Letters
more physical activity (for example, Lee et al.). The authors of the Canadian Health Measures Survey also caution that this tool is likely to underestimate vigorous activity. On the issue of estrogen, lower estrogen was only one mechanism we used to explain the negative associations between lifelong strenuous activity and cognition. This is the same mechanism used to explain why strenuous activity reduces the risk of breast cancer. The other proposed mechanism was long-term elevations in circulating glucocorticoid levels, known to be toxic to the brain. We are not proposing that lower estrogen causes menstrual-cycle abnormalities as only 11 women in our sample reported amenorrhea for short durations.
Meeting Mike I was delighted to pick up the spring issue and see the face of a man with whom I have had no contact for some 55 years: Prof. Michael Hare (“A Capital Achievement”). It was my privilege to be acquainted with Mike from 1951 to 1955, while we were enrolled in commerce and finance at U of T. We spent much of our time in the bowels of what was formerly the economics building, on Bloor Street. We last spoke at a classmate’s wedding that we attended together shortly after our graduation.
My clearest memories of Mike are his attempts to explain economic theory to me in our graduating year. I must say that he was not entirely successful, but I did manage to graduate. I ascertained from the article that he has refined his teaching skills over the years, imparting his vast knowledge to more than 32,000 students. I can only hope that he and I will meet at least once more, with our remaining classmates, perhaps, at our 60th class reunion in 2015! Morton (Morty) Eisen BComm 1955, Toronto
Criticisms, or Curios? Most government ministers are capable of earning brickbats, but it takes Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird to up the stakes to “bric-a-bracs,” as reported by Andrew Mitrovica in “True North” (Spring 2011). James Gow BASc 1946, Fergus, ontario
Diminishing the Past I was astonished to read in the spring issue that the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to the university in 1939 is to be considered a “more minor royal event” than the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton. Whether one is a monarchist or not, it should be obvious that a visit by the then-reigning monarch was a very
“AIESEC is something you always carry with you – the experiences, the learning, the people and the memories.” -Tom Davies, AIESEC Toronto Alumnus, University of Toronto Delivery Executive, Global Technology Services, IBM Canada
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major event – considerably more so than watching the marriage, via tele vision, of a prince who is not even the heir to the throne. Maybe members of your staff should take a course in constitutional history. Janice Yalden BA 1952 Victoria, ottawa
Group of Eight I wish to correct an error that appeared in the article “Body Double” (Spring 2011). Although he worked closely with the seven artists during his lifetime, Tom Thomson was not a Group of Seven artist. The original members named themselves the Group of Seven in 1920, three years after Thomson died. Eileen Prettyman BA 1948 Victoria, toronto
Tiny Type The spring issue touts your new typefaces as “highly legible . . . for readers of all ages.” One of them has “subtle quirks.” These subtle quirks make it almost illegible for readers of old age. The print in the sidebars is microscopic, and the non-white background adds to the problem. We older graduates may have eye problems, but we like to read – if editors allow it. Jean Sonnefeld BA 1950 Victoria, Toronto