Letters

from Nov. 19, 2015

Brendan Trainor

How can you miss me if I don’t go away?

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

After last week’s Editor’s Note, I’m fielding a lot of questions, like, Why would you want to leave the best job in journalism?

Look, first, I’m not leaving. I asked my bosses for a year’s sabbatical or leave of absence. It’s not an unheard of concept, and I’m peculiarly suited to it because of my other projects. I mean, basically, in the last three years, I’ve completed two master’s and worked two full-time jobs. But I’m not making a complete withdrawal, I’m going to keep some duties here—working a quarter time—jettison the day-to-day stuff, and I expect to be back at full strength in a year. And yes, it’s impossible to say that I’ll be back, but if Schwarzenegger can say it, I’m at least as prescient.

The break makes a lot of sense. I’m burnt out. My creativity is sapped. I’m fatigued. I’ve burned hot, particularly last year, and I need to get some things back in order. I’ve let my health slide, gaining 25 pounds, losing strength and stamina. I think this Ménière’s disease, affecting my hearing and balance, has something to do with the lack of exercise and high stress. After I started the journalism master’s, which I’ve finished, I sacrificed a lot of things—socializing, gardening, going to the gym. It made sense at the time, but I need some balance back in my life.

A year will allow me to focus on the second master’s, and I’ll be able to complete the Fatal Encounters database. As I mentioned last week, I have the money to sustain me and the project for a year. A year will also allow me to examine some of the opportunities that have opened up for me nationally. For example, there are some really intriguing fellowships focusing on areas where I’m weak. I’ll come back and only have one thing to focus on: the RN&R.

The RN&R team is awesome. Truly, they’ll be able to handle things, and hopefully, without my pervasive influence, they’ll be coming up with solutions to issues of weekly alternative journalism that I never could have conceived. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

Dammit, Tim

Re “Censored” (Feature story, October 22):

I am disappointed that Tim Redmond used a line in the Project Censored 2016 story release article that suggested we had been “veering off in the Looney world of conspiracies and 9/11 Truther territory”. I went back and reviewed the top 25 stories for 2003 to the present. There were three news stories listed in the top 25 related to 9/11 out of 325 stories we published in that time period. This amounts to less than 1 percent of all the stories we ranked in the top 25 each year. This is hardly a “veering off in the Looney world of conspiracies that Redmond claims. The three 9/11 stories we did cite were more than adequately sourced, including Deseret Morning News, FBI records, and transcripts from the Japanese parliament. All three had been completely censored by the U.S. corporate media. The topics included how the FBI had no evidence that Osama Bin Laden was involved in 9/11, coverage in Japanese news & TV regarding 9/11 questions from official transcripts in the Japanese Parliament, and news from a mainstream Salt Lake City newspaper on how a university physicist was questioning the collapse of Building 7.

The Project Censored mission is to research and report important news stories that the corporate media ignores or censors. In that regard, there are no forbidden topics, including September 11, and we stand proudly on our record. Peter Phillips President, Media Freedom Foundation/Project Censored

The sage of Reno

Re “Water Wars” (Feature story, Nov. 5):

“Water Wars” is one of Dennis Myers’s best articles. It should be required reading for all our history students in the Truckee Meadows. The West, and Nevada, has outstripped its ability to supply water for all the intended uses. How water is used across the West should be up for deep discussion at every level of government. David VonSeggern Reno

Chicken is good for colds

Re “Republicans promise something terrific” (Left Foot Forward, Nov. 12):

Good for Nevada! I am happy things are working out so well with respect to the ACA. Let’s take another look in about five years when the chickens come home to roost and your state is responsible for the best part of ACA. I believe the positive and negative results all depend upon the state in which you live. Many states, such as Oregon, and Oklahoma, are reporting skyrocketing premiums, huge copays and very high deductibles. Other states are pleased with the early results. A mixed bag! Byron Beach Klamath Falls, Oregon

Erik Holland Celebrate warriors

I asked my computer what other countries celebrate Veterans Day. First, I learned that on Memorial Day we remember the dead, while Veterans Day celebrate all who fought and fight in wars. It all started November 11, 1918, at the end of The Great War which should end all wars. My PC told me that there are some other countries that celebrate 11/11; Australia, Great Britain, Belgium and France. That’s 5 out of 194 countries. Each of us has feelings about wars and many of us think it is better to kill than to be killed. The work may be to prepare for better killers and weapons or turn around and focus on peace.

Mette Elfving Reno

Editor’s note: The U.S. observed Armistice Day, marking the peace after World War I, from 1918 to 1954. In 1954 veterans groups lobbied a law through Congress changing Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day. Armistice Day is still celebrated in some places, such as Silver City, Nevada.

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 Contributors Amy Alkon, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Eric Marks, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Brendan Trainor, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Associate Art Director Brian Breneman Ad Design Manager Serene Lusano Production Coordinator Skyler Smith Design Kyle Shine Advertising Consultants Joseph “Joey” Davis, Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Operations Coordinator Kelly Miller Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Manager Anthony Clarke Distribution Drivers Tracy Breeden, Alex Barskyy, Denise Cairns, Steve Finlayson, Debbi Frenzi, Vicky Jewell, Angela Littlefield, Marty Troye, Warren Tucker, Gary White, Joseph White, Margaret Underwood General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Nicole Jackson Accounts Receivable Specialist Kortnee Angel Sweetdeals Coordinator Courtney deShields Nuts & Bolts Ninja Christina Wukmir Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins 405 Marsh Ave., Third Floor Reno, NV 89509 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds to classifieds@newsreview.com Website www.newsreview.com Printed by Sierra Nevada Media 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.

Cover design: Brian Breneman Cover artwork: Don Button

NOVEMBER NEVADA LEGAL SERVICES CLINICS/CLASSES

November 5, 2015 Ask a Lawyer/Self Help Clinic – Gardnerville (1:30 – 3:30) (Thursday) Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NV

November 9, 2015 Wills/Estate Clinic (2:30 – 4:30) (Monday) Senior Law Project, 1155 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV. Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310

November 5, 2015 Ask a Lawyer/Self Help Clinic – Gardnerville (1:30 – 3:30) (Thursday) Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NV November 9, 2015 Wills/Estate Clinic (2:30 – 4:30) (Monday) Senior Law Project, 1155 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV. Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310November 10, 2015 Veterans Benefits Seminar (1:30 – 3:30) (Tuesday) Carson Sheriff’s Office, 911 E. Musser St., Carson City, NV. Register: 775-883-0404

November 10, 2015 Veterans Benefits Seminar (1:30 – 3:30)

November 12(Tuesday) , 2015 Sealing Records Clinic (1:00 – 3:00) Carson Sheriff’s Office, 911 E. Musser St., Carson City, NV. Register: 775-883-0404 (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext 237 or 210 November 13, 2015 Ask a Lawyer/Self Help Clinic (1:30 - 3:30) (Friday) Supreme Court Law Library, 201 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV. November 14, 2015 Self Help Clinic (9:30 – 11:30) (Saturday) 2nd Judicial Court, 75 Court St., Reno, NV November 18, 2015 Ask a Lawyer (10:00 – Noon) (Wednesday) Veterans Resource Center, 305 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV. Register: 775-883-0404 November 19, 2015 Bankruptcy Education Class (1:30 – 3:30) (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext 237 November 23, 2015 Living Wills Clinic (Powers of Attorney) (2:30 – 4:30) (Monday) Senior Law Project, 1155 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV. Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310 November 24, 2015 Minor Guardianship Education Class (10:30 – 12:30) (Tuesday) 75 Court Street, Room 220B, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext. 214 or 237

November 12, 2015 Sealing Records Clinic (1:00 – 3:00) (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext 237 or 210 November 13, 2015 Ask a Lawyer/Self Help Clinic (1:30 - 3:30) (Friday) Supreme Court Law Library, 201 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV. November 14, 2015 Self Help Clinic (9:30 – 11:30) (Saturday) 2nd Judicial Court, 75 Court St., Reno, NV November 18, 2015 Ask a Lawyer (10:00 – Noon) (Wednesday) Veterans Resource Center, 305 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV. Register: 775-883-0404 November 19, 2015 Bankruptcy Education Class (1:30 – 3:30) (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext 237 November 23, 2015 Living Wills Clinic (Powers of Attorney) (2:30 – 4:30) (Monday) Senior Law Project, 1155 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV. Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310 November 24, 2015 Minor Guardianship Education Class (10:30 – 12:30) (Tuesday) 75 Court Street, Room 220B, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext. 214 or 237