Emails to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed reading your latest Issue 13. Good luck on trying to meet the design standards of form oriented “young” people. The concentration on looks often causes a total lack of concern for content. AND the form concepts are always shifting according to the latest “innovations”. However, their views are indeed moving society as witness the great success of Facebook and Twitter. So the vast majority of people are strongly affected by hype and sound bites to the exclusion of underlying content in the important arena of national and international politics.

All the talk in the media is about the fact that “classified” documents were leaked by Wikileaks; there is very little discussion about the content of the documents or even about why most of them were classified in the first place. Obviously, it is very embarrassing to the State Dept. when documents that reveal unlawful or improper activities against foreign governments are made public. For example the document that called for “marginalizing” Bolivia because it refused to yield to U.S. pressure to agree to the meaningless accords on climate change by the big powers – and then two weeks later there was an attempted military coup that Evo Morales flat out said was related to the document.

Herb P. 12/15/10

Editor's Response: Agreed... and in this case, the vast majority of people are also strongly affected by web bytes. On a serious note though, as you recall the Pentagon Papers were also considered treasonous and attempts at assassinating Ellsberg's character were similarly made.

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Dear Editor, I always enjoy your political commentary, particularly in defense of Obama when everyone is piling on. But amidst the understandable grousing about the tax cuts for billionaires, I continue to wonder why no one is really taking on the discussion of the estate tax cuts. What in the Sam Hill is up with that?? I have heard not so much as an attempt by the most cynical of the Republican defenders to explain why this is a good thing for anyone except for the exceptionally lucky people who are due for an inheritance. Although I disagree [with them], I understand the view of those on the right who argue that money they earned, in whatever dubious fashion, should not be subject to confiscation for the greater good. But money they inherited and did nothing to earn?? What is the rationale for letting them keep more of what is essentially a windfall when the country is in such economic peril?

Keep em coming, Paul. Love those theater reviews too.

KayC 12/14/10

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Dear Editor, I look forward to each issue and was not disapointed in #13. But I agree with your son (not his word), I would say it [the site layout] is confusing. It would help me, the reader, if the current list is different than the old ones, perhaps in color, and your combining articles by category works for me. However, the writing and content is superb. Keep that up please......

Shirley E. 12/13/10

Editor's response: Thanks for your comments - It seems there has been a groundswell of feedback about the site's layout. I can assure you that in addition to the recent body work and bargain basement paint job, graphical engineers are hard at work behind the scenes designing the concept web site of the future. These things are always kept TOP SECRET but sources tell me that the new design may even incorporate such state-of-the-art features as a featherweight nanoparticle composite frame that is lighter than air, a turbo charged photovoltaic search engine, a high end real-time communications blog system (being developed by Blaupunkt) and Bluetooth thought sensitive keys that respond without touching the keyboard. As typical with "concept" web sites, the release date has not been announced.

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To the Editor:

We're now leaving Afghanistan in 2014 instead of 2011. That's even more lives lost and damaged and more money spent! Why? When do we say enough?

Matt G 12/13/10

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Dear Editor,

I still can’t post a comment?! You raised perceptive children.

Last week, I had a long phone call with a friend and when we talked politics, I came to realize that Obama was really Bill Clinton. And then the next day, there was Clinton himself with Obama selling the tax sell-out. They proved me wrong physically by appearing together, but I think politically speaking, I was proven correct. The fact that Obama doesn’t sleep with Hillary is further proof that he is really Bill Clinton.

As for the can opener, I think your cappuccino maker probably can open cans, knit sweaters and make coffee all at the same time but you haven’t yet mastered the voice commands. Probably it is opening cans, feeding your cats and eating your leftovers out of the fridge while you sleep. I’ve just learned that new cars have sensors that tell you when your tire pressure is wrong. My boss’ car’s sensors won’t reset, so until she can bring the car in, she has to listen to the sensor, even though she has new and newly inflated tires. I wonder if her car can open cans. Almost every new technology opens cans…of worms.

Steve P. 12/12/10

Editor's Response: Not only can't my superautomatic espresso machine open cans but it is now refusing to make coffee. I think the problem is related to a sensor very much like the problem with your boss' tires. But I haven't tried making coffee with the can opener (yet).

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