
12 minute read
Letters
from March 21, 2013
Break down
Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.
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I lied. More precisely, I was mistaken. No wild first breath of Spring Break for Bri. No madness.
However, I’ve just resolved today to get the hell out of the office the moment I type the final m on this Editor’s Note. You know what? m
*** Post St. Patrick’s apocalypse weekend: I did my best to make up for my slow start to the first weekend of Spring Break. I had a blast, but the first lesson I learned—remembered, that is—is that there are all kinds of ways to blow off steam. Drinking a bunch of wine and trying to have a Miami Beach vacation right here in Reno isn’t necessarily the most productive one.
It’s not as though anything bad happened, but when you consider how on I’ve been for how long, I felt a little like I was wasting precious time. I did get my ancient printer to work with my relatively new laptop again on Friday evening. I also got my home mostly cleaned. (As I pointed out to a friend last week, women I’ve dated over the years have been alternately intrigued and disturbed by my penchant for drinking wine and cleaning the house.)
A beautiful Saturday brunch at Archie’s Restaurant followed by some writing for my English class followed by something I’m almost too embarrassed to tell you about: I got a chemical peel on my face, trying to diminish some sebaceous hyperplasia— blown-out oil glands. I’m only embarrassed because my girlfriend keeps calling it a facial, suggesting somehow that I’m being less than masculine by trying to get the disfigurement fixed. It actually got worse from there. I’ll tell you the truth, I think I almost started my menses in Ulta, where I stopped to pick up moisturizer. Then a friend came over, and we discussed the concept over Corona Lights.
Sunday, I watched my son fence an awesome bout in the fencing tournament. Sunday was also, of course, St. Patrick’s Day. Can you guess how the rest of my day was spent? —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com
Isn’t that special?
Re “A Special Case” (Feature story, March 14)
This story acknowledges, but then tries to ignore or deny, an important detail about the Nevada constitution’s tax on mining production: It does not cap the total tax mining companies pay, it only caps the industry-specific net proceeds tax, a tax that other businesses don’t have to pay at all. Mining companies large and small have to pay all the kinds of tax that every other business in the state has to pay, plus a tax on the net proceeds of minerals. Is that special protection? I think not. Elizabeth Zbinden Consulting Geologist and Geochemist Reno Editor’s note: Just to clarify, there are, in fact, other industry specific taxes, such as those paid by the gambling industry, that are not capped in the constitution.
Flaming dogs
Re “No dogs for you” (Letters to the Editor, March 14):
This is in response to Justin Dunaway. Maybe she’s a ferret person or maybe she just doesn’t like dogs. I myself am not jaded, and I’m married with kids but couldn’t agree more. Hearing about a dog getting snatched by a coyote is music to my ears. Not everyone likes smelly ass dogs. Get over it. Eugene Schmid via email
Pray for health
Re “Ashamed of government” (Letters to the Editor, March 7):
I just read Jon P. Gaits’ letter in the March 7 issue condemning congressional inaction on the sequester, and I basically agree with his point, although not his tone, up to the last two sentences. I would like to ask him—and this is not a rhetorical question, I really want to know—what will you pray for, and why?
Richard Sasaki via email
Attack crimes
Re “End thought crimes in Nevada” (Editorial, March 14):
I was very surprised at the common sense exhibited in your editorial regarding SB 139. Considering that in general your newspaper is considered to be liberal in your editorial opinions, it was good to see a well thought-out and reasonable editorial dealing with equality under the law. Let there be no doubt that any physical or verbal attack on anyone, no matter what their sexual orientation or any other factors such as those mentioned in the editorial, is despicable and should be punished strongly. But it makes no sense to consider any of these factors to increase or decrease punishment. It is the attack that is the crime and we are all equal under the law. Fred Speckmann Reno
Provocative letter No. 1
Regarding the Emergency Contraception Pill, the “evaluation report of approved medication containing levonorgestrel” clarifies researches that give cause for the marketing of the active principle in the whole universe. This arouses frequent hostile reactions and highlights two dangers: a possible ectopic pregnancy and a venous thrombosis risk. This worrying cardiovascular disease occurs by the appearance of a blood clot in a deep blood vessel. A complication occurs when part of the blood clot breaks off, travels through the bloodstream and blocks any vein of the lungs. The report said that consequences are significant. For example, in a sample of 1,379 women who took at least one dose, 426 suffered from bleeding (30.89 percent); 189 nausea (13.71 percent); 184 fatigue (13.34 percent); 183 abdominal pain (13.27 percent), 142 headaches (10.3 percent) and other complications such as breast pain, dysentery, anxieties and dizziness. Gabriel Roselló
Information Sciences President of the European Institute of Marketing
Provocative letter No. 2
I am honored to write to you about the dangers of black holes. There are maybe an infinity of extraterrestrials who search about it. To believe in them and in the UFOs, flying-saucers, are two different things. The universe is infinite or infinitely bigger than we believe (infinity of possibilities of bigness).
There can be some big bangs after some big crunches, some astronomically fast collisions. And they are said to be extremely far away, and if they exist; [you should] realize well that some astrophysicists said not very long ago that the universe was finite because we didn’t succeed to see farther than 15 milliards (billion light-years) times 10,000 milliards of kilometers. And if there is another universe other than ours, it is at least at 100 times the diameter of our universe (minimal relation of distance between the galaxies, or the planetary systems).
To speak of black holes, except as I did, can lead to increase the vivisection whereas it could have, moreover, some terrible metaphysical consequences.
There is something after death. I am sometimes warned of some dangerous events.
If you forbid the weapons of mass destruction, you risk inciting the intellectuals who have it, to get rid of them in ... destroying all. Georges Claude via email
Provocative letter No. 3
I have read some articles and found them to be good.
I believe that a good writer who sees all that happens and analyzes it must be constantly in touch with the truthful sources of knowledge. In today’s world, there is a lot written and spoken on Islam/ Muslims. But it is one-sided. You will hardly see a Muslim express his views (the other side that helps one reach the truth). Neither the experts or media are aware of the other side. Everyone suspects women’s rights in Islam, or the rights of minorities, or the concept of Jihad or sharia but haven’t read the Quran, nor the Hadith, which would make the basis of it.
I invite you to read Quran’s translation. Quran is the verbatim word of God told to Prophet Muhammad through angel Gabriel and preserved til today in both text and language, same in all times, same in all places and same for all sects. Sayings of Prophet Muhammad as a person, are called Hadith and don’t include the sayings of his companions nor those after him. It’s the biography of Muhammad and introduction to Islam. Muhammad was the last and final prophet to all mankind, his coming prophesied in all divine books (Hindu’s Vedas, Old and New Testament, in Dasatirs of Zoroastrians), but he is not God and not worshiped.
Islam and Muslims are the second biggest group in the world and in the U.S., and therefore sooner or later truthful information will start to appear in media. You should not only read the above but save them in a file as sometimes you may write on a Muslim event and such correct references will be handy. Also people hold journalists on much higher level of knowledge and so can ask you questions of all kinds and if they have from other sources also may respect for the correct reply. Quoting from correct sources increases the credibility of the paper and its contributors. Muhammad Khan via email
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ThiS Modern World by tom tomorrow



What issues concern you most?
Asked at Meadowood Mall
Lilly Castro
Student Society judging you just because you’re a teenager, and you’re younger. I hate that they lump us all together and stereotype us.
Roberto Caballero
Student Getting rides to places and getting my license. It sucks because I have no money to get to the DMV.
Think. Then think again.
by
It’s no secret that our education system is going through some very difficult times, and we all hear the familiar “let’s get back to the basics” cry. We need more science, more math, more … more … more! The question is, what exactly are those basics? In the 21st century, they are certainly not what many of us have always thought they were. There’s a relatively new book out that every parent, teacher and administrator should read. Titled The Death and Life of the Howard Rosenberg Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, it’s written by Diane Ravitch, an education howard rosenberg is a long-time educator, a former member of historian who the Wall Street Journal calls “the country’s soberest, most history-minded the University Board education expert.” of regents, and a Ravitch’s thread is how the very things current member of the she once supported enthusiastically, she now Washoe County School questions: “Why do I now doubt ideas I had Board. once advocated?” Why … because they aren’t working. As Ravitch says, “When the facts change, I change my mind!” We all need to remember … that “doubt and skepticism are signs of rationality … it’s doubt that shows we’re still thinking.” We can change our minds, or at least recognize that what we thought was positive may not be yielding a positive result. Ravitch caught my attention on page 2 with her statement: “One constant has been my skepticism about pedagogical fads, enthusiasms and movements. The other has been a deep belief in the value of a rich, coherent school curriculum, especially in history and literature, both of which are too frequently ignored, trivialized or politicized.”
In the recent search for school superintendent, there was one applicant who made a point of saying, several times, that we are in “the learning business.” I disagree. Those of us who have chosen to be teachers are in “the teaching business.” Our students are in “the learning business.” We each have jobs and shared responsibilities.
Then there’s accountability, which too often means that if the student learns, it’s because he or she is innately gifted, and if he or she doesn’t learn, it’s because he or she had an inferior teacher. That’s bullshit. No teacher living can teach a student who neither wants nor cares to learn. And there are so many more problems with which a teacher must deal than when many of us were in public school.
Our local school board has always done the very best it could. Previous members have all contributed a great deal. I know this present school board will continue that tradition in a number of different way, utilizing a number of different strategies, but always with the same goal: to give our kids the best possible education, not just in academics, but for life . Ω Sammi Sillers



Student School, the work and grades.
Marina Ramirez
Student Drama—how people judge each other without even getting to know each other.
Brandon Franco
Student Finding a job and a home.