No Give, No Take
I am by no means the only reader of the Advocate who continues to regret the loss of This Modern World and its replacement with Mild Abandon, a bland, boring, and unfunny substitute. Though the Advocate has published a number of letters complaining about this change, to the best of my knowledge you have never deigned to explain this move in print. Was This Modern World too intelligent? Too witty? Too provocative? Or was it simply too expensive, so that the Advocate chose to abandon it to save a few bucks? You should realize that some of us took the trouble to pick up the Advocate primarily to get our weekly fix of This Modern World, which so often had just the right take on world events. Now sometimes when I see a pile of free Advocates, I don’t bother.
Couldn’t you please at least give your readers an explanation for your inexplicable decision?
Robert Romer
Amherst
The editor responds: In fact, we explained the move at some length in a Sept. 2, 2010 editorial under the headline “Changes.” Here is a highlight: “Our decision to stop running This Modern World, as well as similar decisions to end our long relationship with Isadora Alman, whose Ask Isadora sex advice column ran here for nearly 20 years, and to stop running the Boston Globe crossword puzzle, allowed us to move resources to local freelancers and away from syndicated material that can be found elsewhere.” We have also repeatedly pointed readers to www.thismodernworld.com, where you can find the weekly cartoon as well as a lot of other great features.
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A Real Energy Plan
The increase in gasoline prices reflects the instability in the Middle East and attendant speculation in the oil markets. We need to address the huge run-up in oil prices with comprehensive policies designed to provide solutions to our energy consumption problems. Unfortunately, past administrations have failed us.
The Obama administration should continue to promote democracy in North Africa and the Middle East, and hopefully democratic reforms in these countries will provide some stability in the region and thereby help decrease speculation in the oil markets.
The U.S. has to increase domestic oil production, including oil derived from our Western U.S. oil shale and Alaskan oil deposits; build new refineries; build nuclear power plants meeting stringent U.S. specifications, including strict siting requirements; increase power production from natural gas and alternative energy sources, e.g. biomass, wind and solar; promote public transportation; and conserve energy in our homes, businesses, vehicles and in our travels. Another way to conserve gasoline consumption is to decrease the speed limits to 55 mph or 60 mph on our expressways, and we have to enforce these limits. Unfortunately, many states have increased speed limits to between 70 mph and 85 mph. Some studies have shown going from 75 mph to 55 mph will reduce gasoline consumption by 33 percent.
U.S. nuclear plants should be designed to withstand a 9.0 earthquake, tornadoes, category 5 hurricanes and floods, and have battery and diesel generator backup to provide power to coolant water for at least one month. Existing plants can only withstand a 7.5 earthquake and have four hours battery backup; and spent fuel rods are currently stored on site. A reprocessing system must be established to neutralize or reuse these fuel rods.
We need the Obama administration to provide some leadership and implement a comprehensive energy strategy.
Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, N.H.
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Library Staff in “Gravest Situation”
I’m beginning to think (in Springfield at least) that voters don’t generally vote “for” something or someone… voters actions are directed “against” whatever the status quo is. Unfortunately this seems especially so in the mayor’s seat. This is a difficult time to work in public service, whether you are a teacher, mayor, police officer, fireman, cafeteria worker, or any other municipal employee.
But I think the employees of the city library system are in perhaps the gravest situation. During the drastic budget cuts of the past decade, once a position is eliminated or hours reduced, it seems to remain in that negative state forever. And this at a time when library services/demands are increasing dramatically as folks file for unemployment benefits, use computers because they can’t afford Internet at home, or even save money by getting movies on DVD or check out books instead of purchasing them.
In full disclosure, I sit as chair of the Springfield Library Commission, and I have more than an average interest in our libraries. The more time I spend active in library matters, the more I realize how lucky we are to have amazing staff who can help with literacy efforts. If you read this far, by “literacy” you may think I’m talking about reading and writing. You’d be right that I’m talking about programs like Read/Write/Now where old and young can prepare for GED, MCAS and how to get into college as well as learn to read and even write a book!
But I’m talking about a new reason why libraries are more important today than they have ever been. The “digital literacy” that library staff teaches to patrons is crucial now. When I enter “learn to use Microsoft Word” in google, I get over 48 million articles in a fifth of a second. I know a librarian in my neighborhood branch who can give me 10 excellent resources if I can wait another three minutes. The true positive power of the Internet is dwarfed by the amount of garbage that often appears on our screen. But the professional librarian can steer us to resources effective for our unique needs.
I just hope the next round of cuts doesn’t make them use their tremendous skills to find a more stable career elsewhere. We have cut through any fat in libraries 10 years ago, over 5 years ago we trimmed a lot of the muscle. Now I’m scared we are going to start cutting bone.
Online Comment
Stephen N. Cary
Springfield Library Commission, chair
