Letters

R.I.Prince

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Andy Warhol got it wrong when he said, “In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.” The truth, now that we’re living here in the future, is that everyone is famous to 15 people.

One person’s celebrity is another person’s passerby. To some people, Steph Curry is the world’s hottest athlete, but two editors at this newspaper almost let “Stef Curry” make it into print.

That fickle flicker of fame makes it seem all the more unusual and powerful when there’s a nearly universal outpouring of emotion for someone, as when Prince Rogers Nelson died last week. Of course, there were the usual dickheads chiming in with “overrated” and “I don’t care about rich celebrities,” but even they acknowledged the enormity of Prince’s influence in their own backhanded way.

Prince was a stunning singer, superb dancer and fantastic guitar player. He was the undisputed master of the stage walk-off. He wrote great songs usually associated with other artists, like “Manic Monday” and “Nothing Compares 2 U.” His own discography is a world unto itself, a paisley planet somewhat removed from Earth and populated with odd beauties.

As a kid, I loved his songs in the 1989 movie Batman. I went dressed as Prince to a costume party in college. (At the climax of the ’80s pop star-themed party, we had a party-wide drunken singalong of “We are the World.” Simpler times.) Later, I almost met Prince when he came into the bookstore where I worked—on my day off.

To me, part of the magic of Prince was that he blurred all the lines—the lines of music genres, gender and race. And he did it in a way that was seamless and endlessly appealing.

As I read tributes and watched endless videos of various artists covering “Purple Rain,” I thought the country might not ever be so united again.

And then, 15 minutes later, Beyonce dropped “Lemonade,” and then 15 minutes later, it was time for the season premiere of Game of Thrones. —Brad Bynum bradb@newsreview.com

Grimm tale

Hey Bob, Thanks for another fine review! We saw Jungle Book in 3-D, and I’d recommend that version. My only concern about the film (is that still an appropriate term for a digital movie?) is that a number of jump scares and scenes of violence may be a bit too intense for sensitive viewers. And I don’t mean just because of age. At 72, I came off my seat more than once and would have to give serious consideration to taking young viewers (under 72 :).

In fact, there was somewhat of a disconnect in the movie between a jolly rendition of “Bear Necessities” and Shere Khan, the “pissed off tiger”, doing evil stuff. (Khaaaan! OK, I couldn’t resist :).

Steve Waclo Carson City

Thanks a bunch, Al

At www.ki4u.com/goodnews.htm there is information about how to survive a nuclear attack (e.g. by a rogue nation), and how the government might minimize casualties.

Alex Sokolow Santa Monica

Vape this

Re: “Planet of the vapes” (cover story, April 14):

With all of the positive social and cultural developments currently taking place in the Truckee Meadows, comes an RN&R puff piece, forgive the pun, glamorizing our region’s “vaping subculture.”

The article’s characterization of the science on e-cigarettes is correct—it is basically in its infancy and anything but settled. However, most public health professionals agree that it is premature to call e-cigarettes a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, and it is irresponsible of industry and vape shops to market them as cessation aids.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this much we do know: (1) nicotine poses dangers to pregnant women and fetuses, children and adolescents; (2) youth use of nicotine in any form, including e-cigarette is unsafe and detrimental to adolescent brain development; (3) in order for adult smokers to benefit from e-cigarettes, they must completely quit combusted tobacco use; and (4) e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless “water vapor” and is not as safe as clean air. Finally, despite the steady “de-normalization” of tobacco use over the past quarter century, the public health community is alarmed by the rapid rise of e-cigarettes use by youths over the last couple of years. Currently, half of Nevada high schoolers have used electronic vapor products and a quarter have used e-cigs in the past thirty days.

The RN&R does a commendable job of keeping its finger on the pulse of our increasingly vibrant culture in the Truckee Meadows. Why, however, we would celebrate “vaping subculture” and its potential for creating a new generation of nicotine addicts is anyone’s guess. John Packham Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition Reno Sanders and Clinton

The Democrats have a real problem with their presidential candidates.

One is a flaming socialist whose only platform is “free stuff” paid for by the top one-tenth of taxpayers and does not have a chance, and the other is an abrasive, arrogant hypocrite who should be in prison for her mishandling of classified information. Hopefully the

American voters will realize that one

Clinton was one too many. R.W. Titus Reno Erik Holland

What could go wrong?

Re “Water supplies become a marketplace commodity” (cover story, August 28, 2008):

The City of Reno was approached by Goldman Sachs for “a long-term asset leasing that could potentially generate significant cash for the three Truckee Meadows Water Authority entities. The program would allow TMWA to lease its assets for 50 years and receive an up-front cash payment.” Essentially, Goldman Sachs wants to privatize Reno’s water utility for 50 years. Given Reno’s revenue shortfall, this proposal was financially attractive. But the water board eventually rejected the proposal due to strong public opposition and outcry.

Dan Williams Reno

River walk condition

The beautiful river “bike path” running through Reno to Sparks, is no longer that. It is an immense, dangerous, trashy eyesore! For 16 years, I have been riding on it and today I saw trash upwards of 3-4 ft high for miles, about 80-100 “squatters/indigents” living all over the bike path for about two miles, blocking the paved path with their tents, trash, animals and themselves. I have never seen anything like this on that path before!

It’s a disgrace to Reno— over 25-30 tents/rigged up abodes. I was quite thankful that I was not by myself, as it is no longer a safe area to ride. What about the rights of us residents who want to enjoy the Truckee River, Reno and the bikepath? And when are our police going to do something about this?

K. Hawkrigg Reno

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