Letters

Save your money

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

I saw The Lone Ranger on July 3, paying the Costco ticket price for myself, my girl and my son. What a piece of shit. I can’t remember ever being actually offended by the lack of quality in a movie before, although I have complained about the cowardice and lack of creativity in movie studios the last few years or so.

But The Lone Ranger’s remarkable stupidity has left me still shaking my head two days later. This movie unquestionably aimed at the lowest common denominator of the viewing public, and the studio undershot even that.

Since the movie failed on every level—story, acting, special effects—it’s hard to focus on one thing, but I guess I’ll point to the character Tonto, played by Johnny Depp.

As my son said as we walked out of the theater, “I thought Johnny Depp could play pretty much anything he wanted to.” This role showed that sometimes even Johnny Depp will just act for the money. He had to know that this was going to be a cultural hot-button role. And yet, his, and most of the characters, were portrayed as though this were a remake of Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles— only re-imagined as a drama.

Couldn’t somebody have raised their hand during filming and said, “We’re really piling on the cultural stereotypes here”?

Not all older people suffer from dementia. Not all native people have magical spirituality that manifests in real life. Not all native spirituality is a sight gag. Not all insane people are wise. Not all native people are just white people with make-up. Not all native people who communicate mainly with English speakers can’t speak in English.

Stereotypes are misconceptions that are perpetrated in popular culture. When characters in books or movies are unintentionally based on these misconceptions, it’s called bad writing. It’s not just bad writing for the groups misrepresented, it’s bad for all the people whose intelligence has just been insulted.

Man, what people won’t do for money. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

More for less

Re “The death of senior services” (Feature story, June 27):

The “Death of Senior Services” article in the RN&R’s June 27 edition is misleading.

First of all, Senior Services meals are certified by a registered dietician to provide one-third of the USDA recommended daily allowance for seniors. And, while it is true that Washoe County Senior Services, like all county departments, has lost revenue and staff from the Great Recession, we are serving 67 percent more people than were served in 2008 when the economic crisis began.

It is also true that several programs have been lost because of the federal sequester and future reductions are possible. We are working to find ways to continue all of senior services through options with other county departments and our community partners. In fact, we hope to restore our Visiting Nurse Program in the near future.

We are looking for new strategies and funding for all of Senior Services programs, as the senior population is rapidly growing. The Senior Law Project will continue uninterrupted, thanks to Washoe Legal Services and Nevada Legal Services who have stepped in to help. As a result, we will be able to restore services for that program to 2007-2008 levels. Although we expect cuts in the Nutrition Programs, we will focus the resources that we have on the Meals on Wheels program for home bound seniors. And our Senior Social Services and DayBreak Adult Day Health programs continue with new and innovative funding.

Grady Tarbutton Director, Washoe County Senior Services

Write your rep

Approximately 1,000,000 Americans and their families are impacted by Parkinson’s disease. That prevalence is expected to more than double by 2040. It is urgent that as many of us as are able to, step forward and make our voices of support heard for biomedical research funding. We all deserve and need to be heard by our elected officials in Congress, asking them to support sustained funding. Together our voices carry the power to help find better treatments for people who are living with Parkinson’s disease, as well as to hasten the defeat of Parkinson’s. Carol Madaris Las Vegas

Eyewitness account

Re “An age of wonders” (Editor’s note, July 3):

I suggest you spend a few minutes and get some objective information about Muslims in Turkey. Christians, gays and Jews are murdered and women are gangraped in the name of Islam every day in Turkey. I just returned from a month in Thailand and love that country and its people. You missed another benefit to visiting Thailand, I lost 10 pounds. I ate only Thai food and drank lots of Thai beer. Well written article, and I look forward to your next report. Keith Salvatore Rocklin, Calif.

Two much cents

Re “An age of wonders” (Editor’s note, July 3):

When I read the tagline to this post on the landing page, I thought the topic was going to be about immortality. [“We live in an age of wonders. Can immortality be just beyond our grasp?”] I will comment anyway because that’s what I want to do. The problem as I see it with attaining immortality is that it can, more than likely, never be done within this physical universe. Even the universe itself will, probably, one day, expire. Then, every immortal will suddenly become mortal and expire with it. Just my $0.02 on immortality. Christopher Corbett Sparks

Regulate food

Re “A market solution to food problems” (The Liberty Belle, July 3):

Chanelle Bessette suggests that privatization of food regulation is a better solution that government regulation. She offers the MPAA and ESRB as examples of effective privatization. She probably was born after the MPAA started. I seem to recall that the only reason they created a voluntary rating system was to stave off regulation from the government. The same is true with ESRB. If there was no possibility of government regulation, then these industries would have continued doing as little as possible regarding ratings. It is only because of the threat of government regulation that they voluntarily put together their systems. Her suggestion to abandon government control as an answer would result in an unregulated free-for-all. One only needs to look at the Bangladesh clothing industry to see the result of voluntary industry compliance. The Rana Plaza disaster was not the only clothing factory where workers lost their lives due to the lack of effective regulation, it was only the most recent and most deadly. Regulation is needed (in moderation) to keep honest those who have little regard for others. Jon Harrison Reno

It was naughty

Re “10 Things to Know” (Feature story, July 3):

The story on Turkey was excellent! Eye opening via someone I know and trust. I got the same from my daughter when she visited there last year.

Thank you for telling a truly no spin story of your own experiences. We need more like this from more reporters, and it certainly helps those of us who are seated at home in front of the American View of news.

I would love to be “in the know” [about the previous conversation you mentioned], but knowing you and my own wild imagination, I saw images in my own mind that you cannot top by telling me what that meant, so don’t even try!

Thanks, I was waiting for this story. Martha Liou Reedsport, Ore.

Yeah, where’s Sam?

Community Affect’s list of 100 Reno leaders? It’s just plain silly without Sam Dehne at the top.

Second place isn’t even close when it comes to savoir faire, spunk, gumption, moxie, brilliant knowledge, humor, natural charisma and unlimited humbleness.

Nobody else has a proven track record of successful in-government’s-face watchdogging and protection of Reno’s citizens.

Sam’s resume is unmatched by any on this list. There has always been the dysfunctional media, and the poobahs who sign the checks and pull the strings, that can’t handle the truth about Sam’s erudite patriotism.

And now we have these folks.

Sam’s ubiquitously syncopated watchdogging has saved Reno citizens more than the efforts of all the other citizens added together. And he does it all philanthropically.

Do these people hold their meetings in a closet?

Sam Dehne Reno

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Staff Writer Sage Leehey Contributors Amy Alkon, Chanelle Bessette, Megan Berner, Matthew Craggs, Mark Dunagan, Marvin Gonzalez, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Design Melissa Arendt, Brian Breneman, Vivian Liu, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Meg Brown, Gina Odegard, Matt Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, John Miller, Jesse Pike, David Richards, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Sam White General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist Business Mary Anderson, Tami Sandoval Systems Manager Jonathan Schultz Systems Support Specialist Joe Kakacek Web Developer/Support Specialist John Bisignano 708 North Center Street Reno, NV 89501 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds & Talking Personals to N&R Classifieds, Reno Edition, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or e-mail classifieds@ newsreview.com Web site www.newsreview.com Printed by Paradise Post The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form.