Letters to the Editor
Rowyna
Published Letters: 105 Editor's Choice: 36
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meanwhile, over at NYT...
[Read the article: Thank you, Rush Limbaugh!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ignoring the whole 'agree with me or don't read my newspaper' vibe this article (almost certainly unintentionally, and rather unfortunately) gives out...
I thought the timing of the results of this poll went along rather nicely with a different (yet similar) article making it into the top ten over at NYTimes called "our racist sexist selves" (link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/opinion/06kristof.html?em&ex=1207713600&en=cee1db633094044e&ei=5087%0A).
Its a pretty interesting read without getting into hysterics about who SHOULD be the democratic primary candidate (rather it looks at why it might be easier for many people to conceive of a black rather than female president).
Personally I don't support Hillary, however I think calling any woman a whore, bitch, or c*nt has NO PLACE in any discourse. It amazes me the number of people who would NEVER EVER call an African American a n*gger, but who think calling a woman a "f*cking whore" is totally ok.
Some readers here might not like Hillary's policies or personality, but there is no need to offend and put down an entire gender because of their personal issues with a presidential candidate. It offends me, and should offend any woman reading the Salon.
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Oh noes, my coompooterz is hacks
[Read the article: Survey: Women looser with their passwords than men]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Seriously though, I wouldn't really care if some stranger knew my work password. Afterall, do they even know where I work? No? Well then, who the hell cares? Oh noes, they have a password which may or may not be my real password, and they don't even know my name. Like, what are they going to do with that information?
A more interesting test would be, how many women would give their phone number out to random strangers... I bet the number would be a lot smaller.
This whole "survey" seems 100% pointless, and I think the so-called "results" reported show more about the bias of the researchers than any real information about how secure men or women are with their personal data.
I'd be more interested to hear about differences in how men/women come up with passwords. (e.g. your dogs name, or a random pattern/shape on the keyboard?)
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@droogoy
[Read the article: Survey: Women looser with their passwords than men]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]they are more easily gratified by baubles and toys, and more willing to make sacrifices to get these baubles. They are also more easily distracted by blam and bling and pizzazz. Look at how all the teeny boppers are mesmerized by "Hanna Montana". Imagine how insufferable they will be as adult women!
What an insufferable troll. Honestly. Could you provide a link to said "research" that you're quoting here? The "baubles and toys meet Hanna Montana" study perhaps?
Honestly, get a clue. Maybe women just don't give a rats arse about who knows their work passwords because theres nothing that anyone could use them for unless that also knew their usernames and places of employment.
Oh, but I guess they were all just distracted by "bling an pizzazz". Using non-cited "studys" to confirm ones own gender-its-all-genetic based biases smacks of Eugenics. Maybe we should talk about how certain races are inferior next, eh?
Honestly. Trolls.
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BPA in utero
[Read the article: The bisphenol A blues]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Aside from all the "nanny state" hand-wringing implications here, I think it is fair enough to issue a general warning to preganant women that they should no consume food/drink out of BPA containing products. Similarily, it is totally irresponsible for this substance to be in baby bottles.
BPA has limited effects on adults. So, if youre a 25 year-old man, please don't throw out your Nalgene bottle. It probably isn't doing you any harm. However, if you're a 25 year-old woman, pregnant or trying to become so, you may want to have a re-think. Similarily, its NOT a good idea to be feeding a newborn from a bottle with BPA. The level of toxicity BPA poses is directly proportional to the SIZE of the person consuming it. Obviously BPA is more toxic in a tiny new-born than a fully grown adult.
I find the recent news coverage of this (Canada Bans Toxic Plastics!) funny. Afterall, as Andrew points out, none of this is NEWS. Studies on the toxic/harmless nature of BPA have been taking place for over ten years at least.
"Lefty" science aside, you'd better believe I'll be turfing my Nalgene and paying more attention to what I'm eating if I'm ever pregnant. You'd also better believe I won't be feeding my baby from some debatable plastic bottle "made in china".
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if you have time to mow your lawn, you have time to garden
[Read the article: Your very own climate change Victory Garden]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Seriously though, how much time does the average suburbanite spend moving his/her lawn? Replace some of that lawn with low-maintenance garden, and presto -- less time mowing (with your fossil fuel powered mower) and more time gardening.
Also, I can sympathise with the inner-city thing. I currently live in a small flat with a concrete "yard", but am next year planning on planting some pots with tomato and zucchini plants. Will they feed my whole family for the summer? No. Will they give me a sense of connection to my food, and cut down on the fuel-to-transport/fuel-derived fertilizer/pesticides/supermarket racketeering that I participate in every time I buy a tomato? Yes.
And I heartily agree with a couple of the above posters, that if you can find a local farmer's market, it is the next best thing.
As far as the "only the rich can eat well" nonsense -- I think this is overblown. I heartily agree that anyone earning the minimum wage or on welfare is going to struggle to afford food. Then again, frozen/canned veggies, dried beans, rice and pasta are all pretty damn cheap & healthy and can be bought on sale and saved for later.
I think Pollan's goal in his garden suggestion is to encourage people to re-connect to where their food comes from, and be able to eat something that wasn't produced using (mostly) fossil fuels as its energy source. Its a timely reminder that food can be grown without petrol, in fact, you can even do it in your backyard! (Ok, if you have one.)