Member Feedback
That's some popular tea
On page 54 of the January/February EnCompass, Linda DuVal reports that the Celestial Seasonings tours are “so popular, they entertained their one-billionth customer in December.” That would mean about one-sixth of the entire world's population.
Much as we appreciate, even admire, Celestial Seasonings' popularity, Boulder can hardly handle that much traffic. Please reconsider.
—Wilmar Bernthal, Boulder
Editor's Note: We received several comments about this error. The figure should have been one million, not one billion. We're sorry for the mistake.
Drinking and driving
I appreciated your “Drinking and Driving Quiz” in the January/February magazine. How much extra tax on each alcoholic drink or bottle would it take to pay for the hospital costs of those hurt or killed because of drunk drivers? If a tax can be put on cigarettes, surely it could be put on liquor.
— Florence H. Childers, Arvada
Altered photos in EnCompass?
It would appear that the photo accompanying the “My Colorado” article in the January/February issue has been digitally altered or enhanced. The word “SHACK,” purportedly carved into the tree more than 100 years ago, seems too uniform. Can you verify the authenticity of the photo?
—John Hansen, Denver
Editor's Note: This photo, taken by the author's wife, came to us as an ordinary photograph from a film camera and we are confident it is genuine. The author also provided the exact location of the tree and how to find it; however, we made the decision to leave this information out of the article, to avoid the risk of vandalism.
Our policy is never to use altered photographs in our articles, beyond the small normal adjustments for color correctness and sharpness that all scanned images require for publication. Readers can be assured that any photograph presented with an EnCompass article has not been doctored to present false information about its content.
Comments on seat belt legislation
I am thrilled to see AAA take up the cause to create primary legislation that makes it a primary offense when not wearing your seat belt. This, however, will not close all the gaps in the current legislation.
I implore all readers and our legislators to work on modernizing our legislation to reflect the available technology and current risks to all of us. Legislation will never replace solid common sense, but statistically many will modify their behavior once the legislation is enacted and promoted, thereby saving lives.
—Floyd Borakove, Denver
I have worn a seat belt since I was 19. I went on to raise four children who knew that the car doesn't move unless everyone has their seatbelt on. These days we all know it is foolish not to use your seat belt, especially where children are concerned.
Now, I support seat belt use laws as a secondary offense only. Does this new legislation that AAA supports mean any cop who thinks, or says they think, I am not wearing a seat belt can pull me over? That is “probable cause”? Are you really OK with that?
Like the old axiom about leading a horse to water, you just cannot make some people do the smart thing. But should you resort to “nannyism” for all of us? I think this legislation goes too far.
—Patrick Byrnes, by email
I have been a member of AAA for over 22 years. I feel AAA has been a good organization, but I don't believe it should become a political organization.
If you keep on getting political, I will have to go to another service. You are a business, not a non-profit organization to impose your ideas onto other people's personal rights.
—Douglas Schreffler, Lakewood
Editor's Note: The overwhelming majority of member responses were positive to AAA Colorado's support of changing the current seat belt law from secondary to primary, or “standard.” A handful of members (represented in the previous two letters) had two objections: 1. The government should not tell citizens what to do. 2. AAA Colorado should not get into politics.
Sweepstakes winners
In our November/December sweepstakes, the winner of the Hotel Colorado getaway was MaryLee A., of Denver . Winners from the January/February sweepstakes will be notified in March and announced in the next issue. For privacy reasons we do not print the full names of winners.
Let us hear from you
Letters under 200 words are considered first. Letters published in EnCompass do not necessarily reflect the opinion of AAA Colorado and, due to space limitations, we reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Send letters to the editor, EnCompass, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222. Fax to: 303-300-7710.
Email: editor@colorado.aaa.com. Letters become property of AAA Colorado and are not returned.
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