KINKADE’S BRIGADE

The article on Thomas Kinkade by Mark C. Anderson in your December 24-30 issue was interesting. I am afraid, however, that he did The New Yorker a disservice by stating “In 2001, The New Yorker termed him ‘The most relevant artist in this culture.’ ”

As a matter of fact, Susan Orlean in her Popular Chronicles article, “Art for Everybody: How Thomas Kinkade Turned Painting into Big Business” in the October 15, 2001 issue of The New Yorker quoted Thomas Kinkade as saying in an interview with her the following:

“My art is relevant to 10 million people. That makes me the most relevant artist in this culture, not the least.”

That was a typical Kinkade boast, not an evaluation by The New Yorker.

EGG-ZACTLY?

This has not been a good year for the meat, dairy and egg industries. It began in February, with USDA’s largest-ever recall of ground beef produced by California’s Westland-Hallmark Meat Packing Company.

In April, Archives of Internal Medicine published a 25-year study of 88,000 women finding that those who ate lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains were 24 and 18 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack and stroke, respectively, than women addicted to more typical American diets. A review of dietary habits in 52 countries in the October issue of Circulation reached similar conclusions.

In May, the American Institute for Cancer Research warned consumers that grilling of meat or fish raises the risk of colon cancer. A National Cancer Institute study in the November Proceedings of the National Academey of Science confirmed that consumption of meat and dairy products elevates the risk of cancer.

Last spring, the Pew Charitable Trusts and Johns Hopkins University called for a phaseout of factory farming. In November, 63 percent of California voters agreed by requiring that animals raised for food have space to turn around and spread their wings.

Let’s make 2009 a really good year for ourselves by exploring the rich variety of veggie burgers, dogs, deli slices, heat-and-eat dinners, and soy-based milks, cheeses and ice creams in our local supermarket. This is one New Year’s resolution that’s easy and fun to keep.

SHORTCHANGING VETERANS

Sometimes I think there’s a digressive unit within the Pentagon charged with dreaming up regulations designed to aggravate our military forces.

In March 2008 the Pentagon issued a change in regulations significantly narrowing the definition of combat disabilities, stating that disability benefits should be higher for personnel wounded in combat versus those injured in non-combat situations.

Two recent cases point out the absurdity of the new regulation. Sgt. Lori Meshell suffered a shattered hip and back injuries while diving for cover during a mortar attack in Iraq. Since she was not hit by shrapnel, the Pentagon ruled her injuries were not combat-related and she was not entitled to about $1,200 per month in benefits. Cpl. James Dixon experienced a traumatic brain injury, a concussion, a dislocated hip, and hearing loss from roadside bomb in Iraq and his case was ruled non combat-related.

Donald A. Moskowitz | Londonderry, New Hampshire KINKADE’S BRIGADE

The article on Thomas Kinkade by Mark C. Anderson in your December 24-30 issue was interesting. I am afraid, however, that he did The New Yorker a disservice by stating “In 2001, The New Yorker termed him ‘The most relevant artist in this culture.’ ”

As a matter of fact, Susan Orlean in her Popular Chronicles article, “Art for Everybody: How Thomas Kinkade Turned Painting into Big Business” in the October 15, 2001 issue of The New Yorker quoted Thomas Kinkade as saying in an interview with her the following:

“My art is relevant to 10 million people. That makes me the most relevant artist in this culture, not the least.”

That was a typical Kinkade boast, not an evaluation by The New Yorker.

EGG-ZACTLY?

This has not been a good year for the meat, dairy and egg industries. It began in February, with USDA’s largest-ever recall of ground beef produced by California’s Westland-Hallmark Meat Packing Company.

In April, Archives of Internal Medicine published a 25-year study of 88,000 women finding that those who ate lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains were 24 and 18 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack and stroke, respectively, than women addicted to more typical American diets. A review of dietary habits in 52 countries in the October issue of Circulation reached similar conclusions.

In May, the American Institute for Cancer Research warned consumers that grilling of meat or fish raises the risk of colon cancer. A National Cancer Institute study in the November Proceedings of the National Academey of Science confirmed that consumption of meat and dairy products elevates the risk of cancer.

Last spring, the Pew Charitable Trusts and Johns Hopkins University called for a phaseout of factory farming. In November, 63 percent of California voters agreed by requiring that animals raised for food have space to turn around and spread their wings.

Let’s make 2009 a really good year for ourselves by exploring the rich variety of veggie burgers, dogs, deli slices, heat-and-eat dinners, and soy-based milks, cheeses and ice creams in our local supermarket. This is one New Year’s resolution that’s easy and fun to keep.

SHORTCHANGING VETERANS

Sometimes I think there’s a digressive unit within the Pentagon charged with dreaming up regulations designed to aggravate our military forces.

In March 2008 the Pentagon issued a change in regulations significantly narrowing the definition of combat disabilities, stating that disability benefits should be higher for personnel wounded in combat versus those injured in non-combat situations.

Two recent cases point out the absurdity of the new regulation. Sgt. Lori Meshell suffered a shattered hip and back injuries while diving for cover during a mortar attack in Iraq. Since she was not hit by shrapnel, the Pentagon ruled her injuries were not combat-related and she was not entitled to about $1,200 per month in benefits. Cpl. James Dixon experienced a traumatic brain injury, a concussion, a dislocated hip, and hearing loss from roadside bomb in Iraq and his case was ruled non combat-related.

Donald A. Moskowitz | Londonderry, New Hampshire