PUBLIC FORUM IT'S A BLEEPIN' SHAME.

Show rocks, roils'' (Jan. 14):

What the bleeping is going on at award shows? Seems that bleeping cursing for the bleep of it has become the coolest bleeping thing other than bleeping ``Survivor'' shows. Doesn't anyone have bleeping respect any bleeping more? Bleeping society is sliding evermore in the bleeping land of bleep. Seems as though few people bleeping care.

entionally watched only five bleeping minutes of the bleeping show because each year these bleeping ``artists'' try to outdo themselves. From foul mouths and near nudity, it was a typical hedonistic bleeping show. The women looked bleeping cheap, I might add. Last but not least, this was at family hour?

- Melissa Silver

Simi Valley 

State quarter design

So, the State of California is looking at designs for our new state quarter. Many images come to mind, but here is the answer. Our state had a surplus of $15 billion and now is in debt for $35 billion. Wow. That just happens to be $50 billion - that is, fifty-thousand million dollars.

If one ponders that and what our very own fiscal idiot - whom we call governor - has done with the people's tax dollars, there is only one design that is appropriate. The California quarter should look exactly like - a nickel.

- Michael Sills

North Hollywood

Bunch of sheep

Reading about Gov. Gray Davis' plans to shift a major portion of thestate's health-care costs to the counties made it evident that his plan is analogous to my paying my Visa credit card bill with my Mastercard.

From the lack of public outrage from my fellow Californians, I must conclude that they are all sheep. Nothing will ever change unless we hold our elected officials responsible. Instead of just eating cake, we must be ready to bring forth the ox carts, load them with the guilty and lead them to the guillotine. Instead of action across the state, the only thing I'm hearing is baa, baa, baaaaaaa.

- Eric Dresser

Burbank

Male self-control

Re ``Condoms not magic totem for HIV in Africa'' (Viewpoint, Jan. 12):

Thank you, Rich Lowry, for having the guts to mention the ``elephant'' in the room of public health: uncontrolled male sexual behavior. There are numbers to prove that condoms are at best a Band-Aid, a stop-gap measure, in the fight against AIDS. The only permanent solution is for men to learn that most unpopular of virtues: self-control.

At one time self-control was considered the mark of true manliness. A real man refused to be unfaithful to his wife, even if he could; nor would he take advantage of another for temporary pleasure, even if the other was willing. Nowadays, the idea of self-control, especially in matters of sex, is met with curled lips and rolled eyes. Meanwhile, at home and abroad the innocent pay with the guilty by dying a painful, ugly death.

- Sylvia Alloway

Granada Hills

New Death Row

Your editorial ``Capital questions'' (Jan. 13) asks why the state is proposing to build new Death Row facilities at San Quentin State Prison when Californians are facing tax increases and reduced public services. Prison construction is financed by lease-revenue bonds. No money is being diverted from public services to fund the construction.

The current Death Row was built in 1934 to house 68 inmates. It now takes in three antiquated buildings that house 604 condemned men. The aging facilities are not as secure as they need to be for Death Row inmates and have an inefficient operational design that requires extra staffing.

In 2001, there were two escape attempts from Death Row. One incident involved two inmates who got out of Death Row and into a control room where they had intended to take hostages. At the time, however, there were five officers in the room, rather than the normal two, and the inmates were quickly overpowered.

- Robert Presley

Secretary

California Youth and Adult Correctional Agency

Already earned it

Re ``Follow the money'' (Editorial, Jan 14):

I have met Greig Smith many times over the years in activities associated with the West Valley. Smith has been present at Girl Scout and Boy Scout functions attended by my children. I have had discussions with him at meetings regarding the education programs at Granada Hills High School.

I have met Officer Smith while he was working in the uniform of the Los Angeles Police Department as a reserve officer, protecting our community. Now the Daily News asks: ``How can he win the trust of the Valley?'' For years he has been acting unselfishly to earn our trust. I have only seen his opponents once a year, riding in a convertible at the holiday parade down Chatsworth Street.

- Gary Kalyn

Northridge

Capital punishment 

Re ``Death Row emptied'' (Jan. 12):

Thanks to Illinois Gov. George Ryan, the crooked politicians, prosecutors and police in Illinois can no longer play God by putting to death 167 prisoners on Death Row. Ryan showed clemency by taking all 167 prisoners off Death Row to insure that not one innocent man was put to death.

Even though the majority of our voters are in favor of the death penalty and our politicians go along with them, only because it helps to keep them in office, it is not right, and it puts our nation on the same level as the guilty murderers. To keep murderers in prison for the rest of their life is punishment enough, and it keeps them out of our society.

- Lucky Bob Greene

West Hollywood

Dangerous law breakers

Responding to my letter, Chris Biller (Your Opinion, Jan. 5) states that I would not like traffic laws enforced. Not true, sir. Definitely apprehend red-light runners, stop-sign runners, speeders, tailgaters, drunk drivers, etc. I said - and repeat: A police vehicle sitting motionless (instead of rolling and patrolling) while the officer writes a seat belt ticket is in no way available to catch any of the truly dangerous law-breakers previously named.

You, sir, mention statistics. I'm fairly certain 99 percent of the population would prefer a police presence in the neighborhood rather than elsewhere citing an unlucky and nondangerous driver.

- Edmond Henry

Mission Hills

Abridgement of rights

Re ``Bush craves empire,'' Charles Levendosky (Their Opinions, Jan. 2), and ``Law won't pass legal test,'' Charles Fried (Viewpoint, Jan. 5):

The leaders of the Democratic Party are now obsessed with President George W. Bush's actions possibly leading to an abridgement of rights guaranteed by the Constitution under the Bill of Rights.

This should come as no surprise to them considering their own assaults on the right to bear arms, guaranteed by the Second Amendment, and the freedom of speech guarantees in the First Amendment as distorted in the recent so called Election Campaign Reform Law. Undermining any of these rights undermines the authority of all of the rest, opening them to re-interpretation by politicians.

- Joe Bott 

West Hills

Bigfoot

Re ``Bigfoot belief lives on after prankster's death'' (Jan. 3):

Just because one person admits he made fake footprints does not mean that Bigfoot does not exist. There is still the 1967 Patterson film to consider. Although it has not been proven authentic, no one can say he is 100 percent sure it was faked.

- Tony Gaudenti

Northridge