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Bob Moon: It’s Wednesday. Time to go through the mailbox and see what you have to say.

The new U.S. census numbers came out last week. Peter Boyle of Mount Gilead, Ohio, heard us talk about counties with growing populations that may get more political representation. But don’t forget that government aid is determined by population — and he worries that will mean more demand on already-tight budgets.

Peter Boyle: You know, down here, there is almost nothing in the way of new jobs, and a growing number of people who have run out of everything and are one step away from being homeless. If government can’t put people to work, and cut funding for the truly needy, I fear that there will be little to rejoice about in the near future.

Several of you were upset about our report on California allowing strawberry farmers to use a pesticide called methyl iodide. Leslie Moran of Silver Springs, Nev. says we left out what she calls “the hidden costs of agro-chemical farming.”

Leslie Moran: Health damage to people, pets and wild animals. Chemical contamination of our environment and its link to global pandemics. Soil and water resources being polluted and depleted. Destruction of fragile ecosystems and global biodiversity.

On a lighter note, Peter Rednour of San Francisco, Calif., was excited about our story on the making of the modern classic, “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses.

Peter Rednour: I’ve been listening to that song my whole life (It’s a year older then I am), because my dad made Christmas mix tapes almost every year of the 80s. And still to this day, one of my favorite parts of the season is me and my dad sharing the new weird Christmas music we find.

We also noted how holiday shoppers may hear more thank yous from store employees. Paula Hentz of Denver, Colo. was surprised that the retail industry is catching on to a strategy that nonprofits have used for a long time.

Paula Hentz: As a fundraising professional, I know that one of the most important steps one must take with a donor is a timely and sincere thank you. Fundraising efforts will likely fall flat without them.

And we’ll take that cue to say thank you for sending in your thoughts. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.