Dan’s Papers April 29, 2011 danshamptons.com Page 55
LETTERS READ ME Dear Dan, I’m alerting you to my latest blog posting; WHAT WE NEED IS A NEW TSUNAMI. It describes what we’ve experienced over the past month, ever since we released Karl Grossman’s Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed To Know About Nuclear Power as a free download. The good news is that over 10,000 people have heard or read Karl’s documentation that this energy source is likely to be the end of us if not stopped, despite the failure of mainstream media to give him any platform at all (thank God for the alternatives). And I name those individuals (including Diane Rehm, among others, as an example), news reporters and columnists for magazines and newspapers who fiddle while Rome burns, as well as supposedly “progressive” networks like PBS and NPR. I think you will find it hard to dispute any of this, and hope you will read this blog and pass it on. Marty The Permanent Press Sag Harbor GUNNIN’ FOR GUNTHER Dear Dan, Dr. Günther Geiss’ endless regurgitating of skewed figures, half-truths, general misinformation and so very sad personal opinions about The Southold Animal Shelter proves once again that old professors never die, they just keep on quixotically lecturing like furry energized bunnies. Michael Edelson Greenport
I was wondering whether through your animal channels you might know people who’d be interested in donating or doing something. I’ve sent the links and the Swiss article to a number of horselovers in Geneva and donated a few pennies myself, but of course it’s a drop in the ocean. Their lives are so miserable at the best of times one can ask oneself whether this isn’t the best solution, but then death by starvation isn’t particularly humane either. I’m sending you several links in case you have any ideas as to people you might be able to talk to. I realize that you’re helping already have your hands full, but who knows there may be some horsey people there. The first one is the Egyptian soc. for animals, which seems to be doing the best it can at the moment. The initial article I saw was in ‘le Temps’, a Geneva paper on April 4, entitled ‘Hécatombe de chevaux au pied des pyramides’ (esmaegypt.org). http://petsadviser.com/fur-and-prrr/egypt-horses-dying-after-revolution/ In the meantime, I wish you a Happy Easter! Monica Knussi We’re passing this on to Amaryllis Farms in Bridgehampton – DR
Lucy
AN OBITUARY FOR LUCY Dear Dan, Lucy lived most of her life in the Hamptons. At 3:30 on Sunday afternoon 4/17/11, Lucy left us. After much agonizing we realized it was time to let her go. She lived an amazing 16.5 years. Lucy was our best friend, constant dinner companion, world traveler and a fabulous shopper. Everywhere we went she was treated like a superstar. Some of her favorite things were chasing birds on the beach, walking in Southampton, eating shrimp from Corjays and shopping at T.J. Maxx. She also loved cuddling and being serenaded. There will never be another Lucy. She was one of a kind. Instead of flowers, please give donations to ARF. Thank you. Herb Friedman There’s lots of love with dogs. – DR HELP SAVE THE EGYPTIAN HORSES Dear friends and animal lovers, I was wondering whether you’ve heard about the terrible plight of the Egyptian horses around the pyramids since the recent revolution. I came across a horrifying article in the Geneva papers by a Swiss journalist who saw what’s going on. Apparently they are starving en masse because tourists are staying away. There is no sympathy for them locally as they were used to terrorize people on Tahrir Square (remember that incongruous medieval stampede) - as though the horses had a say in that!
MEAT KILLS Dear Dan, According to last week’s journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, half of the meat and poultry sold in U.S. supermarkets may
Send your letters to askdan@danspapers.com (e-mails only, please) be tainted with the deadly pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The study tested 136 samples of beef, chicken, pork, and turkey in five cities. Half of the bacteria were resistant to antibiotics. One organism - MRSA, is a leading cause of fatal infections in schools and hospitals. The authors suggest that feeding antibiotics to animals in factory farms may contribute to this resistance. Indeed, two thirds of all antibiotics in the U.S. are used to promote the growth of farmed animals and contain infectious diseases induced by their extreme crowding and stress. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should ban the routine use of antibiotics in factory farms. The European Union has adopted such a ban in 2006. The World Health Organization has recommended a worldwide phase-out. In the meantime, each of us should replace animal products in our diet with vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and grains. These foods contain all the nutrients we require, without deadly pathogens, antibiotics, pesticides, carcinogens, cholesterol, and saturated fats. They are touted by every major health advocacy organization and were the recommended fare in the Garden of Eden. Sincerely, Brian Williams Stonington, CT An apple a day keeps the doctor at bay. – DR
POLICE BLOTTER Bang A man decided that he was going to fire off his rifle at the Speonk Elementary School last week over a dispute about jewelry. He is 24 years old and the dispute came about after an argument with his girlfriend. Nobody was injured after he fired the rifle, but this guy was arrested so fast by police officers who responded to the incident that he didn’t even know what hit him. Maybe while he is in jail a brain cell in his head will grow, and then possibly another will grow, but I have my doubts. Brooklyn Bum This is sad. A 33-year-old man from Brooklyn was found sleeping in an abandoned restaurant space in East Hampton. The man was not paying for the space and appeared to be homeless. Police let the man spend the night, but then required him to leave the following day. Fraud A woman in East Hampton reported to police that somebody used her name and Social Security number to open an online bank account that was not hers. Police opened up an investigation and advised the woman to watch the movie The Net, starring Sandra Bullock, so that she is scared straight about the dangers of not protecting her private information.
Shelter Island Old Man McGumbus, 96, and former WWII sabotage specialist, was recovering from a weightlifting injury to his bicep after competing in a strongman competition at the Old Whalers Beer House on Shelter Island, when he noticed a tree was blocking passage to the gun shop on Cherry Paradise Lane. McGumbus startled a few residents when he lobbed a grenade at the tree, effectively blowing it up and out of the road, clearing the way. The tree landed on top of Charles McSwickerton’s garage and crashed through the roof, causing damage. McSwickerton decided not to press any charges and thanked McGumbus for getting the tree out of the road. Money Fight Two men from Southampton were arrested for assault after they beat a former friend of theirs with a fireplace poker. The beating took place over a dispute that involved $20. Yes $20, as in twenty dollars, that is not a typo. Both men, who are in their 40s by the way, said they were owed $20 between the two of them by the other man. They said that he would not pay them because he didn’t have the money, so in response they decided to beat him to the point where he needed to go to the hospital. They were both arrested and brought to jail. -David Lion Rattiner