Crescent moon not visible near Venus

Alas for the bass

The article by Daniel Powell (“Half Day South”, Cover Story, July 13, 2023) included a picture of a 75 lb. black sea bass (possibly too young to reproduce) that he killed in Mexico. There is a reason that it is illegal to take them in California: they are endangered, over-fished to the brink of extinction. Scientists think there are only 500 individuals left in California waters. The lifespan he cut short can extend to more than 75 years. It is possible that this juvenile could have reached 800 pounds. Mr. Powell was proud enough to publish a picture of this kill. It makes him look very small.

Maud G

Ocean Beach

Are we sure the sexual dalliance was lousy?

The article (“San Diego cops start campaign against Monica Steppe: Cops Step Out”, Under the Radar, July 13, 2023) is a masterpiece of pissing in the wind. American voters will not waste their votes on lower tier candidates yet complain ad nauseum of money and corruption which drive winning campaigns. Well, you can’t have it both ways. The voters of this city are quite literally pretty dumb. Most people would cast a ballot for the architect of Ash Street and send Nathan Fletcher to the political graveyard for some lousy sexual dalliance. How dumb can you get?

Daniel Smiechowski

Bay Ho

Newsflash: the planets move

Your incompetent outdoors writer has done it again! (“Hibiscus decorates coastal neighborhoods, Native lilies blooming in higher elevations”, Outdoors, July 13, 2023) This is the third time I’ve written recently to point out gross errors in the column. It’s just unconscionable that you are still publishing this kind of egregious misinformation.

You state that on July 13, the crescent moon is visible near Venus. On that date, the moon is only visible in the morning before sunrise, and Venus is only visible in the evening after sunset.

As I’ve already stated twice before, astronomical data from columns years ago cannot be recycled and be correct. Planets move around. They’re not in the same place now as they were when an earlier column was written. Jerry Schad was an astronomer. You are not honoring him by being such ignorant bunglers. Please get a knowledgeable astronomer to write or at least check the column before you publish it!

Ted Caragozian

Ranchita