Features

NATURE ARTICLES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Just wanted to say how much I’ve been enjoying the articles by Ron Sullivan and Joe Eaton about the various trees, birds, etc. in our region. I find the articles on trees especially rewarding; I love all the trees I see as I walk around town year after year, but don’t always know what to call them....and guidebooks are usually of limited value. 

Anyway, I hope you keep the series coming. I expect it’s much appreciated by many. 

Kerry McDaniel 

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HARMING THE COUNTRY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Maybe for once Bush spoke the truth with his classical Freudian slip when he said that he and his administration never stop thinking of new ways to harm our country and our people. Maybe he is cracking up a little under the undoubtedly tremendous strain of having to continually lie about his many awful policies. Maybe his repressed conscience is finally breaking through his corporate persona and he is feeling guilty about the years of misery that he has visited upon the peoples of Afghanistan, Iraq and America. Maybe his thinking has become clouded since he has been on heavy-duty anti-depressant prescription drugs since his July 9 outburst and stomping off the stage when he was questioned about his long-term relationship with Kenneth “Kenny Boy” Lay, the indicted former CEO of Enron Corporation. Maybe.  

James K. Sayre 

Oakland 

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SHOW AND TELL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I would love an opportunity to sincerely apologize to the Berkeley Unified School District, if I’m mistaken. This is in response to BUSD’s Aug. 6 letter on the new BHS building’s energy use. My information came from Chevron, which had written up an energy audit proposal at BUSD’s request. If there’s been another energy audit, please show the public. As another writer wrote earlier, please show us your power bills for the high school for six months before and six months after the new building. Show and tell is a hallowed school tradition. 

Yolanda Huang 

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DAVID BROWER MEMORIAL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Berkeley does not need a massive memorial to David Brower on its waterfront, something that Brower himself would doubtless object to. As a former Waterfront Commissioner, I remember how fervently Berkeleyans fought to keep our waterfront free of objects that would only diminish its magnificence. 

Alan Goldfarb 

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BERKELEY BOWL UNION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In his article “Berkeley Bowl Employees Win Right to Unionize” (Daily Planet, Aug. 6-9), Mr. Schiller misuses the word “win.” In fact, the employees voted AGAINST unionization, but are now being forced to unionize because of a settlement among three parties: the union, the bowl, and a couple of ex-employees. The “winner” was the union, not the employees. 

Robert Kavaler 

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