Smells Like Money


In simple terms, the property that keeps methyl iodide from reaching the stratosphere where it could be an ozone problem is the fact that it is destroyed by ultra violet light in hours on a sunny day. (“Arysta’s response to lawsuit: methyl iodide a success,” posted Nov. 23). It has nothing to do with its volatility. Your reliance on PANNA (Pesticide Action Network) is showing. - JJ Sims | via Web


(Editor’s note: James Sims licensed the patent he developed for methyl iodide while a professor at UC Riverside to Arysta LifeScience, the North Carolina-based manufacturer of the methyl iodide-based fumigant MIDAS. Professor Sims refuses to discuss how much money he earns from that patent, so we guess his reliance on the chemical industry is showing.)


Professor Sims, I still recall the old photo of then-Gov. Pete Wilson on the back page of the front section of the Monterey County Herald, seated at his desk with a group of smiling men standing around him, as he signed the first methyl bromide extension. We’ve been waiting over 20 years to get rid of methyl bromide. Unfortunately, methyl iodide was not what we were waiting for! 


Taste some strawberries from Swanton Berry Farm, which has been growing organically on the Central Coast for nearly 30 years. Or try other local organically grown strawberries – the varieties of yummy organic berries and the number of organic growers today are astounding! Research efforts would be better spent trying to duplicate their success on an agribiz scale. You would be celebrated for years to come as a man who reconsidered a vital issue and changed its course. - Mari Lynch | via Web


Spinning Wheels 


It seems that the Monterey County Farm Bureau’s main concern is for the safety of cyclists (“Farmers weigh in against county’s planned Blanco Road bike lane as funding times out,” Nov. 23-30). That should be commended. However, as a League of American Bicyclists instructor and bicycle commuter that has ridden Blanco Road over 5,000 times in the last 10 years, I would like to point out that about 70 percent of the cycling fatalities nationwide occur in urban areas. Rural areas only account for 30 percent. If you are truly concerned with the safety of cyclist, you should be promoting bike lanes on Blanco. - LCI1432 | via Web


What’s this baloney about the farmers not being asked? Do we have to get their permission for everything now? Besides, what does that have to do with whether this is a good idea or not? Bottom line is, we have the money and it is cheaper to build the bike lanes now than to not build them. Sounds like the farmers want to punish the rest of us for not kissing up to them. - GoForGreen | via Web


I strongly question the bicycle count done by Public Works. Was it raining? How and where was the count made? Was it done by one of those rubber hose devices? Anyway, there are tons more supporters for the bike lanes than the few farmers that own property there. Look at the signatures on this petition: http://chn.ge/rHkXI8. The farmers complain that if bike lanes are built, more cyclists will use their bikes to get around. Well, isn’t that the point? What is their beef over this? How is it going to impact them if we make the road safer? We need to bring our tax dollars back to Monterey County and improve that road. The project involves a lot more than just painted lines and signs. It will improve the intersection at Davis and Blanco and improve the asphalt too. - SayWhat | via Web


Glad Blanco is getting some attention. It’s barely suitable for cars to be on most days, let alone bicycles. - Ronnell Mello | via Facebook


I wonder why we don’t have safe, accessible bike lanes everywhere. It’s terrifying to ride with/next to cars, and in this age of technological distraction, it is often fatal. I think more people would bicycle places if bike lanes were standard in every town. Blanco Road is literally heart-stopping, and that’s when I’m in a car! - Michaelia Morgan | via Facebook


Night and Day


Differences already between her and [opponent] Mark Stone… Stone stated he accepts spending limits, Garcia says “no” to spending limits. (“Carmelita Garcia enters state assembly race,” posted Nov. 23). Ummm – what does that indicate? - trillerud | via Web


Grill Beef


We wonder why business is so bad in P.G.? (“Point Pinos Grill neighbor challenges extended hours,” posted Nov. 29). Welcome to Pacific Grave. - Celia Bosworth | via Facebook


Check and Raise


What is happening to our world? (“UC Regents vote to bump salaries almost 22 percent for administrators and lawyers,” posted Nov. 30 on Facebook, linked to The Bay Citizen.) Not OK. - Therese Grenke | via Facebook


Ridiculous but not surprising. - Robin Shaw | via Facebook


WTF? - David Reichbaum | via Facebook


Sickening. - Nicole Edmonds Lyles | via Facebook


I like how they gave UC Davis’ lawyer a healthy bump. - Kacee Fujinami | via Faceook


A Smart Snip


Ironically, the circumcision might just have saved the baby’s life (“Local rockers rally to raise for a blood clotting disorder at Sly’s,” Dec. 1-7). The parents learned right away he had hemophilia and are now armed with knowledge and medicine to help protect him. If the baby had not been circumcised, his hemophilia would have remained undiagnosed until a disaster struck… they may have learned the hard way, after their toddler falls, hitting his head and then suffering a head bleed. We often think the ones who learn about their son’s hemophilia via circumcision are the lucky ones. If Cruz’s parents would like a free copy of my book Raising a Child With Hemophilia, please contact me. It’s the “Dr. Spock” book for each child’s stage of development in hemophilia for parents. laurie@kelleycom.com or www.kelleycom.com. - Laurie Kelley | via Web


(Editor’s Note: The Weekly received several anti-circumcision comments on the story about the music benefit for Cruz McDowell, an infant diagnosed with severe Hemophilia A following a circumcision. Congratulations to those who took a cheap shot at the McDowells’ pain and missed the whole point of the story.)