‘Big Brother’ watching costs C.R. business

I flew into Cedar Rapids on Feb. 13 to visit the city and the surrounding area as a potential location to locate a call center for our company. This call center will initially employ about 30 highly compensated employees to address the insurance needs of our customers.

I spent a very good day in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls and Waterloo, then left town on Valentine's Day to fly back to our Connecticut home office.

Now six weeks later, I receive an automated citation stating that sometime during my visit to help employ your residents, the speed of my rental car reportedly revved all the way up to a most dangerous 77 miles per hour on some highway somewhere in the Cedar Rapids area.

I want to publicly apologize for this reckless act and blatant misconduct of mine.

I have paid my very real fine of $100 given to me by the imaginary police officer and mailed it to the imaginary post office box as I was instructed.

It is with deep regret that I inform you that we will be considering other locations for our call center.

While your area rates highly from a geographical perspective, has an educated work force, and rates highly in quality-of-life issues, I don't like the idea of “Big Brother” watching me at all times.

Jack Hollingsworth Jr.

Pine Bluff, Ark.