Letters to the Editor
Andy F
Published Letters: 52 Editor's Choice: 6
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Newspaper have to go local to keep readers
[Read the article: All the news stuff that's fit to print]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It astounds me that as newspapers have faced more competition in reporting national news that their response has been to cut local news reporting to save money. This is the one area where they have an advantage. People want to know about crime in their neighborhoods and the latest large developments approved for their areas. The article reported that this is where some of the small upstart papers have placed their emphasis. I certainly hope so!
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Over the top snarkiness masquerading as edginess
[Read the article: Introducing the Guilties!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just when you think the articles are improving, you see something like today's featured story.
The article is nothing but over the top junior high school snarkiness desperately trying to masquerade as intellectual edginess. The purpose seems to be more to show how clever the writer is than to actually inform the audience. Only when you get to the second page of the article is there anything worthwhile. I doubt many people made it that far.
This is the sort of diatribe that I would expect from Michael Savage. Even Rush Limbaugh would probably think it's too much.
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Don't Forget Fusion Energy
[Read the article: Climate of hope]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's not science fiction anymore. Experimental reactors are being built in both the south of France and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in northern California. It is estimated both will be ready in about ten years. Depending on what we learn, commercially viable reactors will come after that. We need to invest more money to make this happen even sooner.
We should also concentrate on developing efficient energy storage devices. Wind and solar will be far more practical if the energy from these sources can be stored until they are needed.
Hybrid and other more efficient vehicles will go a long way toward reducing energy consumption. So will new technologies to make coal and other power plants more efficient.
It can be done, but we have to take the problem far more seriously.
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Individualism is the new snobbery
[Read the article: Hipster rebel punk outsiders -- 99 cents a dozen]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I really enjoyed this article. I've run into a number of people lately for whom individualism has become just another form of snobbery. I've met folks who look down their nose at people who vacation in London, Paris, or Rome. They know the hip places are now Eastern Europe, preferably little towns no one has heard of.
God forbid you should waste your time in Cabo San Lucas or Cancun. To be someone you have to spend your vacation in dusty South American towns off the beaten trail where you can really talk to the locals. When I ask who those locals are, the inevitable answer is waitors, bartenders and the people who work at the front desk of the hotel. In other words, people who are being paid to be nice to you. And by the way, most of these folks I spoke with didn't speak Spanish, so I can't see how they really could speak to the locals.
And if you should ever visit DisneyLand for any reason, there is absolutely no hope for you.
Personally, I visit DisneyLand with my friends because their kids love it and I happen to like it too. It is what it is, mass entertainment, but it is very well done mass entertainement. I won't delude myself into thinking that I can visit a dusty town for a few days and really get to know it no matter how far off the beaten trail it is. Paris, London and Rome have earned their reputations because they have excellent museums wonderful architecture and excellent food. And what's wrong with that?
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The health of the kid
[Read the article: Which parent gets to decide on circumcision?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If this were not about the boy's health, then people could argue all day long about the philosophical points of circumcision, but it is about the boy's health. He's had several infections and circumcision will probably help.
As for it being a bizarre American ritual, let me point out that the practice in Poland of not doing it did originate partly out of anti-semitism.
The boy's health comes first. If the mother wanted to do it for non-medical reasons, then I would say the law should err on the side of the status quo and not permit the procedure, but if the doctors agree it should be done, then that's the way the court should rule.
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Airline Amenities
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks for your great article, but I must disagree with one point. I am 6'2" with a bad back and leg room is VERY important to me. I will reschedule my flight for another DAY to avoid a middle seat or to fly an airline with more legroom
Last year I flew JetBlue for the first time and I now always fly them if at all possible on long trips because of their additional legroom. United only offers their economy plus seats to United frequent fliers. I would gladly pay more to secure one of those seats, but they are not for sale at any price, so I avoid United. JetBlue's TVs at every seat are a good way to pass the time.
I was on a United 777 recently. The crew kept announcing that the economy restrooms were back of the section. The lavatories between business and economy were for the use of economy passengers only. This meant that people sitting one row behind these were expected to get up and go all the way to the back to use those lavatories. Several people ignored this instruction and were scolded over the PA. It's an absurd rule. They were treating the passengers like children. That's not the way to build customer loyalty.
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Small, but important Error in the article.
[Read the article: Space balls]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The article urges people to rent seasons 1 and 2 of the show, but neglects to mention that there was a mini-series prior to season 1 that is important to understanding the story. Please rent the mini-series first.
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The 50 state strategy will force the Republicans back toward the center.
[Read the article: Howard Dean, vindicated]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]By abandoning many districts, the Democrats allowed the Republican primary to be the only contest that mattered. That allowed the Republicans to go far to the right in many districts. By making the general election meaningful again, it will force the Republicans to pick more moderate candidates.