Letters for April 8, 2010

No laughing matter

Re “From Pee’ew to Brew” (April Fools’ Newslines, April 1):

Sierra Nevada’s sustainability program is not a laughing matter. The brewery generates most of its own power and puts very little waste in the landfill. Unlike the other [spoof articles] you wrote, the Sierra Nevada article is the only one likely to hurt a local business. A local business that employs hundreds of people and does so much for its community.

Some people “skim” articles and may think that what you wrote about is something real. The only reason I stopped to read this article was seeing four bottles of Pale Ale sitting in a toilet. You may have used the names “Coast Range Brewing Co.” and “Ken Grossout,” but everyone knows what and who you really meant. Once April Fools’ Day passes, please let everyone know the good work Sierra Nevada does to make Chico a greener place.

Micah Love
Chico

This isn’t funny, either

Re “Mosquitoes need love, too” (April Fools’ Guest Comment, April 1):

I realized immediately that this was an April Fools’ joke, but please allow me to explain why I “slap” every mosquito that makes contact with me.

In 2008 I was maliciously attacked by a mosquito. Unfortunately for me, the mosquito that sucked the blood from my body had West Nile virus (WNV). Now, for the most part, WNV is a short-lasting event with flu-like symptoms and fatigue. But for the lucky ones like me, that malicious attack will kill many of us. Yes, WNV is life threatening when it manifests itself as WNV encephalitis or WNV meningitis.

The good news is that once you have been bitten by a mosquito with WNV and survived, you are immune. In fact, horses already receive vaccinations. The FDA is a little slow in advancing life-enhancing vaccinations for human life, but I suspect that will happen soon regarding the protection of human life from infected mosquitoes. Until then I will help others by slapping, with the intent to kill, every mosquito that contacts my body.

Please don’t find humor in something that almost killed me. April Fools’ jokes are funny when they don’t involve life-threatening subject matter. Shame on you, CN&R.

Bob Grimm
Paradise

Comedy bright spot

Re “April Fools’ all the time” (From This Corner, by Robert Speer, April 1):

Its nice to see Merry-Standish get the praise and recognition they truly deserve for finding the bright spot in any situation to make us chuckle. We need more of that in our lives!

Brenda Lederman
Santa Rosa

Making a difference

Re “My circuitous journey home” (Guest comment, by Brian Kraemer, April 1):

It’s always refreshing to read stories of Brian’s life, as well as his commentaries on anything and everything. He has made such a huge impression on so many through PFLAG.

I was fortunate to have taken over the leadership of the Pasadena PFLAG group that Brian so thoughtfully and energetically led. He has made a huge difference in the lives of many, and we will be forever grateful to him and all his efforts.

Patti Rich Loitz
Altadena

Too bold to grow old?

Re “Daredevil in agriculture” (Feature story, by Nick Dobis, March 25):

Wade the Idiot admits flying 137 flights in 23 hours. He should loose his pilot’s license for being stupid for admitting it and second for doing it. We do not need aerial daredevils in aviation. Remember the old saying about “bold and old” pilots? Well, he is endangering more people than just himself.

Tom Nadeau
Baldwin, Fla.

‘Soul has no color’

Re “Sole Man” (Music, by Ken Smith, March 18):

Preston Powers was too harsh saying “white men don’t have an original bone …” and are “boring.”

The late black blues artist and fiddler Howard Armstrong (aka “Louie Bluie”) had two white guys backing him at the Port Townsend (Wash.) Blues Festival. One was my late husband, Jimmy Borsdorf. After some fine music, Howard told the audience, “Man, soul has no color.”

There was magic communication among musicians, not limited by generational or race differences. The music had soul, and soul has no color. The audiences loved it.

Please open your mind, Preston.

Nancy Borsdorf
Oroville

Ganja growing’s cost

I love marijuana. I use it as medicine, for recreation, relaxation, and inspiration. I believe it is a sacred plant, with a loving consciousness that has co-evolved with humans for as long as there have been humans.

In the strange state of affairs we have here in Babylon, aka Butte County, growers are taking advantage of Proposition 215, making tons of money from their “medical co-ops” in the hills. I’ve heard so many stories of corruption on the part of these seeming “hippies” and “rastas” who are doing whatever it takes to come ahead in California’s “green rush,” before it’s too late.

This too often includes denuding the forest properties where they grow. I’m here to say this isn’t right!

I know a grower who is planning on cutting down some elder ponderosa pines that shade too much of his ganja garden in Forest Ranch, just so he can increase the size of his garden and squeeze a few thousand more dollars out of this year’s harvest. This makes me quite outraged, as all his neighbors—indeed, all of us—should be.

When marijuana’s prohibition finally ends, the valley will be the best place to grow, and all those forest trees (and the creatures who depend upon them) will have been sacrificed for the short-sighted financial gain of a few greedy individuals. It makes me sick to think of all those lovely trees, savagely cut and left in a big beetle-breeding pile next to so many ganja gardens in the hills. Shame on those growers, and shame on the circumstances that let this happen!

Marta Gowan
Chico

It’s César, not Caesar

Dos Equis is certainly la cerveza más fina, to borrow a slogan, but in the full-page ad on the back of the March 25 issue of the CN&R, the name of the man whose birthday, March 31, California declared a state holiday is spelled incorrectly.

César E. Chávez has also been honored with a U.S. commemorative postage stamp, issued in 2003.

Yesterday, I proudly flew the California Republic flag.

Tomothy J. Muir
Chico

Editor’s note: Perhaps the folks at Dos Equis’ advertising agency, who prepared the ad, were sampling the product more than they should have been.

Parents as criminals

Re “The parent trap” (Newslines, by Leslie Layton, March 25):

The district attorney is charging this couple with a felony? You have got to be kidding! The DA has nothing better to do with Glenn County tax dollars?

I agree with Public Defender David Nelson’s statement, “Since when have we taken child-rearing away from the parents and given it to the schools?” I’ll tell you when. It was when education was yanked from the hands of parents, teachers and local boards and handed over to departments of education and the teachers’ unions.

Of course, daily-attendance funding for public education is important and necessary, but not at the expense of humiliating and treating innocent parents like they are criminals.

Sandra Homer
Magalia