Letters to the Editor
syphax
Published Letters: 170 Editor's Choice: 45
-
Great story, but...
[Read the article: Hot as a pistol!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]... why didn't this kid get a chance before this? Apparently he's got some game!
It also reminded of a JV basketball game I saw when I was in middle school. We had a kid on our team who was disabled (I forget what his condition was). He'd be put into games late if it was a blowout either way, and would just hang out near the basket. One game near the end of the season, he caught a pass and from a good distance just nailed a tough shot. Like in this story, the place exploded. He didn't go on to score 20 points, but it was a really nice moment.
-
Not the best man for the job
[Read the article: The Snow job, Day 1]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I can't believe they hired this guy over Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/).
-
Please don't waste my time
[Read the article: Ann Coulter and those "millionaire broads" from 9/11]
[Read more letters about this article: Here] -
How to get salt
[Read the article: The salt-oil connection]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"...it may also be worthwhile to figure out some simple salt reclamation methods..."
Okay, how's this for starters:
1. Get shallow pan
2. Fill with seawater
3. Place in sunlight and wait
4. Profit!
-
Holy cannoli
[Read the article: Mommie fearest]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This article was either supremely sarcastic or honest and really depressing.
If the latter, I recommend a quick and profound attitude adjustment!
First off, recognize that there is no going back, barring adoption. Also, recognize that the key to being a good parent is unselfishness. You are no longer the most important person in your life; accept it. Now.
Accept that career achievement should not be (and is not for many of us) as gratifying as being a good parent. Other than the money, the main point of careerism is more or less proving that you are good at something, and gaining the approval of others, right? You can do this via parenthood, too. And, trust me, feeling good about your parenting is much tougher than feeling good about your work, so those few fleeting moments when you actually feel like you are a good parent are absolutely and totally fulfilling. If fleeting.
And for Pete's sake, top calling your baby a lamprey. You are setting yourself up for failure.
If this article instead was just a sarcastic parody, I can assure you that those parents with an outlook similar to my own did not find it entertaining.
From a very imperfect but loving father of 3 (under 5).
-
I mostly agree!
[Read the article: The K Chronicles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I spent the summer living in Strasbourg, France, Scheibenhard, France, and Frankfurt, Germany, all the while working near Frankfurt (my wife is fluent in French, and I like trains and the autobahn, hence the arrangement).
Driving: Two observations: Audi station wagons seem to be the preferred vehicle of choice for 200+ kph driving (sure, lots of BMWs, Mercedes, even some Italian exotics, but mostly Audis!).
And on the one hand, it seemed like you were expected to get the hell out of the left lane if someone was zooming up behind you (makes sense), but people also seemed free to veer into the left lane to pass a car regardless of whether someone was coming up from behind on the left (doesn't make sense- fricking scary). I saw that *all the time*. No collisions though- good reflexes and brakes.
Shopping: We had the exact same experiences with the bags and Sundays (France, too). On the one hand it's really nice that most everyone really gets a day off and chills out, but on the other, you better plan ahead, especially if Mr. Toddler needs his milk! It makes Saturdays a little more hectic.
Language: On the German side of Scheibenhard (called Scheibenhardt; the border runs through town), no one spoke French. They don't teach it in the schools there. The kids learn mostly English. This pisses off the French, who do speak some German (and Alsatian, which is Germanic, although it is fading away). But in general most Europeans kick Americans' ass in the multilingual department. I find the Benelux folks, who have to deal with France, Germany, and the UK, tend to be the most consistently tri- (or more) lingual.
Energy: Tons of windmills. And for the most part I think they enhance the beauty of the landscape. I didn't see any solar, but I know their is a lot of govt funding for it. And they tend to use energy quite efficiently, in ways that reduce waste, not utility so much. If the US could implement some simple things (like the card-holder in hotel rooms that also serves as a master switch), we'd save a lot of energy. 10-20% in residential and commerical settings without settings. The main impediments here are culture and inertia, but I digress.
Bathrooms: Mixed bag.
Beer: GOOD.
Smoking: BAD. Sometimes I could only get a seat on the smoking car on the ICE; I could barely see across the train. I got used to it, but don't miss that aspect at all. As my 4 year old said, "This isn't called France. This is called cigarette world." Same for DE.
And in response to other letters:
I hate to perpetuate stereotypes, but yes, Germans can be... so... GERMAN sometimes! Precise to the point of insanity, from an '80% is good enough' American perspective.
-
Aarrghh
[Read the article: Nixon goes to China, the Linux version]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This isn't Nixon going to China. This is more like Bush going to to Iraq, except MS has less deluded expectations.
Actually, that analogy isn't half bad (except for the issue of good vs evil vs ambiguous). Free/open source is kind of a decentralized opponent against which MS can't apply it's standard tactics. And MS/Bush is picking this fight; a good number of Free/Open Source software folks really don't give a damn about Microsoft (though plenty of others wouldn't mind seeing MS's downfall).
I don't know the details, but I think this is a mistake for Novell. Unless they are somehow outfoxing Microsoft, which seems extremely unlikely.
-
More analysis
[Read the article: Nixon goes to China, the Linux version]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Here's the at Groklaw. They have rather strong opinions over there, but by and large the analysis tends to be very good.
-
DAMN YOU CLINTON
[Read the article: No, really, tell us about "the stakes" again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why does he hate our country so much?