Letters for July 12, 2012

Where nuclear fuel rods don’t shine

Re “A nuclear feud” by Christopher Arns (SN&R Green Days, July 5):

How nice to see that we have another anti-nuclear crusade going on by a man that helped close Rancho Seco [Nuclear Generating Station]. I hope that he is quite proud of himself, along with Bob Mulholland, Mike Remy, Homer Ibser, Ed Smeloff, Jane Fonda and all the rest of the anti-nuclear nuts that are out there.

At that time, SMUD was not allowed to spend money or airtime to defend against these people—after having spent $400 million to upgrade that plant—but this time, they are going up against private utilities who can spend the money to fight their ballot measures. I hope that Pacific Gas and Electric [Company], San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison go to court and get an injunction—because these companies don’t have to abide by a nonbinding referendum—and then tell them to stick it where the nuclear fuel rods don’t shine.

Michael Stinson
Sacramento

A burger-flipping alternative

Re “Neighborhood news is good news” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Beats, July 5):

Thanks, Cosmo Garvin, for this piece.

Access Sacramento is excited about our Neighborhood News Youth Correspondent program. Each of the six-plus guest correspondents is sharing new insights about their lives and their concerns. By doing so, they are earning a stipend and further awards for excellence.

We hope this model helps young people grow as journalists and offers an alternative to a summer of flipping burgers to earn a few bucks. SN&R is the first media outlet to recognize this new effort, and we appreciate your kind words. Stay tuned for more at www.accesssacramento.org.

Ron Cooper
executive director, Access Sacramento

Poor puppy?

Re “Inhumane and unsporting” by Jennifer Fearing (SN&R Guest Comment, July 5):

Too bad this puppy will spend his life on the couch, rather than discovering the excitement of using his keen sense of smell to locate bears and mountain lions like his close relatives that belong to me.

Jennifer Fearing’s absurd description of this process makes it clear that she has never seen it done. We owe most of what we know about mountain lions to dogs of the type he could be come. His relatives have achieved the capture of many mountain lions for the UC Santa Cruz study that focuses on better understanding the needs of these fascinating animals in increasingly fragmented habitat.

Sadly, this puppy will never contribute to that effort.

Daniel Tichenor
Castro Valley

They’re coming for our hunting dogs!

Re “Inhumane and unsporting” by Jennifer Fearing (SN&R Guest Comment, July 5):

What is clear is that The Humane Society of the United States wants to ban all hunting. Hounds are just a start.

By the way, Plott hounds are bred to hunt, not to be couch potatoes or “pampered pets.” They are purpose-bred dogs that will be eliminated if the HSUS has its way, along with many other breeds of hounds.

Doug Williams
Sonoma

Don’t get between the fork and the mouth!

Re “Greedy and gluttonous” (SN&R Letters, July 5):

Dear Ms. [Janet] Schultz, please stay away from my plate!

Yes, the human animal is predatory; not only of other species but their own as well. Yes, humans are omnivores! Yes, I like happy chickens—but only because they taste better. As a member of PETAC (People Enjoying Tasty Animals Club), I believe in eating what’s offered to me without first putting my host/hostess through the Spanish Inquisition.

I am currently working on committing suicide by fork. Bon appétit! It ain’t over until the fat lady sings!

Patricia C. Russell
Sacramento

Embrace change

Re “Music Circus goes AARP” by Kel Munger (SN&R Scene&Heard, July 5):

This is exactly what happened to the [Sacramento Jazz] Jubilee, now called the Sacramento Music Festival. As a member of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, I have seen this decline up close. I warned the STJS about the age of their audience for years and that we needed to figure out a format that would attract a younger audience. My pleas fell on deaf ears.

I am bummed about Music Circus following the same path. I hope the organizers of Music Circus can turn this around before it’s too late. The festival waited too long to attempt change. I don’t think they will be able to afford to put on the festival next year.

It would be a shame to lose Music Circus in the same fashion. Your organization better embrace change, sooner rather than later.

William Bua
Sacramento

There’s more than one way to scratch

Re “(Don’t) hang the deejay” by Josh Fernandez (SN&R Music, June 28):

I hope I’m correct in saying your intentions to clear up any “misconceptions” were good but, after reading this three times, I really think you are very misleading in this article about Skratchpad Sacramento.

There are many aspects of a deejay: a club deejay, underground deejay (non-mainstream/club), a mobile deejay, etc. Each one has a unique set of skills associated with them. “Turntablism” is a bona fide deejay skill, I agree, but this gives the impression that if a deejay isn’t using vinyl to scratch with, he or she is not a true deejay. Plus, you totally bypassed the skill of scratching on a CDJ, too.

With the advancement of technology in the deejay realm, using a laptop to mix with is only one medium used by deejays. Thirteen years ago, I was taught to mix using vinyl, and, over the years, I’ve seen various other types of equipment—such as CDJs, laptops and midi-controllers—introduced. Each one of them has their own set of skills to perfect, and not one of them should be taken lightly, because the deejay can be just as bad spinning vinyl as he/she can be on any other medium.

I do feel that turntablism is an art that deserves every bit of recognition for the required skill, and the fact is that it is very entertaining to watch live. Many underground deejays still bring out the Technics [turbtables] and scratch during their set, even if they mix using CDJs.

Bob Paschal
Sacramento

Correction

Last week’s Scene&Heard column (“Music Circus goes AARP” by Kel Munger) mistakenly stated that the musical Fiddler on the Roof was based on a story by Isaac Bashevis Singer. It is based on a story by Sholem Aleichem. The story has been corrected online.