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Show FEEDBACK The readers respond... record-breaki- ng Dear Jim: As a small magazine publisher, I try to support alternative press publications wherever I travel. Yours is a gem! But as a Baltimorean, I must take issue with your commentary on Cal Ripken. I've been an Orioles fan for most of my 32 years. This year. I've not been to a game, watched a game, or heard a game on the radio. The strike (coming so soon after the opening of our glorious new stadium) put a lot of people out of work and closed a lot of businesses. Had the players been protesting unfair labor practices -rather than exposing their pure greed (which, of course, motivated the owners too) -we'd all have slept better. But Cal Ripken is another matter entirely. Those of us who know him and who have followed his career realize that Cal is sincere and modest. He plays the game for the love of it - and because it's his job! When you make $7 million for a couple of months of ballplaying, you don't take a sick day. This may sound naive, but Cal's not in this to break Gehrig's record. He's breaking the record because he has a quality that's lacking in almost every American: work ethics. Taking a day off just to do it sets a bad example for the kids. It says that breaking a record somehow diminishes the previous one and that we shouldn't hurt the feelings of those who came before us by exceeding their limitations. is not gained by holding back, and this new push in education for enhanced does nothing but teach our kids they can achieve without hard work. They shouldn't. Setting goals and working for them is the only way our society can get back on track (if it was ever on track). Cal Ripken shouldn't be chastised for doing his job - for getting up and going to work for his extravagant salary. You'll just have to trust that Lou Gehrig will stand in the shadow of no one, and that the history books will say what you have said so eloquently: that Gehrig was still at the top of his game before he was struck with disease. You want to restore class and dignity to the game of baseball? When every player of sports performs consistently and plays every game as if it were his first (or last), we might just have that. Self-estee- m self-wor- th Sincerely, Leslie F. Miller Baltimore, MD Dear Jim, I was just passing through and read your piece on the rule. I agree that it is stupid. I also wonder if the woman who made the complaint stopped to think that those men (and women) were the ones who BUILT comfort? the road she was cruising in I think that nine seconds is Actually, quite liberal. A true master of the art of women watching can get a sharp reproducible mental image in under one point five. What I'm afraid of, (and insiders at the IRS will neither confirm nor deny) is that the d rule will be used by the IRS to calculate a taxable job benefit for road and construction crews. Hopefully, emergency medical technicians are exempt. Anyway, I would like to pose the following question to the femi-nasegment of don't If be looked to women want do at, why your readership: they spend three hours every morning making up to look good? About two months ago I was almost killed on the Interstate by a woman who was base in her rear view mirror. weaving all over the road as she applied a make-u- p Piloting a 2,000 lb machine at 70 MPH apparently a secondary consideration. that would be saved every (Incidentally, ladies, have you considered the woman-hour- s base-coof Sears Weather Beater? The durable latex finish may year by applying a have other anatomical applications, check your health care professional first.) Jim, let me know of the readership response to my question. By mail, not in d rule is to look, glance away, and person. And yes, the way to beat the look again, a technique I have been perfecting for years (patent pending). Also, if we nine-secon- zi at nine-secon- Howdy Jim, As one of those cursed guidebook writers, I hope to offer a few comments about Lucy's letter to the editor. My reading of Jose's sentiments had me understand that Jose condemns the style and content of Michael Kelsey's guidebooks. Kelsey's route descriptions seem hastily assembled, as if he is in a rush to "sell out" Southern Utah piecemeal, canyon by canyon. (However if you can tolerate this, then his historical research and interviews make his books worth the price of admission.) I feel that popular recreation areas inevitably have guidebooks, and that at least, a passionately written book by a person qualified to assemble such a work is preferable to a "mercenary" author's work. We all define "secret spots" differently. To me, it seems like a secret spot is not obvious or easy to get to, and secs little visitation as well. I'm always amazed at how close, geographically, secret spots arc to established trails and roads. Still, I wonder how the written description of trails and roads qualifies as "selling out." h Knowing Jose, I don't see his effort to convey his trail knowledge as a scheme or a popularity contest. He has probably discovered and forgotten more "secret spots" than most of us will ever put forth the energy to find. And in his defense, an writing style seems infinitely superior to the usual, blase, approach. True? need for is a there Perhaps perceived guidebook information; perhaps there isn't. But what good is it to create, then bash, a straw man cf a guidebook author's likeness? The La Sal mountains are laced with what amount to glorified game trails. Few, if any, were constructed to government grade or specification. This makes for a refreshingly rugged mountain experience to those who use the trails. Jose's book effectively and comprehensively sorts them out. It doesn't make them any easier. d recreationists may want the book to elucidate their travels, and for those who want the thrill of discovery, it's necessary to wander the hills with the same sense of curiosity and reverence as does Jose. well-research- get-ric- over-educat- Todd Campbell Moab Dear Jim After seeing the graffiti on the Road House ruin between Caine and Hanksvillc in the September edition, I'm scared out of my wits. Do we really have unruly gangs of radical lesbians running about the confines of Wayne County? I hadn't noticed the graffiti myself, as 1 frequently pass by, but now I know that I must be on the lookout for bands of howling feminists roaming the backcountry whenever there's a full moon. of Chicago. Terrifying, just terrifying. This place is getting worse than the south-sid- e Chris Zinda Tcasdalc, UT Dear Jim: consider myself as you so eloquently put it, "a thoughtful, sensitive, intelligent" woman (others may disagree). And I concur with your assessment of the Nine Socond I Rule!!! While some may surmise that I'm only concurring because I'm a homely broad who never turns any heads; they have assumed erroneously. Even though I'm not a knockout or raving beauty, I have turned heads. ..of both genders (even with a "butch" haircut, a flat chest, and a gluteus posterior that proves to be my greatest "ass"ct). My foundation for support of your position comes from trawling abroad - namely trekking in Pakistan. Nine seconds is but an eyeblink in Pakistani time! For it is passe for males to stare at females (or even males for that matter) for a full minute up to five or ten minutes should one be so inclined to sit or stand passively under such blatant scrutiny. Truly women (especially foreign females) are the prevalent objects of study in Pakistan. The explanation is more than likely the fact that 99 of Pakistani women appear in public covered head to toe as is the Islamic belief regarding female appearance. Women in public occurs only in large cities such as Islamabad or Rawalpindi. Upon entering the mountains (Himalayas) or high country, the only sign of women is in the fields or dishevelled rock structures which define the Lazy Lizard SHOWER..$2 v A- -l Storage (not just for youth) HOSTEL Very possibly the only place on Earth where you can get a bed, a shoiver, kitchen, TV and hot tub for only... in our dormitory rooms, private rooms: $20 log cabins: $25 and up or stay at our tipi COME IN FOR A behind ed Goal-oriente- DIRTY CAMPERS One mile south of town ft Regards, INTERNATIONAL 259-60- 57 eye-shi- John Jennings Norwalk, CT This is the Letter of the Month, partly because I think Ms. Miller may be right, and partly because, if Cal had failed to take the field on his night, the frenzied media would have tom him apart. The can get O.J.'s lawyers, maybe we can work the angle that the timer restarts if you to a different set of curves. ALSO RENTING HOUSES BY THE NIGHT FOR GROUP LODGING 4 Bedroom sleeps 3 Bedroom sleeps or squeeze in extra people..no extra charge |
