Folger,

California fires do not take place due to lack of planning. Homes and businesses do not start or fuel these fires. It is the brush and forests that burn. Unless you want to denude the forests - there really are only a few things that can mitigate the danger. We mandate brush clearance around all structures and the use of none flammable building materials at all times.

The California Indians (several centuries before the Spaniards) referred to the LA basin as “the valley of he smokes”. Do you really think the Indians were not living in harmony with nature in the eleventh century????

I really don't see this as a North/South struggle - it's a union/non-union struggle.

Honda has made ALL itself large motorcycle and most, if not all, it's Accords in Marysville, Ohio for more than 15 years.

The difference in the foreign companies is non-union workers. They make great cars while making very good wages - just not union wages.

I for one would rather have a great car that lasts (we still drive our 1979 280Z to work every day) than buy one that needs to be replaced every 3 years!

The first anecdote. While using the restroom at my husbands 10th reunion two women walked in and availed themselves of the stalls on either side of me while continuing their conversation as follows:

“Did you see Susie Somebody?”

“Yeah, isn’t it great she’s fat as a pig?”

My husband informed me that “Susie” was the head cheerleader/homecoming queen. I nearly laughed myself silly.

So go and have fun. If the people who were beautiful, charming and talented are still beautiful talented and charming, well that is the way of the world. But on the off chance that the captain of the football team is bald or the head cheerleader is “fat as a pig” it’s worth the price of admission.

Second anecdote. At my ten year reunion the geeky captain of the girl’s volleyball and tennis teams walked in looking like she just stepped off the cover of Vogue. Tall and glamorous, dressed to the nines. As she walked by I heard two guys talking:

“Is that Marcy Somebody?”

“Hell, if I’d known she was going to turn out like that I’d have dated her in high school!”

What a wonderful moment for her and all who knew and liked her in high school.

My advice is go. Have fun and focus on old friends and not yourself.

I attended my husband's 20th reunion with him. We grew up miles apart and have no high school friends in common. I was planning on one of those 'you are gonna owe me' evenings when the most unexpected (and wonderful) thing happened.

I was using the rest room when to women walked in discussing another attendee. The chose the stalls on either side side of me. Their conversation went like this:

"Did you see Suzy Somebody?"

"Yeah, isn't is great - she's fat a a pig!!!"

Unable to contain myself, I laughed out loud. The two clammed up and rushed out of the stalls, lingering until I finished to see just who had laughed. The relief on their faces palpable.

Upon returning to the table I comfirmed that Suzy Somebody was the Cheer Leader/Prom Queen.

My conclusion - if the people that were beautiful and popular in high school are still the same well so what? But on the off chance that the Prom Queeen is fat as a pig, you gotta go!!!

Thank you for the tribute to George Carlin. I loved all his humor, political, social but his sports humor was astounding.

The entire riff on baseball vs. football was spectacular. (Worth the Mark Twain all on it's own.) He was a man that cared about words, and what they said about, we, the people who used them.

There will be more great satirist to come, but George will hold a special place in my heart (and a residence in either a cloud filled heaven or a nook on one of the rings of hell – much to his surprise) forever.

What did Los Angeles ever do to you man? First you switch from being a Dodger fan to being a Giants fan! (How heinous is that sports fans????) and now you say UCLA should win the whole thing and then pick them to loose in the Elite Eight! Yikes man, stop hatin' on my homies!!!!

Can't comment on the worst although Detroit is fairly horrible. However, hands down Long Beach California is the best.

A tiny Art Deco gem with two gates, mobile rolling steps entry and close (20 steps away) in parking. Easy baggage inspection, short (or non-existant) lines and very little stress.

I live 15 minutes closer to LAX and hope to NEVER have to go there again.

When my Mother died we received many cards and letters. Her funeral was extremely well attended. Prior to her passing I thought cards and funeral attendance were nice, but not particularly comforting. How wrong I was. All those borderline sappy cards and fumbling condolences at the funeral were treasures.

I think the rituals and niceties of death are there not to satisfy Emily Post but to truly comfort those who greave.

Enough already about the 'redesign". What about the content redesign. You now make the Equirer like they have gravitas. This publication is now just a sleazy gossip rag.