Cover Story
Deadly disease with no cure
It was the flu. Dave Congalton, radio talk-show host, has had it before. You know, the usual aches and pains around this time of year. That’s what his doctor thought, too. Here, take these, drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. But after a few days, Congalton wasn’t feeling any better. As a…
I don’t think so, Atascadero
I detect a big pie in the sky — a big lemon pie — over Atascadero! Why? Our City Council/Redevelopment Agency Board has given the go ahead to sell $12 million in bonds to finance several downtown “improvementâ€? projects. Bonds of this sort don’t require voter approval since they won’t be paid back with a…
Display was hurtful
Dear Ms. Diamond, The marriage display on Dexter Lawn that states “Gay marriage is the disintegration of our societyâ€? was very sad to see. Some people used to say this about interracial marriage, but that particular strain of discrimination is harder to spread these days. My partner and I were married in San Francisco this…
Bush only won on paper
The ’04 election is over. As is usually the case, there is some good news and there is some bad news. First the bad news: Four more years of George Bush. Now for the good news: America is a divided country. How can that be good, you ask? The forces of greed, bigotry, and authoritarianism…
Don’t cross the line
When is a hate crime not a hate crime (“Outrage follows Cal Poly gay marriage project,â€? News, Nov. 11-18)? When the Cal Poly art department says it isn’t? I don’t think so. There is a line you don’t cross, even in the name of free speech. You don’t paint a swastika on a synagogue, you…
Costco is coming
In a San Luis Obispo City Council meeting that started earlier than usual, Council members voted 3-1 Tuesday to allow Costco to begin building, even though not all of the permits are in place. Christine Mulholland cast teh dissenting vote. The debate centered on vernal-pool fairy shrimp, an endangered species that was found about a…
What have we come to?
If the amendments to the Constitution were placed on a proposition, I’m almost certain they would be resoundingly defeated. (With the exception of the Second Amendment, which is more sacred than the Second Commandment). Don Wagner Paso Robles
Kindred spirit
It was refreshing to read the piece by Opperman (“Oh, now I get it. I’m the Antichrist,� Opinion, Nov. 11-18). It reminds me that I am not alone in my feelings about the election and our current condition. His rant rallies my thoughts and beliefs. L.S.T. Olson Los Osos
Priorities
Last week, a friend who was tracking the election results pointed out to me that approximately 52 percent of the county voted for Bush/Cheney. Measure L failed to pass by the same amount. Coincidence? I think not. Edna King-Miller Atascadero Library volunteer
Why is Los Osos mail in SLO?
Recently I have noticed that the mail is getting later and later. Now it is arriving 6 p.m. at our house. Today it never came! That’s right, none of our neighbors received today’s mail. This is not acceptable; as a small business owner, as are many of our neighbors, we rely on the mail for…
2004 total: 10,800 pot plants destroyed
As this year’s outdoor marijuana-growing season comes to a close, the San Luis Sheriff’s Department reports that they’ve destroyed more than 10,800 plants over the summer and fall. That number is similar to the number of plants deputies found last year. “It sounds impressive, but it’s been a drought season,â€? Sgt. Sean Donahue said. “Drought…
Amtrak expands rail service to Southern California
Amtrak California this week added a second round-trip train to its Pacific Surfliner service running between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. With the additional train, which started running on Nov. 17, Amtrak now runs 11 daily trains between San Diego and Los Angeles and six between L.A. and Santa Barbara. The new frequency leaves…
Lease ends for Duke
Even though Duke’s outfall lease with the city of Morro Bay expired Nov. 15, officials say they are still working out a new lease agreement and there is no intention to evict Duke from the property. Water that is used to cool the plant’s generators is discharged into an outfall area in the ocean, and…
So long, smell you later
I think I might have dented your car this morning. Sorry. When I got out of my truck today, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was, so I opened my door — bam! — right into yours. I didn’t leave a note under your windshield wipers though, because, let’s face it, this little accident…
Coastal states unite
We are not the isolationists. The inland states are. The coastal states insulate the island states from the realities of living in a global community. We are the most vulnerable to a foreign attack. We deal with huge immigrant populations and the problems they bring. The streets of our cities overflow with the destitute and…
Finding that Finding that
Push a cart down the supermarket aisle. You’ll find products bragging, “No Carbs!,â€? “Reduced Fat!,â€? or “Vitamin-Enriched!â€? in less time than it takes to burn a few calories. But if you’re looking for foods without genetically engineered ingredients, your search probably won’t be so simple. The United States federal government refuses to require safety testing…
Sword-wielding Sword-wielding
On Monday evening, Nov. 15, drivers traveling down Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo were confronted by a man standing in the middle of the road, swinging a 5-foot sword at passing cars. When police officers arrived, they found traffic stopped and backed up in both directions, one damaged car, and another car…
You didn’t even mention J.Lo!
“Shall We Dance?â€? was a $7.00 movie, not a $1.75 movie as shown in your movie review. The review did not even mention that Jennifer Lopez was the leading lady, or that she was even in the picture. The dancing was absolutely fabulous! The movie had one both laughing and crying, and that was good.…
Show some compassion
I know a warm and friendly woman. She’s spry and witty. She’s also homeless. I’m not sure where she sleeps, but I see her when I take my son for walks and pass through the New Frontiers parking lot. We talk on occasion; she marvels at how big my son is getting or we chat…
It doesn’t matter what you call it
Well, the “landscape art displayâ€? [sic] on Cal Poly’s Dexter Lawn has inspired my own artistic sensibilities! To professor Beth Diamond, V.P. for student affairs Cornel Morton, and the five student “artistsâ€? who brilliantly prefer to remain nameless, I dedicate the following: Black people, Brown people, Yellow people, Red And gays to the back Of…
Something’s smokin’ in the Village
Shawn Jewell is proud to announce the grand opening of the Village Cigar Lounge and Gallery at 104 W. Branch in the Village of Arroyo Grande. Jewell owned and operated Renegade Tobacco and Gifts in the lobby of the Pismo Beach Hotel before the hotel was closed for renovation earlier this year. The purveyor of…
