Letters

OUGHTA MAKE A LAW

Regarding Ron Donoho’s article on “Laws, Man Laws and Damned Smoking Laws” [Journal, February]: Not only do I agree, but I go further; let’s fine those political panderers for their unfounded and insane support of these ubiquitous laws, particularly involving smoking.

Like Mr. Donoho, I am not a smoker, nor have I ever been. But I am shocked that unenforceable smoking laws are quickly enacted without any scientific support. For example, it is impossible to measure the effect of even a bevy of cigarette smokers on a public beach or park. With all the millions of cubic feet of air, the effect is insignificant. There are far more pollutants in the air caused by passing cars, or fire rings and barbecues. But despite the lack of any evidence, the politicians climb on the pandering bandwagon.

So let’s make political pandering a crime, too. And it will be just as unenforceable.
FRED BERGENDORFF
IRVINE

GAMESMANSHIP

Rick Sparks and I decided to take the Pan Am “red eye” to Miami on the eve of the 1982 Chargers playoff game with Miami (back in the days when you could simply jump on a plane with short notice). We had two game tickets (through the Dolphins’ team doctor) on the 50-yard line. Everything in the old Orange Bowl that could be painted was painted orange, and it felt like we were the only Chargers fans there.

We were pretty quiet during the game. With the Chargers leading 24-0 in the second quarter, the Dolphins engineered a comeback that culminated in a “hook-and-ladder” play, which came to mind when Boise State used the same play to tie Oklahoma in this year’s Fiesta Bowl game. After the Chargers’ overtime victory, everyone was emotionally spent. I vividly remember two older Miami women seated behind us who were weeping. It was hard not to feel a little sorry for them.

We have often bragged we were the only Chargers fans in the stadium, which we can’t do anymore after discovering in Tom Blair’s San Diego Magazine column [I on San Diego, January] that he was also at this epic game (judged by many to be the greatest NFL game of all time). Only the temperature in Cincinnati the next week—25 degrees below zero, or something like that—prevented the Chargers (and coach Don Coryell) from going to the Super Bowl. Quarterback Dan Fouts still suffers from frostbite on his fingers from that game. That defeat was even more bitter than this year’s loss to New England.

In 1982 and 2006, the Chargers were the best team in the NFL.
DAVE SMITH
RANCHO SANTA FE

MORE BLESSED TO GIVE

I am impressed with the philanthropy feature in your December issue [“Someone’s Gotta Give” by Bob Rowland]. From the clever headline to the fabulous gallery of faces, sidebar facts and eyecatching illustrations to the substantial and interesting content, it was quite a package.

Since I have the pleasure of promoting philanthropy for a living, I want to thank you for this superb coverage. Of course, we at the San Diego Foundation were quite thrilled that Bob Kelly, our president and CEO, was included.
SARA WILENSKY
SAN DIEGO

FOR THE MEMORIES

In reading the history/timeline of the U.S. Grant hotel subsequent to its opening [“Grant Expectations” by Julia Beeson, November 2006], I recalled an owner who was not mentioned. In 1964, a man by the name of Wolf (might have been Danny) and a partner were, for a brief time, owners of the hotel.

I know this because I was matron of honor at his daughter’s wedding. She married a young Air Force pilot, and Danny was unable to attend the wedding due to “legal circumstances” in regard to his ownership. They lived in splendor in the owner’s suite, and although it was for a short time, as a native San Diegan, it impressed me mightily. My friend, Esther Wolf, subsequently divorced her airman, and I later lost touch with her.

I may be confusing the names . . . his name, perhaps, was not Wolf, as that might have been her married name (it was her second marriage) . . . but the situation and characters are vivid. Just an interesting factoid that, I am sure, few remember.

Thanks for your great column!
GAYLE WISE
LA JOLLA

STICK FIGURES?

At a time when even Hollywood and the international fashion community are owning up to the tragedy of their obsession with “thin is in,” I was depressed by your December fashion spread [“Home for the Holidays”].

While I understand that plus-sizes don’t make for glamorous fashion, neither do beautiful clothes draped over skeletal models. Anorexia and bulimia are serious threats to our young people—women and men—and we must be sensitive to the message we are sending them with the role models we offer up. Your blonde model would have made Twiggy feel plump.

Here’s to moderation in all things—including our pursuit of “beauty.”
ROBIN ROBLES
ESCONDIDO

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL?

I have subscribed to your magazine almost from its beginning. When each new issue arrives, I immediately read it straight through. The February issue was crammed with articles and advertisements. Of course, ads mean income.

Also, as a part of this issue, the San Diego At Home design section was included, which made the magazine so thick and heavy to hold it wore me out. In the past, I believe the design section was a separate publication.

The magazine has so much in it anymore that it becomes cluttered. You might consider uncluttering it. It then would become the fabulous publication it originally was. At least have the design section as a separate publication.
DOROTHY PARSONS
LA JOLLA

Over the past five years, the design section has appeared both inside the magazine and as a separate publication, bagged with the regular magazine. Readers seem to be split fairly evenly on this, but we’re constantly reassessing.—
EDITOR

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