PUBLIC FORUM.Worst-kept secret Re ``Plot to topple L.A.'s tallest tower foiled'' (Feb. 10): So, another media frenzy/photo opportunity for Mayor Antonio Villaragosa. He says he was blindsided by the Bush administration's report on the failed terrorist attempt to fly a plane into the downtown Library Tower in 2002. But on further review, the Mayor's Office was indeed contacted. Perhaps President Bush didn't have Mayor Villaraigosa's cell-phone number handy. What I really want to know is the answer to the worst-kept secret in town: which higher office is Villaragosa aspiring to while pretending to be the mayor of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. ? - Linda LaCour Northridge Protecting the public Re ``Officers' names to stay secret in complaints'' (Feb. 8): Regarding the ``civilian police commission'' decision to say that the police who use excessive force need protection from the public, I have two questions! If they aren't doing anything wrong, why do they need even more protection than they already are getting? And if they are doing something wrong, then who is protecting the public from them and how do we know that we are being protected? - James O'Neill James O'Neill can refer to:
Panorama City LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) cries poverty Re ``Potential dropouts face early intervention'' (Feb. 8): And here we are again - Roy Romer Roy R. Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City, Kansas, United States) was the 39th governor of Colorado and served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2001 to 2006. and the Board of Education crying poverty. I do not know how the general public feels, but a $5 billion budget seems pretty hefty to me. Cut the waste spent downtown at Beaudry and at the area offices and you can bet the money can be found. Sorry, Roy, no pity from me. - Stephanie Schwartz Canyon Country Getting used to it Re ``Bush vows to end 'addiction to oil''' (Feb. 1): So, Bush wants to explore alternative sources of energy so our dependence on oil from ``the enemy'' is greatly reduced. It really sounds good from a political point of view at his latest State of the Nation speech. I have a suggestion for Bush. Why doesn't he collect all the cow chips on his ranch and burn them to convert it into an energy fuel to run the ranch? Of course, if you have a reason to visit his ranch, you will be responsible to bring your own gas mask gas mask, face covering or device used to protect the wearer from injurious gases and other noxious materials by filtering and purifying inhaled air. In addition to military use (see chemical warfare), gas masks are employed in mining, in industrial chemistry, and by . Those in his administration already are immune to the smell and won't need one. - Nelson Leverage Northridge King funeral Re ``Politics, mourning mingle at Coretta Scott King Coretta Scott King (April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006) was the wife of the assassinated civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., and a noted civil rights leader, author, singer, and founder and former president of the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. funeral'' (Feb. 8): It was altogether fitting to mention the difficulties facing our nation at Coretta Scott King's funeral. The work of Dr. and Mrs. King needs to be carried on, and the speakers at the service were merely reminding us all of what she stood for, and that the work should not end with her passing. I apologize for mixing metaphor and simile simile (sĭm`əlē) [Lat.,=likeness], in rhetoric, a figure of speech in which an object is explicitly compared to another object. Robert Burns's poem "A Red Red Rose" contains two straightforward similes: , but the conservative pundits, and conservative callers to C-SPAN are squealing squeal v. squealed, squeal·ing, squeals v.intr. 1. To give forth a loud shrill cry or sound. 2. Slang To turn informer; betray an accomplice or secret. v.tr. like stuck pigs now that their ox has been gored. President Bush had to sit there and face the music when reminded of the complaints Coretta King would have expressed were she still with us. - Arnie Moore Sherman Oaks Wiretap wiretap n. using an electronic device to listen in on telephone lines, which is illegal unless allowed by court order based upon a showing by law enforcement of "probable cause" to believe the communications are part of criminal activities. history Re ``Politics, mourning mingle at Coretta Scott King funeral'' (Feb. 8): Political funeral? Wow, after reading some of the remarks (jabs) made in front of President Bush, I thought, well, no wonder we can't get our children to respect authority. As my dear mother used to say, ``If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.'' By the way, Jimmy Carter, regarding the wiretapping A form of eavesdropping involving physical connection to the communications channels to breach the confidentiality of communications. For example, many poorly-secured buildings have unprotected telephone wiring closets where intruders may connect unauthorized wires to listen in on phone of Martin Luther King ... I believe the attorney general at that time was Robert Kennedy. - LouAnn Reising Valley Village Saved the world? Re ``It's still Reagan's Day'' (Photo, Feb. 7): A caption under a photo of Pres. Reagan's grave stated that Col. John Coleman John Coleman may be:
- Stanley Moore Winnetka Appreciate the freedom Regarding the prophet-cartoon protests, the world is again divided in two: the Muslim world The term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings. In a cultural sense it refers to the worldwide community of Muslims, adherents of Islam. This community numbers about 1.5-2 billion people, about one-fourth of the world. and the West. Provocation and the crossing of lines of acceptability have become a hobby. Nobody realizes that this is a step in the wrong direction, and that this isn't the way to break the vicious circle vi·cious circle n. A condition in which a disorder or disease gives rise to another that subsequently affects the first. . Yes, Denmark is a democratic country with the precious freedom of speech, but please, folks, let's appreciate it instead of abusing it. Drawing the Prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban doesn't serve any purpose. Denmark already has serious integration problems. And as a Dane, I urge the powerful media industry to think twice next time. Think twice and be respectful. - Alev Vura Northridge Dinosaur among us Re ``Unnecessary resurfacing'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 1): Alan Pollack asks why his streets in Woodland Hills, Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. and Erwin Street, are being resurfaced when they don't need it, while the streets in the Northeast Valley are being neglected. Nowadays, the rule seems to be, if it comes into your hands it is yours. Keep it and shut up. Alan is behind the times. He sounds like a graduate of the old school that taught honesty, fair is fair and to call a spade a spade To "call a spade a spade" is to speak honestly and directly about a topic, specifically topics that others may avoid speaking about due to their sensitivity or embarrassing nature. . How refreshing to know that there are still Alan Pollacks roaming this Earth. - Eloy L. Mendoza Pacoima Canceling class trip Re ``Extreme charter'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 7): Let's hear it for Dina Ormenyi for scolding Roy Romer and Jon Lauritzen for their canceling of Lawrence Middle School's vastly educational trip to Catalina Island Catalina Island: see Santa Catalina. - a trip that has reaped great rewards for students, parents, educators and L.A. Unified for the past five years. Concerned parents know, better then anyone, what suffering a dysfunctional district can exact. Repeatedly, achievements in our district seem to be in spite of our leaders, rather than in cooperation with them. It is far easier for our administrators to destroy beneficial programs rather than attempt to understand them. It's all about dictatorial control, and our only outlet for improvement is active, caring parents such as Ormenyi. - Michael Guetzow Woodland Hills Be ashamed of these Re ``Super Bowl Anthem'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 6): I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what Super Bowl game Earl J. Kangas watched, but the one I saw with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and Aaron Neville, singing the National Anthem was awesome. How about the Bush administration's lies to take us to war for oil, the illegal wiretapping of Americans, tax cuts to the top 2 percent or the president's $2.77 trillion budget with cutbacks on Medicare? Now that should make you ashamed to be an American. - Suzanne Lewis Valley Village Passionate and moving Re ``Super Bowl Anthem'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 6): In regard to reader Earl J. Kangas' opinion that the Aaron Neville and Aretha Franklin version of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl was ``horrible, awful, disgusting and insulting,'' perhaps Kangas should refresh himself with the anthem's words. The blood of brave young Americans has ensured that our nation's star-spangled banner waves over a land that is free. That means that in the United States of America UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The name of this country. The United States, now thirty-one in number, are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, every person has the right to express themselves creatively in whatever way they choose. I personally thought that the Neville-Franklin version of the anthem was one of the most heartfelt, passionate and moving renditions I have ever heard. - David Laurell Burbank |
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