honor them. Protesting should be done at a different time and place. Yes, I’m for protesting. My generation protested the Vietnam War and everything else. Just stand and honor our military. Levittown, L.I.: By supporting his players protesting, New York Jets Chairman Christopher Johnson is a standup guy. He’s standing up for their constitutional rights, freedom, the democratic process and the American way. Long Island City: I agree with Voicer Eva Kloot about languages spoken in the city and how people don’t know how to spell “Gouda” cheese or “van Gogh” properly. I’m so bad, I don’t believe I could pronounce “Kloot” properly. Kew Gardens: I speak Spanish only when I’m in a Latin country. At home you may speak any language. Some suggest the United States doesn’t have an official language. Wrong. Think the Tower of Babel. Brooklyn: Re “Forgotten war, treasured vets” (Op-Ed, May 28): My cousin Vincent DiPalermo from New Jersey, a World War II veteran, decided to be a commercial pilot. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force thinking it would be beneficial to his future plans. When the Korean War started, his command was to complete 100 missions. However, on his 84th mission, his last words were, “I’m hit.” No one knows whether his jet was hit or he was hit. His remains were never recovered. His family — mom, sister and brother, living in New Jersey — we didn’t see often enough. I have his picture, an airman 24 years old, always in my heart, always in my memory, not only on Memorial Day. As Hannah Y. Kim continues her travels and arrives at the memorial in Atlantic City, Vincent’s star will be shining along with all others who never returned home from war. Whiting, N.J.: The Daily News published that China loaned $500 million to the Trump company in Indonesia after Trump talked to China (“A curious trade war retreat,” editorial, May 17). Why didn’t CNN report that? Thank you for your great paper. Brooklyn: The word “objective” isn’t in the Daily News’ vocabulary. Just ask President Trump. Brooklyn: If we taxpayers owe the IRS money, we have to pay the IRS PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES money we owe. So please make these government officials pay for abusing the system and helping themselves to money that doesn’t belong to them. President Trump, you have to stop these jokers from dipping into the system’s money. These guys are living the good life while others are pinching pennies. Bronx: To all those corporate jerks who refuse to give jobs to seniors because they are not computer-literate: I hate you. I am one of those who is healthy and needs a job. Shame on all of you. Seniors need to fight together to protect their rights. I have bills to pay just like everybody else. I need to work. Stop the injustice! Long Beach, L.I.: An admitted underage drinker with her 18-month-old daughter at the Jersey Shore goes nuts when police try questioning her. She admits to kicking, spitting on and running from the officers. It took three officers to get her under control. Then the police are suspect? Do I see a lawyer in her future? Where is child protective services? Bronx: A suggestion for the Parole Board: A requirement for the parolee should be to prove they have employment waiting and a place to live, instead of being a continued ward of the city and state.