Letters to the Editor 

OUTING FARO

I understand that you had every intention of promoting Faro's artistic career by writing an article about him and his work ["Draw Like an Egyptian," June 25]. However, I was struck by the fact that you published his real name and identity.

Though I understand that it may have been given to you by the gallery, I think it is safe to say that by publishing that information you may have divulged too much. Faro is an artist whose mediums are not limited to the canvas, and graffiti is a federal offense.

Elisabeth Avery

NEW YORK

GREAT DAY, EITHER WAY

I'm one of the 18 million who supported Clinton. Now I back Obama all the way ["Poli Psy," June 18]. It is a no-brainer, despite my continued anger over sexist treatment of Clinton, and the ageist treatment of us oldsters (I just turned 60).

I did not like everything she did, either. But I appreciated her toughness in foreign policy (even almost forgiving her stupid vote for Bush's war as a product of the times). I still think her lousy health care plan is way better than his lousy health care plan. Health care is the single most important domestic issue, and he was negotiating against himself before he began.

I worried that Obama could not get anything done beyond speechmaking and would give away the store to the well-heeled special interests who are not going to play nice no matter how nicely he asks them. On the other hand, Obama's toughness in pushing her aside shows some backbone that bodes well for him managing the job.

I worry about Obama's embrace of ethanol.

I have to avoid the blogs now, cuz I shake with fury and impotence at the nasty slurs we old women must put up with from people with not much better to do, it seems. But Obama is going to win, and that will be a great day for America as it would have been if she had won.

Nancy Brockway

BOSTON

JOLLY GOOD!

I recall one day a number of years ago, while visiting family members in Warren, happening upon a cricket game (sorry, "match") at the town elementary school field ["Here Comes the Pitch," June 25]. Sitting on the sidelines was Tim Brookes, a Brit whom I have known for years.

Aha, I thought, this is my chance to learn what this sport is all about and how the players score runs and what "innings" meant and why they called time out for tea all the time.

Alas, although Tim is one of the most erudite and kind persons I know, his explanations left me as baffled as I was before I chanced upon all those young men in white clothing trying to hit a hard ball with a flat (you have to be kidding) bat! I could understand the hitters wearing a protective facemask, heavy gloves (to, I assume, absorb the shock of hitting that hard ball with a flat bat) and long shin and thigh protectors.

After watching the pitcher throw as hard as he could, and bounce the ball off the mat (that's a "ball" in baseball), I wondered why the shin guards didn't extend as high as the waist of the batter to protect their . . . ummm, well . . . you know.

I do wish the Chittenden County Cricket Club the best and perhaps, cricket will once again be as popular in this country as it was in the mid-1800s.

Ted Tedford

UNDERHILL CENTER

PIT POLITICS

Dave Mueller of Bristol wrote in opposition to the local gravel pit because of the associated noise and air pollution [Letters, June 25]. There is opposition to other gravel pits in Rochester, Randolph and Braintree, too.

Most folks are in favor of affordable housing. In order to build affordable housing, access to gravel is necessary. Most folks are in favor of improving our roads. In order to build roads, access to gravel is necessary.

So which is it: total peace and quiet or a bit of inconvenience for the benefit of your neighbors?

James Dwinell

RANDOLPH

VAYA CON DIOS, AMIGOS

I recently read the review of the new restaurant, Doria's, in Middlebury, and agreed with most of what Suzanne Podhaizer said [Taste Test, June 25]. But I just had to address the one thing that I feel was not accurate.

Suzanne mentioned that two things "survived the transition" from Amigos (the former Mexican restaurant that resided there for 21 years) to Doria's: buffalo wings and margaritas. The wings and margaritas drew many people into Amigos, but I have to say that these two items on Doria's menu are not even comparable to Amigos' recipes.

The only thing that I saw that "survived the transition" are the wonderful memories of Amigos that patrons have when they walk into the new Italian eatery. Amigos will be remembered, not as a "taco joint," but as a warm, welcoming, authentic, family restaurant that will missed by many.

Haley Duquette

BOLTON

A TAXI TALE

Last Saturday night, we took a Benway's cab from McKee's in Winooski to near Ethan Allen Park in the New North End ["Fare Warning," June 25]. The charge was $22. My wife and I thought it was outrageous and called Yellow Cab to see what they charged and were quoted $11.

That will be my last Benway's fare.

James Calame

BURLINGTON

AS THE WIND BLOWS

Mr. Wileman is obviously correct that the wind blows more than 20 percent of the time [Letters, June 18]. The figure is in reference to something called "capacity factor," which compares the amount of power a generating facility produces usually in a year to what it could produce in ideal conditions.

For wind turbines, this means that the power it delivers is compared to what it could deliver if the wind were blowing all the time at the optimum wind speed and needed no down time for repairs and maintenance.

The question is: Why is Vermont's proven ridgeline generation so low? It is suggested that 1) the wind simply does not blow in the proper operating range as often as it does across the Great Plains, for example; and 2) that the wind in rolling, mountainous terrain is turbulent. Turbulent air causes wind turbines to run less efficiently and, it is charged, makes the power that is produced by those machines more erratic or variable.

Regarding access to wind sites, according to Green Mountain Power, last I checked, which was about two years ago, no one is allowed to wander through the woods at or around the Searsburg turbine installation site. This should be expected to be the case for all high-ridge and mountain-sited commercial turbine installations. The problem may be insurance, and that may have something to do with the ability of blades to throw ice.

Paul Kenyon

BRIDPORT

WTF?

I'm a little upset with the "F" bomb that got dropped in the latest issue of your "family" paper. It seems to be of poor taste to have published it, let alone in bold print. Some things don't need to be read.

Patricia Bosley

BURLINGTON

TRUSTING SHAY

Kudos to Shay Totten for setting the record straight on the nonexistent "rift" between Progressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina and Vermont's organic farming advocates ["Fair Game," July 2].

Pollina has been a tireless supporter of Vermont farmers, along with others concerned about the safety and integrity of our food. He was out there advocating for more local food in Vermont two or three decades before it became fashionable.

Jim Douglas, on the other hand, only remembers Vermont's organic farmers and consumers when it is politically expedient, unambiguously preferring the genetically engineered agenda of his agribusiness cronies. Shame on Vermont's corporate-controlled media for parroting Douglas' thoroughly non-credible spin on this story.

Brian Tokar

EAST MONTPELIER

BUSTING SHAY

Shay Totten indulges in a bit of self-serving puffery by claiming that he, in connection with some obscure story dealing with a virtually unknown entity identified as NOFA, ". . . did what journalists are supposed to do: pick up the phone and call the source instead of repeating shit spewed on a blog" ["Fair Game," July 2].

Then in his next item he describesthe job cuts to the state's workforce as layoffs. Let me quote from the Free Press issue of July 2, 2008: ". . . another 250 jobs are scheduled for elimination by the end of December all without layoffs. Jobs are considered for elimination as workers retire, transfer or leave state government."

I would suggest to Totten that the first thing that "journalists" should do is get the story straight.

Raymond E. Leary

SHELBURNE