Job well done, Ed

The grateful residents of Escondido thank Councilman Ed Gallo for his great service and dedication to our needs. He always gave of himself and his time for us. He listened to our concerns and followed through with solutions and support. This is a thank-you for all of his hard work and many years of service. He will be missed. His loyal supporters say goodbye; job well done, Ed.

Charleen and Bernardine Mitchell

Escondido

Cut back, but don't stop spending

My husband and I own a small chain of sporting goods stores, one of which is in North County. All independent small-business owners, including restaurants and retail stores, need your help now more than ever.

Please remember that when things improve and you want to go back to visiting your favorite establishments, they may not be there if you don't give them a chance to compete with the places that you are shopping or eating to save a few dollars. … We need you to give us the opportunity to compete so that we can all survive this together.

Don't stop eating at your favorite restaurants or shopping at your favorite stores; just cut back on what you spend. Let's work together!

Nancy Comer

Vista

Global freezing is a fraud

Recent news about the global warming fraud:

1. Planet has cooled since Bush took office (www.globalwarming.org/node/2756).

2. Gore admits, I've failed badly (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/10/AR2008111001868.html).

3. National Climatic Data Center: U.S. on track for coolest year since 1997. (http://blog.silive.com/weather/2008/11/fresh_meat_for_the_global_warm.html).

4. The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature fooled the world's top climate scientists(www.weatherquestions.com/Roy-Spencer-on-global-warming.htm).

5. UK astrophysicist: Global warming theory has failed consistently and dramatically (http://co2sceptics.com/news.php?id=2007).

6. Global sea ice growing at fastest pace on record â€"â€" returns to levels from the 1980s (http://chronos-st.blogspot.com/2008/11/sea-ice-growing-at-fastest-pace-on.html).

7. Global sea ice area: now same as in 1979 â€"â€" fastest move in the 30-year history (http://tomnelson.blogspot.com/2008/11/global-sea-ice-area-now-same-as-in-19.html).

8. Arctic sea ice extent: In October 2008, fastest-ever growth (http://omniclimate.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/arctic-sea-ice-extent-in-october-2008-fastest-ever-growth/).

These news headlines shows that the global warming theory has failed consistently and dramatically. More and more scientists around the world are debunking the global warming theory. These developments are inconvenient for the United Nations, Gore and the mainstream media.

Mark Corcoran

Fallbrook

Children must learn to question authority figures

I am writing in response to the Nov. 12 article "ACLU files suit over high school newspaper row." I would like to express how pleased I am that Dave Evans, his students and the ACLU are standing up to the administration of Fallbrook High School, specifically Principal Rodney King.

The rights of our children are too often violated in the name of discipline and guidance in public schools. We need more adults like Evans to advocate for our children. Of course, these students were minors when these violations occurred, but what are we teaching our children when we tell them they must, without question, obey figures of authority?

If we would like our children to mature into engaged, active, global citizens, we must support the opportunities they have to advocate for themselves and their classmates.

At Fallbrook High School, this decision sends the message to students that they cannot initiate change and that they should be satisfied with the status quo. Rather than using schools to control our children, we should foster freedom and voice in our youth.

As a schoolteacher, I hope to see more advocating by teachers like Evans and support from the ACLU.

Nessa Mahmoudi

Encinitas

The Courage Award

In Ramona, many high school students worked to influence the voters against Proposition 8. In the end, we are reminded that the best way to get people to vote is to raise fearful issues, like Prop. 8. Then the frightened public will go to the polls and vote for the politician that best hyped the issue.

This happened here, and as a result we should all feel used.

Regarding the Ramona high school students on the street corner with "No on 8" signs, their courage was exemplary. They weren't there backed up by family, clergy and a $35 million media blitz. They stood alone with handmade signs, some in direct opposition to their own church's official view on Prop. 8.

They had the courage to make the public statement that Prop. 8 was wrong, standing tall against the political current in our small, predominantly conservative town. In recognition, we have decided to present the Ramona Forum Peace and Justice award to Megan Escalona, representing all the students who demonstrated.

The award will be presented at the Ramona Forum Christmas party on Dec. 18. The public is welcome. Contact Dave Patterson, 760-207-9139.

Dave Patterson

president, Ramona Forum

Ramona

Republicans have regular body parts

Re: Craig Burney's letter of Nov. 25. His view: Future Republican health care will not allow proctologists, gynecologists, gastroenterologists, belly-button-ologists, obstetricians or anyone else to treat people with problems between the waist and the knee. Doesn't he realize that even Republicans and other religious folks have these body parts?

Does he imagine that only Democrats deal with "plumbing," reproductive and prostate issues? Last time I thought about it, even people in some "extreme religious" groups got colon cancer, had babies and needed treatment for urinary tract infections. Not even George Orwell foresaw these dire circumstances.

Congratulations to Mr. Burney. Before the Republicans interfere with his own health care, I hope he finds a proctologist right away, He definitely needs one.

Barbara Miller

Carlsbad

Toll road won't ease I-5 traffic

I'd like to respond to Jack Feller's comment about the 241 toll road being needed to ease traffic congestion (Letters, Nov. 25).

Interstate 5 is the only western route into San Diego from the Los Angeles area. Between San Clemente and Oceanside, alongside Camp Pendleton, it can support only so much traffic load and there are no plans to change that.

The 241, if built, may allow Orange County residents faster access to San Clemente, and may allow people driving northbound into Orange County more options, but does nothing to eliminate this bottleneck at Camp Pendleton. Basic flow logic shows this is the restriction, and the number of cars per time unit flowing down the I-5 will remain the same. Our money would be more well-spent by widening this section of I-5.

This makes sense to me, as the land on both sides of the highway is relatively free from obstructions, and already belongs to the government (as opposed to private ownership).

Mr. Feller's statements about traffic congestion being eased by paving through our state park are false and obviously fueled by his friends, the greedy land developers who want this road built to support their various projects.

Brian Schultz

Oceanside

Military review of discharges overdue

Per the article, "Military cracks down on 'personality disorder' discharges," Nov. 24, all I can say is it's about time.

As the article indicates, the military was diagnosing an unduly high number of combat personnel with personality disorders, which made them unable to access mental health treatment at the Veterans Administration upon discharge. With recent changes, more appropriate diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder and combat stress disorder will likely occur.

I hope these changes will include those receiving treatment at Camp Pendleton. In an article last year, the North County Times reported that base officials indicated PTSD rates of less than 1 percent for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan ("Pendleton officials say stress disorder rates leveling off," July 15). In a July 29, 2007 opinion piece, I detailed why the Pentagon figure of one-third was a more accurate reflection of reality ("PTSD cases greater than Camp Pendleton's count").

There have been many productive changes in the mental health treatment of military personnel since that time. Among these seems to be a greater openness to working with the civilian mental health community. Included was an open house and a tour for community psychotherapists, such as myself, to visit the mental rehabilitation unit.

Perhaps the rate of diagnoses for PTSD and combat stress disorder has already risen to rates more consistent with Pentagon figures. If not, the new department of defense requirements may facilitate this essential change.

Donald Bentley

licensed psychotherapist

Oceanside

Cassidy isn't four lanes for a reason

If Councilman Rocky Chavez will listen up, he can learn why Cassidy Street was never extended into a four-lane thoroughfare for easier access to an adjoining shopping center. He calls it poor planning and is disappointed it didn't happen.

When this Singh property development was proposed, a critical concern was to lessen any adverse impact to the adjoining Fire Mountain residential area, preserve its integrity and allow both to coexist in harmony. Had a four-lane Cassidy throughway been allowed to cut through the heart of this unique and desirable neighborhood, it would have utterly destroyed it, taken out homes, caused property values to plummet and cost Oceanside a valuable asset.

It would have been sheer stupidity to let this happen so diners like Rocky Chavez could have faster access in and out of Mimi's Cafe, as is his complaint.

A dedicated neighborhood group, of which I was a participant, invested many months working in close cooperation with the property owner, the developer, planner and others to work out an acceptable solution and compromise for accessing this center.

In doing so, Oceanside got its shopping center and the prized Fire Mountain area was preserved. Our council could learn from it.

Harriett Bledsoe

Oceanside

Intrigue surrounds Pearl Harbor attacks

My letter of Oct. 16 regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor omitted a few salient points:

1. The author of "Deceit at Pearl Harbor" is retired Navy Lt. Cdr. Ken Landis, sole survivor of Admiral Kimmel's staff, now living in the Palm Springs area.

2. Landis brings to your living room everything you want to know about Dec. 7, 1941, and before and after as well, information not available to the public until after the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in 1966.

3. Why did the authorities in Washington withhold the necessary information to protect the island, the 40,000 military and the general population as well?

4. A Dutch citizen, Nancy Verkuyl, broke the Japanese code in May 1941, in Java.

5. None of the six assembled code-breaking machines ever reached Oahu. Why?

6. A Japanese submarine was sunk by the USS Ward close to the harbor entrance an hour prior to the attack. No alarm was sounded. Why?

7. Read the fascinating story of the "Tethered Goats," the Isabel, the Lanakai and the Molly Malone, three small ships attempting to intercept the Japanese fleet. Another Dec. 7 is fast approaching.

Theodore Roosvall

U.S. Marine Corps, retired

San Marcos

Simple thoughts on our economy

If taxpayer money is used to save the auto giants, will the Big Three be closing their overseas plants and bringing those jobs back to the U.S.? This should be a major question asked by Congress prior to any public monies being issued.

Will other large companies bring their overseas work back to the U.S. also? We continue to hear about bailout spending, but nothing about cutting foreign aid. Isn't it time we put our own house in order before worrying about someone else?

America cannot continue to support the Third World while being in our current economic downturn. We need to stop all extra outside spending until the USA is economically stable again. Just simple thoughts from a simple taxpayer.

James Bernardo

Carlsbad

No smoking at beaches, parks and trails

A big thank you goes out to the city of Carlsbad for providing smoke-free beaches, parks and trails.

The Carlsbad City Council voted to ban smoking at these areas and it went into effect on Aug. 21. That was over three months ago and most residents may not have realized it, for there was no public announcement made by the city.

It#'s as if it is nonexistent. Currently there is not a single "No Smoking" sign posted in any of these city areas.

The city is in the middle of a park sign inventory process, and new signs will be posted in the beginning of 2009. Granted, it is difficult to enforce an ordinance when there is no signage.

Chapter 11 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code was amended to read as follows: 11.32.110 Smoking in public parks and beaches â€"â€" Prohibited.

It took three years for the city of Carlsbad to pass this ordinance, so waiting another three months for new signage is something we Carlsbad citizens can do. I hope the city will let us all know when the signs are posted.

But in the meantime, if you are downwind of a smoker in a public park or beach, you can smile nicely as you quote the new Carlsbad Municipal Code 11.32.110, and they just might voluntarily comply. Keep an eye out for the new "No Smoking" signs in 2009.

Michael Caraglio

Carlsbad

Security feature heartily applauded

I shopped at the Vons on El Camino Real near the 76 today and was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that the store had enacted a shopping cart theft-deterrent system. One wheel on each cart was equipped with a brake that would engage when the cart was taken a certain distance away from the store marked by a yellow stripe. Signs were posted throughout the parking lot informing shoppers of this security feature.

I heartily applaud this Vons store for a long-overdue, reasonable solution to the ever-growing problem of people stealing shopping carts. I call on all grocery stores to enact this or an equally successful measure.

Daren Reese

Carlsbad

Gay marriage solution

One function common to state, county and city governments is the issuing of legal licenses and permits.

When starting a business or obtaining a building permit, you go to the appropriate governmental agency to obtain a license/permit allowing you to proceed legally.

When formalizing a domestic partnership, governmental agencies should stay out of the marriage license business and stick to the issuing of contractual agreements forming legal partnerships.

This governmentally sanctioned partnership agreement would specify rights and privileges, as well as requirements for dissolution.

Where marriage is involved, government should leave religious and moral issues to the couples involved. The marriage license business should be left to churches, ship captains, lawyers and others who would issue marriage certificates reflecting their morals and beliefs.

Religious and other judgmental groups, on the other hand, have no business being voyeurs in our bedrooms.

Syril Whitlock

Fallbrook

Why do we divulge our secrets?

There was an article on page A-7 of the Nov. 22 edition of the North County Times. The article is titled, "Bug-sized spies: U.S. develops tiny flying robots."

My question about this article is, who makes the decision that says we should be divulging this information to a hostile world? Would it not be better to keep our secrets secret than to let the enemy know in advance what we are doing, thereby giving them a heads-up that they need to step up their development of a technology to counteract the latest developments by the U.S.?

When does common sense and national security take precedence over the seeming willingness of our media to blab every bit of information (no matter how sensitive) to the entire world?

Michael Franck

San Marcos

Welcome back, Prince Valiant

Hurrah! May I join the happy throng in welcoming back Prince Valiant to your Sunday pages.

Thank you.

Bill Gillespie

Bonsall