Letters - Dec. 16, 2010

Photographer’s view

The uniqueness of the Palouse brings photographers from around the world to capture its beauty each and every year. The rolling hills, green and golden crops, red barns, lone trees, canola fields, bluest skies and wonderful puffy clouds are truly every photographer’s dream.

As one of those photographers who is entranced by the magnificence each time I have visited, I wanted to say how I appreciate all the farmers, hired hands, truck drivers, equipment makers, suppliers and every other support group for all the hard work they do to make this truly “God’s Country.” It doesn’t go unnoticed.

It is a unique place where everyone takes the time to stop and visit a moment, to educate this ‘city girl’ to the workings of a farm. I appreciate that they never seem to tire of my endless questions which in turn has allowed me to learn so much.

However what I am most impressed with is the genuine warm welcome I continually receive. You have opened your gates, barns, homes and hearts to me and for that I feel truly blessed.

Teri Lou Dantzler, Cle Elum

An honor

What an honor it was to be seated at a table, among the many who attended the football banquet Thursday night.

I listened to the coaches introduce all the football players, to praise them for many excellent years, to expound upon how proud they are of “their” kids, to brag about each senior for their specific talent, and to lament the coming loss of them, and to welcome the new leaders.

The coaches kibitzed with each other without mercy, bringing plenty of humor to the table. I especially appreciated how each coach had a difficult time talking about the kids without breaking up with the emotion of it all, and Coach Cooper lost it. I believe when each child filed past Cooper it tore a hole in his heart.

I saw the genuine love each coach has for all the players, in a sense raising them to be not only good honest people, but responsible men, teaching them to be fair, honest and compassionate toward others. Knock ‘em down, pick ‘em up, adjust their shoulder pads, and pat them on the head, that’s how the Colfax Players play the game.

I appreciated the coach’s response and appreciation toward the yell squad, to all the silent collateral staff whose efforts made the games work, to the parents who are the power behind the kids.

Barbara Morgan, Colfax

Not close

As an electrical engineer I was interested in reading Don Brunell’s article on “Electric cars will be a shock to the grid.” I am concerned by his blatant error in math or editing or thinking and how it impacts his conclusions.

He stated, “in fact ...

driving 10,000 miles in an electric car will use about 2,500 kilowatt-hours, 20% more than the average home uses in a year.” At typical electric rates that adds up to $250.

Not close to what I use in a year according to Avista.

According to the Energy Information Administration the actual number is over 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electric use per year per household.

That makes 2,500 kilowatt hours sound pretty economical for a year’s worth of driving.

What other “facts” are wrong in his article? Is his conclusion still accurate?

When people are given balderdash dressed up as truth bad things can happen. We shouldn’t have to distrust everything we read or see. We shouldn’t follow editorialists like sheep. I hope we can count on our education system to teach us all to think and evaluate what we are given.

Electric cars are probably in our future. Our electricity suppliers will need our support to maintain our reliable service. Mixed up “facts” will not help us to make the decisions necessary to guide our future.

Roy Moxley, Colfax

Suggested reading

In last week’s paper, Bill Evans (letter) cites a newspaper article by Robert J. McCunney, M.D., Robert Dobie, M.D. and David M. Lipscomb, Ph.D. which dismisses the adverse health effects caused by the low frequency noise pollution of industrial wind turbines.

McCunney, Dobie, and Lipscomb are paid consultants of the wind power industry.

They are not the first scientists to make disingenuous statements; nor are they the first people to sell their souls for a few pieces of silver.

You can believe the media’s propaganda, or you can research the issue.

I suggest reading “Wind Turbine Syndrome” by Dr. Nina Pierpont.

Roger Whitten, Oakesdale