Because if you live in Texas,

… you don’t have to spend countless time looking at all those beautiful mountains, hills, and valleys across the state

… you can drive to the country’s best ski resorts in just two or three days

… the winter ice storms are ‘cool’ for taking walks

… you enjoy fabulous cheap Texas blended table wines

… the hot and humid summers are a great way to sweat weight off

… you get lower state income taxes which enables you to pay your property tax that is at a 2.5 times higher rate than California

… you save money since you only need to wear blue jeans, t-shirts, cowboy hats, and boots

… it’s a far shorter travel time to visit Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana

… you may get to enjoy a hurricane

… you live in a state that has a fast-increasing crime rate… and a quickly declining number of Texas police

… BUT you can protect yourself from criminals because of the Texas ‘Open Carry’ laws

… driving time to hate rallies is shorter… in fact, you’ll probably have them in your own home town

… far more restaurants serve the famous French delicacy: chicken-fried steak in country gravy

… you save money and keep the weight off since you can’t find many Michelin Star restaurants

Richard Wollack

In response to Joe Mathew’s article on Wyntoon: I have been there! In 1964 I was working for a consulting forestry firm in Oakland that had Sunical Corporation as a client. Sunical was the division of the Hearst Corporation that was responsible for the Hearst forest lands in California. I was sent in 1964 to McCloud to scale the timber coming off of the property on the McCloud River. PG&E was building the dam to create Lake McCloud, which was to flood some of the Hearst property. We were in the process of logging the reservoir site which was to be flooded. While I was there, I became acquainted with one of the caretakers at Wyntoon, and one afternoon he invited me to visit the property. He showed me the Bavarian Village, but we could not go near the buildings, possibly because family members were there (it was August, I think). He did take me into what he called the castle, a large stone structure, that had been under construction when William Randolph Hearst died. It was said that all worked stopped the day of his death and had never been resumed. It was a magnificent structure and appeared to me that it was near completion, but the water had never been turned on. I also remember that the other caretaker was on a trip to Fort Bragg on the coast. The reason for his visit was that the Hearsts had a warehouse there of antiques or art objects that had been purchased for Wyntoon and that the caretaker went there to check on it periodically.

Leif C. Hatlen

It was an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be part of this event. I value the recovery of my life dearly and wish to help as many as possible find the same satisfaction that I have. This overwhelming desire has guided me and given me new purpose. I would never in a million years have thought I would be the voice of Homelessness, but now I speak for them/us proudly!

—Shawn Eric Pleasants

The University of Toronto is on the wrong side of history and, I’m afraid, so is Michael Ignatieff. The growing movement in support of CAUT’s censure should be a clear indication to the U of T administration that it ought to resist any attempt at interference in academic freedom. The reputation of this great university is at stake. Ignatieff’s decision to break ranks with those who are trying to get the University to reverse course is based on a spurious argument about the public square that does not stand up to scrutiny. There is no public square when basic fundamental building blocks of that square are being eroded.

Respectfully,
W. Andy Knight, FRSC
Distinguished Professor
University of Alberta

Joe –

With all due respect regarding your suggestion to Governor Newsom that he appoint you to fill Kamala Harris’ newly vacated Senate seat, I think Gal Gadot, the embodiment of Wonder Woman, should replace you on his list of possibilities.

You offered up yourself as an absurd choice in a time of absurdity. Well, a Wonder Woman appointment touches upon the edge of absurdity. But, consider what this powerful, strong willed, unapologetic Amazon would bring to D.C. (Jeff Bezos – I’d like to give you credit for naming your company after this feminist and warrior; but if you didn’t, please replace your logo with hers.)

Wonder Woman has an impeccable record of absorbing the impact of incoming attacks, and she never backs down from a fight. So, look out Mitch McConnell and company. She wears those indestructible steel bracelets that block ill deeds. What do you have? And, who needs all those fights about the filibuster when there’s Wonder Woman on the scene?

In case you think she is a one-woman show, Wonder Woman has worked for centuries with her male superhero colleagues who comprise the Justice League, where it is recognized that only by working together and pooling superpower resources can menaces be successfully confronted. So, with Wonder Woman joining forces with the other super women that populate the Senate, will there be a new day of nonpartisanship or will self-interest continue to prevail? Consider that DC Comics and Warner Bros. have recognized and celebrated the power of Wonder Woman and her championing of fairness and integrity since she hit the scene in early 1940s. So, I wouldn’t bet against the comics and a major film company’s faith in her superpowers.

Joe – you are a journalist who tells the truth as best you can, with some satire thrown in. But you can’t really compete with Wonder Woman because she is forever twirling the Lasso of Truth which compels the captive to tell the truth. At long last, goodbye fake news!

Lastly. You are a man. We need to add women to the Senate, not subtract one. So please let the Governor know you’ve changed your mind. Wonder Woman, please!

Best regards,

—Billie Greer