Thanks to hospital staff at Tri-City

I am writing to thank the members of the staff at Tri-City Hospital.

I have just completed a two-week stay on Floor 2P and want to acknowledge the wonderful people who cared for me. I was blessed to have the following nurses: Andy, Credola, Megon, Selena, Stephanie, Tony and Vicky and a few that I can't remember their names, you know who you are. Also the Certified Nursing Assistants Fels, Fega and Sonja, you are great. In the dialysis area, Anika and Mary, you made the unknown much easier for me. Thank you!

Tri-City may be having its problems, but it is doing a great job in choosing its staff. Again, my thanks to all of you on 2P. I miss you, but don't miss the hospital. Thank you and thanks for your dedication to the public. Blessings!

Patricia Egan

Oceanside

Obama has paralyzed CIA

President Obama has demonized CIA officers for following orders and has raised the specter of prosecutions. This has dealt a crippling blow to the organization and raises serious questions about national security.

Bob Ference

Carlsbad

El Grupo twists facts for its own agenda

I was appalled when reading about El Grupo urging the City Council to replace Escondido's police chief ("El Grupo calls on city to replace police chief," April 22).

In an article written by El Grupo spokesman Bill Flores appearing in the North County Times on July 6, 2008 ("Have politics of divisiveness entered EPD?"), and again in this most recent article, El Grupo spokespersons misrepresent statistics for their own agenda.

These articles make references to other North County communities also experiencing a drop in hit-and-run accidents, even though the frequency of traffic checkpoints are conducted less frequently than in Escondido. If we are to follow that logic, we should assume that people being stopped and cited in Escondido's traffic checkpoints only live and drive in Escondido! How absurd!

Before retiring, my wife and I had employment in areas other than Escondido. We still frequently travel to nearly every North County community. If we encounter a checkpoint and are found to be DUI, unlicensed or without insurance, and our car is impounded, every city we routinely visit will benefit from this worthwhile enforcement program.

The law-abiding citizens of every North County community should be thankful for law enforcement administrators like Chief Maher. His diligence benefits us all.

Orv Hale

Escondido

Support the Asian elephant move to San Diego

I support moving the Wild Animal Park's Asian elephants to the zoo ("Wild Animal Park to relocate its Asian elephants to San Diego Zoo," April 25). Waiting for them is a state-of-the-art elephant care facility and experienced keepers who will care for their special needs as very precious senior citizens. People forget that most of these elephants were hand-raised and were rescued from orphan situations or from use in the movie industry. "Releasing" them to the wild, as a very few activists suggest, would most surely result in these elephants' decline and death.

These elephants are valuable members of our community and should be allowed to live their lives in a protected environment where their very presence can educate future generations and help to protect and preserve elephants worldwide.

The African elephants at the Wild Animal Park will also benefit by these changes, as their habitat will be expanded. These elephants have had enormous success at settling in and reproducing. We must not forget that they were due to be destroyed had the San Diego Zoo not stepped in and offered to save them. …

Elyse Wright

San Diego

Defining 'theory'

Responding to John Moore's long-winded and contorted discussion of the theory of global warming in Letters on April 25, my Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language gives the following definition of "theory": "a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact." Thus, the theory of global warming is still conjectural in contrast to matters of actual fact.

Ralph "Pete" Peters

Encinitas

Don't mention a movie you haven't seen!

Charles Bagwell (Letters, April 24) makes the same mistake many other global-warming deniers have made on this page: He mentions Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" in a negative way without seeing the movie! Please, folks, whether you support Al Gore's campaign to do something about this threat or not, don't comment on a film you have not seen. You only weaken your argument and look foolish.

What are all of you deniers afraid of? Is it that truth, facts and common sense might enable you to change your mind and you would have to admit your stubborn, ideological fantasy â€"â€" that man is incapable of affecting the climate â€"â€" is wrong and based on ignorance and partisan politics? Go get the DVD! I promise you'll live through it! Remember: The wise recognize, admit and correct their mistakes; the foolish never do.

Michael McNulty

Escondido

Are these guys really thinking?

I read with amazement in the North County Times, "Gore begs for unity on climate change." Immediately, it was believed the article was about international cooperation. No, it was all about Gore begging our political parties to unite with one voice on climate change. How important it is to have Democrats and Republicans agree on the cost of dealing with global warming.

Now let me get this straight: Ours is a nation of approximately 300 million people. China is approximately 1.3 billion and India 800 million. China, while aware of its pollution, has taken a "drop dead" stand on cleaning up the world, and India is silent.

So if the Democrats and Republicans should unify on how much we should be taxed, we will clean up the world? If more than 2 billion people show no interest in global warming, why should we 300 million assume the expense and responsibility? We have a deteriorating dollar, future debt we cannot afford and Gore wants us to assume trillions more debt to clean up the world? Gore needs to be given a banana and led back to his cage.

These clowns should be working on international unity and cooperation to address the problem. …

Dick Smith

San Marcos

Thanks to 'Laura' for returning items

What a pleasant surprise I had last week when I received my lost Walkman and a valued cassette in the mail. I lost them at Moonlight Beach, and a benevolent person by the name of Laura took the time and went to the expense of mailing it from Menifee. She even wrote a kind note explaining the circumstances of the find.

Laura, in a world where there is too much indifference and selfishness, it is gratifying to know that there are still thoughtful young people such as you. I don't know how to reward you personally for your generous spirit, as you left no return address, so I pledge to commit five acts of kindness to strangers during this week in your honor. It will be my way of saying, thank you, Laura.

George Sullivan

Carlsbad

The 'change' for America

It appears the "populist" view is to be anti-American and to punish America for being a great nation. Our president is ashamed and apologizes for the U.S. at every opportunity he has, instead of performing as elected: to lead and protect our country, our Constitution and the citizenry.

He shows more regard for our enemies than he does for our country. That is demonstrated by reducing the defense budget and exposing our confidential defense files to all. By threatening prosecution to those who have and still protect the U.S., referring to American patriots and the military as possible terrorists. Our borders allowing terrorists and criminals in â€"â€" as well as those with hands out for receipt of "freebees" with monies taken from our coffers filled with hardworking American tax dollars.

Encouraging new parameters on education by limiting knowledge of the history of our country, bankrupting our coffers to give to others and for "special interest" projects and groups, suppressing the free market to a steadily restructure of a socialistic society. Taking opportunistic agency by intimidation and disparaging tactics on those that do not agree with this ideology. Is this the "change" that was voted for? Hmm …

Nancy Wood

Oceanside

Review bus matter carefully before charging

I was just reading the article "School district may start charging for transportation," April 25, and it sounds like certain families would qualify. But the district needs to, I think, discuss and hold a town hall meeting to tell us why they have to do this to our local pupils who live about a mile from their respective schools.

In the best interest of the pupils of Oceanside, I don't think it's necessary to make a vote without the parents' consent and fair facts should be talked about, for there are kids who live on the base who already receive transportation anyway. The district needs to review it carefully ….

On another note, this would not cost if they were to leave this alone for now and concentrate on other school district issues and really think twice before you cut the $12 million in funding to pay for such a move. So Board President Hakes needs to take a quick look at what she's doing before she decides to do this costly mistake.

Matthew Ross

Escondido

Why isn't public school good enough?

This is concerning the editorial titled "Liberal hypocrisy on D.C. schools," in the April 23 North County Times.

Can anyone tell me where I could find the answer to these questions? Which U.S. presidents, governors or members of Congress have ever sent their children to public school? Has anyone asked President Obama why he sends his daughters to private schools? I myself am a product of the public school system, and since I'm a history professor at Palomar College, I consider myself a public school teacher. I find it very curious that a system established by these public servants and funded by our (taxpayer) money isn't good enough for their children.

Have they no shame?

Yvonne Anderson

San Marcos

Short sale exclusive?

Re: "Lawyers say lenders set stage to collect on 'short sales'," April 26: Read the writer's own words â€"â€" no cases reported, can't confirm any, haven't heard of any, can't find any.

So I ask you this: Where is the story? What was the point, other than to add to fear and panic, something this same writer tries to do over and over? Please put him on a different beat like movie reviews.

Don't you guys have editors who look this stuff over first? Oh well, maybe North County Times staff cutbacks are taking a toll. Smile on your way out!

Jeffrey Justice

Oceanside

Be careful what you ask for

On the wall in the emergency room was a sign that read "Expected waiting time: 8 hours." In a wheelchair sat an elderly man, one afternoon, obviously needing medical care. The next morning, they found him, still in his chair, dead.

Lila had knee replacement surgery. Nine years later, she was still suffering, with her leg producing ugly weeping sores. Doctors were stymied as to what was wrong.ˇEureka! Recently, they discovered it had been a botched surgery â€"â€" the replacement hadn't been attached properly to the bones. Still awaiting treatment.

Fred was suffering for months with undiagnosed myelodysplasia. It was I, who after hearing of someone with the same symptoms, alerted them. Two weeks later, dead.

Ramona needed a triple heart bypass but had to wait three months for it, and then ended up with infections.

Doug was a young man in a nursing home, losing function of all his limbs.ˇNo diagnosis in three years.

Gaylene waited three months for a complete physical.

These are some of my Canadian family under socialized medicine. I could go on, but am limited to 200 words. They tell me their doctors are moving to the U.S.

Is that what you want?

Joyce Wilson

San Marcos

Wise up, El Grupo

This is for El Grupo and others with similarly flawed arguments about the license checkpoints they are so eager to see stopped in Escondido.

Yesterday, while driving in Vista, a friend T-boned a car that pulled out in front of him. The other driver had no license, no insurance and no legal reason to be in my country.

Luckily no one died. This includes the illegal's 2-year-old and 5-year-old daughters, even though they were not in car seats. He didn't even have them in seat belts. The EMT team took one of the girls to the hospital to get the glass removed from her face. At taxpayers' expense, no doubt.

The car this illegal was driving cost less than the insurance deductible my friend will have to pay to repair his truck. There is zero chance of recovery for his expenses.

I want to ask El Grupo (members) … if they will put their money where their mouths are and repay my friend for his expenses.

At this time, I want to say thanks a lot to the Vista Sheriff's Department for not arresting this illegal for almost killing four people. Good job, boys.

Phil Acosta

Vista

Donate old books to library bookstores

Don't throw those gently used books in the recycling bin just yet! The author of the Home and Garden article "Fresh Start â€"â€" A spring guide to help you clean out the clutter" on April 24 must not be aware that most libraries in North County have a Friends of the Library Bookstore next to the library that accepts gently used books and magazines. Many of these donations are sold for a very reasonable price (most are 50 cents or $1), and all proceeds go the library.

Although the bookstores all operate with slightly different policies, in Encinitas the bookstore gives away books that are too old, musty or damaged to three different charities. Only the really damaged or dirty ones are placed in the recycling bin. Magazines are put in front of the bookstore for free. The bookstores are all staffed totally by volunteers. Many of the books that are for sale in the store are almost new. Besides being used to buy books for the library, the money that the Friends Bookstores make is also used to fund special programs for children and adults, as well as free concerts and lectures.

Anne Omstead

president,

Friends of the Encinitas Library

Encinitas