letters

To tell the truth

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

What was the crazy crap I was writing about last week? The nature of time, as in, the difference between what’s on the clock and what the clock appears to measure but to which it only exists in parallel?

You might as well ask, “What is truth?” which was a joke I alluded to this morning, confusing the books of Mark and John as I sometimes do. Jokes are risky, though, and it’s difficult, particularly for guys like me, to know if someone “gets” me or my jokes.

But if time is a heady topic, and truth is impossible to know, I’ve got to tell you, there’s never been a concept that screwed me up like the concept of “quality.” I must have read Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance at a point in my life when I was particularly vulnerable to metaphysical thinking.

In fact, that time, which I’d guess was about 1982, was one of the few times in my life when I had a nickname that I actually answered to. I was on the Catholic campus of Benedictine College of Kansas, and my nickname was Mr. Reality. I loved to drink and talk about things that mattered—things that I look at now like I watch a dog chasing its tail.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance asks a pretty difficult question in the most simple way possible: What is quality? That simple question drove the author insane, and it had a pretty radical effect on me, too. The idea is that there is something inside of us all that knows the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, and that sense of “quality” cuts across cultures and philosophies.

Is this the basis for postmodernism? I can’t say which way Pirsig would argue. Plainly, he took his consideration back to Socrates, who in some ways was the beginning of the Western thinking that post-modernism attempts to deny. But if Socrates had feet of clay then what does our philosophy stand upon?

Seems as though I’ll have some time to consider all that because I’m officially on spring break from teaching and being a master’s student, and my girl is taking me down to Sonoma. I’ll have a glass of red with essence of almond, please. —D. Brian Burghart

Interesting. Very Interesting.

Re “The Organic Food Lie” (Feature story, Feb. 13):

It was interesting to read that we have unknowingly been eating GMO foods for some time with no ill effects, and yet we have an epidemic of autism that no one can explain.

Jerome Durkin Reno

Selling out our children

We get involved in our personal lives and self interests. We often take our eyes off the big picture and forget we have the power to change things in America. If this terrible debt $17.3 trillion continues to rise, it will destroy our heritage of sacrifice for a better tomorrow. I’ve been watching a documentary this morning on World War II and at the same time seeing the national debt clock keep on ticking upward at an alarming rate. There are all the sacrifices from previous generations, sacrifices that allowed us the opportunity to have a better life, and all we do is hide our head in the sand and stay in the car headed over the cliff instead of applying the brakes. Scares the hell out of me, but what’s even more scary, nobody seems to care. Not sure what I can do individually to make a big difference, but we can start immediately writing political leaders and expressing our concerns about their self indulgent debauchery of our children’s future. Mike Arp Reno

And get off my lawn

Re “Reckless? Restrained.” (Notes from the Neon Babylon, March 13):

I’m sorry to point out once again that Mr. Van Dyke is a true moron of the first order. In my many critiques of his columns, as well as some other of your liberal columnists, I have never stooped to the sort of name calling that Mr. Van Dyke routinely engages in, but I can remain silent no longer. His use of the word fuxxwad as well as other childish vocabulary is just another example of his immaturity—similar to a 12-year-old that has just discovered dirty words. That of course is not to mention that he can’t seem to get straight as to who it was that was riding shirtless for all to admire. For your information, Mr. Van Dyke, that was Vladimir Putin, that wonderful advocate and defender of freedom in what he would once again like to turn Russia into, the Soviet Union with dominance over all of Eastern Europe.

By the way, his sort of dominance is also recognized as slavery. I recognize it as such, having been born in East Germany and having to escape that paradise by eventually immigrating into the United States. As to President Obama’s foreign policy, if he had one, then Putin might actually have some consideration for the U.S. as a power to be reckoned with instead of the paper tiger it has become. My criticism of Mr. Van Dyke’s language is not to be interpreted as meaning that he doesn’t have the right to free speech, only that free speech also requires some sense of decorum and responsibility. Personally, I lost all respect for Sen. McCain years ago for many reasons. On the other hand, former Ambassador Bolton has experience in dealing with many despicable politicians and governments worldwide. I wonder what sort of background and experience Mr. Van Dyke has? I am also puzzled that D. Brian Burghart, the editor of the newspaper, continues to foster Mr. Van Dyke’s language. I don’t recall Mr. Burqhart ever using similar language in his commentary. Fred Speckmann Reno Editor’s note: I also swear and occasionally use vulgarities in print. I do not believe the First Amendment requires decorum, and it’s not my job to keep ideas or words out of the newspaper. On the contrary, it’s my job to get them into the newspaper and to allow people to express themselves the way they want.

And Nyquil

Re “The Lyons” (Art of the State, March 13):

Great article! I laughed just thinking about Rita discussing with hubby how she plans redecorating when he’s gone. She sounds like my 95-year-old father who makes it his duty to torture his wife (“slave,” he says) “lovingly” every day. It’s great we can find humor in dysfunctional relationships. After all, laughter is the best medicine! Dennis Melfa Petaluma, Calif.

Two shots

Re “Take Two. They’re small.” and “Reckless? Restrained.” (Columns, March 13):

Thank you, Brendan Trainer, for your article concerning flu shots. You reinforced what I have always believed. I am a senior who has never gotten a flu shot, I have been made to feel guilty about that by almost everyone I tell. I can now live guilt free!

Way to give it to the “Obamaphobes,” Bruce! My feeling is we may be able to do better, but we definitely could do a hell of a lot worse! Case in point-T. Rex McCain! Love it. Keep on keepin’ on! Deb Burlingham Sparks

Yes, ringing bells

Re “Nothing matters” (Editor’s note, March 13):

Dude, seriously? The Earth doesn’t wobble. The seasons (and the increase in daylight of a few minutes a day this time of year) are caused by the planet being tilted 23 degrees on its rotational axis relative to its orbital plane around the sun. As the Earth orbits the sun, the number of daylight hours depends on how much the rotational axis points towards or away from the sun. Is this ringing any bells from third grade science? Michael Powell Reno

There are laws

Let’s see if I understand this. If I’m working in the private sector and I refuse to answer my boss’s questions about what I’ve done, I’ll be out the door in a flash. But if I’m a public servant, and I refuse to answer my boss’s questions, I get sent home with pay.

The U.S. Constitution protects a citizen from being a witness against himself in a criminal case. No problem. But the Fifth Amendment only applies to criminal cases, not hiring/firing decisions. Everyone in the federal government works for We The People. And the U.S. Congress represents We The People. It seems that anytime a federal employee gives false testimony, or refuses to testify before Congress, that’s the same as refusing to answer the boss’s questions. Shouldn’t that be grounds for immediate dismissal? Robert R. Kessler Las Vegas

Corrections

Re “Who Watches the Watchers?” (Feature story, Feb. 27):

In our sidebar story, “Death in the Afternoon,” we stated that the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the Monica Ritchey shooting. This is incorrect. It is the Reno Police Department that is investigating the shooting. We apologize for any confusion our error caused. Also, while the story stipulated that Monica Ritchie shot her daughter Darcie Latham, based on information provided by the Sparks Police Department, new information is developing that this in fact may not be the case, and Latham may have been wounded by police. The online stories have been edited to reflect this information.

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, Woody Barlettani, Laura Davis, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Brendan Trainor, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Junior Art Director Brian Breneman Design Vivian Liu, Serene Lusano, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office Manager/Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker Distribution Manager Valerie Mets Distribution Drivers Trevor Bexon, Sandra Chhina, Ron Large, Joe Medeiros, Ron Neill, Andy Odegard, Jesse Pike, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Gary White, Joseph 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 Nicole Jackson, 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 email 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.