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War of the Buttons (La guerre des boutons)
I enjoyed Scott Marks’ review. I think that *Schindler’s List* has set the bar so high that there doesn’t need to be a new Holocaust film for another 50 years. Larry Whittaker— December 6, 2012 9:46 a.m.
San Diegans with Afro puffs
To all the insecure, emotionally damaged blacks who can’t get over this dumb article: I’m a white Italian. I could care less if you call me a wop, a dago, a spaghetti snapper, a honkey, or a cracker. It doesn’t bother me in the least. But if you say something negative about a black person, they act like you’ve condemned the whole race. Get over it! The dog that gets hit with the most stones yelps the loudest.— December 1, 2012 1:14 p.m.
Facebook Abuzz about Valitar Drama
After finding this article I was very embarrassed. I was the nanny for the Remley's and we parted in friendly ways; I am pursuing my career in education and with their business transition it was an appropriate time to leave. I have sympathy for everyone involved with this tragedy, including them. Unfortunately I don't know Kerri Ewing or why she would mention my leaving, but as a news source I would recommend checking the accuracy of your sources before you print information.— November 25, 2012 11 a.m.
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney roots deep and wide in San Diego
As a woman, Icannot bring myself to vote for Romney/Ryan. I grew up in the '50s-'60s when abortion was illegal. Women died by the thousands across the U.S. Rich women took a cruise or toured Europe & were gone for a year & either had their child & put it up for adoption, brought it home as a fake adoption, or had a safe, though expensive, abortion in Switzerland. Poor women had no birth control other than denying their husbands & suffered through 10- or 20-odd pregnancies (suffering when she has no rest between pregnancies — 3 years between children recommended), died young, trusted a stranger to abort in unsanitary conditions, or did it themselves with a hanger or other device. Husbands simply remarried - they needed someone to care for their children, cook meals, wash, etc. Planned Parenthood, vilified by those on the far right, had the best birth control class I've ever taken, including college & post-graduate psychology & physiology classes. Employees were warm, succinct, unshockable. (I was a naive 17-year-old, who thought only young & beautiful people had sex). I'll always be grateful to them for helping people (both men & women) on a sliding scale. Those who bombed clinics didn't seem to realize they treated women, their children, & did very well-qualified prenatal & post-natal care. No one is in favor of abortion, but I refuse to make a 14-year-old girl risk her life to bear a child as a result of rape. Nor would I expect any woman to bear a child that has no brain, & therefore not the slightest chance of survival. Nor do I want to return to the '50s when a woman's only choices for a career were limited to teaching, nursing, or prostitution. I have no desire to return to being thought of as a second class citizen or criticized for taking a job from a man who needs to support his family. I thank God every day I work as a school bus driver for Title IX, without which I wouldn't have that job. Duke didn't want to hire me, though I aced the written & physical tests: we had to lift a 75lb bean bag in/out of a wheelchair & special needs van, because "all women do is stand around & talk". I understand a man's resentment of the freedom birth control has given women, & truly wish all people remained chaste until marriage, but they don't. I wish our globe wasn't overcrowded & that there were simple solutions to pollution, but there aren't. The USA is a wonderful country. I feel blessed to live here, but it's not a business & cannot be run like one. We're full of diverse & amazing people who work hard to make things better for their families, but we also need to take care of poor, lazy, incompetent people as well. The churches haven't managed to accomplish that for several centuries now - I don't see it happening tomorrow either. It's common sense that if we spend money on healthcare for babies, they have a chance to grow up to contribute to, rather than detract from the economy. I don't think that's socialism. Rebecca Kiperts— November 4, 2012 12:04 p.m.
Chula Vista council votes with hoteliers to scrap Tourism Marketing District
This decision by the City Council was a good one, and once again, Mayor Cheryl Cox and Pamela Bensoussan sided with malfeasance and corruption. It is unconscionable that an entire industry would be forced to apply a tax on its service to give to another private organization that supposedly promotes their business when in fact 80% of the funds are used to hire staff at the Chamber of Commerce. It is like Pamela Bensoussan doesn't have one inkling of basic economics, regardless of her party affiliation. The hotels would be better off banding together on their own and just pooling money to buy publicity. I voted for Pamela Bensoussan in 2008 and am a lifelong Democrat. That is a mistake that I am not stupid enough to repeat. Her alliances with Cheryl Cox and the backroom deals with David Malcolm are just the icing on the cake. You have Pam also supporting hairbrained schemes like this Tourism Marketing District and other job-killing ordinances. It is time that the voters of Chula Vista drag this corrupt ass-hat out of City Hall kicking and screaming. Larry Breitfelder Navas is a person with better credentials and experience than Pamela, and his record in public service is 100% spotless. He has been a voice for responsible city government that provides quality services. Luis Castro Lopez— October 30, 2012 4:49 p.m.
Kensington/Talmadge Group Approves YMCA for City Heights
Since when did the YMCA Values=! Equipment Purchases, Kick-Backs and Conflicts of Interest? There was an article in the UT about the YMCA CEO’s salary, and it was one of the most viewed and written about according to the UT, so maybe this will interest you. That article brings to light another YMCA concern by myself and many members who have used the Mission Valley YMCA for years. The Mission Valley Location just dealt with major renovations in the high hundreds of thousands of dollars. This included a major overhaul of all the various vendors of equipment to essentially just PRECOR equipment. 1. Never once were surveys done to the members of what equipment they would want to keep of the existing equipment, etc. 2. When many members such as myself griped about the new equipment line to the part-time staff on the floor of the workout areas, the feedback was consistently the same, that the exec gets a financial kickback from the equipment purchases as her partner is the head rep of the equipment company. 3. There was no fair bidding process, no choices, the staff were informed this was the equipment coming in, regardless of their suggestions as front line employees side by side assisting members like me daily, of what members use and need. 4. When I inquired if the other equiplines were going to at least be kept at the other locations, the staff informed me the equipment at Toby had already been sold. 5. If this PRECORvendor (the exec’s partner) is also getting a commission for selling the existing used equipment and commission off of that, as well as the new equipment, that in itself is a major conflict. Sales and buying both for commission should not be tied together by the same vendor. 6. OtherY’sare also installing this line,II realized as I looked to switch my membership location. how far does this conflict reach within the organization? Is anyone else getting paid off? Could your article about the CEO be leaving out this commission if he also benefits? Is it not a major conflict of interest if an executive director at Mission Valley of one location is getting potentially massive commission personally through her relationship by equip sales and purchases? I have watched many members quit around me who used the Y for years and dislike the now non-variety in equipment. Members like me who get drafted dues monthly, and yet were never surveyed or involved in facility overhauls. The part time staff seem disgusted by the conflict of interest as well, and frustrated that this type of politics is acceptable in a YMCA. (I heard 6 figures) Commissions for projects this big are huge, if this is personally benefitting an exec financially, this is a major travesty in a non-profit that should have oversight, and fair processes. Please look into it...this is a hub for the community that has really been impacted by many poor decisions in the last year.— September 27, 2012 2:19 p.m.
Hugo Awards snub Hugo, copyright robots shut down video feed
This regards the column Mr. Scott Marks wrote on the Hugo rebroadcast incident in which he rather crudely takes a swipe at what he imagines the audience to be. Not only are such wild generalizations untrue (as are caricatures of any group), they are completely unrelated to the subject of the interrupted rebroadcast. I might have passed over such a remark casually, but for Mr. Marks' comments below the article. When someone rightly calls him out, saying, "That was the most unprofessional, unfounded, and downright mean comment I have ever read in a professional blog." his response is an unrepentant "Thank you." Which is to say not only is he willing to denigrate the enormous number of people who enjoy science fiction from novels to blockbuster films, he has no regard for his own readership, either. I strongly suggest to you that having Mr. Marks continue on this way is damaging to both the Reader and America's Finest City, San Diego. Glenn Glazer— September 12, 2012 2:24 p.m.
The Death Ship Returns to Baja and Salvation
The description of the scurvy victims with their inability to eat because of their ulcerated mouths was visceral and uncomfortable. In other words I was in some part sharing the fate of the crew of the *San Diego* while reading the story. This is the best kind of writing. In the end, when Viceroy Marquis de Montesclaros chalked the whole expedition up as a nonevent it made me think that events are not so different today. Most often the amazing accomplishments of brave people as seen through the eyes of administrators evoke either hollow words of praise, Dr apathy and dismissal. Bernard Baldan— September 6, 2012 3:27 p.m.
Water Gun Fight!
As a substantial promoter of the Water Gun Fight held in Balboa Park August 12 in the early hours, an event held without a permit and not controlled by the organizers, where the crowd caused damage to the Lily Pond and surround area, your paper has a responsibility to make it right. Take responsibility, do that! Arthur C Burdett III— August 13, 2012 9:03 a.m.
Vancouver's Japadog – Taste the Strange
JapaDog is definitely onto something with its specialty hot dog creations. Field Roast, a veggie frankfurter company out of Seattle, is also doing this at the Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field. They have a specialty cart there and one of their specialty frankfurters is the Ichiban ("number one" in Japanese) which consists of Teriyaki glazed onions topped with the veggie Frank, garnished with grated daikon and carrot, topped with shredded nori and a squiggle of a creamy (vegan) dressing. YUM! Johanna— July 24, 2012 6:06 p.m.