Morzel is a true patriot
Editor’s note: The following is an open letter to Boulder city council member Lisa Morzel regarding her affidavit described in “Judge rules against city of Boulder in Seth Brigham restraining order case,” http://bit.ly/PnMnlM, Aug. 28.
Right on, Lisa. I believe your letter to the judge regarding Seth shows you to be a true patriot. Even though we don’t agree on many issues, you have my utmost respect. Thank you.
Tim “Black Cowboy” Thomas/via Internet
Monsanto’s master plan
Joel Dyer’s article about Monsanto is superb (“Point of no return,” cover story, Aug. 30). But there is perhaps one aspect of their business model that is even more dire than he realizes.
According to this book by Dutch biological ecologist Rob Hengeveld, the hybrid seeds sold by Monsanto must be purchased every year because the hybrids naturally disintegrate from year to year and revert to their non-hybridized state: Wasted World: How Our Consumption Challenges the Planet.
Thus, Monsanto creates artificial dependency through its laboratory concoctions to replace what nature provides freely and plentifully.
Menachem Mevashir/via Internet
Thank you for a fair and balanced article, as frightening as it was. I’m glad to find a true journalist out there unafraid to tackle the important issues.
Is there nothing we can do, other than through groups such as The Non-GMO Project, to stop Monsanto’s assault on us, our food supply and our Earth?
Jill S. Wiltberger/Cincinnati, Ohio
I read your article with interest. You have convinced me. I am going to buy some Monsanto stock.
John Caldwell/via Internet
Pamela’s departure
Just picked up the Aug. 30 issue of Boulder Weekly. I read that Pamela White will be leaving. (“-30-,” Uncensored.) Our loss, hopefully her gain.
As long as I’ve been reading BW, Pamela has been the voice of reason. So much so that I preferred reading BW and her editorials more than those of the Boulder Daily Camera.
I remember her story about the death of her son’s pet rabbit. I remember her description about her experience learning something about shooting at the Boulder Rifle Club, that not all firearms owners have horns, hell-bent on overthrowing the government. I remember her editorial about the barbaric practice of using restraint belts on female prisoners giving birth, and her leadership in getting legislation to stop that practice.
She was, and is, the voice of reason in this liberal city. Bon Voyage, Pamela. Keep in touch, for sanity’s sake.
Forrest Leigh/via Internet
Where are CU’s saunas?
When students voted to approve funding for the “extensive renovation and expansion” of the CU Recreation Center, they didn’t know they were voting to eliminate anything. But it’s happening: no saunas, maybe no tennis courts. Student rec center fees will more than double, to about $220 per semester.
My concern is the sauna. It’s a great place to relax, warm up, sweat and socialize. Students, alumni, faculty and staff all use the saunas.
What happened? Apparently the rec center wanted a “wow,” not a “now.” How else to explain eliminating popular, inexpensive saunas for cost reasons in this $63.5 million project while building a heated outdoor buffalo-shaped pool only open April to October?
Here are some of their reasons and my responses:
Talking point: Tight budget. Rebuttal: Really? With $63.5 million? Rec centers have saunas because they are cheap.
Talking point: Student surveys set priorities.
Rebuttal: None of those surveys asked any question about saunas. The existing saunas had one of the highest rates of use (per square foot) of any area of the rec center.
Talking point: Saunas are heavy energy users and prevent LEED Platinum certification.
Rebuttal: Only Gold certification was required. On days when the rec center needs to be heated, all energy the sauna uses ends up heating the rec center. No heat is wasted. The heat that escapes from the sauna simply reduces the heat the center’s heating system needs to provide. And saunas are a much more efficient way for people to warm up on cold days. The alternative, a long, hot shower, is wasteful because cold water first has to be heated up, and then most of the energy ends up literally going down the drain.
Talking point: It’s too late to change the project.
Rebuttal: Ridiculous. Change orders are common. It just becomes more difficult and costly as time passes. A sauna is easy to add, takes up little space and only requires an electrical outlet.
If you want to express an opinion, email [email protected] or [email protected]. If you get a response at all, it will likely be a canned response.
So, for $63.5 million CU gets a new Wreck Center.
Lee Gilbert/via Internet
